I disagree. I found his walking to the left to be more enjoyable than when walking to the right, and if I may be so bold, I believe it to be the superior direction of walking in general.
@@donskiver same. I know any time I’m out in public and see someone walking to the right I think “imagine how much better it would be if they walked left.”
Took the dog out to go potty this morning and he wouldn’t come back in the house. So I walked out there barefoot to get him, and stepped in a pile of poo that my daughter failed to pick up and it was soggy with two days of constant rain. My Hyde meter went from 0 to 100 in a nanosecond.
"This game doesn't suck" *Immediately shows how much it sucks* I mean, you go 10 steps and get held up by the spider, then you get shot by the kid get hit by 2 townspeople and walk into a bomb in the span of 5 seconds, it looks like everything AVGN said it was
I think the game requires learning the mechanics to enjoy it. Understanding the logic behind the story and how they conveyed it contributed a lot to my actually enjoying the game by the end
@@retronate Hookay buddy, i bet you cook burnt well done steaks and serve them at parties telling people it requires learning the taste and the logic behind it to enjoy it. Objective and subjective are things, it might suit you to learn them. This game is OBJECTIVELY bad, but hey you can just tell ppl they have the problem because they dont like an objectively bad game.
@@JOSH2625 it’s all subjective because of course it is. The measure of a game is about the gamer’s experience. To suggest that everyone feels the same way about ANY game is ridiculous. The second part I’ll highlight is that I’ve made 30+ game videos and the ones that I’ve had that have performed the best are ones where I have something that would be considered a “hot take” on the game. Unfortunately, people don’t click on something if it doesn’t shake them up a bit. As a creator, my job is to find ways to do that. If you watch the entire video, I simply state that I think the game doesn’t deserve to be in the conversation for the worst on the console. It’s below average, but I found myself enjoying it by the end.
It does look better is that it has been explained. It is interesting how much thought was put into this game. It was bold using a classic novel that mast people even in the 80’s never read. Enjoyed the play through and commentary. Subscribed
@@mattmania8117 thanks and glad you enjoyed! As soon as I’d mention the game on stream I’d get groans in the chat which enticed me to give it a try. Certainly wasn’t the worst game I’d ever played
Im sooo happy you did this game! I never understood it and now i really wanna play it. The whole concept of a platform bullet hell with the allegory of not letting your inner demons overpower you is really dope.
@@Rhyndrop would’ve been totally over my head as an 8 year old. Maybe I’m giving the devs too much credit but that’s sort of how I saw it all tying together.
Maybe the bomb guy represents Jekyl being a ticking time bomb due to bottling all his frustrations? And when that explodes you become the monster, Hide, as everything spills out. Anger is ugly.
@@jeremyatkins8568 yeah shoot him a text would ya? lol I didn’t even realize he covered this game until after some other commenters mentioned it so I tagged him in the video description hahaha
@@retronatehe got rid of his cell, he just uses that crappy analog phone from the 1900s... there must be a way... keep playing these "horrible" games, maybe he'll contact you...???
@@jeremyatkins8568 remember we used to try to come up with creative messages for telling people to leave a message? “You know what to do” was the pinnacle of cool
There's one thing you didn't mention about the singing ladies, if you use the cane on them, you instantly turn into Mr. Hyde. Edit: Also the JPN version has 2 different stages, one unique enemy like a siren, and other stuff like entering houses to avoid some obstacles and some having a lady that either heals you and give coins or take coins and drain your stress meter, also the Psycho Wave cannot be used while moving at the same time in the JPN version.
Thank you for discussing the storyline and themes for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Your explanations add depth. This game had highs and lows. It did have an interesting concept and unique features that not many NES games had. The execution of the game was little shaky. Thanks for covering this game.
@@ashwinrebbapragada7626 I found the story to be pretty interesting and can appreciate the effort they put into trying to pull it off. Certainly wasn’t perfect, but wasn’t the tire fire that people make it out to be
@@Colin12475 honestly I didn’t even know he’d done a vid about it until after I decided to record the walkthrough. I did tag him on the outside chance he gives it another look.
Your comment "There was a lot of thought baked into this game" is very true for a lot of old school NES games. As a kid some were so cryptic and convoluted that we as little kids couldn't even begin to grasp the concept (unless you were little Timmy down the road who somehow managed to beat every friggin game that came out). Another game that comes to mind for me is Rocket Ranger. I read the instruction booklet for that game inside and out and never could understand how to play that game. Yet I know there was a deeper design for the game that I wasn't getting and with no internet to look up a walkthrough and no way of knowing if Nintendo power was going to cover that game this month you would wind up putting it back on the shelf for months at a time. Your coverage of Friday the 13th is another prime example of a game that was viewed as terrible, but honestly is a really good game if you understand how to play it.
@@EDFCentral they’re littered throughout the library. We just didn’t have the patience or capacity to grasp them as kids. That’s what makes going back through these so fun
Maybe the bomb guy represents the bombs in life like death of a loved one losing your job might just be a physical representation of “having a bomb dropped on you”
Okay but seriously, all of the other obstacles make sense - the bugs, spiders, cats and dogs, shitting birds, annoying kid with the slingshot, gravediggers, singing ladies, hunters dropping ducks on you, rushing townspeople bumping into you, but why the hell are there guys just dropping bombs in the street??
@@Jorvalt it reeks of a dev waiting til the last day before coming up with an enemy. “Thompson! I told you we need one more enemy to make this game complete! What do you have???” “Purple. Suit. Bomb. Man.” “GET THIS MAN A RAISE!!!”
I'm guessing the red face is simply the common apprehension most people have with the idea of marriage, even to people they love. It's probably why the game works so hard to stop you by the end and why everything disappears after you take it out. It was at the core of everything that really bothered him so much that he loses it at the slightest thing.
This is exactly the video I wanted after watching the AVGN episode of this game. I felt he just didnt know how to play because the game was not intuitive. Thank you for showing how the game was ment to be played
Glad you enjoyed! Most people I talked to thought this game stunk. I just wanted to offer a full perspective on what I thought about it after taking into account the story of Jekyll and Hyde and some of the themes
@@DarkAlkaiser it’s not good, I just don’t think it’s among the worst on the console. Below average game. I will be putting out a new episode ranking all these NES titles I’ve cleared to this point. I’m interested to see where it stacks once I’ve finished the whole library.
Minds blown. You have the patience of a saint. No wonder why this game was considered bad by many, the strategy must have went over the heads of most of its target audience
@@ronimizrahi6502 eh…idk about that but thank you lol. Yeah I’m never grasping any fraction of this as a kid. Thus id probably consider it to be a hunk of trash. It’s still not great, but not the worst.
I've never played this game, but I like your vibe brother. Have you ever thought about doing things playlist? It might be a little too late in the game for halloween, but maybe a Christmas kind of thing?
@@RobClooney possibly. The last 3 vids I’ve done have been more of a Halloween feel. I’ve thought about which games would make a good Christmas list to work through as well. Sort of figuring this thing out as I go. Thanks for the kind words!
For the fat ladies, you CAN shut them up with a strike from Jekyll's cane, but it will cause Hyde to emerge immediately, so... yeah. After all, you just had Jekyll lash out at someone, so that's definitely more Mr Hyde's behavior, right?? When Jekyll recovers, the lady has naturally decided to flee from the madman who took a swing at her. And also fortunately, nobody else blames you, so you suffer no repercussions .
My hope is to give every one of these a fair shake. I'm sure many of them that are regarded as bad will live up to the billing (cough....Back to the Future)...but this one just didn't reek of "worst on the console" energy. Actually rather enjoyed playing it by the end.
There's plenty of games for NES and SNES that people diss that I personally love. Lufia 1, 7th Saga, Mystic Quest, to name a few. A lot of them are player error, or just not knowing how to play the game or being unwilling to engage in what the game really wants you to do, etc. Though a lot of NES games that I enjoy playing are just too fricken hard without cheats.
