Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (video game)

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[edit] Gameplay

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a game for the Nintendo Entertainment System released by Bandai that is split between a light and dark world. In the real world, Dr. Jekyll moves right through Victorian England, as he walks to a nearby church for his wedding. However, once his anger 'meter' is filled, he turns into Mr. Hyde, who walks left through a parallel world of demons and can only change back by fighting monsters and emptying the stress meter. The object of the game is to make it to the church without dying, and without Hyde and Jekyll's paths crossing (Jekyll dies instantly if Hyde catches up with him). Mr. Hyde has a weapon called the Psycho Wave with which to fight off monsters, but Dr. Jekyll is virtually defenseless save for his cane, which can destroy an enemy insect. Dr. Jekyll faces attacks from bombers, archers, children, and even singers, while Mr. Hyde faces hopping brains, zombie babies and evil mermaids.

The game has six levels, and the order the levels are played are diffrent in both versions of the game. The US version reuses two levels, the Town and the Cemetry, which replace the City and the Alley from the Japanese version.
JAPAN: City, Park, Alley, Town, Cemetry, Street
US: Town, Cemetry, Town, Park, Cemetry, Street

The game features two diffrent endings depending on what the player does on the final level of the game. The first one is shown when you complete the final level with Jekyll, with 'The End' being shown on the screen with the wedding march playing in the background. The second ending needs a bit of thinking: On the final stage, the street level, Jekyll walks o the street, and Hyde jumps the rooftops. By doing this, Hyde never crosses Jekyll's path, and can therefore not be struck by lightning! If you turn into Hyde on the final level, and then jump on all the roofs successfully, Hyde will arrive at the chapel before Jekyll. Suddenly Hyde's anger meter empties completely, and a boss, Letule, shows up. It teleports around throwing stuff at Hyde. Each time Hyde hits it (best using the Psycho Wave), the anger meter fills a bit. When the meter fills, Letule explodes, and Hyde turns into Jekyll. Now you'll be back on the street with no enemies around, so Jekyll just has to walk to the chapel. Millicent, in a wedding gown, slowly walk towards each other from each side, and they kiss. The screen fades, and "End" appears with the wedding march playing.

[edit] Response

The game is thought of by many fans as extremely difficult to beat without using a Game Genie. It's considered to be one of the worst games ever released for the system due to the fact if Hyde travels a longer distance then Jekyll he will randomly be struck by lightning, he will die. It has gained a cult notoriety due to its reputation. The game was also the first ever article on Something Awful, and can still be found here[1], gaining a score of -37.