Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Hermes offers a deceptively simple premise: ascend an ever-sinking ladder of clouds to deliver a crucial message to Zeus. At its core, the game combines precision platforming with dynamic environmental hazards. Players tap or tilt to guide Hermes as he leaps from cloud to cloud, making split-second decisions about when to advance upward or pause for a breath of air. This tension between speed and caution underscores every moment, ensuring that even early levels feel fresh and exciting.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Each cloud type introduces its own gameplay twist. Blustery stratus clouds may send gusts that knock Hermes sideways, forcing you to recalibrate your trajectory mid-jump. In contrast, fragile cirrus clouds threaten to dissolve beneath Hermes’ feet, requiring lightning-quick reflexes to avoid a precipitous fall. The purple cumulonimbus clouds add yet another layer of challenge, periodically discharging lightning bolts that you must dodge while maintaining your upward momentum.

Adding depth to this vertical adventure, occasional hawk encounters serve as rewarding power-ups. Timed correctly, one of these majestic birds will swoop by and convey Hermes higher up the cloud ladder, providing a welcome reprieve from the more treacherous platforms. Yet even this boon demands careful timing: misjudge the hawk’s trajectory and you may find yourself plummeting back toward Gaea, forced to rebuild your ascent from scratch.

Beyond the core climb, Hermes features a progression system that slowly introduces new challenges and optional objectives. Secret collectibles hidden in wispy cloud formations encourage exploration, while daily and weekly challenges push you to refine your skills. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore speedrunner, the blend of instant accessibility and high-level mastery keeps the gameplay loop compelling long after the initial thrill of flight.

Graphics

Visually, Hermes shines with a vivid, hand-painted art style that evokes classical Greek frescoes mixed with modern cartoon sensibilities. The color palette shifts organically as you ascend: muted earth tones at the base give way to pastel pinks and golden hues higher up, culminating in the radiant white and azure of Olympus itself. This gradient not only looks beautiful but also intuitively communicates your progress.

Clouds are more than just platforms—they’re dynamic characters in their own right. Stratus formations billow and undulate realistically, cirrus wisps disperse into shimmering particles, and cumulonimbus giants roil with ominous purple clouds threaded with flickers of lightning. Each cloud type features unique particle effects and subtle animations that heighten immersion and make every leap feel tangible.

Hermes himself is a delight to watch in motion. His winged sandals churn the air with stylized gusts, and his toga flutters naturally as he accelerates or changes direction. Enemies and power-ups also receive distinct visual treatments: the hawk’s wings glow with a golden aura during rescue sequences, while lightning arcs from storm clouds cast stark shadows that heighten the drama of each encounter.

Complementing the 2D art is a dynamic camera system that zooms and pans to emphasize critical moments, such as near misses or turbo-powered ascents. Subtle parallax scrolling in the background layers—distant mountain ranges, drifting birds, and the looming silhouette of Zeus’ palace—adds depth without distracting from the core action. The result is a polished, cohesive presentation that feels both epic and approachable.

Story

Hermes’ narrative is concise but evocative. You play as the fleet-footed messenger tasked with delivering an urgent missive from the lower world to Zeus atop Olympus. Though the storyline unfolds through brief interstitial scenes rather than lengthy cutscenes, it captures the grandeur of Greek mythology while keeping the focus squarely on gameplay. This narrative economy ensures that you’re never bogged down by exposition, yet always aware of the stakes.

Character moments are sprinkled throughout the ascent. Hermes mutters quips as he lands on unstable clouds, and you’ll hear Zeus’ deep, resonant voice echo faintly as you approach the summit. These audio cues, paired with charming dialogue boxes, inject personality into what could otherwise be a purely mechanical climb. They remind you why you’re scaling sky-high platforms in the first place.

Although the plot is linear, optional lore scrolls hidden among the clouds expand the world. Discover snippets of Olympus’ history, tales of past messengers, and playful nods to other gods. These collectibles don’t affect gameplay directly, but they reward curiosity and add a layer of mythic context for players who want to delve deeper into the game’s universe.

Ultimately, the story of Hermes is less about complex twists and more about capturing a singular heroic journey. By the time you stand before Zeus’ throne, the sense of achievement feels earned—not just because of mechanical mastery, but because you’ve actively participated in a mythological legend. It’s a satisfying payoff that leaves you eager to replay and uncover every hidden fragment of lore.

Overall Experience

Playing Hermes feels like embarking on a timeless mythological adventure reinvented for modern audiences. Its tight, responsive controls and varied cloud mechanics create a gameplay loop that’s easy to learn but hard to master. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or hours to invest, the ascent always offers fresh thrills and strategic decisions.

The game’s art direction and animation quality elevate what might have been a straightforward platformer into a moving piece of interactive storytelling. From the subtle background details to the expressive character animation, every visual element contributes to a cohesive tone that’s both majestic and playful. Combined with an evocative soundtrack underscoring the climb’s highs and lows, Hermes delivers a truly cinematic platforming experience.

While the main ascent takes just a few hours for experienced players, the variety of hidden collectibles, daily challenges, and speedrun leaderboards ensures substantial replay value. You’ll find yourself chasing faster ascent times, hunting down elusive lore fragments, and experimenting with different playstyles to maximize hawk boosts and cloud maneuvers.

In sum, Hermes is a well-crafted blend of precision platforming, mythic atmosphere, and rewarding progression. It strikes an ideal balance between challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for newcomers and veteran speedrunners alike. For anyone seeking a fresh twist on the vertical platformer—and a chance to walk (or run) in the sandals of a Greek god—Hermes is a journey worth undertaking.

Retro Replay Score

null/10