Glory of Heracles
With the wide array of RPGs on the Nintendo DS, role-playing fans have several options when looking for a game. Many of these titles have unique gameplay while others take a more traditional approach, reminiscent of retro RPGs. Adding to the ever-growing collection is Glory of Heracles, a series already extremely popular in Japan. The title is very much a hybrid of newer and older RPGs, implementing the stylus in various ways while also incorporating traditional elements we've grown up with over the years.
The story revolves around an amnesiac boy who washes up on the Island of Crete. He soon meets companions with equally murky backgrounds, but each soon finds out that they are immortal. As the group sets off on a quest for answers, they find themselves in the middle of a war. At the same time, mythical beasts terrorize the land and attempt to stop the group in their search for the truth. By integrating Greek mythology into the story, the experience is very much unlike most RPGs coming out today. Sadly, outside of the mythology, the game is no different from other traditional RPGs. The typical 'save the world' premise becomes clear about halfway through Glory of Heracles and definitely instills a sense of nostalgia, however the game fails to build off of this stereotype making for a lackluster adventure.
Story aside, one of the highlights of Glory of Heracles has to be its intricate battle system. While I'm not too keen on stylus heavy controls, particularly within an RPG, the game manages to use it in some unique ways. When using magic or skills within the game, players have the option of charging their attacks (this can be done automatically or by using the stylus). By using the stylus, the player must do one of many reflex tests – the more successful you are in this 'mini-game', the more powerful the attack. While this does not include normal attacks, the majority of the time will be spent using these special attacks in order to beat enemies.
Another interesting aspect of the battle system its use of strategy. Unlike most RPGs, Glory of Heracles has you select each party member's action before executing any of them. By doing this, there is a considerable increase in strategy as one character's action can directly effect another in both positive and negative ways. Players must also carefully decide the character's enemy target because, regardless of whether an enemy is dead, other characters will continue to hack away at it until they have reached 'Overkill', in which the enemy is then turned into Ether or Magic. While this can prove to be helpful for a character with low MP, it can also slow down the battle considerably.
Aesthetically, Glory of Heracles is relatively drab. Whether you're in a town, dungeon or on the world map, just about every location is empty. While RPGs in the past have incorporated great detail and colour, these environments are anything but memorable. Music also fails to set the atmosphere as there is very little variety. While there are a few memorable pieces, most are recycled or lack the ingenuity from past games.
While Glory of Heracles introduces some unique ideas, the game does little to challenge players. Not only does the story fail to branch off from the stereotypical premise, but it also fails to create unique and interesting environments and music. For a game so rich with potential, it's a shame the developers didn't attempt to expand on their ideas. Even so, Glory of Heracles is not a game to completely dismiss. Role-playing fans looking for a traditional, turn-based RPG with some unique elements will find just that.
Likes:
- Another solid RPG on the DS
- By integrating Greek mythology into the story, Glory of Heracles sets itself apart from other RPGs
- There's a great deal of strategy involved in the complex battle system
Dislikes:
- Outside of the Greek mythology, this RPG is excruciatingly formulaic
- Characters are less than memorable
- Most music within the game is watered down despite a few unforgettable songs
Review Score
/ 
The review scale at LevelFortyTwo is between 1 and 5. A score of 5 is considered an amazing game, 4 is a well-done game with only minor issues, 3 is in the middle; not great, but not bad, 2 is a very problematic game, and 1 is absolutely terrible.