Why did this game have to be so smart? It was so frustratingly obtuse... or perhaps it was I (that was obtuse)? Also I noticed that you are a reverse Jekyll/Hyde of sorts when playing this game. Very calm and almost happy to play as Hyde and on the brink of being frustrated as heck with Jekyll. Anyway I couldn't find your channel after I watched your Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street vids. Good stuff, sir. Subbed.
@@r_jd279 thanks for the sub! Quite and interesting take…perhaps Jekyll and I are somehow connected through the great chasm of time…. It’s true I liked the Hyde stages quite a bit by the end. By stage 4/5 w Jekyll I’ve had quite enough.
@@thatsnotoneofmeatsmanyuses1970 we don’t have the attention span to work through these anymore. Back to the Future was an ACTUALLY terrible game. This one is fine, below average…but not deserving of the hate it gets
@@honorablejay always about pushing through and understanding how a game is to be played. Many times we get frustrated before reaching that point w games that “suck.”
I played this to completion several years ago and while I don't think it could be in any way called a "good" game, it definitely has a mesmerizing kind of charm to it. There is something about its uniqueness that I found ultimately enjoyable, even if the game play was largely an exercise in tedium and frustration. It's *NOT EVEN CLOSE* to being one of the worst games on the NES.
@@retronate good on you, brother. it's a quick read too, if you've never partaken in the source material you should give it a whirl. That said, Fight Club is probably the best book to movie translation ever. They really captured the feeling and intent of the book and changed very little. Although if you read the book you'll notice little things, like early on the main character bites a hole through his cheek during a fight, he never gets it sewn up so when viewed from the one side he has this permanent devilish skeletal grin. I can see why they didn't put that in the movie.
You could massively cut down the grind for Hyde's levels by only killing what you need to get by, and otherwise just returning to Jekyll when you start getting low. There are some decent concepts in this game... and if the theme resonates with you and you enjoy it, all power to you, but there are quite a myriad of flaws with this game that give it the reputation it deserves. - Most of the obstacles are pretty 1 note as Jekyll, you mostly just hold right and make a single jump, pause or duck to avoid. There are no interesting mechanics to defend yourself or progress with. - Other obstacles are RNG dependent, a lot of the time you just take hits for free that you can't realistically predict or avoid. - The platform elements due to the above points are therefore not a stimulating challenge, exemplified by the need to grind through Hyde's levels at the end. The walking pace of the game is painfully slow. - The game would have been better off if it had some quests/puzzles you had to complete as Jekyll to give it another layer, similar to the coins and the singing lady. Things such as collect your suit from the cleaners, get a haircut/shave, help a broken down cart move off the path, etc, making avoiding hits while completing level objectives more interesting, making the time limir as Hyde more engaging. - Hyde's enemies are also very 1 note and easy to dodge, failing to set up any interesting set pieces layering their abilities. - Similarly the Psycho Wave is extremely overpowered to the point of trivialising everything even if it could be a good set piece. Overall the game is pretty mindnumbing with little in the way mechanics or variety. It leans heavily on its theme, which was/is lost on a lot of players without a clear explanation, and as such, the game just can not be considered good. A interesting set of ideas hastily and haphazardly slapped together to try to quickly make something they could sell with the IP.
All a very reasonable argument. I don’t disagree with your take. My position is mostly the game is not good, but I don’t think it sniffs “worst on the console” level.
@@Fortefyre hahaha why’s that? I’m out here on an island man. People hate this game! I feel like Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men. YOU WANT ME ON THAT WALL. YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL!
@@scottjones845 I really should mention again I’ve actually never seen the AVGN video about this. The “you” in my thumbnail refers to the general “you” meaning NES gamers. That said, this is hilarious lol
Displaced Gamers has a video called "The Wacky Frame Rate and Game Engine of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" that dives deep into the reason the speed of this game is so jacked up. The frame handling is completely laissez-faire with regard to game logic. Update an element if it's done and, if it's not, oh well, just update it on a later frame. It's quite interesting if you're into under the hood sort of stuff.
My guess would be the bombs represent loud noises. I for one do not like loud noises like vacuums, hammering, just any banging really or loud rumbling things.
@@KayceeDhee I plan to at some point. I’m trying to get through every NES game that was released in North America. Had a few others suggest that one as well
@@MFBURNS7909 from the cover you’d think it was a hot to type game and maybe a shootemup style. Many people describe it as a “horror” but not for that reason lol.
@@retronate it was pretty good but universally bashed for unknown reasons. It was one of those games that people randomly decided it was bad, like Friday the 13th on Nes
I will still stand by my guns that this is not a great game or even comprehensive... With the rules different from Jekyll to Hyde, but with you explaining it as you did... And remembering the book i don't remember reading... Yes, i can see how it can work. How, yes, Jekyll does have to deal with these irritating things dsy in, day out, being harassed and having even the littlest things push you to your mental state breaking. Then with Hyde, creeping ever closer to Jekyll and then "succumbing" to the monster (via the lightning bolt) unless you defeat these demons in his head and calm him back to reality, defeating those ill thoughts (via the brains) to come back quicker instead of the things attacking back (i, too, am looking too deep). And maybe the man in Red is Jekyll's worst demon, himself, causing him to "imagine" people attacking him. Like it's his own harmful thoughts that hurt the most, yeah? It's why there's so many men in red at the closest to the Chapel. ("What if she doesn't love me for me and that's it, the end of the line?") And Hyde battling himself(?) at the Chapel, beating those evil thoughts and retaking his mental capabilities... I am also looking into it far too much, yes. But i suppose it is just a battle of mental fortitude at the end of the day and during the game. It's not great at all... But i can appreciate anew what the thought was behind this game and it gives me a new look to it. I also hate that boxart. Keep it away. Heh
Aha!!! You can look at it anew!!!! I’ll take it! Also LOVE the idea of the battle of insecurity at the chapel. Never even considered that. I don’t contend it’s great, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it after considering all of the elements of the game and how they can even loosely tie to the story. I actually grew quite fond of the Hyde levels
@@retronate yeah. You got me thinking too much about it as well now. And I can appreciate the thoughts behind it. I would have never thought of it as you did which made me think about it like you and think further, the man in red being the biggest one I thought of.
Man I’ve never heard them referred to as “pre internet” games and now I feel ancient lol. There isn’t a ton here to understand in terms of how the game is played though. The reason people said it sucked was generally because they thought it was janky and didn’t grasp WHY the game played the way it did. But all you need to know is the actual story the game is representing and it’s not a far leap.
@@retronate well, good point. And I've honestly never played the game so I'm definitely not qualified to even have an opinion, I guess it depends on how intuitive you think a game should be.
@@dorndy1 NES manuals are pretty short and to the point. It explains the mechanic that Hyde can’t overtake Jekyll in the “how to play the game,” section. Even with something as simple as Super Mario Brothers, you’d need to read a manual or have someone show you that you need to hold down a button to run. Nowadays games have tutorials instead of manuals, so pick your poison.
@@fishingmule3266 I disagree. I think Super Mario Bros. had intuitive controls and goals. If you need a manual to figure out super Mario brothers, gaming might not be your thing.
@@retronate When you mentioned Bird Droppings, it reminded me of one MADtv sketch where a man tried to propose to his partner, and bird dropping just kept coming down on them. I am subbed to a guy who uploads sketches daily. I think he is on Season 5 now. His channel is Rocco's Videos.
@@TheCardsharp he’s just one of many people who share the opinion. It was actually my immediate circle that told me the game was awful. Then when I started researching it a bit, I saw that AVGN had done a video on it.
@@retronate - On the surface, especially since we were all used to how games were back then, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde doesn't seem like a good game, let alone a game, at all. But your insights, review, and gameplay makes it make sense. I'm sure James would feel the same outside of the AVGN. THANK YOU for this review; very informative and entertaining!
