Hydlide
Encyclopedia
is a action role-playing
video game developed and published by T&E Soft
. It was originally released for the NEC PC-6001
and NEC PC-8801
computer in 1984, in Japan
only; an MSX
release came the following year. A Nintendo Famicom
version was first released under the name Hydlide Special on March 18, 1986 in Japan; three years later, in June 1989, that version saw a North American release by FCI
, its title having been returned to simply Hydlide.
Finally, the young knight Jim stood up and took action to restore peace in the kingdom. He bravely made his way into the wilderness in full armour to fight the monsters...
(from rpgclassics.com)
, The Tower of Druaga, and the original Ultima, though Hydlide failed to capture the same attention as the aforementioned titles beyond Japan. It was initially well-received and considered an innovator when released in Japan back in 1984. Some of these innovations include being able to switch between attack mode and defense mode, quick save
and load options which can be done at any moment of the game through the use of passwords
as the primary back-up, and the introduction of a health regeneration mechanic where health and magic slowly regenerate when standing still. However, the game took several years to release in America, by which time The Legend of Zelda
had a more refined, advanced take on the action-RPG formula, thus Hydlide was criticized by American audiences for seeming primitive in comparison. Nevertheless, the game is notable for having an influence on the acclaimed action RPG series, Ys, which for example, uses a similar health-regeneration mechanic. The recharging health mechanic first introduced by Hydlide in 1984 would, decades later, become a common mechanic widely used in many video games.
Hydlide is also infamously known for its repetitive music, which bears similarity to John Williams
' Indiana Jones
theme. For the Family Computer (NES) version this repetition is understandable, since it is one of the only two RPG/Adventure games made for the Family Computer without bankswitched
memory, and the other, Enix
's adventure game PORTOPIA Renzoku Satsujin Jiken
, has no music at all.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
video game developed and published by T&E Soft
Technology and Entertainment Software
, fully titled as Technology and Entertainment Software, is a Japanese based video game developer founded in 1982. Although they have made games with a wide variety of genres, they are primarily known in the U.S...
. It was originally released for the NEC PC-6001
NEC PC-6001
The NEC PC-6001 was the first of the NEC Corporation personal computer line. There were several versions of the PC-6001, including the PC-6001 MK2, the PC-6001 MK2 SR, and the PC-6801. There was also an American version, called the NEC TREK, or NEC PC-6001A...
and NEC PC-8801
NEC PC-8801
The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
computer in 1984, in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
only; an MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
release came the following year. A Nintendo Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
version was first released under the name Hydlide Special on March 18, 1986 in Japan; three years later, in June 1989, that version saw a North American release by FCI
Fujisankei Communications International
Fujisankei Communications International, Inc. is the American arm of the Fujisankei Communications Group , an important Japanese media conglomerate of television and radio channels, magazine, newspaper, record and video game companies. The Fujisankei Communications Group owns about 100 companies,...
, its title having been returned to simply Hydlide.
Storyline
In the kingdom of Fairyland, three magic jewels were enshrined in the palace to maintain peace in the kingdom. One day, an evil man broke into the palace and stole one of the three magic jewels. Without the third jewel, the two remaining jewels lost their magic sparkle. The magic spell that sealed the power of Boralis, the most vicious demon in the kingdom, was broken. During the turmoil which followed, the last two jewels were stolen. Boralis cast a special magic on Princess Ann, turning her into three fairies, and hid her somewhere in the kingdom. He then let loose a horde of monsters across the land and became the ruler of the kingdom.Finally, the young knight Jim stood up and took action to restore peace in the kingdom. He bravely made his way into the wilderness in full armour to fight the monsters...
(from rpgclassics.com)
Notable aspects
The game is notable for being one of the first ever console role-playing games. The game appears to have been influenced by Dragon SlayerDragon Slayer
is an early action role-playing game developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1984 for the NEC PC-88 computer system and ported by Square for the MSX. Designed by Yoshio Kiya, the game gave rise to a series of sequels, nearly all of them created by Falcom, with the exception of Faxanadu by Hudson...
