Greetings, gamers and villain enthusiasts! Today, we have a very special guest joining us from the legendary realms of NES classics. Please welcome none other than the infamous demon of Hydlide, the terror himself, known to many as Varalys, but who prefers to go by anonymous-villain. Thank you for joining us, anonymous-villain!
Ah, the pleasure is mine. Though I must say, presenting myself as just “anonymous-villain” seems to lack the grandeur of my true essence. But for you, I shall indulge in this modesty for a while.
Let’s jump right into it. What drove you to curse Princess Ann and turn her into three fairies?
Princess Ann is 3 fairies, ha!
Oh, that old fairy tale? Honestly, I found it rather dull ruling a kingdom without any real challenge. So I cast a little spell—abracadabra, poof!—the princess transforms into three fairies. It’s a brilliant way to spice things up and keep me entertained, don’t you think? Plus, have you seen how annoying those fairies can be when they scatter? It’s like herding glittery, unpredictable cats.
Our hero, Sir Jim, certainly has his work cut out for him. What are your thoughts regarding his quest to lift the curse and save the kingdom?
Sir Jim? More like Sir Dim, if you ask me. The guy spends more time bumping headfirst into enemies than any sensible warrior should. It’s like he thinks he’s a battering ram. The whole “bump combat” system was a genius touch on my part, really. Nothing says ‘heroic struggle’ like watching him ricochet off goblins like a confused pinball.
Many players have found Hydlide to be quite challenging. Care to share any secrets that might help them get through the game?
Ah, where’s the fun in making it easy? But since I’m feeling generous today, let me share a little nugget. Did you know the developers left a hidden magic spell in the game? If you enter the name ‘HYDLIDE’ at the character creation screen, you start with a bit more health. Shhh, just between us—don’t tell all the heroes! And remember, the key is to switch between defensive and offensive stances wisely; it’s not just mindless bumping, despite how Sir Jim handles it.
Sounds like you’ve set quite a few traps for unwitting players. Were there any elements of the game you thought didn’t quite work out as intended?
navigate the labyrinthine challenges
Oh, absolutely. The whole ‘flipping between screens’ thing? Not my idea, I assure you. It’s like a disjointed dream sequence from a bad ‘80s TV show. It could have been smoother, more seamless—like my evil schemes. Also, who decided on those pixel-perfect movements to trigger events? I’d wager a competent, evil sorcerer could have done better!
With all those challenges, what do you think of players who manage to defeat you and complete the game?
Gah, those infuriatingly persistent players! I have to grudgingly admit, anyone who can navigate the labyrinthine challenges and emerges victorious against me deserves respect. They possess a certain tenacity—a quality I grudgingly admire. But let’s not inflate their egos too much. They got lucky; never underestimate the power of determination paired with way too much free time.
Do you have any quirky insights or trivia about the game’s development from your inside perspective?
Indeed! You know that infamous fairy puzzle? The developers wanted to make it even more convoluted, but I convinced them otherwise—after all, even true evil needs a sense of fair play. Also, Sir Jim’s ponderous movements? Purely a design choice to give brave adventurers a bit of extra challenge. They were going to make him faster, but I argued that epic quests shouldn’t look like speedy sprints.
You’ve mentioned several issues. Were there design choices that benefitted you as the villain?
Hydlide
Without a doubt. The limited save options? Marvelous! Nothing demoralizes a hero like losing hours of progress. The dungeons? A stroke of brilliance—dark, confusing, and oh-so-easy to get lost in. And those power-ups stashed away in the trickiest places? Put there by yours truly, like twisted little Easter eggs. Good luck finding those on your own, Sir Dim!
As we wrap up, what can we expect from you in the future? A return to villainy or perhaps a quiet retirement?
Retirement? Oh please, like a demon ever truly retires. Let’s just say, keep your eyes peeled. The realms of gaming always need a touch of chaos, and who better to provide that than yours truly? As they say, a demon’s work is never done. Until next time, gamers—rest assured, I’m always lurking, waiting for the next challenge to arise.
Thank you, anonymous-villain, for this witty and enlightening interview. We look forward to your nefarious return. And to all you heroes out there, prepare yourselves—this villain is just getting started.
You can also read the Classics conversation of Hydlide here!