ActRaiser

Moby ID: 6704
SNES Specs
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Description official descriptions

ActRaiser was one of the early SNES games, drawing upon the success of side-scrolling platform action titles and the building model of Sim City. You play "The Master" (essentially God), and must save the world from evil.

First you purge the land by sending your spirit into a warrior with a big sword and magic powers. This side scrolling portion puts you in many different locales, from swamps and forests, to pyramids and snowy mountaintops.

As you eliminate evil from different parts of the land, you allow villagers to return and build their towns. You then control an angel who helps guide the villagers in their town building, and can send down miracles to aid them in their needs.

Spellings

  • Act Raiser - Alternate spelling
  • アクトレイザー - Japanese spelling

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Credits (SNES version)

53 People (37 developers, 16 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 84% (based on 31 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 76 ratings with 5 reviews)

One of the best SNES titles - Two games in one

The Good
Actraiser appeals to both platform fighting fans and SimCity/Populous with its mix of neat side-scrolling battles, tough enemies, and city-building elements. The game also has neat sound effects and one of the best musical scores of all SNES titles.

The Bad
Some of the side-scrolling levels are a bit too easy, and sometimes the city-building can drag a bit.

The Bottom Line
A perfect title to compliment your vintage SNES library.

SNES · by uclafalcon (279) · 2002

The first God-game for the Super Nintendo is arguably still the best.

The Good
In terms of gameplay, Actraiser successfully combines traditional side-scrolling action with a fresh approach to the God-game genre. Just as one begins to grow tired of herding and caring for worshippers in the overworld portion of the game, Enix directs the player to action sequences where it's necessary for 'God' to take mortal form to deal with a unique threat. It's a smart combination the keeps things interesting throughout the entire game.

Graphics are, overall, generally above average, with intelligent use of scaling and rotation in the side-scrolling sequences. Sprites are very clean and colorful, but animation is oftentimes simply adequate if not less-so, especially in the overworld. However the action scenes serve as a visual breath of fresh air and outweigh any great negativity that can be said about the game's looks. It's almost as if two completely separate art teams worked on a particular gameplay type.

In terms of sound, effects consist mainly of high quality samples. The soundtrack is also very good--at times I would leave the game running while taking a break from play, simply to hear it in the background.

The Bad
The overworld portions of the game often feel very scripted. Past PC-based games of this type are conversely mostly open ended. However it's understandable to a point due to Actraiser's linear story progression, but the game could've benefitted from a bit more freedom; optional side-quests in particular.

The controls in the action sequences feel somewhat stiff in comparison to other 2-d action games, a good example being the Castlevania series. While it gets the job done, Actraiser could have benefitted from giving the player more diverse methods of control other than slash, jump/slash, duck/slash, spell.

The Bottom Line
Actraiser is a hybrid game that successfully combines two established genres into one fully featured product. By assuming the role of a deity, players can exert god-like powers over the land to encourage worship while protecting one's followers from the forces of evil. And when earthquakes and lightning fail to keep the peace, one can bring the sword to the enemy by taking control of a mortal avatar of god. One part 'God-game', one part 'Action/Adventure', Actraiser is all good.

SNES · by keith jones (5) · 2002

Time can be cruel...

The Good
A game of two havles? Actraiser was one of those games which made you delighted to own a Super Famicom (if you were lucky enough to own one on import). It's a God Sim, it's a side scrolling platformer/slash 'em up. To be fair, looking at it now, it has it's attractions but the two parts don't now, in the cold light of day, gel that well. The best part of the game? The platform sections are by far the more interesting part of the game and even now they are still very good (if somewhat unresponsive when compared to, say, Castlevania: SOTN but it does still make you smile stupidly with it's action.

But, for me, the boss battles on their own (when the game was completed) was one of the highest points. The highest though has to go to the soundtrack. Yuzo Koshiro absolutely excelled himself with this. It is fantastic. Completely bombastic and over the top but it works wonderfully. One of the best game soundtracks of all time and well worth a hunt down on MP3.

The Bad
Th God Sim part. Ignore rose tinted spectacles it's pants.

The Bottom Line
A mish mash that worked well 13 years ago but not now. The game still has a lot of good things going for it but the God Sim section is very poor now. The slashing bits are well worth sticking with as these can still be great fun.

May sound daft, but pick it up for the music.

SNES · by Mark Whelan (2) · 2003

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
Proof of how outrageously good this music was: J. P. Gray (115) May 20, 2008

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The SNES version of ActRaiser appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Soundtrack

Yuzo Koshiro, the soundtrack designer, also composed a live orchestral version of the ActRaiser music. For example it was performed during the opening of the Games Convention 2004 in Leipzig.

Awards

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
    • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #75 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (SNES version)

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by uclafalcon.

Arcade added by Michael Cassidy. Wii added by gamewarrior.

Additional contributors: PCGamer77, Xantheous, Alaka, Mobygamesisreanimated, monkeyislandgirl, Patrick Bregger, Rik Hideto, FatherJack, Harmony♡.

Game added June 14, 2002. Last modified June 16, 2023.