Altered Beast

From Sega Retro

n/a

Altered Beast Arcade Title.png

Altered Beast
System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Famicom, PC Engine, CD-ROM², Virtual Console, iOS, Steam
Publisher:
Arcade
Sega,
Sega Mega Drive
Sega,
Famicom
Asmik,
PC Engine
Template:PCECD NEC Avenue
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Pre-SMPS Z80
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Famicom
JP
1990 ¥? ?
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US
1000pts1000
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!
For the PlayStation 2 game, see Altered Beast (2005). For the home computer versions, see Altered Beast (home computers).

Altered Beast, called Juuouki (獣王記) in Japan, is a Sega System 16 arcade game released in 1988 by Sega. It was developed by the creator of Golden Axe, Makoto Uchida and shares many graphical similarities as a result. The game was notable as it allows the player to take on the form of various "Were Animals".

A year later it was ported to various consoles, including the Sega Mega Drive, which it was bundled with during the console's early years. There was a watered down port for the Sega Master System also, and several ports to non-Sega systems, including console rivals the Famicom and PC Engine. The Master System version is especially notable for receiving abysmal reviews.

Storyline and Gameplay

In Ancient Rome, the evil Demon God, Neff, has kidnapped Zeus' Daughter, Athena. Zeus revives a centurion from the dead to rescue his daughter. This is where the first stage starts, with Zeus saying the famous "Rise from your grave!" line. The centurion must kill the Wolf-like Demons that flash multiple colors (the Mega Drive version lacks the flashing effect and the characters stay blue instead). Killing them unleashes a spirit ball that the player must grab in order to transform. The first two increase muscle mass slightly while the third spirit ball will transform the centurion into a beast depending in what stage the player is in.

Once the player has changed into a beast he/she can then confront Neff who will appear and say "Welcome to your doom!" and create a smoke cloud which then disappears revealing a monster that also depends upon stage as well. If the player has not collected three spirit balls before reaching Neff the level will start over from the beginning. After each boss fight Neff's head appears from a hole in the ground and he steals all three of the player's Spirit balls causing the player to revert back to his/her normal state. The player the proceeds to jump down the hole continuing to follow Neff.

Stages

Here is a rundown of each stage. There are five stages in all:

AlteredBeast System16 US Stage1.png Stage 1 - Werewolf
This is a graveyard of sorts. The centurion, is revived from here by Zeus. Upon collecting three spirit balls, the player will transform into a Werewolf. The Werewolf has the ability to fire energy balls from its hands and do an energy kick that makes it fly across the screen damaging anything in the way without stopping until the player reaches the edge of the screen. Neff becomes a weird horned demon thing that can launch his head off and grow a new one instantaneously. As a result, Neff can fire up to five heads at the player at nearly the same time. The heads then fall straight to the ground. In the Arcade version of this stage Alex Kidd's name as well as Stella's are engraved on some of the destroyable tombstones. Zombies litter the place, including self destructing and hard punching Zombies.
AlteredBeast System16 US Stage2.png Stage 2 - Weredragon
The player is inside a cave. An enemy who would later appear as a steed in Golden Axe is in this stage. (it acts the same too.) Weird Rattlesnake things jump from the ground and ceiling vertically. Strange blobby things will jump on the players head and suck their health away but is easily destroyed by moving the directional button once it is on the player's head. The player Transforms into a Weredragon, which uses electric attacks. Punching makes the Weredragon shoot lightening from its fist while kicking causes it to generate lightening all over its body. Neff changes into a multi-eyed thingy, who can fire eyes at the player which slowly hover across screen.
AlteredBeast System16 US Stage3.png Stage 3 - Werebear
In this stage the player is in a canyon. There are bottomless pits which will cause an instant death for the player and any enemies who fall in. The player transforms into a Werebear in this stage. The Werebear can turn opponents to stone by pressing the punch button and can curl up into a ball and bounce with the kick button. Neff changes into a dragon with a snail shell. It must be attacked repeatedly to make its head come out of the snail shell in the arcade version if the player wishes to do any damage. Neff can also shoot slow moving Swirling fire to damage the player. (Hint: The Bouncing ability makes the fight easier in the Mega Drive version of the game.)
AlteredBeast System16 US Stage4.png Stage 4 - Weretiger
The Player is getting closer to Neff's Lair. The player is now in some sort of sanctuary. Exploding Zombies make a reappearance in this stage. upon collecting three spirit balls the player changes into the Weretiger. The Weretiger is the same as the Werewolf except that all of its attacks are vertical. Neff changes into a floating dragon thing that shoots fire out of its belly and moves up and down as well as forward some. In the arcade version the fire can pretty much waste a single credit (3 lives) with one shot due to the knock down effect present in the game. He shoots Miniature red Weredragons from his body as well.
AlteredBeast System16 US Stage5.png Stage 5 - Golden Werewolf
This is the underworld, complete with Unicorn men and Goat men as well as a host of other nasty new and old enemies. The player will turn into the Golden Werewolf, which as redundant as it is, is only slightly stronger than the regular Werewolf. That being said The attacks are the same. Neff takes on the form of a Rhino man who ironically was a statue that appeared in the background of Stage 4. This boss charges at the player with his horn extended forward or he tries to punch the player.Right before each attack, puffs of steam come out of his nose and he shakes a little.

