We must confess to being a bit surprised that Sega bothered to convert T&E Soft's early RPG for the UK Saturn. That type of game is always for a niche market, so it's a sign of Sega's commitment to provide a broad raft of game styles for the machine early on.

Having said that, our reflections on Hydlide would suggest that it's not really aimed at the serious RPG gamer anyway: this is a 3D exploration game bearing the hallmarks of Dungeons and Dragons. Playing an energetic young adventurer, you explore a large map which has about ten locations you can actually go and visit.

These are rather more interesting than the aimless wandering within the dull grey, randomly generated outdoor landscape. There are objects to be collected and equipped, new weapons and armour and the occasional puzzle to solve.

The graphics are strange - functional 3D, but extremely blocky and blurred, especially close up, so the effect, overall, is not too pleasing. Our assessment of Hydlide has cooled from the import review, even though the UK version makes matters like reading less of a chore. Coupled with more interesting RPG developments due from Sega.

If you must have some form of RPG, you might want to consider Hydlide.

Overall 71%
A simple RPG in a Legoland environment. Generally flawed.