AVGN has a content style that craps on games for entertainment. He’s the best at what he does. I’m offering what I feel is a fair opinion of the game. Generally speaking, this game is universally branded as among the worst on the console. I just don’t think it is
@@KitsuneYojimbo totally right. He’s an entertainer and a damn good one. But the beauty of video games, particularly these NES ones is how opinions vary. Mine continue to change as I age too.
@@OxbowisaMstie no it’s pretty playable. Doesn’t require a lot of dexterity to work through. Ultimately it’s not great to play, but I don’t think it’s the worst.
@@retronate It's certainly has some interesting development ideas one can more soberly appreciate upon reflection. I'll put it in the "maybe replay it" column.
Ooh good question…apparently in the 1960 film there was a character named Maria who was an exotic dancer and snake charmer that Mr. Hyde has an affair with. Perhaps her?
Now that I'm in my 40's I can appreciate the nuance of the game (still contend it's bad). I found the manual online, something I didn't have the benefit of as a 10ish year old and it helped make some sense of things
Same. The cover art makes you think you’ll just be ripping through enemies as Hyde in a standard platformer and won’t have to give it much thought. I won’t fight the contention that it’s bad, but if I’m being honest I found myself enjoying the game by the end.
@@retronate for me I think the Jekyll parts were just REALLY slow and janky. I remember liking the Hyde parts too, just getting frustrated by getting struck by lightning (which according to the manual is "The Powers That Be")
@@airwolfpsu lol that’s great. No youre spot on. Jekyll levels are very trudgy. I think knowing the stakes were high for making significant progress helped me get through them. Obviously having weapons that can kill more than just bugs is the draw.
I really actually like the explanation you had for the game to the story. I can definitely appreciate what they were trying to achieve. Still don’t like the game though lol. Mr. Hyde parts are cool.
Yeah that’s all I was aiming for. It’s not a good game. But it wasn’t just a cash grab like some others. They tried something and executed it poorly, but it wasn’t without any thought
I often bring this title up as an early example of an "art" game. There's a huge difference between a hilarious B-rated David Cage disasterpiece and Disco Elysium- both get annoyingly preachy at times, but the latter has intentional good dark humor and decent RPG mechanics, while the former is unintentionally hilarious if you can wade through all the redundant "are you paying attention, please don't fall asleep" QTEs (the funniest part being how seriously Cage takes himself). This is just as pretentious, with neither the good gameplay nor humor (intentional or not).
@@kamikaze9699 are you suggesting that the psycho wave, a projectile that is for all intents and purposes uncontrollable and unpredictable, isn’t good??? And that shooting brain rabbits is somehow less than stellar? How dare you!?!?
@@retronate I'd argue the monsters you kill as Hyde are actually townspeople, as seen through the delusional lens of a psychotic break. Assaulting them explains why so many attack and bomb you in retaliation. The last boss as Hyde is actually an angry mob of townspeople finally angered enough to take you out no matter the cost. The reason the town is vacant afterwards is because you killed them all, terror striking the hearts of those few lucky enough to escape your wrath. Hyde after the end cut scene is a signifier he is in charge completely, as suggested by the flipped "END" after the thunder strike.
@@retronate I believe it was referenced in the book by Robert Louis Stevenson that the game was based on: "I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory; the spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not yet moved to begin. As I looked up, I noticed a flock of birds in the air, talons clutching clusters of feces, clearly from the mongrels sitting here and there throughout town. I knew not why the birds were acting in this fashion, and I wrestled with this mystery for a brief moment before I set forth on my way."
I think it's really 'bad' because AVGN and irate gamer, for example just really blasted it and it gained infamy. Imo, i just play modern consoles. Also i think your reaching. Mr. Hyde was created because of a chemical explosion in Dr. Jekyll's lab. This game was created because there was nothing to go off of if they only used the source material alone.
@@Openreality you’re probably not wrong. Sometimes that’s the level of depth at which people consider a game’s quality. I supposed i hoped to show a different perspective with this video.
@@retronate Its an interesting game. I wouldn't mind trying it sometime. I vaguely remember reading the book and was fascinated by the book and it does seem that the book did address one's psychological stare of being. When i was younger, i spent most of my younger years outside until i moved, and we received a SNES. So my nostalgia is mostly with super Mario world Mario kart, legend of Zelda mario rpg, dkc and others. I'm glad that people actually know how to beat 'bad games' you have good material. And yes sub earned
@@Openreality wow thanks! I’ve got plenty of snes titles to get to as that was my preferred system after the NES. I’ve covered 9 titles so far? No real heavy hitters yet but looking forward to diving into that library.
@@SECONDQUEST “good” is always relative to the person playing it. Games are sometimes about how they make you feel. I think I said in the video that I’d probably rank it as below average, but not among the worst on the console. I certainly don’t expect everyone to change their opinion - just wanted to offer my take.
@@rionthemagnificent2971 how long does someone have to play a game to make a proper evaluation? More than a few minutes I’d hope? Yes there is a learning curve and it’s frustrating to start, but I come from an era where you have to push through that. I can imagine less palatable nowadays but it’s nostalgic for me
This game sucks. Nate will be that person who will say superman 64, et atari or cleveland steamers are enjoyable experiences just to be contrarian and farm youtube comments.
No it did suck. You just want to sound ironic. Poor game play mechanics doesn't mean the player sucked. You also have to keep in mind alot of us played this when we were kids. Not when we were in our 40s
@@CJDrischler I appreciate you assuming to know my motives for making this video. Dynamite start. My intent with any title and thumbnail is to generate intrigue and have the potential viewer want to see more (which seems to have worked in this case). I never hide that - it’s how this platform works. That said, if you watch the video I don’t assert that the game is good, only that it’s possible that some of the reasons we thought it sucked might’ve been due to some psychology they tried to convey that we didn’t grasp as kids. My final thought is only that the game isn’t in the conversation of worst on the console as some have asserted.
Honestly the game is still pretty awful, mostly in that the game does a terrible job of actually intuitively explaining and visually indicating what can and can't hurt you and when (some people you can walk through, others you cant, bomb hitbox extending far past the explosion graphic with no visual indicators, etc etc). Is the game AS bad as most people make it out to be? Not really, but the game is still pretty bad, especially considering how some of the levels and obstacles line up to where there are situations that are actually impossible to get through without taking damage from what I've seen.
It’s a below average game, but not among the worst of all time. It’s not intuitive, but not impossible to figure out. The bomb hit boxes is certainly the worst aspect. I guess most of the jankiness for me is not that bad to deal with when I consider the thought they seem to have put into portraying the psychology of the story
I've played Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, use to own the game in fact. And IMO it is very very bad. Can there be fun to be had? Yes there is. I played it a lot, and had fun while doing so. But the mechanics are confusing, the gameplay is frustrating, and it's just a bad game overall. As for your analysis of the story of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, you forget that the split personality was created by an experiment that Dr Jekyll preformed. Jekyll was considered a nice guy, while Hyde was an unrepentant murderer. Really, the game's whole set of mechanics in the game make no bloody sense based on the novel. The game should have been a point and click adventure mystery told from the perspective of a detective, IMO. That would have been more faithful to how the book worked. As it stands, the only thing this game and the novel "The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" is the names Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
@@faerieknight2298 idk did you see Hyde unrepentantly murdering those leaping brains that looked like frogs? Or the weird snake lady? Feels like they captured that well lol
this game is not bad because its hard to play the reason why is bad is because is boring to play... maybe not to some people but the majority will find it that way.
@@tolontolon5538 absolutely agree on the Jekyll stages. Repetitive and dull…but I didn’t hate the Hyde ones as much and actually found them fun by the end. Understanding what I believed to be the psychology behind how it’s designed made the Jekyll stages a little more palatable.
so thats it, just a guy desperately trying to justify a horrible game while just walking right and getting hit by unavoidable shit flying at him. yeah really great game, great video!
Nice video but with all due respect i don't think "its supposed to be annoying" makes it a good game for me. Then again some people play MOBAs voluntarily so different strokes lol.
