found an overlooked classic Genesis RPG at a local shop

[Edmond Dantes]

In Hot Springs, Arkansas, there is a store called the Game Room. I had never heard of this place until they opened up a branch near where I live and they told me about their parent store.

So I went there, and acquired:

* Ultima Runes of Virtue II (Gameboy version) ($8, but I basically got it for free due to trade-ins)
* a new Sega CD ($50 for the CD Unit, power supply and my choice of game. I chose Sonic CD).
* Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops ($15)
* Metal Gear Acid 2 ($10)

Annnnnnnnnnd...

SUPER HYDLIDE! Complete with the case and manual! This was ten bucks, and the manual had a heavily creased cover, though all the pages were intact. The game looks like a former rental.

You know what, I'm gonna be honest: I didn't even think the NES Hydlide was that bad, but Super Hydlide is far and away one of the best and most overlooked RPGs on the Sega Genesis, probably owing to nothing other than the reputation of its NES forebearer. In any case, it is MINE now, and I shall KEEP it! *Hugs his Super Hydlide*

Now if only I could find a copy of Crusader of Centy somewhere...

[Blitzwing256]

its one of my absolute favorate genesis games, good luck beating the final boss though, i've tried 100s of times and just can't seem to do it.

[Melf]

This game gets so much hate, and I don't know why. The music is astounding, the gameplay is solid, and the quest is long and involved. Sure, the graphics suck, but once you get past that, you have an excellent little RPG. It has one of the more unique final bosses in gaming, too!

[Graham Mitchell]

I've never played it either. I need to get my hands on a copy one of these days. There's an MSX and Famicom port of the game, but from what I understand the Genesis version blows them all away.

[Olls]

That game is bottom of the barrel stuff compared to every other Genesis RPG.
But, CIB for 10 bucks, you could do worse.

[sheath]

Hmm, now I'm going to have to try Super Hydlide.

[Black_Tiger]

its one of my absolute favorate genesis games, good luck beating the final boss though, i've tried 100s of times and just can't seem to do it.

You have to let him eat you, then attack from inside his body.

[Blitzwing256]

You have to let him eat you, then attack from inside his body.


oh I know how to beat him, by the time I've destroyed his 4 "humps" my hp is just not high enough to beat him from within (the price I paid for using the class with the lowest hp max)

The only reason the game gets so much hate is because of the name, people hated the nes version and people like to go with whats cool, so it's instantly hated wthout being given a chance.

[QuickSciFi]

Congratulations. I got mine recently together with its NES counterpart. 'Can't wait to get my hands on them. Maybe after this semmester ends. Melf has a neat review on it at sega-16. Hopefully you'll read it when the site gets back up.

[Melf]

That game is bottom of the barrel stuff compared to every other Genesis RPG.
But, CIB for 10 bucks, you could do worse.

It's a lot better than people give it credit for. I think most just can't get past the tiny visuals.

[megasdkirby]

Super Hydlide has some very impressive tunes for the time.

[Black_Tiger]

Super Hydlide was the second game I ever mail ordered (the first was PSII). I was desperate for some kind of RPG/adventure games for Genesis and I was mainly disappointed with its length. It would've been nice if they'd given you something to do after beating the last boss.

[smii]

I think most just can't get past the tiny visuals.

The first time I played Super Hydlide, I honestly wondered whether it was broken. It reminded me of Ceefax.

[Oldskool]

I have heard that this game has an epic soundtrack, but have yet to play it. It's funny that people say the Genesis didn't have any RPGS. It does, and quite a few of them, it's just that no one has heard of them because they are not made by Square! @_@

I personally thought the NES version was a pile of dog shit. So I basically assumed the same of all versions. Maybe I should give this one a shot sometime if it's cheap.

[Edmond Dantes]

The first time I played Super Hydlide, I honestly wondered whether it was broken. It reminded me of Ceefax.

... Ceefax?


I have heard that this game has an epic soundtrack, but have yet to play it. It's funny that people say the Genesis didn't have any RPGS. It does, and quite a few of them, it's just that no one has heard of them because they are not made by Square! @_@

I personally thought the NES version was a pile of dog shit. So I basically assumed the same of all versions. Maybe I should give this one a shot sometime if it's cheap.

Well "Versions" is a misnomer. They're different games entirely (Super Hydlide is actually Hydlide III. Hydlide II was only for Japanese computers and never had a console port, thus never getting released stateside, though I think there's an unofficial English version. I couldn't tell you where though--if I knew, I'd be playing it).

The NES one needs to be given some slack though: Its a console port of a PC game from 1984. That's just a year after Ultima: Exodus... okay, so that comparison just did the game no favors, but still.

