Super Hydlide

Port

Super Hydlide is an action role-playing game for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. It incorporates a 'good/evil character' morality/alignment system. Like its predecessor Hydlide II: Shine of Darkness (1985), the player has a morality meter that can be aligned with either Justice, Normal, or Evil. The game has both good and evil monsters.

Released: 6 October 1989
Platforms: NES Sega Genesis
Genres: Role-playing
Developers: —
Publishers: Seismic Asmik Corporation Sega Europe
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Fantasy

About

Super Hydlide is an action role-playing game released by T&E Soft for the Genesis/Mega Drive. It was originally released in 1987 in Japan only under the title Hydlide 3: The Space Memories (ハイドライド３異次元の思い出, Haidoraido 3: I Jigen No Omoide) for the MSX, MSX2, and PC-8801mkII SR. It's the third game in the Hydlide series. Ports were also released for the X1, Famicom, X68000, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

The game was developed by Hydlide series veterans T&E Soft and released worldwide on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive on October 6, 1989, in Japan, early 1990 in the United States, and 1991 in Europe. This remake evidences substantial graphical upgrades to the original Hydlide 3, though the gameplay remains largely identical. , the other being Air Diver.

›Story

Many years after the events of Hydlide II, an explosion of flames appeared near The City of the Woods. After that, enemies were everywhere. A young man is chosen to find the source of the evil.

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game incorporates a 'good/evil character' morality/alignment system. Like its predecessor Hydlide II: Shine of Darkness (1985), the player has a morality meter that can be aligned with either Justice, Normal, or Evil. The game has both good and evil monsters. Evil monsters attack the player character on sight, while good monsters only attack if the player character attacks them first.

Killing any monster, good or evil, results in a reward of experience points, money, and occasionally a piece of equipment. However, if the player kills a good monster, points are lost from a statistic called "MF" (Moral Fiber). If the player's MF stat drops to zero, frequent traps will appear across the world. If the player manages to keep it over 100, rewards appear in the form of random items found around Fairyland.

Story

Many years after the events of Hydlide II, an explosion of flames appeared near The City of the Woods. After that, monsters spread throughout the world. A young man is chosen to find the source of the evil.

Reception

GamePro gave a positive review, citing the varied experiences offered by the different playable characters, the morality system, and the inclusion of four save slots.

Computer and Video Games scored it 81%, stating that, like Phantasy Star II, "this is a huge role-playing game", and that it is "a very tough game" which requires a strategy. They criticized the graphics and sound, but were positive to the gameplay. They recommended it to those who like games with steady pace and puzzles despite lacking the action.

Legacy

In 2007, Alex Lucard of Diehard GameFan listed Super Hydlide at number 27 in his list of top 30 RPGs. He cited the realism instilled by gameplay mechanics such as the encumbrance system, banks, the 24-hour clock, and the need to eat and sleep, and described the game as "Morrowind before there was Morrowind".

During production of Scalebound, PlatinumGames director Hideki Kamiya said he was inspired by Hydlide 3 on the PC-8801 MA as well as Sorcerian. He said Hydlide 3 was one of the first games he played on a PC and was inspirational because it had a hardcore game design that no one was doing on consoles at the time.