The Battle of Olympus
A Zelda II-inspired Greek myth adventure for the NES.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Battle of Olympus is a 1988 action role-playing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Infinity and published by Imagineer in Japan. It was later released in North America by Broderbund in 1990 and in Europe by Nintendo of Europe in 1991, with a Game Boy port released in 1993 in both Europe and North America, the latter also published by Broderbund. The game is notable for its strong inspiration from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
- Publisher
- Imagineer (Japan), Broderbund (North America), Nintendo of Europe (Europe)
Lore & Background
The Battle of Olympus was developed by a small team of three people at Infinity: designer and programmer Yukio Horimoto, composer Kazuo Sawa, and story and graphics artist Reiko Oshida (Horimoto's future wife). The game was inspired by Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, sharing similarities in character abilities, general appearance, and a final confrontation with a shadow. It was one of several NES games inspired by Zelda II, along with Moon Crystal.
The plot follows Orpheus as he journeys through ancient Greece to rescue his lover Helene from Hades, the dark ruler of the underworld. The player explores a top-down map of Greece featuring eight locations: Arcadia, Argolis, Attica, Crete, Laconia, Peloponnes, Phrygia, and Phthia. Orpheus gains favor from the Greek gods, starting with Zeus, and receives powers including weapons, shields, and special equipment such as a harp that summons Pegasus. The game includes encounters with mythological creatures like the Minotaur, Cerberus, and Siren, and culminates in a single final battle against Hades in Tartarus.
Reader's Guide
The Battle of Olympus holds significance as an early action RPG on the NES that drew heavily from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, a game that itself was a departure from the original Zelda formula. Its development by a three-person team at Infinity marked the company's debut, and the game's release across three regions (Japan, North America, Europe) with different publishers reflects the global reach of NES software at the time. The game's non-linear structure, optional side quests, and mythological setting contributed to its identity, though reviews noted its similarities to Zelda II. The Game Boy port, developed by Radical Entertainment and released only in Europe, extended the game's availability. While not a major commercial or critical blockbuster, The Battle of Olympus is remembered as a competent entry in the Zelda II-inspired subgenre and a showcase of how small teams could produce ambitious titles for the NES.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by a team of only three people: Yukio Horimoto, Kazuo Sawa, and Reiko Oshida.
- The player can obtain a harp that summons Pegasus to travel to far locations.
- The final battle against Hades is a single fight; the shadow reflection battle occurs earlier in the game.
- The game was ported to the Game Boy in 1993, with the North American version developed by Infinity and published by Broderbund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Battle of Olympus?
It is a side-scrolling action RPG set in Greek mythology that originally launched on the NES in 1988. Players guide a hero through mythological adventures to confront the gods of Olympus.
Who developed and published The Battle of Olympus?
Infinity created the game, and it saw different publishers by region: Imagineer handled the Japanese release, Broderbund brought it to North America in 1990, and Nintendo distributed the European version in 1991. A Game Boy port followed in 1993.
What inspired The Battle of Olympus's design and gameplay?
The game draws heavy inspiration from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, blending real-time combat with RPG elements like stat tracking and inventory management. Its Greek-myth setting gives the familiar Zelda-style structure a distinctly different flavor.
Who is the designer behind The Battle of Olympus?
Yukio Horimoto served as the game's designer at Infinity. The title marked the very first project credited to the studio, making it a foundational entry in their catalog.
Why do fans consider The Battle of Olympus a notable NES title?
As Infinity's debut release, it stands out as a rare hybrid of action and RPG mechanics on the NES during a period when most titles leaned purely toward one or the other. Its Zelda II DNA and mythological setting also give it a distinct identity among the library's many side-scrollers.
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