12 Labours of Hercules XI: Painted Adventure – Review

The 12 Labours of Hercules series has become one of the most repealable staples in today’s Time Management scene. In this new adventure, join Emma, a normal girl who loves to paint from the 21st century, who mysteriously gets sent back to Ancient Greek. Can she help Hercules paint their way to Olympus amidst trials and tribulations?

I always adore 12 Labours of Hercules games for their effort to introduce new ideas to the formulaic Time Management gameplay. For example, 12 Labours of Hercules VIII: How I Met Megara delivers complex, multi-layered level designs and 12 Labours of Hercules IX: A Hero’s Moonwalk literally takes the hero to outer space. This latest sequel also involves a unique element, which is the heroine Emma, who has the magical ability to bring anything she draws or paints to life. This creative addition opens up the game to many more possibilities, allowing it to add more complexity to its levels as well as some unconventional tasks.

At its core, 12 Labours of Hercules XI: Painted Adventure stays true to the Time Management genre. The main objectives are still to collect resources, remove obstacles, and build stations – with Hercules handling the heavy lifting. However, being themed as a “Painted Adventure”, the game smartly incorporates Emma into all aspects of the game – from its entertaining storyline to its sophisticatedly-designed levels. Even with 50 main levels, the game never feels drawn out as it keeps exposing the player to new and imaginative ideas.

Because of its exciting gameplay alone, 12 Labours of Hercules XI: Painted Adventure might stand as one of the best installments in this hit series. Still, the game also manages to impress in other areas. The graphics are stellar with smooth animations and pleasant colors, the music is upbeat and fun and effectively adds some momentum to the game, and the challenge level is just right, not too easy for fans and not too challenging for beginners.

12 Labours of Hercules XI: Painted Adventure is offered in three difficulty modes, including a relaxed mode. Apart from the main levels, it also includes 6 bonus levels, achievements, and a few mini-games. If you decide to purchase the Collector’s Edition, you also get wallpapers, collectibles, and a strategy guide.

12 Labours of Hercules XI: Painted Adventure is both creative and entertaining – an exemplary Time Management experience.