Wait. Go back and re-read that title.
Y'do so?
Good.
Now put down the pitchfork. And the chainsaw.
He likes something that the AVGN called shit! GET HIM!
Actually, the AVGN is right. Again, go back and re-read that. Whether or not James himself was aware of it, the AVGN is right on both fronts (here's a Refresher in case you need it). The booklet itself affirms this.
The game was designed like this. It seriously was. Dr. Jekyll, being non-confrontational but constantly annoyed, being pushed to the edges of human patience, eventually transforming into Hyde, who tears the world around him a new one. Hence, why Dr. Jekyll is frustrating to play as if you treat it like any other 2D platformer or adventure game.
He's only human. He has to abide by the law, take the rude shoves and childish slingshots in stride, the accidents that would ruin his clothes (it IS his wedding day), avoid the murderous intent of some (the mad bomber)...it is intentionally designed to be frustrating. Really, think of it as the most rudimentary form of survival horror.
Okay, maybe not THAT rudimentary...
Its also why Hyde is much more like a game, since he's allowed the freedom to do whatever he wants. No more rules of society, unbound evil allowed to rampage and tear (inner) demons a new one. He's catharsis for what you put up with on a day to day basis, and when you play him, you feel better than when you play as Jekyll. But alas, all good evil things come to an end... and you must become good to maintain societal norms, calmed down from the annoyances of the everyday nonsense.
And perhaps that's why the good ending is the way it is. You have to maintain a constant balance between venting and tolerating. Venting too much evil, and undeniably society will strike you down (like lightning, electric chair style). Tolerating too much, and the subconscious is just waiting to snap. You have to have the catharsis to maintain your good nature, without letting it interfere with your life.
The last level is the only time Hyde can surpass Jekyll, taking to the rooftops. Symbolic of a different path, the fork in the road that one takes when marriage is looming a few blocks ahead, the penultimate capstone in your life...everything changes. Responsibilities are added. Children are added to the mix. You become something new, and if you have any past baggage hounding you, chances are it'll ruin your marriage at the end of it all.
And chances are you'll wind up indecisive and meandering, with meaningless relationships. Hey, lets make a game out of that idea! Forget Symbolism, lets go with Dualism!
Forgive the pun, but sometimes...you gotta face your inner demons head on.
The most epic of final bosses. A face.
If I'm being disgustingly honest, I like this game. I'm the kind of person who likes a challenge, and Dr. Jekyll is, at its core, fundamentally solid. Its just the design that would put most people off. Nobody wants to be a human with no means to defend himself, forcibly having to avoid common annoyances like the plague. They feel like they SHOULD have the option to use the cane on everything, or have a machine gun with infinite ammo, or a sword to cut away the enemies that lay before them. Games are supposed to be "fun" like that.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO THROW FIRE AND GO DOWN PIPES TO SKIP LEVELS.
But Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde doesn't cater to you. Its like the Demon's Souls of its time, letting you figure out the best way to navigate through all the obstacles given your limitations. That can put a lot of people off, especially children who were expecting a game where they played a scary monster who threw around psycho waves.
Again, at its core, I don't feel like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde for the NES is flawed. There are games that are much more flawed at their core: nearly anything related to LJN, for example. I respect the gamble that they took; honestly, who would make a game out of such an idea? Its not like Frankenstein or Dracula where you're, by default, a monster. This is a human and a monster in constant struggle for dominance, and they played with the idea. I respect that kind of innovation, especially for an NES game.
Its not perfect. But its not a "shitty fuckin' game".
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