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''Altered Beast'' is a [[side scrolling]], [[platform game|platform]], [[beat 'em up]] game that puts the player in control of a [[centurion]] who had died in battle. The centurion has been raised from the dead to rescue [[Zeus]]' daughter [[Athena]] from a Demon called Neff. The player battles [[undead]] and [[demon]]ic hordes, controlling the shapeshifting hero. He must fight through several levels in order to save the kidnapped [[Goddess]]. Although 'Centurion' was a rank in the [[Roman Army]], the game takes place in a setting resembling [[Ancient Greece]], complete with [[Greek Pantheon|Greek Gods]], [[temple (Greek)|Temples]] and ruined [[Ionic order|Ionic columns]].
''Altered Beast'' is a [[side scrolling]], [[platform game|platform]], [[beat 'em up]] game that puts the player in control of a [[centurion]] who had died in battle. The centurion has been raised from the dead to rescue [[Zeus]]' daughter [[Athena]] from a Demon called Neff. The player battles [[undead]] and [[demon]]ic hordes, controlling the shapeshifting hero. He must fight through several levels in order to save the kidnapped [[Goddess]]. Although 'Centurion' was a rank in the [[Roman Army]], the game takes place in a setting resembling [[Ancient Greece]], complete with [[Greek Pantheon|Greek Gods]], [[temple (Greek)|Temples]] and ruined [[Ionic order|Ionic columns]].


The player must battle armies of fictional and [[undead]] creatures to defeat the Demon Neff, who is holding Athena captive. Along the way, the player has to obtain "Spirit Balls" ([[power-up]] orbs which increase his strength and size) from defeating white two-headed [[Gray Wolf|wolves]] (It was blue [[ox|oxen]] in the DOS version. It is hinted that this wolf might be the [[Orthrus]] dog of [[Greek Mythology]]). These enable the player to turn into a superhuman (stage one: "giant man", stage two: "superman"...). When three are collected, the hero transforms into a beast with exceptional abilities.
The player must battle armies of fictional and [[undead]] creatures to defeat the Demon Neff, who is holding Athena captive. Along the way, the player has to obtain "Spirit Balls" ([[power-up]] orbs which increase his strength and size) from defeating white two-headed [[Gray wolf|wolves]] (It was blue [[ox|oxen]] in the DOS version. It is hinted that this wolf might be the [[Orthrus]] dog of [[Greek Mythology]]). These enable the player to turn into a superhuman (stage one: "giant man", stage two: "superman"...). When three are collected, the hero transforms into a beast with exceptional abilities.


The game contains several levels which the player must battle through, however the player is not required to reach the beast form in order to complete the level. At the end of each level is a "boss" creature, which is Neff himself in different forms. Before Neff transforms at the end of each level, he says "Welcome to your doom!". The enemies the player encounters differ depending on the level as does the beast the hero transforms into. These beasts include a [[werewolf]], a thunder [[European dragon|dragon]], a [[tiger]] man, a [[bear]], and the more powerful golden werewolf (other beasts can be seen in the Japanese [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]] version and the [[Game Boy Advance]] version). Each beast has its own special abilities, such as the dragon's ability to fly. Between each level are small animations giving the player glimpses of Athena's peril.
The game contains several levels which the player must battle through, however the player is not required to reach the beast form in order to complete the level. At the end of each level is a "boss" creature, which is Neff himself in different forms. Before Neff transforms at the end of each level, he says "Welcome to your doom!". The enemies the player encounters differ depending on the level as does the beast the hero transforms into. These beasts include a [[werewolf]], a thunder [[European dragon|dragon]], a [[tiger]] man, a [[bear]], and the more powerful golden werewolf (other beasts can be seen in the Japanese [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]] version and the [[Game Boy Advance]] version). Each beast has its own special abilities, such as the dragon's ability to fly. Between each level are small animations giving the player glimpses of Athena's peril.
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Certain differences are seen between the several versions of the game. Some of them, like the Master System one, were only single player and had only four levels (it also suffered from ongoing in-game slowdowns), while others have different beasts to mutate into, such as a humanoid [[lion]] form seen in the NES version, or the bear form seen in the Mega Drive/Genesis version, which was also present in the arcade release. The PC-Engine CD version (released only in Japan) incorporated a story mode, was only a single player game, and also had the arcade version's sound effects and voices. The character sprites are also like the arcade, where as in the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis release all the sprites had been redone and look slightly different in their animations due to this. The PC-Engine Hu-card release did not have the story mode, voices, and sound effects that the cd version had, but supported two players.
Certain differences are seen between the several versions of the game. Some of them, like the Master System one, were only single player and had only four levels (it also suffered from ongoing in-game slowdowns), while others have different beasts to mutate into, such as a humanoid [[lion]] form seen in the NES version, or the bear form seen in the Mega Drive/Genesis version, which was also present in the arcade release. The PC-Engine CD version (released only in Japan) incorporated a story mode, was only a single player game, and also had the arcade version's sound effects and voices. The character sprites are also like the arcade, where as in the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis release all the sprites had been redone and look slightly different in their animations due to this. The PC-Engine Hu-card release did not have the story mode, voices, and sound effects that the cd version had, but supported two players.

