In 2001, the Nintendo 64 was basically a dying console. The GameCube was looming on the horizon, and most developers had already jumped ship. Yet, in the middle of this transition, H2O Entertainment released Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage. It wasn't just another game; it was a massive, clunky, and aggressively ambitious RPG that tried to do things no other console game had ever attempted.
Honestly, if you played it back then, you probably hated it at first. I know I did. The graphics were jagged, the movement felt like walking through molasses, and the first boss could end your entire run before you even understood the mechanics. But there’s a reason people are still talking about it in 2026. This game wasn't just a "bad" RPG—it was a misunderstood Western-style CRPG trapped in a Japanese-dominated console market.
The Poisoned Hero and a World Without Names
The story starts off pretty standard for fantasy. You play as Alaron, a squire who wanders into the woods to find a missing farmer and gets himself poisoned by Goblins. It’s a classic "hero's journey" setup, but it takes a weird turn almost immediately.
Instead of just finding a magic potion and moving on, Alaron discovers he is a "Wildling." In the world of Aidyn, everyone has a "True Name" that connects them to the fabric of magic. Alaron doesn't have one. This isn't just a plot point; it’s a fundamental part of how the magic system works.
Why the Story Actually Matters
Most N64 games had stories you could fit on a cocktail napkin. Aidyn was different. It dealt with:
- Identity and Heritage: Alaron’s quest to find his father and his own place in a world that sees him as an anomaly.
- Political Intrigue: The friction between the humans of Gwernia and the Mirari (think magic-using dwarves) of Erromon.
- Permadeath: This was huge. If a party member died in combat, they were gone. Forever. No Phoenix Downs, no revival spells. It made every encounter feel genuinely dangerous.
The dialogue is famously hit-or-miss. You’ve got high-fantasy prose mixed with bizarrely modern-sounding quips. One minute you're discussing the metaphysical properties of the soul, and the next, Alaron is making a joke about marshmallows. It’s jarring, sure, but it gives the game a personality that "polished" games often lack.
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Why the Combat System Is Actually Genius (and Tedious)
Let’s be real: the combat in Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage is slow. Like, really slow. It uses a turn-based grid system similar to Shining Force or Final Fantasy Tactics, but in a full 3D environment.
Breaking the Stats
What most people got wrong back in the day was treating this like a standard JRPG. You couldn't just "Attack" your way to victory. The game uses a complex system of attributes:
- Strength and Endurance: Basic physical stats.
- Willpower and Intelligence: Crucial for resisting spells.
- Dexterity: This determined your accuracy and movement range.
If any of these stats (except Stamina) hit zero, your character died. This led to some incredible "cheese" strategies that speedrunners and hardcore fans still use. For example, the "Stupidity" spell doesn't just lower an enemy's IQ—if it lowers their Intelligence to zero, they just die. Instantly. You could literally "think" a giant ogre to death.
The Problem with the Expansion Pak
The game famously "supported" the N64 Expansion Pak for higher resolution. Don't do it. Seriously. While it made the textures slightly sharper, it absolutely tanked the framerate. You were looking at maybe 10-15 frames per second in some areas. It also weirdly added more enemies to certain encounters, making an already difficult game even harder for no apparent reason.
A Massive, Empty, Beautiful Labyrinth
The world of Aidyn is enormous. For 2001, the draw distances were impressive, even if the world was mostly made of flat green textures and gray rocks. It felt like an actual world, not just a series of connected hallways.
There was no "fast travel" in the traditional sense. You had to find and activate matching portals. If you didn't know where you were going, you could spend hours just wandering the mountains near Erromon or the bogs near the Tower of Shamsuk. There was no quest marker. No GPS. You had to talk to NPCs, read your journal, and actually pay attention to the landmarks.
The Music of the Weird
The soundtrack is... polarizing. It’s heavy on tribal drums and bizarre chants. Some people find it grating, but I’d argue it’s one of the most atmospheric scores on the system. It doesn't sound like Zelda or Mario; it sounds like a world that is ancient and slightly decaying. The theme in Port Saiid is a genuine masterpiece of early 2000s MIDI composition.
The Technical Mess That Almost Killed It
We have to talk about the bugs. H2O Entertainment was a small Canadian studio, and they were clearly punching above their weight class. The game is notorious for:
- Crashes: Stacking too many spell effects would often lock the console.
- Collision Issues: It was surprisingly easy to get Alaron stuck inside a wall or a tree.
- Save Corruption: This was the big one. If your Controller Pak wasn't perfect, you could lose 60 hours of progress in a heartbeat.
Because of these issues and the lukewarm sales, the planned sequels were cancelled. It’s a tragedy, honestly. There was a level of depth here—weather systems, a calendar that affected magic (Solar vs. Lunar aspects), and an alchemy system that required actual recipes—that wouldn't be seen again in RPGs for years.
How to Play Aidyn Chronicles Today
If you’re looking to dive into Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage now, don't just go in blind. You’ll get frustrated and quit within an hour.
First, pick your party wisely. You can only have four people. Alaron is mandatory, and Abrecan is usually your tank. But characters like Brenna (the thief) or Godric (the alchemist) change how you interact with the world. Godric, specifically, can make you infinite money if you level up his Alchemy skill early.
Second, embrace the "cheese." Don't feel bad about using the Stupidity spell or finding the "Hockey Stick" weapon (yes, it’s a real easter egg). The game is unfair to you; you should be unfair back.
Finally, use an emulator if possible. Playing on original hardware is a "pure" experience, but having save states and a "fast forward" button for the long walking segments makes the game 100% more enjoyable.
Actionable Insights for New Players
If you're starting a new save today, keep these three things in mind to avoid the common pitfalls:
- Prioritize Dexterity: It doesn't matter how hard you hit if you miss 70% of the time. High Dexterity is the difference between a 5-minute battle and a 20-minute slog.
- The "True Name" Reveal: Pay close attention to the dialogue when Alaron meets the spirits. The narrative payoff at the end is actually quite good, but it relies on you remembering details from the first ten hours.
- Avoid the Expansion Pak: If you are playing on a real N64, keep the jumper pak in or just don't toggle the high-res mode. The "blurry" look is better than a slideshow.
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage is a relic of a time when developers were still figuring out what a 3D RPG should look like. It's broken, it's ugly, and it's brilliant. If you can look past the hooves they call hands, you'll find one of the deepest role-playing experiences of its era.