Story of Thor, The - Hikari o Tsugumono (Japan)

The Story of Thor - Hikari o Tsugumono is the Japanese release of what Western gamers know as Beyond Oasis on the SEGA Genesis. It came out in 1994 and was developed by Ancient, with Sega handling publishing. This is an action-adventure game that blends real-time combat with light RPG elements, and it made a strong impression at the time for its detailed sprite work and vibrant world. If you're picking up the Japanese version, you're getting the original language menus and text, though the core game is identical to the Western release.

You control a young hero named Ali who discovers a golden armlet that summons a powerful spirit. The game plays from a top-down perspective, and you'll explore a large island, fight enemies using melee attacks or magic, and solve environmental puzzles. The spirit you summon helps with tasks like breaking barriers or revealing hidden paths, and you can also find weapons and items throughout the world. Combat is real-time and requires dodging and timing, not just button mashing. The progression is nonlinear, so you can revisit areas once you gain new abilities.

What makes this title worth revisiting is how well it holds up as an action RPG on the Genesis. It's often compared to Zelda but has its own identity with the summoned spirits and a more combat-focused flow. The Japanese version is fully playable in English through translations or by memory, and the pixel art and music are top-notch for the era. If you enjoy 16-bit action adventures that reward exploration, this one is a solid pick from Sega's library.