Retro(game)spective - Altered Beast

Retro(game)spective

Every day Ben “Ben Pack” Pack or one of his brave compatriots will play a retro game, and break it down for you. That’s right, every day. To complain about us eventually missing a day or suggest your own, go ahead and comment below the article, or email us at retrogamefunclub@gmail.com.

9/27/2010

The Game: Altered Beast

Release Year: 1988

That beast is ALTERED

Skewes: Arcade, DOS, Amstrad CPC, MSX, NES, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, PC Engine CD, Commodore 64, Virtual Console, Xbox 360 (XBLA, ZX Spectrum)

So what’s it like: “Altered Beast,” along with “Super Street Fighter II: Championship Addition” have the honors of eating the most of my quarters of any arcade game. A side-scrolling action game, you play as a dead Greek(?) warrior who must once again walk the earth and rescue Zeus’ daughter. To do this you must fight all the horrors of the undead.

Looks like EYE have a problem. You see, because he's shooting eyes.

While fighting, you will stumble across some blue wolf-pig things that will give you power-ups. If you collect three of these you will transform into an altered beast. There is a different beast for each level, as well as a different boss.

You've fucked with the wrong man-beast.

Here’s a surprise, this game is HARD. I, to this day, have not beaten it. Every time I would get to the final level and either run out of quarters or have to go home. You only have so many lives and health, and in the console versions, there are no continues. Some enemies will even get you into constant loops and you will die without a struggle. Another huge problem with the game is the sound. The voice work is shockingly bad, and the sound effects of the beasts are unbearable.

I really hope that's his leg.

Should you go back: Yes. Even with all of its short comings, “Altered Beast,” is fun, but maybe for the wrong reasons.

Should this game be remade: No. Do not let this game “Rise from its grave.”