Beyond Oasis (USA)
Inside Beyond Oasis (USA)
Beyond Oasis arrived on the Sega Genesis in 1994 as an action RPG developed by Ancient and published by Sega. This is the North American release of the game, known in Europe as The Story of Thor. It came out during a time when the Genesis was pushing for more immersive action-adventure experiences, blending real-time combat with light role-playing elements. The cartridge was a standard retail release and remains one of the system's better-remembered titles in the genre.
You play as Prince Ali, who discovers a golden armlet that can summon four elemental spirits: a fire elemental, a water spirit, a plant creature, and a shadow being. The core gameplay involves exploring a series of interconnected islands, fighting enemies in real-time with a sword or bow, and using the spirits to solve environmental puzzles. Each spirit has unique abilities, like putting out fires or freezing water, which are required to progress through dungeons and reach hidden areas. The game is structured around finding keys, defeating bosses, and gathering items to unlock new paths, much like a Zelda title but with its own distinct mechanical spin.
What keeps Beyond Oasis worth revisiting today is how well it balances action and exploration without overstaying its welcome. The sprite work is colorful and detailed for the Genesis, and the music has a distinctive orchestral feel that many fans appreciate. It is not a hidden gem in the sense of being obscure, but it is often overshadowed by the system's bigger hits. For anyone who enjoys classic top-down action RPGs, this one delivers solid gameplay that has aged reasonably well, with a unique summon system that sets it apart from other titles of its era.
How to Play Beyond Oasis (USA) Online
Getting started begins with a short intro sequence. After that, you control Prince Ali on the first island. Your main goal is to explore each area, fight enemies using the B button (S key) to swing your sword, and find the golden armlet early on. Once you have it, you can summon spirits by pressing the Y button (Z key) or X button (A key) depending on the spirit you have equipped. The core loop is simple: explore, defeat monsters, collect items, and use spirit abilities to solve puzzles and open paths. New players should pay attention to the hints NPCs give and experiment with each spirit's power, since many obstacles require a specific elemental solution. The game uses a password system rather than a battery save, so write down the code shown when you pause or continue.
A key thing to know is that you can carry only three spirits active at a time, and you switch between them using the Select button (V key). If you die, you restart from the beginning of the area with the items you had, but you lose some currency. The game is not overly punishing, but it rewards careful exploration and smart use of spirits in combat. There is no in-game map, so remembering where locked doors or blocked paths are is part of the challenge.
Beyond Oasis (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: C button
- A: X button (6-button pad)
- Q: Y button (6-button pad)
- E: Z button (6-button pad)
- Enter: Start / Mode
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