I had Hydrofool as a kid and just like Biggles, I basically used it as a music player because I didn't know how to play at all.
The music in Hydrofool is often ignored in the typical CPC music compilations, but it's a great, happy tune that's also quite long and varied.
It's a shame the game is so complicated, because it's also really cute and makes good use of mode 1 by choosing the right colors. Apparently you need a special weapon for each enemy or something, but it doesn't make sense without the manual (like "bubble gun for the baby whale"). Here's a longplay by AmstradManiaque (https://youtu.be/DPttYApez78?si=YSFYSz6OgdKQuKFE) where you can see the game and listen to the music.
i used to play that, the music is awesome
I never figured what to do either, I used to just have fun swimming around listening to the music
I would often load up Rasterscan when I was young just to listen to the music by Jas C. Brooke (https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=zicym&num=2858). I never really understood at the time what I was meant to be doing, and I found most of the puzzles (where you have to turn all the pieces of an octagon yellow) impossible to solve.
What the...? I didn't even know that Rasterscan existed.
Considering its original concept, cool graphics and playful music, I think it's a good time to explain something I feel when I play or see retro games in action. Or even old music.
With all the respect modern homebrewers deserve (and some non-gaming musicians, movie makers, etc.), it's clear the lack of Internet, 3D games, voice acting, etc. MADE ARTISTS MUCH MORE INSPIRED 30-50 YEARS AGO.
Even when they failed with not-so-successful concepts (see any random French game from 1985-1990 to see what I mean), it's a delight to see what they tried, how many ideas they had and how cool were the graphics and sound they created.
Isolation can be good to create art, and also for playing games. Remember when we woke up and instead of checking the Interwebs, we just started playing games? :'( (technically we can still do that, at least on Sundays).
I used to love the title music on Captain Blood and on Times of Lore. I would load them up and just leave them on the title screen.
I must admit I've never played this game and just run it and that ingame music really gets in your head! very catchy, nice one :)
Not a surprise, but I just learned Hydrofool's music was made by none other than Rob Hubbard, the composer of the Saboteur 2 music among many other. And he did both in 1987! He was inspired that year.
Great thread; thanks Cwpab!
So if you like the Hydrofool tune and others, don't miss my related new thread here:
Allister Brimble's remake of CPC game-music like Robocop, Gliderrider, Hydrofool, etc (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/games/allister-brimble-s-remake-of-cpc-game-music-like-robocop-gliderrider-hydrofool/)
Just stumbled across the CPC music for Pit Fighter - a good deal better than the game itself (albeit I didn't think it was as bad as some contemporaneous reviews I've read).
The melody of the Pit Fighter song is a bit diffuse, but I like how it assaults your ears with multiple sounds.