Rastan Saga II for Genesis

Image: MobyGames

Rastan Saga II

Conan walking simulator

Genre: action - hack n slash

Publisher: Taito

Year: 1991

System: Genesis

Gameplay Score: 2

Gameplay Notes:

Possibly the slowest walking speed in a video game. Jumping is shockingly fast so it's tempting to want to just hop through each level, but enemies come at you quickly when you're jumping, so you really have to slowly progress through the level. However, there's a time limit so you have to move rather quickly. Your standard weapon is a sword and shield, but you can pick up the power ups. In fact, there are almost impossible to avoid. You can get a long broadsword, a sword that shoots fireballs, and a sword that crates an electrical shock. You just go to the right. Trying not to take damage and doing some light platforming with the poor controls.

Level Design Score: 1

Level Design Notes:

The levels are as basic as can be. You just walk to the right. Not much to it. There are some tricky platforming spots with moving platforms and environmental hazards that tax your ability to work with the poor controls. Some of the weakest level designs I've seen in the game like this. At the end of each stage, you fight a boss with combat unlike anything else in the game. You have to learn the pattern and repeat it about 30 times to defeat them. For example, the first one you have to attack once and then do nothing to block two attacks and then attack twice to land a hit and then repeat. This blocking mechanic is unused during the rest of the stage, but is an important part of each of these boss fights. I found those to be far more interesting than anything else in the game, even if there are incredibly simple.

Theme Score: 2

Theme Notes:

Yet another Conan game without much personality.

Art Style Score: 1

Art Style Notes:

Terrible graphics. It's basically the same three tiles repeated over and over and over again to create the level. A simply drawn background with no parallax. And sprites made of three colors that actually have some interesting character models, but none of them are particularly well drawn. And the animation is horrendous. But the game does have a decent frame rate for what it's worth.

Audio Score: 1

Audio Notes:

The same bouncy track plays in every level. Sound effects are simple. Your attack sounds like sandpaper. Not much to listen for here

Overall Score: 31

Review ID: 1190