Orpheus
The protagonist, who journeys through the mythological world to rescue Eurydice.
Documented for this version
Left | Move Orpheus left |
|---|---|
Right | Move Orpheus right |
A | Jump |
B | Attack with the equipped weapon |
Select | Change the selected weapon or item |
Start | Pause the game |
The game is designed for one player.
Controls are for the NES/Famicom version; regional documentation may use slightly different button labels.
How it plays
Orpheus explores horizontally scrolling areas of Greece, Crete, and the Underworld. He jumps across platforms, strikes monsters with his sword, blocks some attacks with a shield, and uses additional weapons such as the bow when available.
Progress depends on visiting gods, collecting mythological items, and defeating regional guardians. Hearts and other upgrades improve survivability, while passwords preserve progress between sessions. The game is primarily a single-player adventure with no selectable multiplayer mode.
Plan your run
Learn the attack range of the sword before entering narrow passages; many enemies are safest to defeat from the edge of that range. Use the shield while approaching projectile enemies, then counterattack during their recovery.
Explore each region after receiving a new item from a god. Revisit earlier areas when a weapon or ability makes a previously blocked route accessible, and record passwords carefully because the game does not use battery-backed cartridge saves. Save healing items for boss approaches rather than spending them on minor damage.
Meet the cast
The protagonist, who journeys through the mythological world to rescue Eurydice.
Orpheus's beloved, whose rescue provides the game's central objective.
A goddess who assists Orpheus during his quest.
The messenger god who provides guidance and assistance.
The ruler of the gods and one of the important divine figures Orpheus encounters.
Ruler of the Underworld and a major figure in Orpheus's search for Eurydice.
Before you begin
Talk to every helpful god and check earlier regions after acquiring new weapons or abilities.
Use passwords exactly as displayed; they are the game's main continuation method.
Do not rush through enemy-filled corridors, since contact damage can quickly deplete Orpheus's health.
The Battle of Olympus is a side-scrolling action-adventure game developed by Infinity and released for Nintendo's 8-bit platform in Japan in 1988. It draws directly from Greek mythology: Orpheus travels across a dangerous version of ancient Greece to rescue his beloved Eurydice from the Underworld. Exploration, combat, and item-based progression are combined in a structure influenced by Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Orpheus visits regions associated with gods such as Athena, Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus, gaining weapons and abilities that open new routes. Its deliberate combat, password continuation system, and mythological setting earned it a lasting reputation among NES adventure games, although its difficulty and sometimes opaque progression can make the journey demanding.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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