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Hugo (video game)
Encyclopedia
The original set of Hugo games for children first appeared for the purpose of interactive television
in 1990. Soon after, it was converted for the Commodore Amiga
and personal computer
platforms as Hugo and Hugo 2. Since then, there have been various console ports and versions.
. The game featured only one scenario, the "Labyrinth" (also known as "Goldmine"). It was created by SilverRock Productions (later ITE Media) as their first game since Super OsWALD in 1989.
The first "real" games were the 1992 Amiga games Hugo - På Nye Eventyr (the "Train and Mountain" levels) and its sequel, Hugo - På Nye Eventyr Del 2 (the "Forest and Plane" levels). These two were later rereleased as a compilation, titled simply Hugo, in 1994 and then ported to the PC in 1995 (some sources give the dates of 1995 and 1996).
The other PC releases included Hugo 2 (1996), Hugo 3, Hugo 4, Hugo 5 (1997), and Hugo 6; gradually providing new minigames based on the expanding television show. These were later visually upgraded in the compilations Hugo Gold (1998), Hugo Platin (1999), and Hugo XL (1999); as well as the first four titles in the Hugo Classic Collection compilation series in 2000.
versions of Hugo and Hugo 2, both released by Laguna in 1995–1996 (or 1994–1997), are actually very different than the computer games, despite sharing the same title. In the first of these, Hugolina gets kidnapped by the Horned King, ruler of the castle Arbarus, after agreeing to his invitation; and Hugo has to free her and defeat the King. In the second, the goal is not to rescue the troll's family, but rather to help Hugo himself escape, as Scylla keeps him prisoner in her own magic castle. Due to limitations of the system, both games are simple side-scrolling platform game
s. In 1998, Hugo 2 was ported by Infogames for Game Boy Color
as Hugo 2½, more faithful to the source material, although still featuring simplified graphics and gameplay.
The two Sony
PlayStation games of 1998–2000 (again titled simply Hugo and Hugo 2) were based directly on the computer games, but featured improved graphics and sounds (including music tracks for each stage), as well as a rendered intro sequence in Hugo 2.
Scylla (Hexana or Afskylia in some countries), the scourge of the troll
woods, caught and locked up Hugo, the troll's wife Hugoline, and the three children Rit, Rat, and Rut; because she needs them for her magic beauty treatment. Hugo must rescue them and bring peace to the woods, but because of evil Scylla there are many various obstacles in his path. Through the games, Hugo (voiced by Michael Habeck
) and sometimes also Scylla (voiced by Karin Kernke) communicate with the player directly (using digitized speeches), thus breaking the fourth wall
(and even knocking on or scratching the screen from the inside).
The player has to complete several minigame
s on the way to rescuing Hugolina and the kids, and then complete the end games. Most of the scenarios use 2.5D
graphics and are played using limited controls due to their origins in the television show. Some of the total of about 20 minigames (number varying depending of the version of the game) include:
If the player manages to complete the journey and reach the destination (all minigames successfully completed), they proceed to the final set of minigames, after which the game is finished with a happy ending and the player's score is doubled. Hugo (PSX) and Hugo Platin featured two new exclusive end games, "Apple Harvest" and "Magic Hands". The rest were:
Interactive television
Interactive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
in 1990. Soon after, it was converted for the Commodore Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
platforms as Hugo and Hugo 2. Since then, there have been various console ports and versions.
Computer games
The first Hugo computer game was Skærmtrolden Hugo, released in 1991 for the Amiga and Commodore 64Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. The game featured only one scenario, the "Labyrinth" (also known as "Goldmine"). It was created by SilverRock Productions (later ITE Media) as their first game since Super OsWALD in 1989.
The first "real" games were the 1992 Amiga games Hugo - På Nye Eventyr (the "Train and Mountain" levels) and its sequel, Hugo - På Nye Eventyr Del 2 (the "Forest and Plane" levels). These two were later rereleased as a compilation, titled simply Hugo, in 1994 and then ported to the PC in 1995 (some sources give the dates of 1995 and 1996).
The other PC releases included Hugo 2 (1996), Hugo 3, Hugo 4, Hugo 5 (1997), and Hugo 6; gradually providing new minigames based on the expanding television show. These were later visually upgraded in the compilations Hugo Gold (1998), Hugo Platin (1999), and Hugo XL (1999); as well as the first four titles in the Hugo Classic Collection compilation series in 2000.
Console games
The Game BoyGame Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
versions of Hugo and Hugo 2, both released by Laguna in 1995–1996 (or 1994–1997), are actually very different than the computer games, despite sharing the same title. In the first of these, Hugolina gets kidnapped by the Horned King, ruler of the castle Arbarus, after agreeing to his invitation; and Hugo has to free her and defeat the King. In the second, the goal is not to rescue the troll's family, but rather to help Hugo himself escape, as Scylla keeps him prisoner in her own magic castle. Due to limitations of the system, both games are simple side-scrolling platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
s. In 1998, Hugo 2 was ported by Infogames for Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
as Hugo 2½, more faithful to the source material, although still featuring simplified graphics and gameplay.
The two Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation games of 1998–2000 (again titled simply Hugo and Hugo 2) were based directly on the computer games, but featured improved graphics and sounds (including music tracks for each stage), as well as a rendered intro sequence in Hugo 2.
Gameplay
In most of the games, the wicked witchWitchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
Scylla (Hexana or Afskylia in some countries), the scourge of the troll
Troll
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
woods, caught and locked up Hugo, the troll's wife Hugoline, and the three children Rit, Rat, and Rut; because she needs them for her magic beauty treatment. Hugo must rescue them and bring peace to the woods, but because of evil Scylla there are many various obstacles in his path. Through the games, Hugo (voiced by Michael Habeck
Michael Habeck
Michael Habeck was a German actor who was best known for providing the German dubbing for Oliver Hardy after Bruno W. Pantel died....
