A Zelda II-inspired action-RPG with superb Greek mythology. Non-linear exploration and numerous tools make it shine. An overlooked classic that fully deserves its cult reputation.
Your verdict
Category
Action RPG1 player7+
Description
Action-adventure in which Orpheus explores ancient Greece to rescue his wife Eurydice from Hades. Published by Broderbund, released in the USA in 1989. Side-scrolling exploration of mythological Greece, sword and bow combat, Olympian bosses and rich mythological scenario. An original mythological action-adventure on NES.
Battle of Olympus, The review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Ancient Greece is rebuilt in marble and olive-tree scenery: colonnaded temples, sacred groves, caves leading to the underworld. The mythological creatures, centaurs, harpies, cyclopes, are drawn as large detailed sprites, and the statues of deities that deliver items mark each stage of the journey.
The writing favours modal melodies in ancient colours, carried by steady bass and bright timbres evoking flute and lyre. Each region gets its theme, and the underground passages switch to darker writing without ever abandoning the singing line that characterises the whole.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,1 MB📅01/12/1989
Published by Imagineer
Battle of Olympus, The (NES) price, value & rarity
The American NTSC NES edition (Brøderbund, 1989) of the Greek-mythology action-adventure modelled on 'Zelda II'. On the console's flagship market this late Zelda II-style hybrid remains a distinct case in the US catalogue, where exploration/RPG crossovers were scarce. Loose copies circulate freely, but CIB with the intact world map concentrates value, and desirability rests on how few Zelda II heirs exist and on the Greek storyline's NES reputation.
Is Battle of Olympus, The still worth playing in 2026?
The Battle of Olympus is a Zelda II-inspired action RPG with a beautifully used Greek mythology. Non-linear exploration, plentiful unlocked tools and progression through key items build an adventure of genuine depth for the NES. The pacing asks for some patience and the controls remain typical of their era, but the world's coherence and the quest's beauty travel well. An underrated classic deserving its quiet reputation, worth discovering for 8-bit adventure fans and NES heritage lovers today.
