Altered Beast (SEGA Master System)

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Description

You are a hero raised from the dead by the god Zeus to rescue his daughter Athena. With scenery inspired by Ancient Greece, you have to fight hordes of undead and demons, with a boss at the end of each level until you meet the god Neff, who holds the girl captive.

The Altered Beast title refers to your shapeshifting abilities. In this platformer, you can collect spirit balls by defeating two-headed wolves, allowing you to mutate into different beasts such as a werewolf, a dragon, a tiger, a bear and others depending on the version. Each form, tied to a level, comes with special abilities such as flight and powerful attacks, easily superseding the basic set of punches and kicks in your human form.

The game can be played in single player mode, or in same-screen multiplayer co-op mode.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Trailer

Alternate Titles

• "獣王記" -- Japanese spelling
• "兽王记" -- Chinese spelling (simplified)
• "Jūōki" -- Japanese title
• "Altered Beast Classic" -- iOS and Android release title
• "3D Altered Beast" -- Nintendo 3DS title

Part of the Following Groups

• Altered Beast series
• Animals: Cats
• Mythology: Greek
• SEGA Forever series
• SEGA Vintage Collection series
• Theme: Werewolves

User Reviews

Sloooow down

ETJB (450)

Critic Reviews

VideoGame	May, 1991		100
GamesCollection	Apr 12, 2008	9 out of 10	90
VideoGame	Mar, 1991		80
ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)	Jun, 1989	661 out of 1000	66
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	Apr, 1989	5.4 out of 12	45
The Games Machine (UK)	May, 1989	43 out of 100	43
HonestGamers	Jan 12, 2004	3 out of 10	30
Retro Game Reviews	Feb 21, 2016		20
Power Play	Jun, 1989	17 out of 100	17
Game Freaks 365	Sep 05, 2005	1 out of 10	10

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Trivia

Compilation

A version of Altered Beast is included in Sega's Smash Pack compilation CD.

Genesis pack-in game

This game was the first pack-in game to come with the Genesis when it first came out in 1989.

Megadriver

The Brazilian Heavy metal band Megadriver, specialized in SEGA MegaDrive music, did a cover of the first level theme, complete with one of the band members saying "Rise from your grave".

References

The ride-able lizard-birds from Golden Axe make a cameo appearance in the second stage. Bizarrian, a hybrid between an amphibious and a parrot, is also present in Golden Axe.

Version differences

The NES version adds 3 new stages and 2 unique transformations: a shark, an a bird. On the other hand, the SMS version removes the tiger level. The Zodiac release is an emulation of the Genesis version, but for one player only.

Awards

• Power Play
  • Issue 01/1990 - Biggest Failure of 1989

Information also contributed by Mad_Griffith, Matthew Melbourne, Robbb and Zovni

Related Web Sites

• Altered Beast coin-op game entry on KLOV (The Altered Beast coin-op game entry on the Killer List of Videogames.)
• Hardcore Gaming 101 (In depth look at the Altered Beast series of games)
• Wikipedia: Altered Beast (article in the open encyclopedia about the game)
• X360A Achievement Guide (X360A's achievement guide for Altered Beast.)