Rastan Saga II
System: Genesis
Release Date: April 1991
Developer: Opera House
Publisher: Taito
Genre: Action
The journey continues with a new quest in Rastan Saga II! In the days of yore the Stone of the Wise was taken by the demons. They want to control the Earth and the people cower in fear at their presence. But not everyone, because the brave warrior Rastan has picked up the sword and shield and will battle across the land! Fifteen rounds stand between you and the safety of humanity!
Rastan moves slowly and attacks with the A Button. He also leaps with the B Button, and can thrust down while jumping if holding down and attacking. While not attacking, Rastan is blocking in the direction he faces. You can block and attack upward by holding up. You will have to become adept at learning when to block and when to attack. Enemies all follow patterns that allow you to block and attack efficiently. Rastan is equipped with sword and shield, but can find a long sword, which increases range and power, and also iron claws, which increase the speed of attacking.
Levels are short and powerups are few and far between. It seems that the powerups are also static from the enemies they drop from. The first level gave me a lightning powerup that increased the power and range of the attack. There’s a cowl that increases your defense. Something that caused bits to rotate around me. There are even health restoratives!
There’s a lot of platforming to be done over bottomless pits of instant death. Swords, flames, and rocks drop from the ceiling in a way to end your day. You are granted three lives and three continues to get through to the end, and there’s even an unlimited continues code floating around, but when I input it, I didn’t need it.
Bosses come every third round and are tanks. Each of them either have an opening you can exploit, like jump attacks on Medusa or down thrusts on this guy. Or stand relatively still, so you can get more hits in on them than they can get on you. It also helps that when you die, you come back in the same spot invulnerable for a time.
Graphics: 1.5
While the sprites are big, they are not very detailed and weren’t pleasing to the eye.
Sound: 1.0
The music is uninspired and doesn’t vary in sound.
Gameplay: 1.5
The game isn’t broken, but it’s too deterministic.
Difficulty: 2.5
Second try, I got through with all the lives and continues afforded to me.
Fun Factor: 2.0
It’s a very quick game and it isn’t too frustrating, but not really that fun, either.
Overall Rating: 1.7
Rastan Saga II earns a C-. This isn’t a great game, or even a good one, but it is playable and quick, and sometimes that’s all you need.