Olympus Maximus: Difference between revisions

 

[[File:Swarmed & Dangerous.png|thumb|200px|right|A previous name for this world, eventually used as the name of [[Swarmed and Dangerous|a level thereof]].]]

'''Olympus Maximus''' is the second-last world of ''[[Rayman Legends]]'' and the second world in ''[[Rayman Adventures]]''. It is a world inspired by mythology and paganism, mainly those of Ancient Greece. It features four different environments: Mount Olympus, the Underworld, temples and labyrinthine stone structures. The main enemies are the [[minotaur]]s, who appear in all of these environments.

===Mount Olympus===

Despite the name of the world, this environment is present in only two of its levels: the first, [[Shields Up... and Down]], and at the end of the last, [[A Cloud of Darkness!]], though early concept art sugested there was going to be more levels taking place in this area. It is a place at high altitude where everything is made of white marble. Despite this, the growth of vegetation seems uninhibited. There is grass to be seen on most of the platforms, and also trees as scenery elements. Some small trees can uproot themselves and move from one place to another, where they replant themselves. Apart from the mountains and the marble structures, there is a very calm sea to be seen. This sea, like the sky, is a very bright blue colour, which parodies the stereotypes of Greek summer weather. At first, there are only some white cumulus clouds in the sky, but towards the end of the first level the atmosphere becomes darker and more tempestuous, with many grey clouds that obscure the light. Apart from the marble platforms, there are floating shields with faces on them. These can serve as platforms, but also to block fireballs launched by [[minotaur]]s.

This environment makes many different references to paganism. The most obvious are the pillars and dilapidated marble structures which resemble the ancient temples that exist in Greece today, for example the Parthenon. There are also statues of some members of [[Globox's species]], as if they were mythological heroes. The marble doors that link the different sections of the levels have a symbol above them of an eye in a triangle, a reference to Egyptian mythology. There are constellations in the sky, of a flying [[pig]] and a member of [[Globox's species]] playing the lyre. These constellations reference astrology. Small [[minotaur]]s, who reference the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur mythical creature], appear in this environment. In the stormy section of the level [[Shields Up... and Down]], a white hand comes down from the sky and launches bolts of lightning onto the heroes. This is a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Zeus], the king of the Olympians in Greek mythology, who could throw thunderbolts.

| [[Image:Olympus Beginning.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The very first scene of this world. To be seen are a small [[minotaur]], a running tree in the background and a marble door with a symbol of an eye above it.]]

| [[Image:ConstellationRL(2).png|thumb|left|400px|Constellations, as can be seen in the cinematics of the defeat of the [[Dark Teensie]]s, and in the first level of this world, [[Shields Up... and Down]].]]

| [[Image:Olympus Constellation1.jpg|thumb|left|320px|We see a constellation of a flying [[pig]] in the sky.]]

| [[Image:Olympus Cannons.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Small [[minotaur]]s in the background use two cannons to launch fireballs to try to stop the heroes.]]

| [[Image:Olympus Storm.jpg|thumb|center|320px|A statue of a hero of the same [[Globox's species|species]] as [[Globox]].]]

| [[Image:Olympus Hand.jpg|thumb|left|320px|This white hand, a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Zeus], can electrocute the heroes if they don't hide themselves well under the shield.]]

===The labyrinthine structures===

One of the most important environments of this world is that of the labyrinth. These labyrinths are vast closed structures constructed in grey stone. On the walls, complicated diagrams appear, or sometimes symbols, such as a stylised "H", which resembles a gate of Hell and probably references Hades. These structures and diagrams on the walls probably reference the labyrinths of ancient mythology, most notably that constructed on Crete by Daedalus to imprison the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur Minotaur] (the creature which inspired the [[minotaur|main enemies of this world]]). Sometimes, huge floating stone cubes appear as elements of the scenery. In the level [[Hell Breaks Loose]], we learn that [[dragon (Olympus Maximus)|dragons]] live among these floating cubes. These [[dragon (Olympus Maximus)|dragons]] might reference oriental mythology.

The walls are often covered with spikes, and numerous [[buzzsaw]]s appear on the paths through the labyrinths, which makes these sections resemble somewhat the factories of the [[Moody Clouds]] of ''[[Rayman Origins]]''. Little turrets appear on the walls, which shoot flaming swords which follow the heroes (like the missiles shot by the [[Hunter]]s or the turrets of the [[Moody Clouds]] and [[20,000 Lums under the Sea]]). To progress in these sections, the heroes must use their power to run on the walls (not used in the other worlds of this game) quite often. Another detail of this environment, which is quite strange, is the fact that drums sometimes appear, which bounce the heroes when they jump on them. Some sections invert the screen, which increases the difficulty of the puzzles.

