Interactive Television Entertainment games, Other games
There are several Hugo video games based on early episodes of ITE's television show Hugo and are a part of the international Hugo franchise. From 1992 to 2000, ITE developed and released versions for Amiga, Commodore 64 and PC, as well as the Game Boy and PlayStation consoles, exclusively for European markets. Since 2011, Krea Media / Hugo Games published a series of mobile game remakes for Android. An online slot machine adaptation was also released in 2016.
The games closely resemble the early editions of the TV show they have been adapted from; in almost all of them, the player guides the titular protagonist (a small, friendly troll named Hugo) to save his wife and children from the evil witch Scylla. To rescue his family, Hugo must navigate safely through dangerous environments in various minigame scenarios.
History
Two Amiga games, Hugo (originally titled Hugo - På Nye Eventyr: Del 1) and its sequel, Hugo 2 (originally Hugo - På Nye Eventyr: Del 2) were released in 1992. These were re-released as a 1994 compilation, Hugo (Hugo På Nye Eventyr), and ported to the PC in 1995-1996. Both games were similar to the television show where the contestant would try to completes arcade sequences to collect points and avoid obstacles using a phone, and the ending minigames are identical to the ones seen on TV. Later PC releases included Hugo 3 to Hugo 6, Hugo: Wild River (1998), and their upgraded compilations Hugo Gold (1998), Hugo Platin (1999) and Hugo XL (1999).
Several of the releases were partially incorporated into 2000's Hugo - Die Geburtstagsparty and Hugo Safari (both of which were also based on newer Hugo works) and the Hugo Classic Collection (compiling the first titles). The latter consisted of seven or eight releases (depending of country): Hugo Classic 1-4, based on the original series, and Hugo Classic 5-6 based on the Hugo: Jungle Island series.
The two PlayStation games, which reused the titles Hugo and Hugo 2, are compilation remakes of the computer games. They feature improved graphics and sound (including musical tracks for each stage), and also a rendered opening animation in Hugo 2. In 1999, Hugo 2 was also ported by Bit Managers and Infogames for the Game Boy Color. Hugo 2½, as the port is titled, features simplified graphics and gameplay.
Gameplay
In the games' story, a horrible witch named Scylla (also known as Sculla and named differently in some countries, including "Afskylia" in the original Danish version, and resembling the Dark Queen from Battletoads) arrives at the home of Hugo the troll and kidnaps his wife Hugoline and their three young children (Rit, Rat and Rut) because she needs them for a magical beauty treatment. Hugo must rescue Hugolina and the children and defeat the villainess to bring peace to the woods.
The player must complete a number of minigames and guessing games; most have 2.5D graphics and are controlled with button presses as Scylla the witch watches Hugo's progress and casts spells to stop him from reaching her lair in the Skull Cave at a mountain peak. During the games Hugo (voiced in Danish by Michael Brockdorf and German by Michael Habeck, Oliver Grimm and Oliver Baier) and Scylla (voiced in Danish by Winnie Engell and in German by Karin Kernke) communicate with the player with digitized speech, and can also knock on (or scratch) the screen from the inside, breaking the fourth wall.
Minigames
In order of release:
"Labyrinth": Hugo must find his way through a labyrinth, avoiding dynamite and mined wagons before a box of TNT destroys the maze, and cross a bridge before facing three doors (one of which holds a prize). It has first appeared in Skærmtrolden Hugo, the original Hugo game released for the Commodore 64, and was used in Hugo Gold, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, and in a revised form in Hugo Retro Mania.
"Mountaineering": Hugo runs up a mountain, dodging rolling boulders while trying to collect bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo - På Nye Eventyr, Hugo I/II (PC), Hugo Gold, Hugo XL, Hugo Safari, Hugo Classic 1 and Hugo for the PlayStation.
"Handcar": Hugo finds an old track leading to Scylla's lair. The player helps the troll and his handcar reach their destination by changing tracks, dodging oncoming steam trains, which are steam engines, either on freight or passenger workings, and collecting bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo - På Nye Eventyr and Hugo I/II (PC), Hugo Gold, Hugo XL, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Classic 1 (PC), Hugo (PlayStation), and in a revised form in Hugo Troll Race.
