Hugo (video Game)

''Hugo'' video game refers to more than a dozen video game adaptations of the early seasons of the originally Danish ITE's interactive entertainment show ''Hugo'' in the ''Hugo'' franchise. From 1992 to 2000, ITE would develop and publish various compilations of different scenarios of the essentially one game, as well as their later updated versions, for several computer and console platforms, in most cases targeted exclusively for the European markets.

The classic ''Hugo'' releases from the 1990s are action games that closely resemble the early editions of the children's television game show that they are based on, having the player guide the titular character or a small, friendly troll to navigate safely through dangerous environments in a collection of diverse but simple minigame scenarios. Completing a given set of the main scenarios followed by the final end-game scene results in Hugo either rescuing his wife and children from an evil witch or finding a hidden treasure.

Since 2011, Krea Media (Hugo Games / 5th Planet Games) has developed a series of mobile game remakes of some the classic minigames turned into endless runners. A series of inspired online slot machine have been also released since 2016.

History

Computer games

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 1991 and 1992, ported to the PC in 1992–1993. They were re-released as a 1994 compilation, ''Hugo'' (''Hugo På Nye Eventyr''), and ported to the PC as ''Hugo ''(''Hugo: Äventyret Går Vidare'') in 1995–1996. Both games were similar to the children's television show of the same title 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 updated compilations ''Hugo Gold'' (1998), ''Hugo Platin'' (1999) and ''Hugo XL'' (1999). Furthermore, 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 on country), including ''Hugo Classic 1-4'' based on the original series (in addition to ''Hugo Classic 5-6'' based on the '' Hugo: Jungle Island'' series).

Console games

The two PlayStation games, which reused the titles ''Hugo'' (1998) and ''Hugo 2'' (1999), are partial remakes of the computer games. They feature the same scenarious but with improved graphics and sound (including musical tracks for each stage), plus a rendered opening animation in the second game. An early concept was more ambitious, promising "a new storyline for Hugo and special new scenarios using both 2D and 3D technology."

''Hugo'' was also ported by Laguna and Infogrames to the Game Boy as ''Hugo 2'' in 1997. This version features simplified graphics and gameplay and was later ported to the Game Boy Color by Bit Managers and Infogrames in 1999 under the title ''Hugo 2½''.

Plot

In the games' usual story, a wicked witch named Scylla (often named differently in various countries, including Afskylia in the original Danish version) arrives at the home of Hugo the troll and once again kidnaps his wife Hugoline and their three young children (Rit, Rat and Rut) because she needs them for a magical beauty treatment. Hugo must undergo a series of dangerous adventures reach and rescue Hugolina and the children and perhaps even eliminate the hateful and cruel Scylla to bring peace to the Troll Forest. However, the witch is well prepared for Hugo as she watches his progress through a crystal ball and casts spells to stop him, having previously placed all sorts of devious traps in the various paths leading to one of her several "skull cave" lairs. If Hugo reaches Scylla's hideout, she will also personally meet the troll in confidence that he cannot win.

The PlayStation ''Hugo 2'' release is unique in that the game's story continues from where the first one left off, where Hugo's family has been rescued but the evil Scylla has fled and now is back for revenge. As Hugo is returning home in an old airplane with his loved ones the after celebrations, Scylla flies to her main castle, where she casts a spell to gain power over the clouds to take Hugolina again and destroy the plane. Hugo's children all parachute down before his plane crash lands in the snowy mountains. Once again, Hugo needs to again overcome many dangers that lie before him to save his wife from the witch who as always will use all her cunning and dark magic to stop him. This time, he will also need to first find each of his three missing children while on his way.

The mobile version ''Hugo 2'' / ''Hugo 2½'' is distinctive as well, as Scylla has captured Hugo himself. Now he must get away from her and reunite with Hugolina.

Gameplay

The player must complete a number of minigames composed of repeative quick time events, simple puzzles, and guessing games. Most of them use either 2D or 2.5D graphics and have Hugo controlled with button presses as he uses a variety of means of transportation. Hugo will typically start each scenario with three lives, triggering a relevant cutscene when any is lost. 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 an underground labyrinth, avoiding dynamite and mined wagons before a box of TNT destroys the maze. Completing the main section will have Hugo cross a dangerous hanging bridge before facing three doors, one of which leads to a treasure room. It has first appeared in ''Skærmtrolden Hugo'' (the original ''Hugo'' game released for the Commodore 64, Amiga and DOS in 1990-1991), and was then reused in ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'', and in a remade form in ''Hugo Retro Mania''.

* "Mountaineering": Hugo runs up around a mountain on a cliff path to the witch lair at the peak while dodging huge rolling stones and chasms and trying to collect bags of gold. It was featured in ''Hugo - PÃ¥ Nye Eventyr'', ''Hugo I/II'' (PC), ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'', ''Hugo Safari'', ''Hugo Classic 1'', and ''Hugo'' (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 locomotives, and collecting bags of gold. It was featured in ''Hugo - PÃ¥ Nye Eventyr'' and ''Hugo I/II'' (PC), ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'', ''Hugo Classic 1'' (PC), ''Hugo'' (PlayStation), and in a remade form in ''Hugo Troll Race''.

* "Plane": Hugo flies a biplane through a fierce thunderstorm summoned by Scylla towards her lair, avoiding lightning clouds and dynamite-carrying balloons while collecting gold. It was featured in ''Hugo - PÃ¥ Nye Eventyr Del 2'' and ''Hugo I/II'' (PC), and was remade for ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'', ''Hugo Safari'', ''Hugo Classic 1'' and ''Hugo'' (PlayStation).

* "Forest": Hugo wanders through aa forest in a search for Scylla's hiding place while avoiding traps set up by the witch, who also sends a storm cloud over the forest once she finds out that he is on his way (the entire forest turns dark and evil). It was featured in ''Hugo - PÃ¥ Nye Eventyr Del 2'' and ''Hugo I/II'' (PC), ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'', ''Hugo Classic 1'' and ''Hugo'' for (PlayStation).

* "Ice Cavern": Hugo found a secret back entrance to the witch's lair, but he first needs to cross a large chasm by jumping through moving ice pillars while collecting three magic items, whose order must be memorized correctly to open the door upon reaching it. He also needs to constantly keep moving as to avoid triggering the traps. It was featured 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 Hugo stays on a log too long, he will lose balance. It was featured in ''Hugo 3'', ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'' and ''Hugo'' (PlayStation).

* "Scuba": Hugo dives through a river, avoiding water creatures and collecting treasure chests. He has to keep surfacing to replenish his air, and to always turn the right way to avoid waterfalls. It was featured in ''Hugo 3'', ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'' and ''Hugo'' (PlayStation).

* "Skateboard": Hugo skates down a wooden half-pipe while avoiding boulders, bridge holes and beaver dams, and collecting bags of gold. It was featured in ''Hugo 3'', ''Hugo Gold'', ''Hugo XL'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'' and ''Hugo'' (PlayStation). It was also completely remade for ''Hugo Troll Race 2''.

* "Balloon": Hugo steers a hot-air balloon down by a river canyon to Scylla's hideout while avoiding obstacles. When his balloon punctures, Hugo has to make an emergency landing at the bottom of a ravine without touching the cliffs. It was featured in ''Hugo 4'', ''Hugo Platin'' and ''Hugo Classic 2'' (PC).

* "Dolmen Cave": A revised "Labyrinth" scenario where Hugo navigates a haunted underground maze to reach the mountaintop and enter Scylla's lair there from below. The player must find the right path quickly, avoiding dangers, to reach the lift before Scylla floods the maze and drowns him. It was featured in ''Hugo 4'', ''Hugo Platin'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'' and ''Hugo Classic 2'' (PC).

* "Nimbus": Riding a Nimbus motorcycle, Hugo navigates an old mountain road leading to yet another of Scylla's lairs, dodging goats, potholes, rocks and other obstacles. The player must collect gasoline while keeping an eye on the map and directing Hugo. It was featured in ''Hugo 4'', ''Hugo Platin'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'' and ''Hugo Classic 2''. It was also one of the cut levels from ''Hugo 2'' for the PlayStation.

* "Snowboard": Hugo snowboards down a hill, following track towards Scylla's lair. Unfortunately, the witch knows Hugo's plans and has caused an avalanche, adding a ticking clock to the game. The path often splits, leaving some dead ends and passing through fast and slow slopes as Hugo swings on his snowboard to avoid rolling giant snowballs while collecting gold. It was introduced in ''Hugo 4'', then was remade twice, first for both ''Hugo Platin'' and ''Hugo Classic 2'', and then for ''Hugo 2'' (PlayStation).

* "Parachute": Hugo is launched from a catapult to parachute onto the witch's lair on a small isle, avoiding birds and storm clouds while collecting bags of gold. It was featured in ''Hugo 5'', ''Hugo Platin'' and ''Hugo Classic 3'' for PC. It was also one of the cut levels from ''Hugo 2'' for the PlayStation.