[[The Amazing Maze]] is a particularly complicated puzzle which takes place in this environment. The other levels which have sections in this environment are [[Shields Up... and Down]], [[The Dark Creatures Rise]], [[Swarmed and Dangerous]], [[Hell Breaks Loose]] and [[Dragon Slayer]].

| [[Image:Olympus ShieldsUp Secret1.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The first secret zone of the first level, [[Shields Up... and Down]], takes place in this environment.]]

| [[Image:The Dark Creatures Rise.jpg|thumb|left|320px|A labyrinth invaded by [[dark creature]]s.]]

| [[Image:Labyrinth Swords.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Heat-seeking swords fired by little turrets on the walls.]]

| [[Image:MinotaurCleansArea.jpg|thumb|left|320px|A zone of [[The Amazing Maze|the most complicated labyrinth]], where there are drums, spikes and a small [[minotaur]] who is cleaning the place.]]

| [[Image:Labyrinthique Switch.jpg|thumb|left|320px|This zone of [[the Amazing Maze]] shows a diagram of the labyrinth on the wall.]]

| [[Image:Labyrinth Inverted.jpg|thumb|left|320px|One of the secret zones of [[Swarmed and Dangerous]] takes place in a labyrinth which inverts the screen. [[buzzsaw]]s are also to be seen.]]

===The Underworld===

One of the other important places of this world is Hades, the Greek Underworld. Contrarily to the well-ordered labyrinths, this is a chaotic abyss. However, there are some similarities between these environments (such as the necessity to use the power to run on walls) and the heroes pass from one to the other quite frequently in the game. Even though this section is a metaphor for the Greek Underworld, one sees many details drawn from Christian ideas of "Hell", where the most serious sinners are punished. The pits of lava, out of which come jets and huge flames, seem reminiscent of the "lake of fire" mentioned in the Bible. Also, from time to time, [[devilbob]]s are seen, invoking notions of devils or demons. Apart from that, the environment mainly consists of jagged stone cliffs, sometimes with cascades of lava or burning fissures on them. The rock from which the cliffs are made seems to be a purple colour, but it is probably grey like the rock in the labyrinths, tinted by the red light from the fire and lava. There are doors carved into the cliffs to link the different sections of the levels. These doors are in the form of a triangle. This surely references Greek alchemy, because a triangle of this type is the symbol of the element of fire, which is found in many places in this environment. As on Mount Olympus, some statues of members of [[Globox's species]] appear, as well as some of [[Teensie]]s. These statues seem to portray soldiers, and are mostly found just outside secret doors.

As in the labyrinths, there are sometimes spikes on the walls, and drums to bounce the heroes. [[The Great Lava Pursuit]] contains shields like those on Mount Olympus, which again serve to block fireballs, as well as jets of lava. Apart from [[devilbob]]s, the main enemies are [[minotaur]]s and hordes of [[dark creature]]s, of which the heroes can sometimes be rid using fireworks [[mushroom]]s. Otherwise these creatures must be avoided at all costs.

All the levels of this world consist of sections featuring this environment, apart from [[Shields Up... and Down]] and [[the Amazing Maze]]. Some [[dark creature]]s invade the labyrinths of the second section of the level [[The Dark Creatures Rise]], and the second section of [[the Amazing Maze]] contains huge flames which chase the heroes.

| [[Image:The Dark Creatures Rise1.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The first scene of this environment, at the start of the level [[The Dark Creatures Rise]].]]

| [[Image:Minotaur stack.jpg|thumb|left|320px|[[Minotaur]]s are often found in the abyss.]]

| [[Image:Hades MinotaursCleanFissure.jpg|thumb|left|320px|As in the labyrinths, small [[minotaur]]s can be seen cleaning quite often.]]

| [[Image:MurfyHuntingDarkcreatures.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Hordes of [[dark creature]]s inhabit the Underworld.]]

| [[Image:Hades Drum.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Drums are also seen in the Underworld.]]

| [[Image:Hades Statues.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The doors of this environment are in the form of a triangle, the alchemical symbol for fire. Statues are often found near them.]]

| [[Image:Hades Shield1.jpg|thumb|left|320px|In [[the Great Lava Pursuit]], shields must be used to block fireballs, as on Mount Olympus.]]

| [[Image:Hades Shield2.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The shields also serve to block jets of lava.]]

| [[Image:Hades flames.jpg|thumb|left|320px|Huge flames often come out of the enormous pits of lava.]]

|}

===The temples===

In contrast to the dilapidated temples of Mount Olympus, these temples are vast and well maintained, by the small [[minotaur]]s. The marble floors are polished and ornate pillars of different sizes are to be seen. Most of these places are dark, but there seem to be a few windows, because the end of the level [[Swarmed and Dangerous]] is well lit. Apart from the pillars, statues of heroes of [[Globox's species]] are seen once again. This environment again references the temples built in Ancient Greece, for example the Parthenon.

The temples appear only at the end of the following levels: [[Swarmed and Dangerous]] and [[Dragon Slayer]]. These places are also invaded by groups of [[dark creature]]s. A [[Champibumper]] appears at the end of [[Dragon Slayer]], which propels the heroes onto a pillar in the middle of a pit of lava. This pillar is surrounded by other temples, which collapse into the abyss. These temples have symbols of skulls in triangles on them.

| [[Image:Olympus Temple1.jpg|thumb|left|320px|A dark zone of a temple, which is soon invaded by [[dark creature]]s.]]

| [[Image:Olympus Temple2.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The end of the level [[Swarmed and Dangerous]], with marble pillars and a statue of a member of [[Globox's species]].]]

==''[[Rayman Legends]]''==

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