Jeremy Parish

NES Works Episode 121: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Amagon (Patreon)

Published:

2023-12-27 13:15:01

Imported:

2024-04

Tags:

advance communication aicom amagon bandai dr jekyll and mr hyde nes nes works sammy vic tokai

Content

Sorry about ending the year on a pair of stinkers. But on the plus side, it means things can only get better in 2024. Right???

I did not deliberately pair these games based on their mutual theme of heroes who turn into a raging monster of a man. It just kind of worked out that way. Sometimes, the universe is funny like that. Although honestly the fun ends the moment you experience either of these games. Bad games are sad like that.

Files

’Roidvania: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Amagon | NES Works 121

This episode's games share exactly two things in common: Both involve guys who hulk out and turn into massive ’roided rage monsters, and both are so terrible that they will make YOU want to hulk out as well. However, here is the interesting thing (for a certain value of "interesting"): Both are terrible in completely different ways! Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde takes a bizarre, almost experimental approach to game design, sending its protagonist on a journey across Victorian London, where he is beset by an endless succession of utterly mundane nuisances that drive him mad, causing him to collapse in fury. This sends him to a freakish parallel universe where he exists as a hideous, twisted effigy of a man who can shoot parabolic energy beams at evil babies and hopping meatballs. Just like in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel! Amagon, on the other hand, presents you with a pretty compelling hook and some well-considered risk-reward design. Do you play as a weakling with a machine gun, or as the durable muscleman with a limited attack and a massive hitbox who can't accumulate bonus items? Unfortunately, the game goes way too eagerly for punishing, kaizo-style design, which doesn't pair well with the limited lives, lack of continues, and iffy controls.... Production notes: Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Why watch when you can read? Check out the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works, available now at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books)! SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I is available NOW, and Metroidvania: The First Decade is due in 2024. NES footage captured from Analogue Nt Mini. Video upscaled to 720 with xRGB Mini Framemeister. "Before the Storm" courtesy of Jacob Le.