Released in 1989 for the NES, Hydlide is a classic action-RPG developed by T&E Soft. While it arrived in the West after The Legend of Zelda, its original Japanese release actually predates it, laying early groundwork for the genre with an open overworld, real-time combat, and a leveling system. You play as the brave knight Jim, exploring the realm of Fairyland to recover three magic fairies and defeat the evil demon Varalys.
How to Play
Your goal is to level up by defeating monsters, locate powerful artifacts, and survive long enough to brave the dungeons. Combat uses a “bump” system: you deal damage by colliding with enemies, but you must carefully manage your stance to avoid taking too much damage in return.
- Move: Arrow Keys
- A / B Buttons (Action / Magic): X / Z
- Start / Select: Enter / Shift
Tips
- Your health and magic will slowly regenerate if you stand completely still on the overworld. Find a safe spot to rest after difficult encounters.
- Stance management is critical. Make sure your sword is drawn when attacking, but switch to your shield when taking heavy hits or running past dangerous enemies.
- Take time to grind levels against weaker enemies like Slimes early on. Venturing too far from the starting area before leveling up will result in quick deaths.
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