| Hydlide | |
|---|---|
Front cover of the MSX version of Hydlide. |
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| Publisher(s) | T&E Soft |
| Platform(s) | PC-6001, PC-8801, MSX, Sharp X1, Nintendo Famicom |
| Release date(s) | 1984 |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Hydlide (ハイドライド) is a 1984 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;[1] 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.
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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)
The game is notable for being one of the first Japanese role-playing video games.[1] The game appears to have been influenced by Dragon Slayer, The Tower of Druaga,[2] 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.[1] 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.[1][3] The recharging health mechanic first introduced by Hydlide in 1984 would, decades later, become a common mechanic widely used in many video games.[3]
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.
Hydlide had several follow-ups:
