HYDLIDE

Released by T&E Soft in 1984, this title is a landmark in gaming history as a pioneer of the "Action RPG" genre in Japan. Set in the kingdom of Fairyland, which was once protected by three mystical jewels, the player sets out on an endless adventure to defeat the resurrected demon Varalis. The seamless fusion of real-time combat and role-playing progression was a revelation to PC gamers of the era, permanently influencing the trajectory of Japanese game design created by visionary Tokihiro Naito.

The kingdom of Fairyland once enjoyed a peaceful coexistence between humans and fairies, maintained by three mysterious jewels housed in the palace. However, when a greedy human stole one of the jewels, the seal was broken, allowing the legendary demon Varalis to reawaken. With the kingdom's peace shattered by his dark magic and the beautiful Princess Ann transformed into three fairies, a brave youth named Jim sets out across a monster-ridden landscape to reclaim the stolen jewel and save the princess.