Hero of Sparta II
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Video games (including Hero of Sparta II) |
Hero of Sparta II is an action-adventure game developed and released by Gameloft for the iOS and Bada platforms. Launched on 29 July 2010, it serves as the sequel to the 2008 title Hero of Sparta. Players assume the role of Argos, an ancient Greek monarch, who strives to protect the city of Sparta from the infernal forces commanded by Hades.
Story
Picking up immediately after the events of its predecessor, the narrative starts with Argos departing the Underworld aboard his vessel. As he sails toward Sparta, Hades appears ominously in the sky, warning that if Argos sets foot on Spartan soil, the Underworld's legions will be unleashed to annihilate his realm. Undeterred by this threat, Argos presses onward to the shore, only to be met by demonic entities emerging from beneath the earth upon disembarking.
Argos advances toward the city, which is under siege and devastation by a massive Manticore. He pursues the creature across Sparta and ultimately confronts and kills it brutally within the city's theatre. Following this, Hades informs Argos that this assault was merely an initial phase of endless suffering, instructing him to seek out Selene, the moon goddess, if he hopes to reverse his actions.
Upon arriving at Selene's temple, Argos discovers it submerged beneath a lake. Selene materializes and declares that draining this lake will constitute his first major challenge. Circumnavigating the lake, Argos manages to empty it through an extensive pipeline system, during which he discovers a pair of golden wings. Entering the temple afterward, he locates the Crown of Meteors. Selene reappears to explain that both the Crown and wings are among several artifacts essential for his quest but reveals she can no longer guide him. She does mention that Pegasus is imprisoned at the temple’s depths and must be freed for Argos to continue. After releasing Pegasus, Argos must evade capture by the Guardian—a colossal water being—before escaping with his newfound ally.
Following their escape, Pegasus transports Argos to Egypt, where he encounters a woman identifying herself as 'the Sphinx Master'. She challenges Argos to battle, barring his progress; however, he defeats her and claims her distinctive weapons—the Sphinx Claws. As she lies dying, she discloses that his arrival was foretold by prophecy and directs him to an underground temple located at a valley’s end. Complying with her guidance, Argos discovers the Thunder Spear within this subterranean sanctuary.
Returning to Greece atop Pegasus, Argos faces obstruction by the imposing Colossus, guardian of the path ahead. Navigating across wrecked ships piled before it, he defeats the giant by launching himself into its head. Passing through the gate once protected by the Colossus leads him to the fortress of Khronos, deity of time. Recognizing this as his ultimate destination, Argos ascends the fortress and overcomes Khronos. Harnessing Khronos’s temporal power, he journeys back to when he first emerged from the Underworld. Instead of returning directly to Sparta as before, Argos alters his course by turning his ship away, thereby averting the impending apocalypse entirely.
Gameplay
The game features 11 distinct levels in which players assume the role of Argos, battling against the forces of Hades. Throughout his journey, Argos gathers "orbs" dropped by defeated foes—green orbs restore health, while blue ones replenish mana. Additionally, players can discover hidden "seals," which serve as power-ups that enhance weapon capabilities in various ways. These seals represent the elements Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. Collecting a complete set of three seals grants a unique ability to the chosen weapon. When enemies are sufficiently weakened, Argos has the option to trigger quick-time events to execute them, which not only yields extra orbs but can also be crucial for progressing the storyline.
Reception
Hero of Sparta II was met with generally favorable reviews from gaming critics.