==Levels==
* '''Graveyard''' - The first level. Consists of [[zombie]]s of the sort. The player turns into a Werewolf in this level.
* '''Underworld''' - The second level. Consists of giant [[leech]]es, Chinese Dragon-headed [[rattlesnake]]s, and ferocious [[chicken]] stingers (resembling the ones from [[Golden Axe]]). The player turns into a Thunder Dragon in this level.
* '''Cavern of Souls''' - Consists of giant [[ant]]s called Cave Needles, [[turtle]]/[[snail]] hybrids, and zombies known as Grave Masters. The player turns into the Bear Man in this level.
* '''Neff's Palace''' - Consists of zombies and hammer demons. The player turns into the Tiger Man in this level.
* '''The City of Dis''' - Consists of [[Goat]] Men, [[Wild boar|Boar]] Men, saw fishes, and purple [[Unicorn]] Men. The player turns into a Golden Werewolf in this level.

===Bosses===
Neff will turn himself into 5 different monsters on each level. Among the 5 monsters are:

* '''Aggar''' - An ugly monster that is made up of many corpses. It can throw it's head at the player.
* '''Octeyes''' - A [[plant]] monster that can shoot its poisonous eye-like sporess at the player.
* '''Moldy Snail''' - Part [[snail]], part [[salamander (legendary creature)|salamander]].
* '''Crocodile Worm''' - A [[crocodile]]-headed monster with a fire belly that can shoot miniature fire dragons.
* '''Rhino Man''' - A charging [[rhinoceros]] monster.

==Forms==
These are the animal forms that you become and their abilities:

* '''Werewolf''': In this form, you throw fireballs at your enemies and perform the flaming Flash Dash attack.
* '''Thunder Dragon''': In this form, you can fly, shoot lightning breath, and use it's Ray Barrier.
* '''Bear''': In this form, you can turn monsters to stone with it's Petri-Breath and roll into a ball.
* '''Tiger Man''': In this form, you throw fireballs at your enemies and have a Sonic Movement attack.
* '''Golden Werewolf''': This form is more powerful than the other werewolf form.


==Reception==
==Reception==
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A [[PlayStation 2]] title was released by Sega in 2005, known as '''''Jūōki: Project Altered Beast''''' in Japan and simply '''''Altered Beast''''' in Europe; the game was not released in North America. In Japan, it was rated 18+ for its intensity; however, the PEGI system rated it 12+, while none of the extreme gore animations were censored.
A [[PlayStation 2]] title was released by Sega in 2005, known as '''''Jūōki: Project Altered Beast''''' in Japan and simply '''''Altered Beast''''' in Europe; the game was not released in North America. In Japan, it was rated 18+ for its intensity; however, the PEGI system rated it 12+, while none of the extreme gore animations were censored.


