Rastan Saga

Game Details:

Rastan (known as Rastan Saga in Japan) was released to the arcade market by Taito in March 1987. Heavily influenced by the film Conan the Barbarian, the game constructs a bloody, primitive world of sword and sorcery. The story follows Rastan, a former slave seeking freedom and fortune, who accepts a deal from the King of Ceemulya to embark on an expedition to slay the evil dragon tribe. The visuals were stunning for their time, featuring multi-layered scrolling backgrounds that provided a great sense of depth. Combining platforming with multi-directional slashing, it not only established Taito’s prestige in the action genre but also became a hardcore milestone in the history of 2D side-scrolling action games.

Game Guide:

The core gameplay revolves around precise hitbox management and terrain utilization. The protagonist starts with a broadsword. Throughout the stages, you can pick up a Battle Axe with a longer reach, a Mace with high attack speed, and a Fire Sword capable of ranged attacks. Defensive gear includes Shields, Armor, and Cloaks, which effectively reduce incoming damage.

Pro-tip: Due to the game’s hardcore hit detection, avoid reckless charging. Use the "Crouch Slash" to handle ground-crawling enemies, while the "Downward Jump Thrust" is a god-tier move against high-HP monsters. Stage 3's lava zone and the final castle are filled with instant-death pits; your jumps must be pixel-perfect on the edges. When facing the final boss, the Red Dragon, switch to the Fire Sword or Battle Axe. As it dives to breathe fire, jump diagonally upward and strike, using invincibility frames for a guaranteed counter-hit. Remember not to get greedy with your attacks; utilize the edges of the screen for positioning to avoid its tail swipes and clear the game.