) and sometimes also Scylla (voiced by Karin Kernke) communicate with the player directly (using digitized speeches), thus breaking the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
(and even knocking on or scratching the screen from the inside).
The player has to complete several minigame
Minigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s on the way to rescuing Hugolina and the kids, and then complete the end games. Most of the scenarios use 2.5D
2.5D
2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
graphics and are played using limited controls due to their origins in the television show. Some of the total of about 20 minigames (number varying depending of the version of the game) include:
- Ballooning: Hugo's balloonBalloonA balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
has a hole and he has to make an emergency landing at the bottom of a ravine. - Climbing Wall: In this game, the troll has to climb a mountain while being chased by rising lavaLavaLava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
, avoiding dead ends and picking up gold bags for points. This scenario was re-made for Hugo 2 (PSX). - Forest: Hugo wanders through a dark forest where the cunning witch has set up many traps awaiting the troll. The player must make it safely through the forest. This scenario was re-made for Hugo (PSX).
- Handcar: Hugo has found an old track that directly leads to the skull-shaped cave of Scylla. The player must ensire the troll and his handcarHandcarA handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases...
reach their destination safely by cleverly changing tracks, dodging the oncoming steam trains and collecting gold bags. This scenario was re-made for Hugo 2 (PSX). - Ice Cavern (or Dolmen Cave): Hugo has found a secret back-entrance to the witch's lair, and in order to get in Hugo must jump around, collecting treasures, on ice pillars that are constantly moving up and down. If he stays on the pillars too long, some of the witch's traps will trigger. This scenario was re-made for Hugo 2 (PSX).
- Labyrinth: Hugo attempts to go through a labyrinth to the top of a mountain. Scylla floods it in an attempt to drown the troll, so the player has to find the right path fast while avoiding traps.
- Mine Track: Takes place underground in the long shafts of a mine. Moving at high speed in a mining wagon, Hugo must find the exit to the mine. In the ceiling and corridors lie many obstacles which he must try to avoid; picking up gold on the way increases the score.This scenario was re-made for Hugo 2 (PSX).
- Moor: Hugo must cross a dangerous moor to reach Scylla's lair. He must steer clear of the numerous hidden dangers that lie ahead of him, including treacherous mud holes, colonies of bats, and a test which he must solve, if and when he finally reaches the end of the game. This scenario was re-made for Hugo 2 (PSX).
- Mountaineering: Hugo is running up a mountain, dodging rolling boulders while trying to collect gold bags. This scenario was re-made for Hugo (PSX) and Hugo XL.
- Parachutist: In this scene, Hugo parachuteParachuteA parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
s directly to the witch's secret hideout in the forest. The player must steer Hugo to avoid obstacles such as birds and storm clouds, while collecting bags of gold. - Pilot: The troll is flying a biplaneBiplaneA biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
through a thunderstorm summoned by the witch, avoiding the storm and mines while collecting gold. This scenario was re-made for Hugo (PSX) and Hugo XL. - Rafting: Hugo is raftRaftA raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is the most basic of boat design, characterized by the absence of a hull...
ing on tree trunks along a wild river and must avoid branches and other hazards. He also cannot stay still too long, so the player must move through the trunks quickly, while collecting gold bags along the way, if possible. This scenario was re-made for Hugo (PSX) and Hugo XL. - Sleigh Ride: Hugo is sledding down a hill, avoiding birds and snowmen while collecting bags of gold. This scenario was re-made twice, first for Hugo Platin and then for Hugo 2 (PSX).
- Snowboarding: On the mountain, Hugo has found snow tracks that lead down to the witch's cave. Unfortunately, Scylla knows Hugo's plans and has started an avalanche. The track down the hill is a net of skiing tracks with dead ends, and fast and slow slopes. Hugo swings on his snowboardSnowboardSnowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
, avoiding rolling snowballs and steep chasms while collecting gold. This scenario was re-made twice, first for Hugo Platin and Hugo Classic 2, and then for Hugo 2 (PSX). - Stones: Hugo is pursued by huge stones while trying to avoid being trapped in dead ends. Scylla has placed obstacles along the way to make things tough for Hugo, including tree roots to trip him up, as well as lava pits and other such "delights".
If the player manages to complete the journey and reach the destination (all minigames successfully completed), they proceed to the final set of minigames, after which the game is finished with a happy ending and the player's score is doubled. Hugo (PSX) and Hugo Platin featured two new exclusive end games, "Apple Harvest" and "Magic Hands". The rest were:
- Rope: As Hugo finally stands in front of Scylla and the cage that contains his family, he has to decide between three ropes in an attempt to vanquish her. Depending on the success or failure of this, either Hugo or Scylla is magically bound to, and then ejected from, a catapult. If he selects the correct rope, Hugo wins the confrontation and frees his family.
- Lightning Bolts: Hugo has to hop though a checkboard-style stage to collect a key and open the door, while avoiding lightning spells being hurled at him by Scylla in a final attempt to stop him.
- Keys: Hugo must find the right scene to open the door leading to Scylla's treasure room.
External links
- Hugo at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Hugo at Giant BombGiant BombGiant Bomb is an American video game website and wiki that includes gaming news, reviews, commentary, and video, created by former GameSpot editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis in collaboration with Whiskey Media...
- Amiga Hugo games at HOL database Classic Hugo games at Hugo-Troll.de