Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988-)

• Developer: Advance Communication Co

• Publisher: Toho | Bandai

• Genre: Side Scrolling

• Composer: Michiharu Hasuya

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the NES was developed by Advance Communication Company and published by Toho in Japan in 1988, with Bandai handling the North American release in 1989. The game was loosely based on the classic 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapting its themes of dual personalities and inner conflict into a side-scrolling video game format. The NES version was the only major home console release, though a slightly altered Famicom version had been released earlier in Japan. No prequels or sequels were made, leaving the title as a singular attempt at bringing the literary tale to interactive form.

The story follows Dr. Henry Jekyll on his way to his wedding, where he must walk through town avoiding an array of bizarre hazards, from aggressive townsfolk to bombers and animals. When Jekyll’s stress meter fills, he transforms into the monstrous Mr. Hyde, and the perspective shifts to a nightmare world filled with demons and supernatural threats. The game draws inspiration from the Gothic horror of the source material but mixes it with surreal and often nonsensical obstacles, giving it a tone far removed from the novella’s more subtle psychological horror.

Gameplay alternates between controlling Dr. Jekyll, who can only walk and defend himself minimally, and Mr. Hyde, who can attack enemies with a special projectile. Progress is measured by two parallel paths: Jekyll moves through the “real world” toward the church, while Hyde moves through the dark world in the opposite direction. If Hyde’s path overtakes Jekyll’s, the game ends. This unusual structure, combined with slow pacing and trial-and-error enemy placement, made the game notoriously difficult to enjoy. The soundtrack, composed by Michiharu Hasuya, uses short, looping tracks to represent each state of the character, with Jekyll’s theme being lighter and Hyde’s music taking on a darker, more oppressive tone.

Upon release, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde received largely negative reviews, criticized for its confusing mechanics, unbalanced difficulty, and lack of engaging action. It was marketed in North America with the appeal of playing both hero and villain in a horror-themed setting, but it failed to capture a broad audience. Over the years, however, the game has gained notoriety as a cult curiosity among retro gaming enthusiasts and has been widely discussed in gaming reviews, videos, and commentary for its unusual design choices and place as one of the NES library’s more infamous experiments.

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