Ending - Basically in the arcade version, the ending acts like the whole game was a movie. Monsters and the main characters remove their costumes and celebrate the completion of their movie with a toast and mugs of beer. Then it shows a drawn version of each person involved with the game's creation except that a white bar appears over their eyes giving the impression that the don't want the player to see to actually see their faces. Typical Sega humor for that time period.

The Mega Drive version's ending is the same except that the movie cast sequence doesn't happen. Instead credits roll and the Centurion is standing off to the side of the screen with the background of stage 1 behind him. Interestingly the player can control the Centurion during this sequence. When he touches the words of the credits he acts like an enemy knocked him down. He will not die though. In addition to this, if the player decides to play the Mega Drive version again without turning off the power, they will start from the beginning of the game but there will be more powerful and dangerous enemies lurking in the earlier levels. (many of the ones that appeared in stage 4 and 5.) The boss fights also become more fierce. The ending remains unchanged. After the third playthrough loop, enemies and bosses don't become stronger anymore.

Sequels

Altered Beast, despite being heavily ported and widely distributed, did not see a sequel until Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms for the Game Boy Advance in 2002. This game was developed by the now defunct, 3d6 games and the game's concept is quite consistent with the original game's formula. There were also new beasts to transform into as well as power ups.

A second sequel called, Jūōki: Project Altered Beast was developed by WOW Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. This game is set in a more modern scenario and the story follows a "Genome-Cyborg" named Luke Custer. The game is heavily criticized for bad camera angles and some other crippling programming mistakes.

Production Credits

Arcade Version

Team Shinobi 1988 Summer: FU., TAK., MOR., TOS., NAK., KAW., SAT., UCH., HKR., HAS., HAG.

Mega Drive Version

Coordinate: No Nukes
Designer: Phoenix Rie, Udi
Programmer: Tasi, Healthy Tatsu, Momonga Momo
Sound: Nav
Special Thanks to: Team Sinobi

CD-ROM² Version

Executive Producer: Shigenobu Nanbu
Producer: Toshio Tabeta
Director: Takashi Ozama
Programmer: Hideki Mesuda
Graphic: Yasunori Takahara
Music: Metal Yamashita, Fumina Murohoshi
Assistant: Chieko Ochiai, Hiroshi Matsuda
Special Thanks To: Noriyuki Watanabe, Yoshiko Ishibashi, Fumiko Suzuki
Presented by NEC Avenue
©Sega 1988

Hints

Gallery

Promotional Material

Digital manuals

Physical Scans

System 16 Version

System 16, US

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
94 №26, p144[1]
87 №1, p48
67 №4, p26
87 №19, p17
47 №3, p79
53
67 №1, p76[2]
40 №23, p52
74 №1, p19[3]
48 №18, p64
Sega Mega Drive
66
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[4]
ACE (UK) PAL
94
[1]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
50
[5]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
87
[6]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
67
[7]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
67
[8]
Console XS (UK) PAL
68
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
40
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
48
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[12]
The Games Machine (UK)
87
[13]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
47
[14]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
47
[15]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
66
[16]
MegaTech (UK)
67
[17]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
67
[18]
Power Play (DE)
53
[19]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
74
[21]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
48
[22]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
46
[23]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
58
[24]
Sega Mega Drive
59
Based on
22 reviews

