Hydlide
Hydlide is an action RPG for the NES, published by FCI, and is considered one of the earliest examples of the genre on consoles. You play as a knight named Jim, tasked with saving the kingdom of Hydlide from evil. The gameplay features real-time combat, exploration of an overworld and dungeons, and an experience system. You use a sword and can equip armor and shields. The game has a unique "life" system – you have a health bar that depletes, but you can rest to regenerate. The world is expansive, with hidden secrets. A trivia: the game was originally released for the PC in Japan and heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda, but it predates Zelda. The NES version has simplified graphics and controls. Critics found it repetitive but influential. The music is simple but catchy. The game includes a "save" feature using passwords. It is known for its steep difficulty and grinding requirements. Despite its age, it holds a place in RPG history. The game also features a "magic" system with spells like healing and fire.