Version differences (Skærmtrolden Hugo)

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* Skærmtrolden Hugo (video game)
Here we compare both varations of the TV game, as well as its the Amiga and PC (*Hugo Gold*) ports, and mention a bit about C64-version, MS-DOS version and *Hugo Retro Mania*

The first difference is that Amiga version of this game seems not to have language support. The remade TV game too made its way to international release.

**SOUND EFFECTS**

TV and Amiga versions share sound effects with one another. TV version just has more than Amiga version (possibly due to Amiga's hardware restrictions). In a remade TV game all sound effects were remade and Hugo's lines were re-recorded. Those were then used in *Hugo Gold*'s version.

**MAP**

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When you press 0 in this game, it displays map of the maze. Unlike in other minigames, in this game it's reguired that you have enough points in order to see the map.

In TV-version, there's Hugo's shadow on the map. There's also a 0-sign in the corner of the screen (letting you know that you can return to game by pressing 0). Neither happens in Amiga version and *Hugo Gold*.

In TV and MS-DOS versions, the map is also displayed before the intro, right when the game starts. In *Hugo Gold* it appears after intro. Neither happens in Amiga version, plus the map is symmetric.

In Amiga version, there's only one map for TV-mode (possibly in attempt to let player practice the game before switching to Arcade-mode) and when you switch to Arcade-mode, you'll play the multiple mazes in row. In *Hugo Gold*there's only one maze in both modes (both taken from Amiga version). In TV-version there are multiple mazes chosen randomly.

In international version of remake, the *IND* (In) and *Ud* (Out) signs were replaced with brown rectangles.

**TAKE IT EASY! TOGETHER WE'LL SORT IT OUT**

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Here's the game's intro. In *Hugo Gold*, Hugo's lipsync design is different and odder to TV and Amiga version and he doesn't start walking after speaking.

**GAMEPLAY**

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In this game Hugo moves forward automatically and can be controlled between left and right edges of the mine. In TV version there seems to be additional torches on the walls, unlike in other versions. In *Hugo Gold* there's a slightly different font used in score counter and scaling of golden nuggets, dynamites and mining wagons is smoother.

In international version of the remake the font of the score counter is different for reason or another.

**BLAM!**

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Dynamite displays "BLAM!" when blowing up. In TV version and Hugo Gold, the explosion is bigger and betterly animated than in Amiga version.

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In *Hugo Gold*'s version, Hugo has his modern smiling lipsync after taking hit from dynamite, unlike in other versions.

**INTERSECTION**

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Unlike Hugo's other minigames, in this game the good ol' arrows appear only when standing at the intersection. They're also bigger. Only in TV-version the nice jungle plays when arrows appear. In remake the jingle is different.

In Amiga and TV versions, when you choose the direction, the arrow's edge turns green. In *Hugo Gold*it draws the orange edge around the arrow. Hugo's walking to left or right has less frames in Amiga version. In *Hugo Gold*, when choosing forwards in intersection, Hugo stops in a middle of walking instead of keeping walking like in TV and Amiga versions.

**MINING WAGONS**

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In *Hugo Gold*, the mine shaft is slightly different to other versions, and there are no lamps on the roof for some reason.

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In remade TV game Trollerit, Trollerat and Trollerut ride the mining wagon, while in other versions wagons don't have any passengers.

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When mining wagon reaches Hugo, Hugo starts walking back and forth desperately and when wagon hits him, the big explosion appears to screen. In *TV version* and *Hugo Gold*, the explosion is animated betterly than in Amiga version.

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Oh, and in remade TV game, there are additional animations in a middle.

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In *Hugo Gold*, Hugo's eyes are not rolling and he doesn't cough before saying his line like in other versions. Also his lipsync is similar to intro, rather than two-framed loop.

**GEEEEEEE, WHERE SHALL WE BE GOING?**
Like always, Hugo appears in close-up looking at you after you lose a life in a game. Usually he lets you know, how many lives you have left, or if game is over, but in this game, when you have one life left, he doesn't knock. Instead, he knocks only if you stand still in intersection.

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At this point, in TV and Amiga versions, Hugo's sprites look similar to what they look in other games, only less colors and worse lipsync style. Also there seems to be letter E on Hugo's arm. In *Hugo Gold*, Hugo has his every day graphics.

**KABOUM!**

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In *Hugo Gold*, when the time is up, the big explosion displays "Kaboum!", unlike in other versions, where the explosion is similar to one appearing after hitting a mining wagon.

**BRIDGE**

Hugo has to across the bridge after he found the way out of the maze.

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In both TV versions, Hugo talks to you from the exit's position, while in Amiga and PC ports, he appears in close-up like when you lose a life. In TV and PC versions, exit is greener than in Amiga version.

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On the bridge, Hugo has to jump over all holes. In all but *Hugo Gold*'s version, holes are transparent. In TV version, there's a flock of birds flying on sky and background grows slowly letting player know that his getting closer. In remade TV game, even Scylla flies past.