"Plane": The troll flies a biplane through a thunderstorm caused by Scylla, avoiding the storm and TNT-balloons and collecting gold. It appeared in Hugo - På Nye Eventyr Del 2 and Hugo I/II (PC), and remade for Hugo Gold, Hugo XL, Hugo Safari, Hugo Classic 1 and Hugo (PlayStation).
"Forest": Hugo wanders through a dark forest, avoiding traps set up by Scylla. It appeared in Hugo - På Nye Eventyr Del 2 and Hugo I/II (PC), Hugo Gold, Hugo XL, Hugo Classic 1 and Hugo for the PlayStation.
"Ice Cavern": Hugo finds a secret back entrance to the witch's lair, and must keep moving across mobile ice pillars while collecting three jars and memorizing their order. It appeared in Hugo 3 (PC), Hugo Gold, Hugo 2 (PlayStation), Hugo Platin and Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty.
"Lumberjack": Hugo floats downstream on floating logs, hopping between logs to avoid branches and collect sacks of gold; if he stays on a log too long, he will lose balance. It appeared in Hugo 3, Hugo Gold, Hugo XL and Hugo (PlayStation).
"Scuba": Hugo dives in a river, avoiding fish, crabs and octopi and collecting treasure chests; he must surface for air, and turn to avoid waterfalls. It appeared in Hugo 3, Hugo Gold, Hugo XL and Hugo for PlayStation.
"Skateboard": Hugo skates down a wooden half-pipe, avoiding broken sections (followed by boulders) and collecting bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo 3, Hugo Gold, Hugo XL, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty and Hugo for PlayStation.
"Ballooning": Hugo steers a hot-air balloon to avoid canyons, spikes and collapsing cliffs. When his balloon punctures, the player must control it through a tunnel without hitting its walls. It appeared in Hugo 4, Hugo Platin and Hugo Classic 2 (PC).
"Dolmen Cave": A revised Labyrinth where Hugo navigates an underground maze to reach a mountaintop. The player must find the right path quickly, avoiding traps before Scylla floods the maze. It appeared in Hugo 4, Hugo Platin, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty and Hugo Classic 2 (PC).
"Motorcycle": Hugo navigates an old mountain road, dodging goats, potholes, rocks and other obstacles. The player must collect gasoline while keeping an eye on the map and directing Hugo. It appeared in Hugo 4, Hugo Platin, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty and Hugo Classic 2.
"Snowboarding": Hugo snowboards down the mountain, following tracks towards Scylla's lair. Unfortunately, the witch knows Hugo's plans and has started an avalanche, adding a ticking clock to the game. The track down the hill often splits, leaving some dead ends and passing through fast and slow slopes. Hugo swings on his snowboard, avoiding rolling snowballs and steep chasms while collecting gold. This was released in Hugo 4, then remade twice, first for both Hugo Platin and Hugo Classic 2, and then for Hugo 2 (PlayStation).
"Parachute": Hugo parachutes to the witch's hideout in the forest, avoiding birds and storm clouds while collecting bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo 5, Hugo Platin and Hugo Classic 3 for PC.
"Cliffhanger": The troll climbs a mountain, avoiding gargoyles, asteroids and dynamite and collecting bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo 5, Hugo Platin, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Classic 3 and Hugo 2 for the PlayStation.
"Wood Jumping": Hugo crosses a gorge by hopping across flat-topped tree trunks and an oddly-placed bridge, avoiding dynamite, beavers and steel traps. On the edge of the track are owls and frogs, which the player must remember. It appeared in Hugo 5, Hugo Platin and Hugo Classic 3.
"Sledge": Hugo sleds down a hill, avoiding birds and snowmen while collecting bags of gold. It appeared in Hugo 5, Hugo Platin, Hugo Classic 3 and the PlayStation Hugo 2.
"Mine Track": Hugo barrels down a mineshaft in search of an exit, avoiding obstacles in the ceiling and corridors and collecting gold. It appeared in Hugo 6, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Classic 4 and Hugo 2 for the PlayStation.
