Disney's Animated Storybook: Hercules

As in other animated storybook titles, the story has been considerably condensed in order to work as a software program. Crucial details are imbedded in click-on visuals. As with other software programs of this genre, Hercules includes the Disney story told in a series of interactive scenes. This is based on the Disney Studios version of Hercules. The story tells of Hercules being born to Zeus and Hera. Due to the animosity of Hades, Hercules is stolen from his immortal parents and made mortal, though still extremely strong. He is then raised on earth by a mortal couple. Troubled by his great strength, Hercules prays to Zeus for advice and finds out that he is god-born. But, he cannot come back to Olympus until he becomes a hero. A true Hero. So, he is sent to the Satyr Philoctetes, who agrees to train him (after a little convincing from Zeus). Can Hercules become a hero? Each scene features brief text, narrated by two jive-talking Muses. Screen animation and character dialog follow. At this point the screen becomes static and the user has the opportunity to explore, clicking on objects that cause the lightening bolt-medallion cursor to change. Five activities can be accessed, including a matching game; a checkers activity; maze game; a monster-creation activity; and our reviewers' favorite, a viewing of the night sky complete with constellation discovery and descriptions. Also included in the program is a 'Sing-A-Long' section which includes three songs from the Hercules movie that can be enjoyed as sing-a-longs, or sung alone Karoke-style.