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. (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/show...9&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