Hydlide/Walkthrough

Because Hydlide is a comparatively small game, it's difficult to guide walkthrough directions that won't spoil some of the secrets in the game. As with every walkthrough, it is best to attempt to solve as many puzzles in the game yourself before referencing any of the information presented here in order to maximize your enjoyment of the games.

Combat: To Attack or to Defend
Early on in the game, you cannot hope to damage even the weakest Slime unless you are in Attack mode. Until you reach level 3, it's not very possible to attack a enemy in Defend mode and beat it before it beats you. Because of this, you may become conditioned early on to rely on Attack mode to destroy enemies. Naturally, if you are fighting many weaker enemies, and trying to dispatch as many as you can quickly, Attack mode is the preferred mode to be in. However, as you become stronger, you will find that you don't need to rely on solely Attack mode in order to defeat an opponent.

Certainly if your only goal is to travel across a region of the world, it makes more sense to remain in Defend mode so that you minimize the amount of damage that you receive. However, there are particular fights where you may wish to rely more of Defend mode than Attack mode. More difficult fights like your encounter with the Dragon may be better handled by relying on Defend mode than Attack mode. You can chip away at an enemies health and retreat when you health becomes too low. Unlike you, enemies can't regenerate their hit points, so they will remain at whatever level of damage you left them at while you recharge. Then return to battle in Defend mode and finish the enemy off.

The importance of leveling
Jim may be the destined hero of Hydlide, but compared to some of monsters he must face throughout the game, he is considerably weak. There are only two items that improve your stats throughout the whole game, so leveling is about the only method you have at your disposal to become stronger. The fact is, you can train all the way up to the highest experience level before you even bother collecting the first item in the game. You may choose the break up your training with a few errands, so the walkthrough below will provide good level approximations for you to reach before attempting each mission.

You begin at level 1. Raising your level typically involves a very slow and repetitive process of killing as many of a certain creature as you can until you sustain too much damage to continue fighting, then moving to a safe tile of grass where you can (slowly) restore your hit points, quick saving the game (you will be very sorry if you don't do this often), and returning to battle until the next level is reached. Refer to the table below for the best approach to reaching each level.

Rescue the Fairies
Naturally, you can't simply walk up to Varalys and beat him up to win the game. There are several objectives that you must accomplish before that time. The following presents one logical progression through the game, but it is not the only one. You can attempt several of the options presented here in whatever order you like.

The 1st Fairy
As mentioned above, before you even attempt to do anything, it is wise to fight Slimes until you reach level 3. In doing so, you will become strong enough to withstand some of the attacks that you will face in the process of completing the missions.

Once you reach level 3, you should seek out an easily accessible treasure chest. It lies in a corner of a field directly below the maze. Proceed to A-2 to find the chest, and open it to collect the Cross. With the Cross, you will be able to take on the Vampire who guards the next valuable item that you will need.

Many of the caves in Hydlide are pitch black. There is one cave that happens to have more light, and it ironically belongs to a Vampire. The Vampire has taken residence in the dungeon of a castle to the east of the maze. Visit D-2 and walk to the hole in the ground. Hold to enter the hole. Inside you will find a maze occupies by a flock of blood-sucking Stirges. Don't pay too much attention to them and head immediately to the room to the south. Once there, you will probably notice the Vampire wandering the halls. Even with the Cross, he is still dangerous to attack head-on. However, you can use the maze to your advantage. Enemies in Hydlide cannot about-face (unless you command them to with the Turn spell). Getting behind the Vampire should be pretty easy since you are a little faster than him. Enter Attack mode while you follow him from behind and kill him. His death will reveal a treasure chest, which you can open to find the Lamp, which illuminates dark dungeons.

With the lamp in hand, you may wish to investigate the cave directly to the north of the Vampire's Castle. Be sure to save before every visit that you make to the cave at D-1. The cave contains Wisps which are rather deadly to you even at high levels. However, they ca be lured away and avoided if you are patient enough. Once you've saved, enter the cave and prepare to make a mad dash for the treasure chest in the south. Doing your best to avoid the Wisps as much as possible, open the chest to discover the Sword inside. This is the only enhancement to your offensive level other than through training. (You may wish to save inside the cave at this point unless you're in a hopeless situation and can't get out alive.) Work your way back out of the cave and return to the outside. Save the game with your new possession.