I liked Hydlide 1 as a fun little time-waster, but Hydlide III is just awesome. To put it in perspective: I just spent literally all day playing it. I didn't even realize I had been at it so long until I looked and asked "Huh, where did the sun go?"

[smii]

... Ceefax?

Yarp. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceefax) (Also many fine videos on YT it seems ;) ) It'll be dead soon, when analogue tv is switched off in the UK.

[Olls]

It's a lot better than people give it credit for. I think most just can't get past the tiny visuals.

Aside from the better than average music compositions and the somewhat unique (certainly for its time) boss fight, I can't think of anything redeeming.
I mean, it isn't worse than games such as Traysia, Exile and Fatal Labyrinth, but not really better either.

[darkwingduck13]

Congrats on discovering the Game Room in Hot Springs. I posted pics of the place and some details of my own discovery of the store a long while back. It's one of the best B&M stores I've ever had the pleasure to visit, and I still make a pilgrimage there about once a year and come out with a bag of stuff. I think this is the post I made about it:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1567909&postcount=30

[Melf]

I mean, it isn't worse than games such as Traysia, Exile and Fatal Labyrinth, but not really better either.

Fatal Labyrinth is ok (lack of password or save feature kills it), Traysia is decent, but Exile rocks. I'd put it the same category as the first two, worth playing but not spectacular. It's a cool game, but it's not up there with the Phantasy Stars or Shining games, to be sure.

[QuickSciFi]

I didn't know Fatal Labyrinth couldn't save. Reminds me of those NES RPG-like titles that did the same. What a shame. I like the art style of the covers for those titles, they all seem to come from the same artist:

1. Fatal Labyrinth
2. Traysia
3. Exile
4. Sorcerer's Kingdom

[Blitzwing256]

I recently re-started traysia to see if there is any redeeming quality to it, I got it back in the day pretty cheaply and always got frustrated in the secondish area where suddenly everything kills you instantly if you didn't spend 6 years leveling up in the first cave. Taking my time leveling up and buying equipment before moving on, lets see if I can get past this barrier ;-)

[QuickSciFi]

^About Traysia: Is anyone else getting the same thing as I, or am I stuck with a bad copy? There seems to be the biggest glitch of any RPG on this one: every three to six inches that you scroll through the screen, the party (sprite) halts for a fraction of a second. It's an intermittent mooove... HALT! mooove... HALT! and on and on.

[Blitzwing256]

i've never noticed anything like that on the original cartridge or on an emulator, maybe its one of the games that have issues with a 6-button controller?

[QuickSciFi]

No, I tried it with both just now. It's not a controller issue. But I did look over a couple of youtube vids and the problem persists with those vids. Are u sure you're not getting it? It's not exactly a halt, just a little bumpity stroll, if you will. It's quite annoying, since you don't get to walk on a smooth line, every three inches or so, the entire screen bumps in the direction you're walking. Just try to walk your character from one side of the town to the other without halting and you'll see.

[old man]

No, I tried it with both just now. It's not a controller issue. But I did look over a couple of youtube vids and the problem persists with those vids. Are u sure you're not getting it? It's not exactly a halt, just a little bumpity stroll, if you will. It's quite annoying, since you don't get to walk on a smooth line, every three inches or so, the entire screen bumps in the direction you're walking. Just try to walk your character from one side of the town to the other without halting and you'll see.

I noticed that as well. It's pretty annoying. I've tried it on a Genesis 3, a model 1, and emulator. It's the same every time. Mine was the US NTSC version if that helps.

All you people's love for Super Hydlide is scaring me.:eek 2:

[Edmond Dantes]

I suppose I should look up this "Traysia" thing, I've never heard of it.

Personally I couldn't get into the Phantasy Star games (except the first one) or Shining Force 1... I liked 2 though, mostly for the improved soundtrack, but I could still never keep interested long enough to beat it.

[QuickSciFi]

I noticed that as well. It's pretty annoying. I've tried it on a Genesis 3, a model 1, and emulator. It's the same every time. Mine was the US NTSC version if that helps.
...

Thanks. I was starting to think I was the only one over here. Walking around freely through towns and worlds is one of my favorite things about RPGs. This game had excellent graphics, but the gameplay is way too buggy. I'm still going to try to enjoy it as much as I can, but it's going to have to be intermittently, as the gameplay makes me dizzy.

[old man]

I really loved Traysia's battle system. It would have been awesome with a little bit more refinement and better AI. If your having trouble then there is a defensive item (can't remember it's name ATM) you can buy a lot of and equip them all. As long as you've got enough gold it makes you pretty much invincible.

[Blitzwing256]

The battle system reminds me alot of ultima exodus and avatar on the nes, I could really get into it if it wasn't so horribly balanced, the snake things in one area don't hurt you at all, yet the birds in the same area kill you in one hit. frustrating