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 Well since Hydlide is nearly universally considered the worst NES game
ever released I figured I should give it a try. I had heard the same complaints about Back to the Future and actually
enjoyed it. So here is my take on Hydlide. Bottom line: it is not a complete waste
of a game of which all the games should be rounded up and sent into
space. In fact, it is a good game
with some major problems.
Hydlide is actually quite a unique game. In many ways it is a lesser version of Spiritual Warfare which is a
lesser version of The Legend of
Zelda. You explore an
overworld, go into dungeons, find items that
allow you to get other items. Heck
you even swim, fighting eels and losing health “because of your heavy armor” according to the manual. All this makes Hydlide a fun game.
However, the battle engine is unique and some consider this a bad
thing. Personally, I like the
different battle method. Instead
of walking up to someone and hitting a button which causes your sword to
come out and stab something, you hold down A and run into your
opponent. No you don’t joust them. The goal is to sneak up behind them and
shank em’ in the back. Oh flashbacks of my prison days, good
times. I was a lot buffer back then. Like Zelda you get a better shield and
sword and many other goodies.
One of your goals is to level up
by filling your experience bar which then empties and you gain a sliver
of life and strength. Both of
which are very helpful. This
system while a good idea leads to a ton of grinding. That is, killing guys repeatedly in an
attempt to fill that god forsaken long experience bar. Eventually it takes a lot of tough dead
baddies to fill it.
Another major problem with Hydlide is the complete lack of information. I decided to read the manual and not
read any sort of FAQ, yeah right that didn’t work. The manual
does not even tell you the goal of the game, which is to find 3 hidden
fairies. Also the manual says the
toughest guy is the vampire. Hmm,
that led me to believe I would not be able to kill him until the very
end. Wrong again, he is the first
guy you have to kill.
Unfortunately I had to read a little bit of a FAQ just to figure
out what the heck is going on.
After reading a tiny bit, I blazed through about half the game
quickly.
 Another major problem is how ridiculously
hard the game is at the beginning.
I can see some potential reviewer sticking in the cartridge,
walking up to a slime, hitting A to stab it and
then dying. Then repeating 4
times, turning off the game, and proclaiming that it has the stench of a hmm something stanky. The trick is to very slowly and
carefully grind out a level or two at the start killing slimes. This will be a tedious beginning to the
game but will allow you to then actually enjoy the game. I have done you all a favor and grinded
out a level and then recorded the password. This password only gives you a level
and nothing else, no items at all.
So if you feel like skipping that oh so fun initial grinding level
just use this badboy:
M7KMD6B9J6VQGNP7 –
There 1 free level with no grinding! Huzzah!!
Well since I’ve already mentioned it, another big plus
it that you can get a password at any time. Even better, you can save at any
point. Of course Hydlide has no battery so your
game will only be saved until you turn it off, but it is still quite
helpful. You will die, and you
will die a hundred thousand times at least. However, each time you die just load it
up. Any time you get a couple
slivers of experience just go ahead and save.
It should be mentioned that a lot
of the criticism for Hydlide stems
from its late release on the NES.
When it dropped into the United States in 1989 it was
roundly lambasted as a horrible The
Legend of Zelda clone but it actually pre-dates Zelda by two
years. In Japan Hydlide was released on the Famicom in 1986 and was an
enhanced remake of a 1984 computer game adding the ability to use magic,
which was introduced in Hydlide 2 on
the PC in 1986. This is understandable
because as I played the game I couldn’t help but think that it felt more
like an awesome Atari game than a crappy NES game. At the same time that Hydlide was being ridiculed in the
United States,
Hydlide 3 was released for the
Famicom. An enhanced version of
this title was released on the Genesis with the name Super Hydlide and is actually somewhat popular.
Positives:
It has a unique battle system
which some despise. Very similar
to The Legend of Zelda in some
ways which is always a plus.
Excellent saving, loading, password system.
Glaring
Negatives:
There are a ton of stumbling
blocks which take this game from a unique, interesting B+ game to a
problematic C- game. There is no
indication what you are supposed to do, other than a few obvious chests
you can grab and holes you can enter.
The leveling system requires a ton of grinding which can be
brutal. The game is a bit too
simplistic. The sheer number of
deaths is ridiculous.
Graphics
and Sound: Good
The graphics are basic but not
repulsive. The colors are bright
and everything is identifiable. They
remind me of Spiritual Warfare. The sound is quite annoying and
repetitive.
 Gameplay and
Controls: Decent
The controls aren’t bad.
I wouldn’t say they
are great, but I have no complaints.
Features:
Password Mode
There is a save option and a great,
simple, password option. There are
no crazy Metroid passwords in
this game.
Fun?:
Maybe
It certainly has its
moments. The battle system is
fun. Exploring is fun. Not knowing what to do is not and
grinding is brutal.
Challenge:
Yes
It is tough to get started but
then it gets much easier. This
game is bizarre. The world is tiny
and there isn’t much to do,
but good luck figuring it out without a FAQ. With a FAQ you can finish it in about
an hour or two. Without a FAQ it
may take about 50!
Replay:
No
For me the grinding makes it a
one timer.
2
Player: No
You may be able to entice someone
into watching you play by telling them you are playing “the worst NES game ever.”
Though it would be a blatant lie.
Online
Manual?: Yes at Nintendo Age
All manuals can be found at www.nintendoage.com
Bottom
Line: Maybe
Trust me it is a decent game, but
it isn’t great. If you are in the mood for a unique
battle engine with a lot of grinding, give it a try.
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