Play Hydlide Special (Japan) Online

Hydlide Special came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, developed and published by T&E Soft. It was one of many early action RPGs on the platform, arriving a few years before more polished titles would define the genre. The game is an enhanced port of the original Hydlide, which first appeared on Japanese computers.

You control a knight named Jim, exploring the world screen by screen to rescue three kidnapped fairies and defeat the evil Varalys. Combat is simple; you swing your sword at enemies like slimes and dragons, but you must also manage a stamina bar that depletes with each action. The game involves frequent backtracking, as certain areas require specific items or abilities to access. Progress feels slow and deliberate, with a high difficulty that punishes careless exploration. Playing it today offers a glimpse into the rough but earnest design of early console role-playing games.