@@TheBigjimable I agree the game is not good, and never asserted it was. I simply don’t think it’s among the worst on the console as some believe. They tried to pull off some psychology with this one and while poorly executed, I can appreciate what they were going for.
@@Scribblerjohnny I truly didn’t feel that way by the end once I understood the mechanics. The Hyde levels were very enjoyable to me. Jekyll is a slog, I acknowledge that. Hyde on the rooftops was actually a fun challenge.
Saying people who think the game sucks just don't know how to play it is like saying "you have to have a high IQ to understand Rick and Morty." We know how to play it alright, we still don't like it.
@@stedmangg I never said anyone didn’t know how to play it. My position is that is not nearly as bad as the worst games on the console, which many people assert. It has some thought behind why it plays the way it does and I appreciate that is all. I think it’s a below average game, not the worst.
Just because you say its "not as bad" .. doesnt make it any less bad. The game is AWFUL. Period. AVGN is 100% spot on about how garbage this game is. Sorry dude, you can polish a turd, but its still a turd.
@@Nazgull2k1 I just disagree. There is more to it than is often portrayed. I appreciate what they were trying to convey with the way the game is put together. Imagine for a moment actually polishing a turd though. That is quite gross.
No, this game is still bad and it's design is still horribly flawed with awful execution. Ambitious IDEAS do not necessarily make for a good game, and in this case they objectively failed. You cannot defend this game. Stop trying.
@@teruienages962 no I think I’ll share my opinion thanks. Keeping it completely honest, I found myself enjoying it by the end. The Hyde levels were challenging and there was a great sense of accomplishment when it was completed. Below average game but not among the worst on the console
You actually are trying to justify this game as good? I was going to subscribe but now I can’t. You literally just walk to the right. It’s not just AVGN that says this game sucks, it’s UNIVERSALLY panned
@@mralapenosarespicy did you watch the whole video? I don’t say it’s good, I say it’s not among the worst on the console. But I will try to pick up the shattered pieces of my life and move on in light of this terrible news.
@@theoldblood3804 heresy!!! Actually you might be right lol…we tend to only focus on the good ones but if you take the entire totality of the library, you might be right
6:30 "I can identify with just the day to day things of life bothering you." Show of hands: how many of you have a jackass put a bomb on your path every twenty seconds?
The guy from the "Displaced Gamers" channel made several videos about this game, delving into the actual assembly code. It's garbage even on a technical level.
My favorite part was when you walked to the right, to be fair my second favorite part was when you walked to the left.
@@luckjacksongaming but look at how regal his stride is
My third favorite part was when you ambled to the nudge.
@@IsiahTomas lol
I disagree. I found his walking to the left to be more enjoyable than when walking to the right, and if I may be so bold, I believe it to be the superior direction of walking in general.
@@donskiver same. I know any time I’m out in public and see someone walking to the right I think “imagine how much better it would be if they walked left.”
Dude trying to get to his wedding before losing his freaking mind because of stupid nonsense, seems like the most relatable NES game ever.
@@ZeklorWGD “Just another Tuesday in the world” simulator
I watched three of your full game videos so far and I love your content…
@@dustingibson1796 glad to hear it thank you! Got another one dropping today around 1pm EST. A personal favorite of mine.
Took the dog out to go potty this morning and he wouldn’t come back in the house. So I walked out there barefoot to get him, and stepped in a pile of poo that my daughter failed to pick up and it was soggy with two days of constant rain.
My Hyde meter went from 0 to 100 in a nanosecond.
@@turinturambar347 THIS MAN GETS IT
I felt this sentence very hard
Did you start walking left?
@ whoa whoa whoa…easy. I’m still mastering walking right. I’m not ready for these advanced strategies.
@@sebastiannock942 lol
"This game doesn't suck"
*Immediately shows how much it sucks*
I mean, you go 10 steps and get held up by the spider, then you get shot by the kid get hit by 2 townspeople and walk into a bomb in the span of 5 seconds, it looks like everything AVGN said it was
I think the game requires learning the mechanics to enjoy it. Understanding the logic behind the story and how they conveyed it contributed a lot to my actually enjoying the game by the end
@@retronate well, also when you're 9 years old, mechanics aren't a concern
@@christopherhall5361 this game is a late bloomer lol
@@retronate Hookay buddy, i bet you cook burnt well done steaks and serve them at parties telling people it requires learning the taste and the logic behind it to enjoy it. Objective and subjective are things, it might suit you to learn them. This game is OBJECTIVELY bad, but hey you can just tell ppl they have the problem because they dont like an objectively bad game.
@@JOSH2625 it’s all subjective because of course it is. The measure of a game is about the gamer’s experience. To suggest that everyone feels the same way about ANY game is ridiculous.
The second part I’ll highlight is that I’ve made 30+ game videos and the ones that I’ve had that have performed the best are ones where I have something that would be considered a “hot take” on the game. Unfortunately, people don’t click on something if it doesn’t shake them up a bit. As a creator, my job is to find ways to do that.
If you watch the entire video, I simply state that I think the game doesn’t deserve to be in the conversation for the worst on the console. It’s below average, but I found myself enjoying it by the end.
By "process" you mean explode in violent anger lol
@@obscuredoblivion444 I’m not sure specifically what you’re referring to but yeah that sounds right lol
If I was Dr. Jekyll I would have taken a carriage instead of walking so many miles to my wedding.
@@ashwinrebbapragada7626 he had to get his steps in!
It does look better is that it has been explained. It is interesting how much thought was put into this game. It was bold using a classic novel that mast people even in the 80’s never read. Enjoyed the play through and commentary. Subscribed
@@mattmania8117 thanks and glad you enjoyed! As soon as I’d mention the game on stream I’d get groans in the chat which enticed me to give it a try. Certainly wasn’t the worst game I’d ever played
Im sooo happy you did this game! I never understood it and now i really wanna play it. The whole concept of a platform bullet hell with the allegory of not letting your inner demons overpower you is really dope.
@@Rhyndrop would’ve been totally over my head as an 8 year old. Maybe I’m giving the devs too much credit but that’s sort of how I saw it all tying together.
Maybe the bomb guy represents Jekyl being a ticking time bomb due to bottling all his frustrations? And when that explodes you become the monster, Hide, as everything spills out. Anger is ugly.
@@kazeindelsawakno520 interesting theory. They did bake a lot of psychology into this one. Perhaps that’s why it’s the most prevalent obstacle
Ah yes, the minor annoyances of life, like people dropping bombs every five feet you walk on a daily basis.
@@dk2853 I can’t go to the corner of my street without 15 of my neighbors placing a lit explosive by my feet and it really irritates me
I don't call it Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, i call it "walk through a bad neighborhood simulator".❤
lol…Bugs and spiders and bombs oh my
HaHa! I love this comment. "Man lets go down Hyde street its shorter..." (Me) "Do you enjoy living?!"
@@EDFCentral hahaha
Grand Theft Jekyll
That bug flying into your mouth is wilded 😂😂😂 but great explanation. Another great video!
@@DiggyDiamond24 that sort of thing would make me turn into a monster lol. Glad you’re enjoying!
@retronate no doubt! Lol I did and will be watching more
Nice work! Impressive to be sure. I like your approach...but can you beat "Deadly Towers?" I would love to see that one go down.
My goal is to finish all of them eventually. I’ll make a note that this was requested
"What were they thinking?!?!"
They were thinking more than meets the eye. At least that’s what I believe…
I'll let James Rolfe know it's his fault not LJN. 😅
@@jeremyatkins8568 yeah shoot him a text would ya? lol I didn’t even realize he covered this game until after some other commenters mentioned it so I tagged him in the video description hahaha
@@retronatehe got rid of his cell, he just uses that crappy analog phone from the 1900s... there must be a way... keep playing these "horrible" games, maybe he'll contact you...???
@ hahaha I’ll keep my ears open for call waiting. If not he can always leave a message on my answering machine
@@retronate right after the *BEEP* 🤣🤣🤣
@@jeremyatkins8568 remember we used to try to come up with creative messages for telling people to leave a message? “You know what to do” was the pinnacle of cool
There's one thing you didn't mention about the singing ladies, if you use the cane on them, you instantly turn into Mr. Hyde.