Rather than serving as a sequel to the original game, the newer title features a more modern setting that is unconnected to the original game. The story follows a man called Luke Custer who is a "Genome-Cyborg", which in the game is a human that has had his DNA and other genetic make-up altered so that he can (after acquiring the chip containing the right genes for each creature) transform into a mythical beast. The main creatures he transforms into are a [[Werewolf]], a [[Merman]], a [[Garuda]], a [[Wendigo]], a Fire [[Minotaur]], and a Thunder [[Dragon]]. Its storyline differs from the original ''Altered Beast'' games where during the game, you gain a serum that allows you to change at will. There are a number of difficult boss challenges and puzzles within the game, plus some extra characters to transform into including a White [[werecat|Weretiger]], a [[Grizzly Bear]], and the alien-cloned U.W.H. (Unidentified Weightless Human) for those who finish the game.
Rather than serving as a sequel to the original game, the newer title features a more modern setting that is unconnected to the original game. The story follows a man called Luke Custer who is a "Genome-Cyborg", which in the game is a human that has had his DNA and other genetic make-up altered so that he can (after acquiring the chip containing the right genes for each creature) transform into a mythical beast. The main creatures he transforms into are a [[Werewolf]], a [[Merman]], a [[Garuda]], a [[Wendigo]], a Fire [[Minotaur]], and a Thunder [[Dragon]]. Its storyline differs from the original ''Altered Beast'' games where during the game, you gain a serum that allows you to change at will. There are a number of difficult boss challenges and puzzles within the game, plus some extra characters to transform into including a [[White tiger|White Tiger]] Man, a [[Grizzly Bear]], and the alien-cloned U.W.H. (Unidentified Weightless Human) for those who finish the game.


===''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms''===
===''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms''===
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}}
}}
'''''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms''''', developed by the now defunct [[3d6 Games]] and published by [[THQ]], is a sequel for [[Game Boy Advance]] in the style of the original arcade game. It adds new features like power-ups, new beast forms and destructible environments. [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=126703]
'''''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms''''', developed by the now defunct [[3d6 Games]] and published by [[THQ]], is a sequel for [[Game Boy Advance]] in the style of the original arcade game. It adds new features like power-ups, new beast forms and destructible environments. [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=126703]

In this game, you turn into a [[Werewolf]] (called Canis), a [[Snake]] Man/Nagi (or [[Nāga|Naga]]), a [[Dragon]] (or Draco), a [[Tiger]] Man (or Smilodon), a Spiked [[Turtle]] (or Terapis/Terrapin), a [[Shark]] Man (or Carcharodon), a [[Rhinoceros]] Man (or Cerathos), an [[Eagle]] (or Avion), a [[Scorpion]] (or Scorpios), and a [[Chimera (mythology)|Chimera]].

An episode of the second season of ''[[Mega64]]'' includes an ''Altered Beast'' skit.


==Tribute==
==Tribute==

Revision as of 20:37, 30 October 2010

For the Matthew Sweet album, see Altered Beast (album).
Altered Beast
File:Abboxart.jpg
Altered Beast European boxart
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Rieko Kodama, Makoto Uchida
Platform(s)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)
ReleaseArcade
1988
Mega Drive/Genesis
Sega Master System
PC-CD
NES
Virtual Console
Genesis/Mega Drive
Arcade
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade systemSega System 16

Altered Beast (獣王記 Jūōki, literally "Beast King's Chronicle", in Japan) is a 1988 arcade game developed and manufactured by Sega. After its initial arcade release, it was ported to several home video game consoles and home computers. Makoto Uchida was the primary developer of the game and also was responsible for the creation of Golden Axe. A re-worked arcade version was released for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade on June 10, 2009, with HD support, online leaderboards and network play.[2]

Overview

Altered Beast is a side scrolling, platform, beat 'em up game that puts the player in control of a centurion who had died in battle. The centurion has been raised from the dead to rescue Zeus' daughter Athena from a Demon called Neff. The player battles undead and demonic hordes, controlling the shapeshifting hero. He must fight through several levels in order to save the kidnapped Goddess. Although 'Centurion' was a rank in the Roman Army, the game takes place in a setting resembling Ancient Greece, complete with Greek Gods, Temples and ruined Ionic columns.

The player must battle armies of fictional and undead creatures to defeat the Demon Neff, who is holding Athena captive. Along the way, the player has to obtain "Spirit Balls" (power-up orbs which increase his strength and size) from defeating white two-headed wolves (It was blue oxen in the DOS version. It is hinted that this wolf might be the Orthrus dog of Greek Mythology). These enable the player to turn into a superhuman (stage one: "giant man", stage two: "superman"...). When three are collected, the hero transforms into a beast with exceptional abilities.

