The only way to escape sans damage is to hop like crazy on the block faces, but you вЂ“ or rather, Rastan вЂ“ donвЂ™t necessarily have the reflexes for such actions.

Besides the jumping (which will get you into trouble at some point), every time youвЂ™ve grown accustomed to the gameвЂ™s challenge, youвЂ™re placed on a swinging rope above a pit of lava while three large block faces hock fiery loogies at you (or some other scenario that makes you question whether Rastan and his quest are worth the trouble). Rastan encounters a vomit waterfall from some unseen horror.ДЄnd sweet Zeus, is Rastan difficult. Since this happens often, youвЂ™ll either make peace with it or let Rastan melt in magma.

Which means youвЂ™ll have to deal with the consequences вЂ“ enemies, lava, etc. If you accidentally jump too high or donвЂ™t jump high enough, you canвЂ™t correct your mistake, mid-jump. While the controls for either jump arenвЂ™t awkward on the surface (Button 2 jumps, Button 2+Up high jumps), executing the jump precisely can be frustrating. Rastan has two types of jumps: a short hop for jumping on boulders across lava and a large leap, which theoretically helps him ascend to higher areas or clutch onto ropes dangling precariously over danger. Jumping in particular is where Rastan needs work.

He can, however, slice upwards and downwards, so his killing methods are slightly more advanced than other topless heroes. HeвЂ™s slow and lumbering and canвЂ™t seem to kill the bizarre creatures he faces without taking a hit or two. Unfortunately, Rastan controls like an actual barbarian. If you land in either substance, youвЂ™ll take hits, but, in most instances, youвЂ™ll be allowed to jump through it to safety.Д®ven when being burned alive, Rastan canвЂ™t help but hold his sword like a tool. Another weird, but welcome idea: Rastan doesnвЂ™t get killed immediately upon landing in lava or water. Many of the levels have been redesigned to make use of this jump, which, while cool, doesnвЂ™t negate the difficulty Rastan has with jumping. Rastan can also jump off walls, a feature not found in the arcade version. In addition to the aforementioned weapons, you can also find armor and shields that, once received, will automatically be equipped for a limited time. While the game initially looks like any other hack-and-slash, Rastan has some unique features that distinguish it from other Master System action titles.

At first, youвЂ™re armed only with a sword and a loincloth (your loincloth, unfortunately, doesnвЂ™t repel enemies), but stronger weapons like flaming swords, maces, and battleaxes can be collected and used throughout the level for maximum deathblows. Stage 2 heads indoors to a castle or a cave вЂ“ more linear, claustrophobic layouts вЂ“ while Stage 3 is always the boss battle. If the screen goes pitch black, endless swarms of bats and bees will hound you until you complete the area. Beware, however, when the stage starts to turn dark. Stage 1 is almost always an outdoor level in the woods or atop mountains and usually has several paths towards the end. You control Rastan through seven fantastical worlds, each with three separate parts. Rastan is an arcade adaptation of TaitoвЂ™s Rastan Saga, a Conan-esque hack-and-slash thatвЂ™s superior to any real Conan game. WeвЂ™re never gonna mend barbarian/iguanoman relations with that attitude, Rastan.

Rastan arcade vs master system