* "Cliffhanger": Hugo climbs a volcano wall while avoiding fiery gargoyles, fireball lava eruptions and planted explosives, and collecting bags of gold. He also must reach the top before Scylla flies there. It was featured in ''Hugo 5'', ''Hugo Platin'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'', ''Hugo Classic 3'', and ''Hugo 2'' (PlayStation).

* "Pole Jumping": Hugo crosses a gorge by hopping across flat-topped tree trunks and an oddly-placed bridge while avoiding bombs, beavers and steel traps. On the edge of the track are owls and frogs in a specific order that the player has to memorize. It was featured in ''Hugo 5'', ''Hugo Platin'' and ''Hugo Classic 3''.

* "Sledge": Hugo sleds down a hill, avoiding bombs, birds, snowmen and snowballs while collecting bags of gold. It was featured in ''Hugo 5'', ''Hugo Platin'', ''Hugo Classic 3'', and ''Hugo 2'' (PlayStation).

* "Mine Track": Scylla hides in an abandoned mine and Hugo barrels down a mine shaft in search of an entry to her lair, avoiding obstacles in the ceiling and corridors and collecting gold. It was featured in ''Hugo 6'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'', ''Hugo Classic 4'' and ''Hugo 2'' (PlayStation).

* "Moor": Scylla's cave is surrounded by a spooky swamp that Hugo must while avoiding mud holes and colonies of bats, before solving a puzzle to open the gate to the witch's hideout. It was featured in ''Hugo 6'', ''Hugo Classic 4'', and ''Hugo 2'' (PlayStation).

* "Rolling Stones": Hugo (running towards the screen) flees from enormous boulders, avoiding obstacles such as dead ends, tree roots and lava pits. If Hugo runs out of time, a fuse lit by Scylla will reach a powder barrel to blows up the rope bridge, but along the way he also has to find a clue on how to open the gate to her lair after safely crossing the bridge. It was featured in ''Hugo 6'' and ''Hugo Classic 4''. It was also one of the cut levels from ''Hugo 2'' for the PlayStation. The scenario was almost completely remade for the end-level boss fights against Scylla in ''Hugo Troll Race 2''.

* "Wild River": Hugo rides a barrel downstream a river, leading right into another of Scylla's lairs, while avoiding whirlpools and boulders. There are waterfall sections during which Hugo must shut the lid of his barrel and direct himself left or right, using a map to find his way. It was featured in ''Hugo 6'', ''Hugo Die Geburtstagsparty'' and ''Hugo Classic 4''. It was also one of the cut levels from ''Hugo 2'' for the PlayStation.

Endgames

If the players manage to complete the journey and reach their destination, Hugo proceeds to one of the final minigames serving as a bonus stage:

* "Ropes": The original end scene of the Scylla games. Hugo finally arrives in front of the witch holding his family captive in a cage, and now must guess-select the correct one of three ropes in a chance defeat her in a purely luck-based scene. Two of the ropes will always free Hugo's family but vary on the fate of Scylla, who will either transform herself into an eagle and safely fly away, which doubles the overall score points, or she will end up magically tied up with a rope and promptly ejected head-first out of window from a spring launcher, tripling the score in the best outcome (some versions give a set amount of up to 2026 additional points instead of multiplying the score when winning). If Hugo chooses completely incorrectly, however, it is him who will end up bound and launched out from the lair the same manner, the critical failure leaving the game's score unchanged. It appeared in ''Hugo - PÃ¥ 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'', and in revised form in ''Hugo Retro Mania'', also making an appearance in the ''Hugo'' online slot game.

*"Lightning Bolts" (or "Witch"): Hugo must hop through a large chessboard to collect a key and open a door to Scylla's treasure chamber in her castle (Hugolina's dungeon cell in the second PlayStation game), avoiding lightning spells being cast by the witch from a balcony above with all the remaining lives left from the main game at his disposal. Some versions include time limit in form of a fuse bomb, others have god bags to be optionally collected. 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''.

* "Keys": Hugo must select the correct key to open Scylla's treasure chest. If he guesses incorrectly or takes too long to choose, one of two traps will activate and capture 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''.

Some games feature alternative final minigames that do not take place in Scylla's lair:

* "Apple Harvest": After an encounter with a hologram Scylla, two of Hugo's children throw apples from a tree while 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, Rut, 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 successfully complete the Ropes end scene without letting Scylla escape).

*"Fireflies": This endgame was only released for TV show. In this game, Hugo wants to read a book about a firefly when his light went out. After that, he goes to the forest to collect some fireflies. The player needed control Hugo to the left side of the firefly and collect it with his net, then give it to beaver in his magic cup. When the time ends, player sees how many fireflies he collected.

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 ame
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