The game contains several levels which the player must battle through, however the player is not required to reach the beast form in order to complete the level. At the end of each level is a "boss" creature, which is Neff himself in different forms. Before Neff transforms at the end of each level, he says "Welcome to your doom!". The enemies the player encounters differ depending on the level as does the beast the hero transforms into. These beasts include a werewolf, a thunder dragon, a tiger man, a bear, and the more powerful golden werewolf (other beasts can be seen in the Japanese Famicom version and the Game Boy Advance version). Each beast has its own special abilities, such as the dragon's ability to fly. Between each level are small animations giving the player glimpses of Athena's peril.

The protagonist from Altered Beast, fighting against the undead (arcade version screenshot)

The game was moderately successful, the player's ability to transform into different creatures being a big draw. The game actually does have an ending where the player rescues Athena. At the completion of the game (upon Neff's defeat in the city of Dis), Zeus thanks the player for his help. The credit sequence is rather long and gives the impression that the entire game was actually a film; interspersed in the credits are images of "actors" in various stages of costume for the different characters or monsters in the game. One of the more well-known features of Altered Beast is the use of voice-synthesis software, with the famous clip of Zeus saying "Rise from your grave".

Altered Beast was produced as a standard upright only with custom artwork on the cabinet. In most versions, the game's controls consist of an eight-way directional and three buttons, one each for "punch", "kick" and "jump". The game has single player and cooperative two-player modes.

Ports

Altered Beast was converted/translated (not ported) to several platforms after its original release in 1988. It was released for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Master System, PC Engine, PC Engine-CD, Famicom, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga and DOS. Sega Smash Pack for Windows and Dreamcast, Sega Genesis Collection for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 contained an emulated version of the Mega Drive/Genesis port. The latter two also feature the arcade version of the game as an unlockable. The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version is particularly noteworthy as it was the original pack-in game for that system in North America, Europe, and Brazil. This version, as well as the original arcade version is now available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console. A hand-held version of the game, made by Tiger Electronics was released in 1988.

Certain differences are seen between the several versions of the game. Some of them, like the Master System one, were only single player and had only four levels (it also suffered from ongoing in-game slowdowns), while others have different beasts to mutate into, such as a humanoid lion form seen in the NES version, or the bear form seen in the Mega Drive/Genesis version, which was also present in the arcade release. The PC-Engine CD version (released only in Japan) incorporated a story mode, was only a single player game, and also had the arcade version's sound effects and voices. The character sprites are also like the arcade, where as in the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis release all the sprites had been redone and look slightly different in their animations due to this. The PC-Engine Hu-card release did not have the story mode, voices, and sound effects that the cd version had, but supported two players.

Levels

  • Graveyard - The first level. Consists of zombies of the sort. The player turns into a Werewolf in this level.
  • Underworld - The second level. Consists of giant leeches, Chinese Dragon-headed rattlesnakes, and ferocious chicken stingers (resembling the ones from Golden Axe). The player turns into a Thunder Dragon in this level.
  • Cavern of Souls - Consists of giant ants called Cave Needles, turtle/snail hybrids, and zombies known as Grave Masters. The player turns into the Bear Man in this level.
  • Neff's Palace - Consists of zombies and hammer demons. The player turns into the Tiger Man in this level.
  • The City of Dis - Consists of Goat Men, Boar Men, saw fishes, and purple Unicorn Men. The player turns into a Golden Werewolf in this level.

Bosses

Neff will turn himself into 5 different monsters on each level. Among the 5 monsters are:

  • Aggar - An ugly monster that is made up of many corpses. It can throw it's head at the player.
  • Octeyes - A plant monster that can shoot its poisonous eye-like sporess at the player.
  • Moldy Snail - Part snail, part salamander.
  • Crocodile Worm - A crocodile-headed monster with a fire belly that can shoot miniature fire dragons.
  • Rhino Man - A charging rhinoceros monster.

Forms

These are the animal forms that you become and their abilities:

  • Werewolf: In this form, you throw fireballs at your enemies and perform the flaming Flash Dash attack.
  • Thunder Dragon: In this form, you can fly, shoot lightning breath, and use it's Ray Barrier.
  • Bear: In this form, you can turn monsters to stone with it's Petri-Breath and roll into a ball.
  • Tiger Man: In this form, you throw fireballs at your enemies and have a Sonic Movement attack.
  • Golden Werewolf: This form is more powerful than the other werewolf form.

