D4 Enterprise is continuing the pace of PC-88 games releasing on Switch under their EggConsole label with 1987’sHydlide3: The Space Memories. Like many of their recent releases, it has the caveatof being untranslated.
A couple months ago, we got the first Hydlide. Not having a translation was fine there since it didn’t have much text to begin with, butHydlide3has menus, stat windows, and dialogue that relies on knowledge of Japanese. It’s probably still doable without knowledge of the language, but it could be more comfortable.
TheHydlideseries is sometimes thought of as a progenitor of the JRPG, predatingDragon Quest, though the combat isYs-style bumping rather than turn-based.Hydlide 3,however, has an attack button, which does away with the bumping and makes it feel more akin toZelda. There’s also a day/night system and even morality.
A port for the Genesis/Mega Drive actually made its way to North America under the titleSuper Hydlide. Whether it’s good or not depends on your tastes. Both contemporary and recent critics suggest that it’s a very difficult game, and some like its hardcore flavor while others are repulsed by it. Me? I haven’t played it, but I’m probably going to. I’ve said this before, but while rereleasing untranslated games from a Japanese home computer is catering to an extremely niche audience, it’s one that I fit into.
