The Battle of Olympus Overview
The Battle of Olympus is an action-adventure title where the player controls Orpheus on a quest through ancient Greece. His goal is to rescue his beloved Helene from the underworld domain of Hades.
Gameplay involves navigating a series of interconnected, side-scrolling areas that blend towns and hostile regions. Combat is a central activity, with Orpheus facing mythological creatures such as cyclopes and minotaurs. Progress is gated by acquiring specific items, including weapons and crystals, which are necessary to access new locations.
While drawing from Greek mythology for its setting and enemies, the game takes notable liberties with the source material. Orpheus is portrayed as a warrior, and the object of his quest is Helene rather than Eurydice. The overall structure and side-scrolling combat bear similarity to games like Faxanadu and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, though it lacks the character-building systems of a full role-playing game.
To ultimately confront Hades in Tartarus, Orpheus must first locate three hidden fragments of love scattered throughout the world. This collection requirement makes the progression challenging, as exploration and item management are essential to completing the journey.