Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Maligned Video Game Masterpiece

Abstract

With innumerable adaptations, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson endures as a cornerstone of the Victorian Gothic literary canon. Adapting the complexities and nuances of Jekyll’s troubling scientific discovery and consequent double-life is no easy feat. While film and stage productions have historically functioned as popular and accessible vehicles for creative adaptation, the viewer is sorely limited by their role as a spectator. However, there exists one medium that encourages active participation from its audience— electronic video games. 1988’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, developed by Advanced Communication, Co. and published by Toho, is a rarity, being one of relatively few games inspired by the novella.