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Hydlide

NES

NES

An evil demon named Varalys casts a curse upon the princess Ann, turning her into three fairies. You control Sir Jim and set out to find the fairies, and then slay Varalys. Only by vanquishing Varalys can the curse be lifted. Once the princess is restored the kingdom will be saved. Hydlide is ...

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Developer
T&E Soft

Released on
1986

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Action

Publisher
FCI

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

An evil demon named Varalys casts a curse upon the princess Ann, turning her into three fairies. You control Sir Jim and set out to find the fairies, and then slay Varalys. Only by vanquishing Varalys can the curse be lifted. Once the princess is restored the kingdom will be saved.

Hydlide is an action game with strong role-playing elements. The player has to explore vast wilderness areas, descending into dungeons and eliminating enemies on the way. Combat system is similar to the one implemented in Ys series: attacking enemies requires the player to “bump” into them, at the same time preventing them from attacking the playable character from the sides and the back. The player can change between defensive and offensive stances by pressing a single button. Magic spells can also be used to dispose of the enemies. The player character grows stronger and gains better parameters as he advances in the game.

Hydlide

Overview & History

Released by T&E Soft and localized for the NES by FCI in 1989, Hydlide is a pioneering action-RPG that laid the foundational stones for the open-world genre. Originally developed for Japanese home computers, the NES port attempted to bring Jim's perilous quest to save the kingdom of Fairyland to a broader console audience. Players control Jim, a young knight tasked with recovering three stolen magic jewels to break a spell cast on Princess Rita by the wicked wizard Varalys. While overshadowed in the West by contemporaries like The Legend of Zelda, Hydlide is historically notable for introducing a pioneering stamina and fatigue meter, as well as a rudimentary moral alignment system governed by collecting fairies.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional RPGs relying on menu-driven combat, Hydlide utilizes a unique bump-combat system. Jim does not possess a dedicated sword-swing button; instead, players toggle between "Attack" and "Defensive" modes via the inventory screen, then physically ram into wandering slimes, wizards, and dragons to inflict damage. Success hinges entirely on balancing Jim's offense and defense levels against enemy stats. Furthermore, the game world operates on real-time item degradation and enemy regeneration. If Jim lingers too long in the overworld or dungeons, his magic points deplete, and defeated monsters rapidly respawn, forcing meticulous route planning and item management, such as utilizing the cross to ward off vampires or the raft to cross treacherous rivers.