Reprogramming Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (NES) - Behind the Code

The AVGN is rising from his exorcised body to shake your hand

"This style of programming is called 'absolutely terrible.'" I love this line. I have this on while working. I'm a software engineer. So, that line caught me off guard, and I had to stop to laugh.

As a programmer, these videos remind me to not be lazy with my code because in 30 years or so someone might dig through it and roast me posthumously.

..."And it's only useful against bees." Makes as much sense as any other decision made in this game.

"Oh damn you got blown up are you hurt?" Jekyll: "I guess. Mostly mad though. >:("

The stress meter could have doubled as a stamina meter for a run function.

This game is the programming equivalent of outsider art. It's fascinating how strangely implemented every mechanic is.

The thing I find incredibly fascinating about this game is that when it “lags”, the game actually speeds up. I have no idea what could possibly cause this, but it’s most apparent in the city stage when a woman is singing while there are barrels. The more sprites on screen, the faster everything moves.

I've always liked what this game is TRYING to do. Honestly it needs so much work under the hood it'd probably be better to remake it from scratch. I'd make the bomb radius smaller, the bomb timer longer and have it knock you away from the bomb instead of to the left regardless.

There is a decentish game hidden behind the final, shoddy product. Your suggestions would make it more playable (especially the smaller bomb blast radius)...and possibly even enjoyable.

How random is this! I just played through this whole game, US and the Japanese versions, and I was really thinking the same thing. "Is it fun?" Because in the abstract it's really a brilliant game. It even has multiple endings, the hidden one accessed by avoiding being struck by lightning for venturing past Jekyll as Hyde by using the rooftops of the final level. So many small and just bizarre changes in localization too, multiple levels removed and enemies as well. Really interesting stuff for game grognards like me.

This channel is truly in a league of extraordinary gentlemen!

This game really kind of shows how game programming was evolving back then. And even more, how much of a huge leap games like SMB1 were. Standards for scrolling and hitboxes just weren't there yet, everyone was finding out what they thought the best way to do it was. Trying to fit a puzzle piece in the large puzzle of gaming history.

The only thing I don't like about your videos is that there can't be a new one every single day. Seriously my favorite thing in all of YouTube.

Would be interesting to tie the run to the stress meter. Have it increase slightly as you run. Using the run to dodge things that will significantly increase stress, at the cost of a little stress.

The nerd needs to see this.

Great video! The code reminds me of the first game I made in university, where everything moved in lockstep because I was a new programmer. Refactoring that sort of thing into something dynamic is very satisfying. If it were me, I'd make a run mechanic add to your stress. He's going to be late for the wedding! It would let you run as much as you want at the risk of taking self-damage, basically.

The cane attack wouldn't be missed that much anyway, even for the bees, as, if you duck at the right time, you can actually headbutt the bees, and not take damage. Yes, this works....assuming the bees fly low enough. Anyway, nice dissection of the code! I haven't really seen anybody else tackle Jekyll and Hyde's code like this before.

What brilliant timing, I just played through this whole game, and was wondering pretty hard about how the bizarre and infuriating bomb collisions worked! This channel always answers my most burning questions. The spiders are definitely one of the most maddening enemies ever conceived.

2:59 I’ve watched this video about five times in the past month, and this part cracks me up every single time. I love your videos. I only wish they were longer.