Edit: Also the JPN version has 2 different stages, one unique enemy like a siren, and other stuff like entering houses to avoid some obstacles and some having a lady that either heals you and give coins or take coins and drain your stress meter, also the Psycho Wave cannot be used while moving at the same time in the JPN version.
I had no idea about the cane w the ladies! That could be useful given the right situation. I did hear the Japanese version is a bit more robust.
Thank you for discussing the storyline and themes for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Your explanations add depth. This game had highs and lows. It did have an interesting concept and unique features that not many NES games had. The execution of the game was little shaky. Thanks for covering this game.
@@ashwinrebbapragada7626 I found the story to be pretty interesting and can appreciate the effort they put into trying to pull it off. Certainly wasn’t perfect, but wasn’t the tire fire that people make it out to be
"Bird poop had been well documented as white by this time."
Me: nods thoughtfully in agreement.
@@motojauntx hahahaha
Whenever I think of this game, I think of AVGN.
@@Colin12475 honestly I didn’t even know he’d done a vid about it until after I decided to record the walkthrough. I did tag him on the outside chance he gives it another look.
Your comment "There was a lot of thought baked into this game" is very true for a lot of old school NES games. As a kid some were so cryptic and convoluted that we as little kids couldn't even begin to grasp the concept (unless you were little Timmy down the road who somehow managed to beat every friggin game that came out). Another game that comes to mind for me is Rocket Ranger. I read the instruction booklet for that game inside and out and never could understand how to play that game. Yet I know there was a deeper design for the game that I wasn't getting and with no internet to look up a walkthrough and no way of knowing if Nintendo power was going to cover that game this month you would wind up putting it back on the shelf for months at a time. Your coverage of Friday the 13th is another prime example of a game that was viewed as terrible, but honestly is a really good game if you understand how to play it.
@@EDFCentral they’re littered throughout the library. We just didn’t have the patience or capacity to grasp them as kids. That’s what makes going back through these so fun
Love this channel! Can't wait for Nate to show us that something like Silver Surfer was actually way easier than you thought.
@@Sarstan ok easy there pal. I’m not a machine! I’m just a man!!!
Maybe the bomb guy represents the bombs in life like death of a loved one losing your job might just be a physical representation of “having a bomb dropped on you”
@@edmargavage6512 as good a thought as any. They do have the biggest impact and cause the most physical damage also.
Okay but seriously, all of the other obstacles make sense - the bugs, spiders, cats and dogs, shitting birds, annoying kid with the slingshot, gravediggers, singing ladies, hunters dropping ducks on you, rushing townspeople bumping into you, but why the hell are there guys just dropping bombs in the street??
@@Jorvalt it reeks of a dev waiting til the last day before coming up with an enemy.
“Thompson! I told you we need one more enemy to make this game complete! What do you have???”
“Purple. Suit. Bomb. Man.”
“GET THIS MAN A RAISE!!!”
I'm guessing the red face is simply the common apprehension most people have with the idea of marriage, even to people they love. It's probably why the game works so hard to stop you by the end and why everything disappears after you take it out. It was at the core of everything that really bothered him so much that he loses it at the slightest thing.
@@JamesFrizell ahhh very interesting. Love that interpretation
This is exactly the video I wanted after watching the AVGN episode of this game. I felt he just didnt know how to play because the game was not intuitive. Thank you for showing how the game was ment to be played
Glad you enjoyed! Most people I talked to thought this game stunk. I just wanted to offer a full perspective on what I thought about it after taking into account the story of Jekyll and Hyde and some of the themes
it not being intuitive is bad design though, so that's still their fault not his. I know exactly how this game works, and it's still bad though lol
@@DarkAlkaiser it’s not good, I just don’t think it’s among the worst on the console. Below average game.
I will be putting out a new episode ranking all these NES titles I’ve cleared to this point. I’m interested to see where it stacks once I’ve finished the whole library.
After watching the video, it sucked.
@@lcmiracle I appreciate the deep and thoughtful analysis lol
Ok. Now, defend Charles Manson tell us how good he is.
@@BryantWalker-m6e lololol…legit made me laugh.
Minds blown. You have the patience of a saint. No wonder why this game was considered bad by many, the strategy must have went over the heads of most of its target audience
@@ronimizrahi6502 eh…idk about that but thank you lol. Yeah I’m never grasping any fraction of this as a kid. Thus id probably consider it to be a hunk of trash. It’s still not great, but not the worst.
I've never played this game, but I like your vibe brother. Have you ever thought about doing things playlist? It might be a little too late in the game for halloween, but maybe a Christmas kind of thing?
@@RobClooney possibly. The last 3 vids I’ve done have been more of a Halloween feel. I’ve thought about which games would make a good Christmas list to work through as well. Sort of figuring this thing out as I go.
Thanks for the kind words!
Are you sure this isn't Dr. J and Mr. Hyde, cause this dude's got hops.
@@paulcleary8088 hahaha the finger roll of the psyche was the original working title
For the fat ladies, you CAN shut them up with a strike from Jekyll's cane, but it will cause Hyde to emerge immediately, so... yeah. After all, you just had Jekyll lash out at someone, so that's definitely more Mr Hyde's behavior, right?? When Jekyll recovers, the lady has naturally decided to flee from the madman who took a swing at her. And also fortunately, nobody else blames you, so you suffer no repercussions .
@@corjonbett could definitely be used as a strat if you’re far enough along as Jekyll and there is no concern of Hyde overtaking your progress
Everyone go read the actual book.
@@jamieh4148 THANK YOU
Really appreciate you taking the time to explain and show such a disliked game instead of the usual game bad because bad.
My hope is to give every one of these a fair shake. I'm sure many of them that are regarded as bad will live up to the billing (cough....Back to the Future)...but this one just didn't reek of "worst on the console" energy. Actually rather enjoyed playing it by the end.
@@haroldhall1517 this game is fetch harold
There's plenty of games for NES and SNES that people diss that I personally love. Lufia 1, 7th Saga, Mystic Quest, to name a few. A lot of them are player error, or just not knowing how to play the game or being unwilling to engage in what the game really wants you to do, etc. Though a lot of NES games that I enjoy playing are just too fricken hard without cheats.
@@Dhalin many misunderstood titles I agree. Convenient to just crap on them instead of taking the time.
Why did this game have to be so smart? It was so frustratingly obtuse... or perhaps it was I (that was obtuse)? Also I noticed that you are a reverse Jekyll/Hyde of sorts when playing this game. Very calm and almost happy to play as Hyde and on the brink of being frustrated as heck with Jekyll. Anyway I couldn't find your channel after I watched your Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street vids. Good stuff, sir. Subbed.
@@r_jd279 thanks for the sub! Quite and interesting take…perhaps Jekyll and I are somehow connected through the great chasm of time….
It’s true I liked the Hyde stages quite a bit by the end. By stage 4/5 w Jekyll I’ve had quite enough.
It is a bit like ET: Better than people think, IF you know what you are supposed to do.
@@thatsnotoneofmeatsmanyuses1970 we don’t have the attention span to work through these anymore. Back to the Future was an ACTUALLY terrible game. This one is fine, below average…but not deserving of the hate it gets
Oh man ET, that brings me back. I still remember trying to figure that game out as a kid. Eventually I could beat it in less than 10 minutes.
@@honorablejay always about pushing through and understanding how a game is to be played. Many times we get frustrated before reaching that point w games that “suck.”
@@retronate Well I also figured out how to speedrun Batman Returns on Genesis in about 13 mins so I am a glutton for punishment :D
@@honorablejay oh dear
I played this to completion several years ago and while I don't think it could be in any way called a "good" game, it definitely has a mesmerizing kind of charm to it. There is something about its uniqueness that I found ultimately enjoyable, even if the game play was largely an exercise in tedium and frustration. It's *NOT EVEN CLOSE* to being one of the worst games on the NES.