, The Tower of Druaga, and the original Ultima, though Hydlide failed to capture the same attention as the aforementioned titles beyond Japan. It was initially well-received and considered an innovator when released in Japan back in 1984. Some of these innovations include being able to switch between attack mode and defense mode, quick save
Saved game
A saved game is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a video game. This saved game can be reloaded later, so the player can continue where he or she had stopped...
and load options which can be done at any moment of the game through the use of passwords
Password (video games)
In many video games of the 8-bit and, to a lesser extent, 16-bit eras , after a level was beaten and/or when all continues were used, the game would display a password, that when entered in the game would allow the player to return to this part in the game...
as the primary back-up, and the introduction of a health regeneration mechanic where health and magic slowly regenerate when standing still. However, the game took several years to release in America, by which time The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda, originally released as in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Nintendo, and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Set in the fantasy land of Hyrule, the plot centers on a boy named Link, the playable protagonist, who aims to collect the eight fragments...
had a more refined, advanced take on the action-RPG formula, thus Hydlide was criticized by American audiences for seeming primitive in comparison. Nevertheless, the game is notable for having an influence on the acclaimed action RPG series, Ys, which for example, uses a similar health-regeneration mechanic. The recharging health mechanic first introduced by Hydlide in 1984 would, decades later, become a common mechanic widely used in many video games.
Hydlide is also infamously known for its repetitive music, which bears similarity to John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
' Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
theme. For the Family Computer (NES) version this repetition is understandable, since it is one of the only two RPG/Adventure games made for the Family Computer without bankswitched
Bank switching
Bank switching is a technique to increase the amount of usable memory beyond the amount directly addressable by the processor. It can be used to configure a system differently at different times; for example, a ROM required to start a system from diskette could be switched out when no longer...
memory, and the other, Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
's adventure game PORTOPIA Renzoku Satsujin Jiken
Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken
, is an adventure game designed by Yuji Horii and published by Enix . It was first released on the NEC PC-6001 in June 1983, and later ported to other personal computers...
, has no music at all.
Sequels
Hydlide had several follow-ups:- Hydlide II: Shine of Darkness was originally released for the NEC PC-8801NEC PC-8801The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
in 1985 and then ported to the MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
in Japan. An official English version was released through the Dutch MSX games distribution platform WOOMB.net in late 2006, the first official release outside Japan. The game introduced a morality meter, where the player can be alignedAlignment (role-playing games)In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
with Justice, Normal, or Evil. Killing humans or good monsters lowers the player's morality, while fighting evil monsters increases it. If the player has an evil alignment, the townsfolk will ignore the player, denying access to certain clues, dialogues, equipment, and training. The game also introduced a time option, allowing the player to speed up or slow down the gameplay. - Hydlide 3: The Space MemoriesSuper HydlideSuper Hydlide, known in Japan as Hydlide 3: The Space Memories, is a an action role-playing game released in 1987 for the MSX and NEC PC-88, 1989 for the Nintendo Famicom and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and 1990 for the Sharp X68000...
was released in 1987 for the MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
in Japan; a Family Computer version (with the subtitle 闇からの訪問者 = yami kara no houmonsha = visitor from darkness) was released in Japan in 1989. The game retains the morality meter of its predecessor and expands the time option with an in-game clock and a need to sleep and eat. The game uses four distinct character classes. This game was also re-released through the Dutch MSX games distribution platform WOOMB.net in late 2006, with an English translation. - Super HydlideSuper HydlideSuper Hydlide, known in Japan as Hydlide 3: The Space Memories, is a an action role-playing game released in 1987 for the MSX and NEC PC-88, 1989 for the Nintendo Famicom and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and 1990 for the Sharp X68000...
is a remake of Hydlide 3 released for the Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
. It was released in Japan in 1989, in North America in 1990, and in Europe in 1991. - Virtual HydlideVirtual HydlideVirtual Hydlide is an action-adventure video game for the Sega Saturn console, developed by T&E Soft. It is a remake of the original Hydlide, the first game in the series, but incorporated full 2.5D graphics....
is a 1995 remake of Hydlide, still developed by T&E Soft but released exclusively for the Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
.