Virtual Hydlide
Encyclopedia
Virtual Hydlide is an action-adventure video game
for the Sega Saturn
console, developed by T&E Soft
. It is a remake of the original Hydlide
, the first game in the series, but incorporated full 2.5D
graphics.
The player takes on the role of a hero on a quest to defeat an evil demon
named Varalys who has turned the princess of Hydlide into three fairies. Before confronting Varalys, the hero must find the fairies and three magical jewels to restore the princess to her regular self.
The game involves typical adventure/RPG
fare, in which the player roams the world (the titular Hydlide), searching through dungeon
s for weapons and armour. Virtual Hydlide however differs by leveling the player character up
only after completing certain objectives of the game, whereas most RPGs level the player character up once they have obtained a certain amount of experience points.
A fairly unique aspect of the gameThough not entirely unique; the same mechanic had already been seen in the 3DO game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer
. is the means by which it assures that each new game is different. While randomly generated levels have been used in video game RPGs (where they are known as random dungeon
s) since the dawn of the genre, the developers of Virtual Hydlide actually designed more than 20 different level maps for each of the seven dungeons, as well as more than 20 different maps for the overworld
. When starting a new game, the maps for the dungeons and overworld are randomly selected from their designated level sets. Thus, though every dungeon design was created by a human designer rather than a random level generator, there are more than 25 billion possible game worlds. Moreover, each game world is identified with an alphabetic code which may be entered when starting a new game, allowing players to replay favorite level designs or compete for high scores on identical worlds. However, non-boss enemies do not appear in set locations, and continuously respawn in randomly determined locations.
and physics, and lack of story .
The game was however praised for the concept of generating a unique playing world for each new quest.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
console, developed by T&E Soft
Technology and Entertainment Software
, fully titled as Technology and Entertainment Software, is a Japanese based video game developer founded in 1982. Although they have made games with a wide variety of genres, they are primarily known in the U.S...
. It is a remake of the original Hydlide
Hydlide
is a action role-playing video game developed and published by T&E Soft. It was originally released for the NEC PC-6001 and NEC PC-8801 computer in 1984, in Japan only; an MSX release came the following year...
, the first game in the series, but incorporated full 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.
The player takes on the role of a hero on a quest to defeat an evil demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
named Varalys who has turned the princess of Hydlide into three fairies. Before confronting Varalys, the hero must find the fairies and three magical jewels to restore the princess to her regular self.
The game involves typical adventure/RPG
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
fare, in which the player roams the world (the titular Hydlide), searching through dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
s for weapons and armour. Virtual Hydlide however differs by leveling the player character up
Level Up
Level Up was a UK children's TV programme that was broadcast on CBBC. It was launched on the 3rd April 2006, replacing Xchange. The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasting from 7:30am until 8:30am...
only after completing certain objectives of the game, whereas most RPGs level the player character up once they have obtained a certain amount of experience points.
A fairly unique aspect of the gameThough not entirely unique; the same mechanic had already been seen in the 3DO game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer is a fantasy First-Person Action role-playing game based on the second edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It was released in North America in 1994 and later released in Japan on January 20, 1995...
. is the means by which it assures that each new game is different. While randomly generated levels have been used in video game RPGs (where they are known as random dungeon
Random dungeon
A random dungeon is a dungeon in a role-playing video game which is procedurally generated by the computer using an algorithm, such that the dungeon is laid out differently every time the player enters it, and a player often never plays through quite the same dungeon twice. Random dungeons are...
s) since the dawn of the genre, the developers of Virtual Hydlide actually designed more than 20 different level maps for each of the seven dungeons, as well as more than 20 different maps for the overworld
Overworld
An overworld is, in a broad sense, an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other video game genres....
. When starting a new game, the maps for the dungeons and overworld are randomly selected from their designated level sets. Thus, though every dungeon design was created by a human designer rather than a random level generator, there are more than 25 billion possible game worlds. Moreover, each game world is identified with an alphabetic code which may be entered when starting a new game, allowing players to replay favorite level designs or compete for high scores on identical worlds. However, non-boss enemies do not appear in set locations, and continuously respawn in randomly determined locations.
Critical reception
Virtual Hydlide was panned by critics for its sub-par graphics system that sometimes went below 5 frames per second, poor enemy artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
and physics, and lack of story .
The game was however praised for the concept of generating a unique playing world for each new quest.