Captured it perfectly. It’s not good, but it’s definitely not the worst
2 Tyler Durden / Fight Club references within 6 minutes.
I can see youre a man of refined tastes. 👍🏼
@@BurnDoubt this comment reminds me it’s been too long since I’ve watched that
@@retronate good on you, brother. it's a quick read too, if you've never partaken in the source material you should give it a whirl. That said, Fight Club is probably the best book to movie translation ever. They really captured the feeling and intent of the book and changed very little. Although if you read the book you'll notice little things, like early on the main character bites a hole through his cheek during a fight, he never gets it sewn up so when viewed from the one side he has this permanent devilish skeletal grin. I can see why they didn't put that in the movie.
You could massively cut down the grind for Hyde's levels by only killing what you need to get by, and otherwise just returning to Jekyll when you start getting low.
There are some decent concepts in this game... and if the theme resonates with you and you enjoy it, all power to you, but there are quite a myriad of flaws with this game that give it the reputation it deserves.
- Most of the obstacles are pretty 1 note as Jekyll, you mostly just hold right and make a single jump, pause or duck to avoid. There are no interesting mechanics to defend yourself or progress with.
- Other obstacles are RNG dependent, a lot of the time you just take hits for free that you can't realistically predict or avoid.
- The platform elements due to the above points are therefore not a stimulating challenge, exemplified by the need to grind through Hyde's levels at the end. The walking pace of the game is painfully slow.
- The game would have been better off if it had some quests/puzzles you had to complete as Jekyll to give it another layer, similar to the coins and the singing lady. Things such as collect your suit from the cleaners, get a haircut/shave, help a broken down cart move off the path, etc, making avoiding hits while completing level objectives more interesting, making the time limir as Hyde more engaging.
- Hyde's enemies are also very 1 note and easy to dodge, failing to set up any interesting set pieces layering their abilities.
- Similarly the Psycho Wave is extremely overpowered to the point of trivialising everything even if it could be a good set piece.
Overall the game is pretty mindnumbing with little in the way mechanics or variety. It leans heavily on its theme, which was/is lost on a lot of players without a clear explanation, and as such, the game just can not be considered good. A interesting set of ideas hastily and haphazardly slapped together to try to quickly make something they could sell with the IP.
All a very reasonable argument. I don’t disagree with your take. My position is mostly the game is not good, but I don’t think it sniffs “worst on the console” level.
This brings me eternal joy lmao.
@@Fortefyre hahaha why’s that? I’m out here on an island man. People hate this game! I feel like Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men.
YOU WANT ME ON THAT WALL. YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL!
80s me liked this game. At the time the graphics were awesome. Music too
@@stargazerlaurent6780 graphically it is pretty interesting. I like the Jekyll music more than Hyde but Hyde gameplay is more interesting
Gawddamnit Rolfe! It was YOU all along!!! Now take back what you said about Majora's Mask! DOITNOWWW!!!!!*cocks gun
@@scottjones845 I really should mention again I’ve actually never seen the AVGN video about this. The “you” in my thumbnail refers to the general “you” meaning NES gamers.
That said, this is hilarious lol
Displaced Gamers has a video called "The Wacky Frame Rate and Game Engine of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" that dives deep into the reason the speed of this game is so jacked up. The frame handling is completely laissez-faire with regard to game logic. Update an element if it's done and, if it's not, oh well, just update it on a later frame. It's quite interesting if you're into under the hood sort of stuff.
@@silentcaay very interesting. I gotta check that out.
My guess would be the bombs represent loud noises. I for one do not like loud noises like vacuums, hammering, just any banging really or loud rumbling things.
@@AhauKin overstimulation is real. I’ve got kids that seem incapable of not interrupting my conversations and it is….trying
Please can you do who framed roger rabbit for nes? I would love to watch your play through and commentary of it
@@KayceeDhee I plan to at some point. I’m trying to get through every NES game that was released in North America. Had a few others suggest that one as well
I remember seeing this game all the time but I don't think I ever played it
@@MFBURNS7909 from the cover you’d think it was a hot to type game and maybe a shootemup style.
Many people describe it as a “horror” but not for that reason lol.
You should do Ghost House for Sega Master System, underrated gem
I have to familiarize myself more with the master system library. Seems like it was pretty good
@@retronate it was pretty good but universally bashed for unknown reasons.
It was one of those games that people randomly decided it was bad, like Friday the 13th on Nes
@ now I am very intrigued
@@retronate I was like 8 when I got the card (yes I'm ancient), it was my first 8 bit platforme. I have very fond memories, so maybe I am biased
Yeah never played it but it doesn’t look like a bad game. Festers quest and milon’s secret castle were unbeatable as a kid.
@@whocares4274 I’ve gotta get going on Fester soon. Maybe this year.
I don't think throwing bombs at people is an everyday thing
Maybe not where you live. I encounter a bakers dozen or so on my walk to work.
I will still stand by my guns that this is not a great game or even comprehensive... With the rules different from Jekyll to Hyde, but with you explaining it as you did... And remembering the book i don't remember reading... Yes, i can see how it can work. How, yes, Jekyll does have to deal with these irritating things dsy in, day out, being harassed and having even the littlest things push you to your mental state breaking. Then with Hyde, creeping ever closer to Jekyll and then "succumbing" to the monster (via the lightning bolt) unless you defeat these demons in his head and calm him back to reality, defeating those ill thoughts (via the brains) to come back quicker instead of the things attacking back (i, too, am looking too deep). And maybe the man in Red is Jekyll's worst demon, himself, causing him to "imagine" people attacking him. Like it's his own harmful thoughts that hurt the most, yeah? It's why there's so many men in red at the closest to the Chapel. ("What if she doesn't love me for me and that's it, the end of the line?") And Hyde battling himself(?) at the Chapel, beating those evil thoughts and retaking his mental capabilities... I am also looking into it far too much, yes. But i suppose it is just a battle of mental fortitude at the end of the day and during the game. It's not great at all... But i can appreciate anew what the thought was behind this game and it gives me a new look to it.
I also hate that boxart. Keep it away. Heh
Aha!!! You can look at it anew!!!! I’ll take it! Also LOVE the idea of the battle of insecurity at the chapel. Never even considered that. I don’t contend it’s great, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it after considering all of the elements of the game and how they can even loosely tie to the story.
I actually grew quite fond of the Hyde levels
@@retronate yeah. You got me thinking too much about it as well now. And I can appreciate the thoughts behind it. I would have never thought of it as you did which made me think about it like you and think further, the man in red being the biggest one I thought of.
@@MegamanXV0 I don’t know if I’ve ever been accused of making people think. This is a new low for me
Yep, a pre Internet game that basically needs a video walkthrough, a wiki, or an 80 page manual to understand, definitely NOT a bad game.
Man I’ve never heard them referred to as “pre internet” games and now I feel ancient lol.
There isn’t a ton here to understand in terms of how the game is played though. The reason people said it sucked was generally because they thought it was janky and didn’t grasp WHY the game played the way it did. But all you need to know is the actual story the game is representing and it’s not a far leap.
@@retronate well, good point. And I've honestly never played the game so I'm definitely not qualified to even have an opinion, I guess it depends on how intuitive you think a game should be.
@@dorndy1a product of their time too. Many of these games just exist and devs were like “ok figure it out.” But we played em because it’s all we had.
@@dorndy1 NES manuals are pretty short and to the point. It explains the mechanic that Hyde can’t overtake Jekyll in the “how to play the game,” section. Even with something as simple as Super Mario Brothers, you’d need to read a manual or have someone show you that you need to hold down a button to run. Nowadays games have tutorials instead of manuals, so pick your poison.
@@fishingmule3266 I disagree. I think Super Mario Bros. had intuitive controls and goals. If you need a manual to figure out super Mario brothers, gaming might not be your thing.
You explaining the many irritabilities of this game, while still getting hit by whatever, is just the funniest, like MADtv.