In Amiga-version, bridge, holes and background seem to be mirrored (why they had to be mirrored if tunnels weren't?).

In *Hugo Gold*, Hugo doesn't jump as heigh and his jump is slightly glitchier than in other versions, so player must be very considerated in attempt to jump in time.

**ØaAaAaAaAaAaÆæÆæÆæÆøØøØøØøØoOoOoUuUuUuGH...SPLASH!**
When Hugo falls through the hole in TV and Amiga versions, his voice reverbs. This doesn't happen in remade version, nor in *Hugo Gold* in that manner.

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In TV version and *Hugo Gold*, we can see Hugo sitting on the river. This doesn't happen in other versions. In *Hugo Gold*, before saying the line, Hugo doesn't shake his head before saying his line like happened in TV version. Also the water isn't as blue.

**THREE DOORS AT THE END**

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After bridge, Hugo enters the chamber of three doors.

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When Hugo opens one, he either gets thrown out by the mysterious man - he's possibly that "Nölb" we hear about - or gets awarded by a coin rain or a crystal nugget.

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In *Hugo Gold*, Hugo doesn't jump multiple times after winning the crystal nugget like in other versions.

**RESULTS**
After the game is over, player's final score, time (not sure why?) and lives are show on table. This doesn't happen in *Hugo Gold*.

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**MY THEORY OF HUGO**
In my theory, after Amiga version was ready enough (opening credits weren't possibly added yet), developers possibly spared that version and then made a copy of it adding better and more graphics and more sounds. This copy then was used in Eleva2ren, while the Amiga version was waiting few years before receiving opening credits (including the piece of song *Hugo Rap*)*and*being released for home use. But of course, this theory isn't accurate.

**HUGO GOES DOS**
With association of Breadline, ITE has ported most of their Amiga-games to MS-DOS. This also happened to Hugo. This DOS-version received following changes:

**Sound effects**
All sounds we're synthesized. There weren't much of sound effects anyway.

**Graphics**
As you'll see in screenshots bellow, most of the game's graphics were first scaled (squashed) and then overdrawn and recolored, unlike in ITE's other DOS ports that were made at the time. In later MS-DOS release (with handcar, plane, forest and mountain in it), graphics were just squashed, but not overdrawn.

**Title screen**

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Word *Skærmtrolden*is removed from title card.

**Menu**

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Possibly the rarest type of menu in Hugo series. Not only because it's simple and you only have to choose between two game modes, but also because it remains TV and Arcade machine sprites which were never seen in other Hugo games.

**Map**

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Judging to rectangles at entrance and exit, map follows up the international version of the remade TV game.

**Gameplay**

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Some animations are simplified and less colorful and may lack of their positions, scaling of gold nuggets and dynamites is smooth (almost like in *Hugo Gold*) and transitions come more often. That's all I can tell of gameplay of this version.

**Speech bubbles**

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Another rarity in Hugo franchise. Instead of voice taunts, Hugo speaks with speech bubbles. And what's very surprising, all those lines are in ENGLISH. This could let us know that even Amiga version may have been released in English too - or its TV version.

**EEEEEEEYIKES!!!**

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Even those additional animations from the TV remake were used in this version.

**HUGO IN COMMODORE 64**

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In Commodore 64 versions, everything is worse than in Amiga-versions. Way too poor and low detailed graphics with low colors. The synthesized sound is OK, but Hugo's voice taunts are heavily distorted! But there's a reason why such version was made: Not all had Amiga or MS-DOS instead of C64 or could afford em'.

A **DULL SMART APP REMAKE**

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As we all know today, in 2011 Krea Medie remade this game as *Hugo Retro Mania*for those overrated smart-devices. Its gameplay is heavily altered from the original. Hugo can move between three positions and along the gold nuggets, there are rubies to collect. Along the dynamites, there are spiders, pits, Scylla and Don Kroko to avoid. There are also mining wagons, but you can't enter to mine shaft like in original version. Also, the arrows are way different from original. See the screenshots below for more details.

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There are two kind of modes in *Hugo Retro Mania*. The first one is endless run, which is boring. Possibly intended so player can compete against those in highscore list.

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In the second one, you have three lives and you'll find your way out of maze before TNT box's explosion. You have map with you, but you still can't enter the mine shafts. In this mode you can unlock more available mazes.

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But as very unusual, the game ends to the Scylla's rope ending instead of the usual bridge.

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As seen in screenshots below, this game has been updated with randomly changing cave layout:

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And not only that, dead animations are also different from original - and pretty dull too - and Hugo says only three lines thoughout the whole game: "Hello! Is there anybody home?", "Come on and join in!", "Watch out for me"

In brief, *Hugo Retro Mania* doesn't stay very close to the source. Not sure if it ever attracted any true Hugo-fans, but at least many smart-device fanatics catch the bait. Sigh...