Reception

In its initial arcade release, Altered Beast was a well-received game. Its conversion to the Sega Mega Drive was considered inferior to the arcade. Its re-release for the Wii's Virtual Console was given a lukewarm reception by GameSpot, describing the game as merely decent with some nostalgic value.[3]

Legacy

Project Altered Beast

Main article: Project Altered Beast

A PlayStation 2 title was released by Sega in 2005, known as Jūōki: Project Altered Beast in Japan and simply Altered Beast in Europe; the game was not released in North America. In Japan, it was rated 18+ for its intensity; however, the PEGI system rated it 12+, while none of the extreme gore animations were censored.

Rather than serving as a sequel to the original game, the newer title features a more modern setting that is unconnected to the original game. The story follows a man called Luke Custer who is a "Genome-Cyborg", which in the game is a human that has had his DNA and other genetic make-up altered so that he can (after acquiring the chip containing the right genes for each creature) transform into a mythical beast. The main creatures he transforms into are a Werewolf, a Merman, a Garuda, a Wendigo, a Fire Minotaur, and a Thunder Dragon. Its storyline differs from the original Altered Beast games where during the game, you gain a serum that allows you to change at will. There are a number of difficult boss challenges and puzzles within the game, plus some extra characters to transform into including a White Tiger Man, a Grizzly Bear, and the alien-cloned U.W.H. (Unidentified Weightless Human) for those who finish the game.

Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms

Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms
Developer(s)3d6 Games
Publisher(s)THQ
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance
Release2002
Genre(s)Beat 'em up

Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms, developed by the now defunct 3d6 Games and published by THQ, is a sequel for Game Boy Advance in the style of the original arcade game. It adds new features like power-ups, new beast forms and destructible environments. [1]

In this game, you turn into a Werewolf (called Canis), a Snake Man/Nagi (or Naga), a Dragon (or Draco), a Tiger Man (or Smilodon), a Spiked Turtle (or Terapis/Terrapin), a Shark Man (or Carcharodon), a Rhinoceros Man (or Cerathos), an Eagle (or Avion), a Scorpion (or Scorpios), and a Chimera.

An episode of the second season of Mega64 includes an Altered Beast skit.

Tribute

One of the pink enemy creatures, a cockatrice, was later depicted as a mountable character in the game Golden Axe.

On Friday Night SmackDown, Matt Striker often called Batista "The Altered Beast" in addition to calling him "The Animal", in reference to Batista turning heel and showing a drastic change in his character compared to his face character.

Several musical groups have paid tribute to Altered Beast in some form. Robby Roadsteamer's 2008 album "LRP" features a song named "Altered Beast", as does We Are Scientists' second album, Brain Thrust Mastery, as does the White Fields & Open Devices album by Vessels; the game's name also serves as the name of an LP released by Matthew Sweet in 1993. Additionally, MegaDriver released a single based on the game's music, Metal Beast, in 2004, and Hello, Sailor released a song titled "Hand Vs. Battle Axe" that includes the "POWER UP!" sample. The Mr. Bungle song "Egg" samples the "Rise from your grave" line from the beginning of the first level. Alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin created a flash game entitled "Altered Benjamin" in which you play as vocalist Benjamin Burnley and is an obvious parody of Altered Beast. It is currently available for play on the band's website. Sydney based instrumental prog trio Altered Beast are named after the game and also reference various bits of in game music in the song "Super 7 Medley"

Altered Beast was also the subject of a skit in the second season of Mega64.[4]

On rapper Ludacris' 2nd studio Album "Word of Mouf", the titular track has rapper 4-ize make an homage to the classic game during his freestyle verse when he says:

"I'm Superfly like Snuka, I smack hoes,
the black rose with a dozen attack flows,
I rock Shaq's clothes when I Alter Beast,
Power up, get big it's disturbin the peace"

References

  1. ^ "Art Lessons, Auto Racing, and Arcade Action Multiply the Downloadable Fun". Nintendo of America. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  2. ^ "SEGA Vintage Collection 2 is out!". Sega. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  3. ^ Kasavin, Greg (2006-11-19). "Altered Beast for Wii Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-01-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Mega64 - Altered Beast

See also

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