"Moor": The troll must cross a moor to reach Scylla's lair, avoiding mud holes and colonies of bats, before solving a test. It appeared in Hugo 6, Hugo Classic 4 and Hugo 2 for the PlayStation.
"Boulders": Hugo flees from enormous boulders, avoiding obatacles such as dead ends, tree roots and lava pits. It appeared in Hugo 6 and Hugo Classic 4.
"Wild River": Hugo rides a barrel downstream, avoiding whirlpools and boulders. There are periodic waterfalls, for which Hugo must shut the lid of his barrel and direct himself left or right, using a map to find his way. It appeared in Hugo 6, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty and Hugo Classic 4.
Endgames
If the players manage to complete the journey and reach their destination, Hugo proceeds to one of the final minigames:
"Lightning Bolts": Hugo must hop through a large chessboard to collect a key and open a door, avoiding lightning bolts hurled by Scylla. It appeared in Hugo 3, Hugo 4, Hugo 5, Hugo 6, Hugo Gold, Hugo Platin, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Safari, Hugo 2 (PlayStation) and Hugo Classic 1-4.
"Key": Hugo must select the correct key to open Scylla's treasure chest; if he guesses incorrectly, metal spears will surround him. It appeared in Hugo 3, Hugo 4, Hugo 5, Hugo 6, Hugo Gold, Hugo Platin, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Safari and Hugo Classic 1-4.
"Ropes": In front of Scylla and his family held captive, Hugo guess-selects one of three ropes. Two of the ropes will free his family from the cage, and then Scylla will be either captured and punished by being tied-up and ejected out of window via springboard, doubling the score points, or she will transform into a bird and escape, leaving the score the same. If Hugo chooses incorrectly, however, it is him who will be bound and defenestrated. It appeared in Hugo - På Nye Eventyr, Hugo I/II(PC), Hugo 3, Hugo 4, Hugo 5, Hugo 6, Hugo Gold, Hugo Platin, Hugo XL, Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty, Hugo Safari, Hugo (PlayStation) and Hugo Classic 1-4.
Some games feature alternative final minigames that do not take place in Scylla's lair:
"Apple Harvest": Two of Hugo's children throw apples from a tree; Hugo tries to catch enough in a basket to make juice. It appeared in Hugo Platin.
"Magic Hands": A shell game in which the player watches one of Hugo's children place a bead under a shell and shuffle several shells and must select the shell with the bead under it. It appeared in Hugo Platin and Hugo XL and was hidden in Hugo for the PlayStation (the player needs to complete the game in arcade mode, collecting all bonus, then complete the Ropes end scene by shooting Scylla out of the window).
Reception
The games received mixed and often negative reviews. According to Francisco Delgada from Spanish magazine pcmanía, while Hugo is "not a bad game," it is "a bit bland and repetitive, especially since the video game version only differs from television [game] in its difficulty." Arkadiusz Matczyński from Polish magazine Świat Gier Komputerowych recommended it as a "fantastic" game for younger Amiga users, but noted the more mature audience might get bored quickly. Other reviewers were harsher. Mike Goldsmith from Arcade wrote about the PlayStation releases: "Advertised as being 'designed for children aged 6+', Hugo will come off as simplistic at best, patronising at worst - a real shame given the quality of edutainment titles that could be ported from PC and Mac." Nevertheless, the games were a commercial success. The original PC release has remained Germany's #1 best-selling PC floppy disk game for a long time, including in March 1995, June 1995, July 1995, October 1995, and November 1995. Retrospectively, PlayStation Official Magazine listed Hugo, described as "bloody rubbish", atop its list of worst PlayStation characters. In 2012, Game Informer made a Replay-section retro video poking fun at the PlayStation Hugo and Bubsy 3D.
Online slot adaptation
Hugo online slot game based on the game was developed by Play’n GO in 2016 (in Denmark it was released exclusively for RoyalCasino.dk). Its story involves finding treasures in a mine and rescuing Hugolina from Afskylia/Scylla.
