Play Herakles no Eikou 2 - Titan no Metsubou (Japan) Online

You swing a dinky sword at Greek monsters until upgrades make it feel right, flexing after each level like the demigod you are—just watch out for Medusa’s stony stare.

Developer: Data East Corporation

Genre: Action

Released: 1989

File size: 256 bytes

Game Overview

Herakles no Eikou 2 - Titan no Metsubou is one of those NES games that makes you wonder why it wasn’t more popular. You play as Herakles (yeah, Hercules, but the Japanese name sticks), hacking through Greek mythology with a sword that feels way too small for a demigod—until you upgrade it, thankfully. The first thing you’ll notice? The sprites have this weirdly expressive charm, especially when Herakles flexes after clearing a stage. Classic.

It’s part platformer, part RPG-lite—you’ll jump gaps, slash monsters, and occasionally backtrack to spend gold on better gear. The Titans are the big bads here, and each one feels like a proper spectacle, even on 8-bit hardware. The Medusa fight? She slithers around the screen, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get stoned (literally). The difficulty’s fair, but don’t expect a cakewalk—some of those platforming sections demand precision.

If you’ve got a soft spot for retro action with a sprinkle of mythology, this one’s a blast. Just don’t blame me when you get stuck on that one jump in the underworld.