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Rastan Saga (Japan)
Rastan Saga
Rastan Saga Overview
Rastan Saga (Japan) is the Game Gear port of Taito's classic 1987 arcade action-platformer, released exclusively in Japan by Sega in 1991. This version brings the sword-and-sorcery adventure to Sega's handheld, offering a more compact but faithful take on the original. It's a straightforward side-scroller where you control the barbarian hero Rastan through five medieval-themed stages, hacking and slashing your way past skeleton warriors, giant snakes, and other fantasy foes.
The core gameplay focuses on running, jumping, and attacking with your sword. You collect gold coins and power-ups like stronger weapons or armor that appear from defeated enemies. Each stage ends with a boss fight, and the challenge ramps up steadily. The Game Gear version trims the arcade's length but keeps the same tight controls and responsive combat, making it a solid pick-up-and-play experience for short sessions.
For retro enthusiasts, Rastan Saga on Game Gear is a nice piece of Sega's early handheld library. It's not as deep or polished as some other ports, but it captures the arcade feel surprisingly well for a small screen. If you enjoy straightforward action games from the late '80s and early '90s, or if you're curious about Japan-only Game Gear releases, this is worth a try. Just don't expect modern conveniences like saves or checkpoints.
GAME INFO
More Rastan Saga Games
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How to play Rastan Saga online
Getting started: When you start the game, you'll see the title screen in Japanese. Press Start (Enter) to proceed to a brief menu where you choose to begin a new game or (if available) continue from a password screen. Rastan automatically faces right and you control movement with the D-Pad, jump with X, and attack with S. The objective is to move from left to right, defeating enemies and collecting items.
The core loop is simple: advance through each level, take out enemies with your sword, and avoid falling into pits or touching hazards. Power-ups like swords and armor appear when you kill certain enemies. Coins give points and extra lives at thresholds. Each stage ends with a boss that requires pattern recognition. Since this is a Japanese release, all text is in Japanese, but the menus are minimal and the gameplay is intuitive.
There are no save slots; the Game Gear version uses a password feature - after each boss, you'll receive a code. Write it down to resume later by selecting the password option on the title screen. This is the only way to continue progress.
CONTROLS
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Enter: Start / Pause
Rastan Saga FAQ
Who developed Rastan Saga?
The original arcade version was created by Taito, but the Game Gear port was handled by Sega. The exact development team within Sega is not widely documented.
In what year was Rastan Saga originally released?
The arcade original debuted in 1987, and the Game Gear version followed in 1991 exclusively in Japan.
Can players save progress in Rastan Saga?
There is no internal save feature, but after completing each stage, you receive a password. You can enter this password on the title screen to resume from that point later.
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