@@Joe_334 it WAS irritating!!! Man I miss Madtv. Show was excellent
@@retronate When you mentioned Bird Droppings, it reminded me of one MADtv sketch where a man tried to propose to his partner, and bird dropping just kept coming down on them.
I am subbed to a guy who uploads sketches daily. I think he is on Season 5 now. His channel is Rocco's Videos.
@ hahahaha that’s great. Thanks!
Gee, I wonder who the title was meant for? 😂 If you know, you know!
@@TheCardsharp he’s just one of many people who share the opinion. It was actually my immediate circle that told me the game was awful. Then when I started researching it a bit, I saw that AVGN had done a video on it.
@@retronate - On the surface, especially since we were all used to how games were back then, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde doesn't seem like a good game, let alone a game, at all. But your insights, review, and gameplay makes it make sense. I'm sure James would feel the same outside of the AVGN. THANK YOU for this review; very informative and entertaining!
@@TheCardsharp glad you enjoyed! Just figured it was worth a second look. I still don’t think it’s particularly good, just maybe misunderstood.
@@retronate - Perfectly put - "misunderstood." It was ahead of its time in the sense that there's more than just fighting enemies.
The first walking sim!
@@snakeplissken44 we got walking right! We got walking left! What’s this? Jumping??? Out of this world!!!!
Erm... isn't this what AVGN said? Did he just make this up, or did the developers do a interview somewhere?
AVGN has beaten it and beaten it to death, it surprised me to see someone else tackle it
AVGN has a content style that craps on games for entertainment. He’s the best at what he does. I’m offering what I feel is a fair opinion of the game. Generally speaking, this game is universally branded as among the worst on the console. I just don’t think it is
@@christopherhall5361 I had a number of folks from stream groan when this game got brought up. I felt I owed it to them
@@retronate In fact, James Rolfe even suggests not taking his reviews as gospel and trying the game for yourself before making any judgment.
@@KitsuneYojimbo totally right. He’s an entertainer and a damn good one. But the beauty of video games, particularly these NES ones is how opinions vary. Mine continue to change as I age too.
Is this playable or are you just really REALLY good at video games?
@@OxbowisaMstie no it’s pretty playable. Doesn’t require a lot of dexterity to work through. Ultimately it’s not great to play, but I don’t think it’s the worst.
@@retronate It's certainly has some interesting development ideas one can more soberly appreciate upon reflection. I'll put it in the "maybe replay it" column.
Is the snake lady the mirror version of Millicent?
Ooh good question…apparently in the 1960 film there was a character named Maria who was an exotic dancer and snake charmer that Mr. Hyde has an affair with. Perhaps her?
Now that I'm in my 40's I can appreciate the nuance of the game (still contend it's bad). I found the manual online, something I didn't have the benefit of as a 10ish year old and it helped make some sense of things
Same. The cover art makes you think you’ll just be ripping through enemies as Hyde in a standard platformer and won’t have to give it much thought. I won’t fight the contention that it’s bad, but if I’m being honest I found myself enjoying the game by the end.
@@retronate for me I think the Jekyll parts were just REALLY slow and janky. I remember liking the Hyde parts too, just getting frustrated by getting struck by lightning (which according to the manual is "The Powers That Be")
@@airwolfpsu lol that’s great. No youre spot on. Jekyll levels are very trudgy. I think knowing the stakes were high for making significant progress helped me get through them. Obviously having weapons that can kill more than just bugs is the draw.
Omg this game is garbage. I love the sarcasm, great video!
@@woolybear I’m tellin ya…I really didn’t hate it by the end. Takes a while to learn but not nearly as bad as it’s thought of.
The inconsistent framerate of this game is absolute ass.
@@cidelogic that is certainly one of the many things people dislike about this one.
The animation speed has to do with the walking speed. Think it was Displaced Gamer or NES Hacker that did a video on it.
@@seanewing204 ah interesting. I gotta check that out
I really actually like the explanation you had for the game to the story. I can definitely appreciate what they were trying to achieve. Still don’t like the game though lol. Mr. Hyde parts are cool.
Yeah that’s all I was aiming for. It’s not a good game. But it wasn’t just a cash grab like some others. They tried something and executed it poorly, but it wasn’t without any thought
This game could easily be hacked into the incredible hulk. Hint hint wink wink.
With the one exception of hacking the music.
@@ruminator3570 Incredible Hulk on NES? Never played and now I’m intrigued
I too like to make ultra spicy takes.
@@angrytheclown801 it’s time I speak my mind. If I bottle it….we know what can happen lol
@@retronateBunny ears pop out of my head if it happens. I think my potion was defective, or weird.
@@angrytheclown801 lol
I often bring this title up as an early example of an "art" game. There's a huge difference between a hilarious B-rated David Cage disasterpiece and Disco Elysium- both get annoyingly preachy at times, but the latter has intentional good dark humor and decent RPG mechanics, while the former is unintentionally hilarious if you can wade through all the redundant "are you paying attention, please don't fall asleep" QTEs (the funniest part being how seriously Cage takes himself). This is just as pretentious, with neither the good gameplay nor humor (intentional or not).
@@kamikaze9699 are you suggesting that the psycho wave, a projectile that is for all intents and purposes uncontrollable and unpredictable, isn’t good??? And that shooting brain rabbits is somehow less than stellar? How dare you!?!?
@@retronate I'd argue the monsters you kill as Hyde are actually townspeople, as seen through the delusional lens of a psychotic break. Assaulting them explains why so many attack and bomb you in retaliation. The last boss as Hyde is actually an angry mob of townspeople finally angered enough to take you out no matter the cost. The reason the town is vacant afterwards is because you killed them all, terror striking the hearts of those few lucky enough to escape your wrath. Hyde after the end cut scene is a signifier he is in charge completely, as suggested by the flipped "END" after the thunder strike.
@ I’m digging this
The poop is brown because it's dog poop that the birds pick up in their talons to toss down at you.
@@cvdinjapan7935 shame on me for not seeing it.
@@retronate I believe it was referenced in the book by Robert Louis Stevenson that the game was based on:
"I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory; the spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not yet moved to begin. As I looked up, I noticed a flock of birds in the air, talons clutching clusters of feces, clearly from the mongrels sitting here and there throughout town. I knew not why the birds were acting in this fashion, and I wrestled with this mystery for a brief moment before I set forth on my way."
@@cvdinjapan7935 this is a hall of famer. I’m dying
I think it's really 'bad' because AVGN and irate gamer, for example just really blasted it and it gained infamy. Imo, i just play modern consoles. Also i think your reaching. Mr. Hyde was created because of a chemical explosion in Dr. Jekyll's lab. This game was created because there was nothing to go off of if they only used the source material alone.
@@Openreality you’re probably not wrong. Sometimes that’s the level of depth at which people consider a game’s quality. I supposed i hoped to show a different perspective with this video.
@@retronate
Its an interesting game. I wouldn't mind trying it sometime. I vaguely remember reading the book and was fascinated by the book and it does seem that the book did address one's psychological stare of being. When i was younger, i spent most of my younger years outside until i moved, and we received a SNES. So my nostalgia is mostly with super Mario world Mario kart, legend of Zelda mario rpg, dkc and others. I'm glad that people actually know how to beat 'bad games' you have good material. And yes sub earned
@@Openreality wow thanks! I’ve got plenty of snes titles to get to as that was my preferred system after the NES. I’ve covered 9 titles so far? No real heavy hitters yet but looking forward to diving into that library.
I dunno man. Even after knowing how to play, I still just don't think it's very fun.
I think Day Dreamin Davy is fun, but I know it's not a good game.
@@SECONDQUEST “good” is always relative to the person playing it. Games are sometimes about how they make you feel. I think I said in the video that I’d probably rank it as below average, but not among the worst on the console. I certainly don’t expect everyone to change their opinion - just wanted to offer my take.
entering this game blindly.. you'd be as mad as AVGN since the game is pretty cheap to a new player.
