Rastan (c) 1987 Taito.

A platform hack 'n' slash game from Taito in which a single player
guides a barbarian hero through a number of fantasy-themed levels,
fighting through swathes of mythological fantasy creatures, including
orcs, skeletal warriors and multi-headed hydra.

More powerful weapons can be picked up, as well as bonus items that can
increase the barbarian hero's health and give increased protection
against enemy attack. Players should be wary that some collectable items
are cursed and will have a detrimental effect on the hero's health and
performance. Unlimited continues are available throughout the game.


- TECHNICAL -
Prom Stickers : B04
Main CPU : 68000 (@ 8 Mhz), Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound Chips : YM2151 (@ 4 Mhz), MSM5205 (@ 384 Khz)
Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 320 x 240 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette colors : 8192
Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -
Released in March 1987.

This game is known in Japan as "Rastan Saga".

Rastan was inspired by the 'Conan the barbarian' saga novels, by Robert
E Howard. In the background of the first stage, giant stone statues can
be seen that bear more than a passing resemblance to the statues that
featured in 'The Lord of The Rings - Fellowship of the Ring'. While the
film appeared several years AFTER Rastan, the famous LotR concept
artwork that featured in the deluxe addition of the book had been
available for some time.

The main character, Rastan, appears as a selectable character, ''Miracle
Rastan'', in "Champion Wrestler".

The game contains several bonus items that are not normally dropped by
enemies : A golden armature, a brown scroll and a yellow scroll.

Graphics for these can be seen in the tile-sets and modifications to
game's data tables can cause them to be dropped. The golden armature
acts like the existing armature, the scrolls do nothing.

The game contains a built in test mode, activated by the value of two
bytes towards the end of the code roms. Invincibility can be selected,
causing 'NO-HIT' to be displayed at the bottom of the title screen. The
starting level can also be modified.

The game forbids the initials 'SEX' on the high-score table. If you try,
they get changed to 'AHA'.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for
this game (Kyukyoku Tiger : G.S.M. Taito 2 - D28B0008) on 21/11/1988.

Zuntata Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this
game (Zuntata History L'ab-normal 1st - ZTTL-0038) on 01/04/1999.


- UPDATES -
"Rastan Saga" has some differences :
* In the attract mode appears the intro (instead the description of the
objects).

* If you waste too many time without advancing in the stage, only 2 bats
will attack you (instead of 8).


- TIPS AND TRICKS -
* If you die on the final stage, the game ends and you cannot continue;
this means that the entire final level must be completed on a SINGLE
credit. In order to make this even remotely possible you should
deliberately die at the end of the fifth stage while fighting the boss
(a multi-headed dragon). You should then use another credit to continue
and defeat the dragon with your first man (with as little damage as
possible). If you cannot defeat him with the first man and little
damage, kill off the remaining men and start with a fresh credit. Always
go after the special weapons where possible; if special weapons run out,
jumping and striking doubles the damage done with the sword. Pushing up
and the jump button will jump higher than pushing the jump button alone.

* The game attract sequence does not reveal the purpose of the rod. If
you are carrying it, killing an enemy of any type causes all other
on-screen enemies of the same type to die.

* If you are going for a high-score, always 'pick-up' the poisons. They
are worth a lot of points.

* The ring can always be obtained in the first level castle. Proceed
past the 3 ropes, down the next long chain and then up the next long
chain. Slowly nudge this chain offscreen and two enemies appear on the
left-hand side, one of which always carries the ring.

* Chains in castles can often be traversed upwards much quicker by
repeatedly jumping against a nearby wall. Others needing to be traversed
downwards can be missed by jumping off and falling. The level 4 boss is
virtually impossible to defeat unless this tactic is used, in order to
meet him carring the hammer.

* Repeated high vertical jumps are a good method to use to 'stall', when
on slopes approaching bouncing fireballs.

* Many players don't know that the 'mud' first encountered on level 2
does not actually kill you, it just causes you to sink down requiring
many quick jumps to get out.


- SERIES -
1. Rastan (1987)
2. Nastar (1988)
3. Warrior Blade - Rastan Saga Episode III (1991)

- STAFF -
Game designer : Nenko Nishimura
Game programmers : Yoshinori Kobayashi, Hideaki Tomioka, Touru
Takahashi, Hideo Kazama
Character designer : Nenko Nishimura
Art designers : Nenko Nishimura, Taira Sanuki, Seiji Kawakami, Genya
Kuriki
Hardware engineer : Noboru Takeshita
Hardware designer : Masahiro Yamaguchi
Music composers and sound effects : Naoto Yagishita, Masahiko Takaki
Art advisor : Junji Yarita

- PORTS -
* Consoles :
Sega Master System (1988)
Sony PlayStation 2 (2005, "Taito Legends")
Microsoft XBOX (2005, "Taito Legends")
* Computers :
Tandy Color Computer (1988, "Warrior King")
MSX2 (1988)
Commodore C64 (1988)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)
Amstrad CPC (1988)
PC [MS-DOS, 5.25''] (1990)
PC [MS Windows] (2005, "Taito Legends")