@@rionthemagnificent2971 how long does someone have to play a game to make a proper evaluation? More than a few minutes I’d hope?
Yes there is a learning curve and it’s frustrating to start, but I come from an era where you have to push through that. I can imagine less palatable nowadays but it’s nostalgic for me
a little late to be starting beef with AVGN over his video saying it sucked
I recognize AVGN is an entertainer. My hope was sharing this opinion was also entertaining. I have no beef. Simply sharing my take on the game.
This game sucks. Nate will be that person who will say superman 64, et atari or cleveland steamers are enjoyable experiences just to be contrarian and farm youtube comments.
@@bigcstevens187 you know me so well. My channel being full of hot takes and all.
No it did suck. You just want to sound ironic. Poor game play mechanics doesn't mean the player sucked. You also have to keep in mind alot of us played this when we were kids. Not when we were in our 40s
@@CJDrischler I appreciate you assuming to know my motives for making this video. Dynamite start. My intent with any title and thumbnail is to generate intrigue and have the potential viewer want to see more (which seems to have worked in this case). I never hide that - it’s how this platform works.
That said, if you watch the video I don’t assert that the game is good, only that it’s possible that some of the reasons we thought it sucked might’ve been due to some psychology they tried to convey that we didn’t grasp as kids. My final thought is only that the game isn’t in the conversation of worst on the console as some have asserted.
Honestly the game is still pretty awful, mostly in that the game does a terrible job of actually intuitively explaining and visually indicating what can and can't hurt you and when (some people you can walk through, others you cant, bomb hitbox extending far past the explosion graphic with no visual indicators, etc etc). Is the game AS bad as most people make it out to be? Not really, but the game is still pretty bad, especially considering how some of the levels and obstacles line up to where there are situations that are actually impossible to get through without taking damage from what I've seen.
It’s a below average game, but not among the worst of all time. It’s not intuitive, but not impossible to figure out. The bomb hit boxes is certainly the worst aspect. I guess most of the jankiness for me is not that bad to deal with when I consider the thought they seem to have put into portraying the psychology of the story
Meh The Nerd didn't lie.. this games boring.. walking simulator..
I just contend that there is more to it than meets the eye. Still not a good game, just not the worst.
I've played Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, use to own the game in fact. And IMO it is very very bad. Can there be fun to be had? Yes there is. I played it a lot, and had fun while doing so. But the mechanics are confusing, the gameplay is frustrating, and it's just a bad game overall. As for your analysis of the story of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, you forget that the split personality was created by an experiment that Dr Jekyll preformed. Jekyll was considered a nice guy, while Hyde was an unrepentant murderer. Really, the game's whole set of mechanics in the game make no bloody sense based on the novel. The game should have been a point and click adventure mystery told from the perspective of a detective, IMO. That would have been more faithful to how the book worked. As it stands, the only thing this game and the novel "The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" is the names Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
@@faerieknight2298 idk did you see Hyde unrepentantly murdering those leaping brains that looked like frogs? Or the weird snake lady? Feels like they captured that well lol
Good way to start a video, tell your viewers they have problems, you are gonna make it.....
It’s a bold strategy cotton…let’s see if it works out.
Awesome video! Terrible game!
@@rubyeyeshabranigdu hahaha it’s really not good, but it’s not the worst. Just a meaty “not good” game
@@retronate 🤣
this game is not bad because its hard to play the reason why is bad is because is boring to play... maybe not to some people but the majority will find it that way.
@@tolontolon5538 absolutely agree on the Jekyll stages. Repetitive and dull…but I didn’t hate the Hyde ones as much and actually found them fun by the end. Understanding what I believed to be the psychology behind how it’s designed made the Jekyll stages a little more palatable.
so thats it, just a guy desperately trying to justify a horrible game while just walking right and getting hit by unavoidable shit flying at him. yeah really great game, great video!
@@Jerrywood111 did you watch any of it? Did I sound desperate?
way to much going on at once. as a kid i did not care for it. i bet i can finish it now tho.
I read this like the groundskeepers from Major League
Nice video but with all due respect i don't think "its supposed to be annoying" makes it a good game for me. Then again some people play MOBAs voluntarily so different strokes lol.
@@TheBigjimable I agree the game is not good, and never asserted it was. I simply don’t think it’s among the worst on the console as some believe. They tried to pull off some psychology with this one and while poorly executed, I can appreciate what they were going for.
@ Yeah I wouldn’t even put it close to the worst.
I appreciate what was intended, but this game is a terrible misery to play.
@@Scribblerjohnny I truly didn’t feel that way by the end once I understood the mechanics. The Hyde levels were very enjoyable to me.
Jekyll is a slog, I acknowledge that. Hyde on the rooftops was actually a fun challenge.
Saying people who think the game sucks just don't know how to play it is like saying "you have to have a high IQ to understand Rick and Morty." We know how to play it alright, we still don't like it.
@@stedmangg I never said anyone didn’t know how to play it. My position is that is not nearly as bad as the worst games on the console, which many people assert. It has some thought behind why it plays the way it does and I appreciate that is all. I think it’s a below average game, not the worst.
Thing is, most of them _don't_ know how to play it.
@@BloodwyrmWildheart I agree
Just because you say its "not as bad" .. doesnt make it any less bad. The game is AWFUL. Period. AVGN is 100% spot on about how garbage this game is. Sorry dude, you can polish a turd, but its still a turd.
@@Nazgull2k1 I just disagree. There is more to it than is often portrayed. I appreciate what they were trying to convey with the way the game is put together.
Imagine for a moment actually polishing a turd though. That is quite gross.
No, this game is still bad and it's design is still horribly flawed with awful execution. Ambitious IDEAS do not necessarily make for a good game, and in this case they objectively failed. You cannot defend this game. Stop trying.
@@teruienages962 no I think I’ll share my opinion thanks. Keeping it completely honest, I found myself enjoying it by the end. The Hyde levels were challenging and there was a great sense of accomplishment when it was completed. Below average game but not among the worst on the console
Stop parroting the opinions of popular UA-camrs and formulate your own.
@@BloodwyrmWildheart I’m out here taking arrows. It’s nice to have an ally lol
You actually are trying to justify this game as good? I was going to subscribe but now I can’t. You literally just walk to the right. It’s not just AVGN that says this game sucks, it’s UNIVERSALLY panned
@@mralapenosarespicy did you watch the whole video? I don’t say it’s good, I say it’s not among the worst on the console. But I will try to pick up the shattered pieces of my life and move on in light of this terrible news.
The game sux dude lol
It’s not good, but it’s not among the worst on the console as some believe.
there is nothing good about this game it still is one of the worst games made for the nes.
@@bradm8606 I see my attempts to convince you to reconsider have failed lol.
@@retronate ya I would still advise no one play this game ever it is very bottom tier game probably not the all time worst but up there
This game still sucks to me
It’s not good, and I say as much in the video. I just don’t think it’s among the worst on the console as some claim
Most NES games are garbage
@@theoldblood3804 heresy!!! Actually you might be right lol…we tend to only focus on the good ones but if you take the entire totality of the library, you might be right
6:30 "I can identify with just the day to day things of life bothering you."
Show of hands: how many of you have a jackass put a bomb on your path every twenty seconds?
@@afmghost1759 I swear if I had a nickel for every old timey bomb from the 50s that I had to avoid on the way to my wedding…I wouldn’t need UA-cam
I am not sure but I think that the lady that sings you can also poke her with the walking stick but it will turn you into Mr.Hyde.
I had no idea about that and another commenter mentioned it too. Seems like that could be used strategically if you were low on life.
at 19:00, I don't think those are birds..I..I think they're freakin' LAWN DARTS?!
JARTS!!! One kid gets stabbed in the heart and they discontinue the product?!?! Seems maybe like an over correction to me.
The guy from the "Displaced Gamers" channel made several videos about this game, delving into the actual assembly code. It's garbage even on a technical level.
@@jonah1976 garbage through the right lens can be “quirky” lol