Altered Beast

Mega Drive, US
Altbeast md us cover.png
Cover
Altbeast md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Altbeast md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Altbeast md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Altbeast md jp cover.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeast MD JP CartTop.jpg
AlteredBeast MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Alteredbeast md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
Altered Beast MD AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
AlteredBeast MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Altered Beast MD BR Cart Top.jpg
Altered Beast MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Alteredbeast md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
AlteredBeast MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeast MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
66 №21, p50[25]
49 №1, p48
60 №91, p86
45
17
65
43 №18, p49
53 №9, p12[26]
40 №23, p55
68 №1, p19[3]
Sega Master System
51
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
66
[25]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
49
[6]
Console XS (UK) PAL
60
[27]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
60
[28]
The Games Machine (UK)
43
[29]
Games Preview (DK)
43
[30]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
45
[31]
Popular Computing Weekly (UK)
42
[32]
Power Play (DE)
17
[19]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
53
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[33]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
68
[21]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
50
[34]
Tilt (FR)
60
[35]
Sega Master System
49
Based on
14 reviews

Altered Beast

Master System, US
Altbeast ms us cover.jpg
Cover
Altbeast ms us cart.jpg
Cart
Alteredbeast sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
Altbeast ms eu cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
AlteredBeast SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR (cardboard; older)
AlteredBeast SMS BR Box Cardboard v1.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeastSMSBRCartridge.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (cardboard; newer)
Altered Beast SMS BR Cover Alt.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeastSMSBRCartridge.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (clamshell)
AlteredBeast SMS BR3 Box.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeast SMS BR3 Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (re-release; older)
AlteredBeast SMS BR Box Blue Older.jpg
Cover
Alteredbeast sms br cart.jpg
Cart
AlteredBeast SMS BR Manual Blue Alt.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR (re-release; newer)
Altered Beast SMS BR Cover.jpg
Cover
Alteredbeast sms br cart.jpg
Cart
Alteredbeast sms br manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
AlteredBeast SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeast SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, GF

AlteredBeast sms arabic manual.pdf
Manual

Famicom Version

NES, JP
AlteredBeast NES JP Box Back.jpgNospine.pngAlteredBeast NES JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
AlteredBeast NES JP Cart.jpg
Cart
AlteredBeast NES JP Manual.pdf
Manual

PC Engine

PC Engine, JP
Altered Beast PCE HuCard JP Back.jpgAltered Beast PCE HuCard JP Spine.jpgAlteredBeast PCE JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

CD-ROM² Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 №26, p21
Template:PCECD 60
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Template:PCECD N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Altered Beast

CD-ROM², JP
Altered Beast PCE CD-ROM2 JP Back.jpgAltered Beast PCE CD-ROM2 JP Front.jpg
Cover

Exernal Links



Games in the Altered Beast/Juuouki Series
Altered Beast (home computers) (1988) | Electronic Altered Beast (1990) | Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms (2002) | Altered Beast (2005) | 3D Altered Beast (2013)
Altered Beast related media
Music
Altered Beast (2017)
Book
Sega Game Attack Manual Book Juuouki (1989)
Other List of Altered Beast merchandise
  1. 1.0 1.1 File:ACE UK 26.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 26.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
  2. File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 76
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:Segapro UK 01.pdf, page 19
  4. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 18
  5. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 71
  6. 6.0 6.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 48
  7. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 26
  8. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 44
  9. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127
  10. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 288
  11. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 19
  12. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-1x-xx), page 1
  13. The Games Machine, "June 1989" (UK; 1989-05-18), page 17
  14. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
  15. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  16. Mega Drive Fan, "November 1989" (JP; 1989-10-07), page 49
  17. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
  18. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 132
  19. 19.0 19.1 Power Play, "7/89" (DE; 1989-06-12), page 54
  20. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
  21. 21.0 21.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 19
  22. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  23. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  24. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 13
  25. 25.0 25.1 File:ACE UK 21.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 21.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  26. 26.0 26.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf, page 12 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf_p12" defined multiple times with different content
  27. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 138
  28. Computer & Video Games, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-11), page 86
  29. The Games Machine, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-20), page 49
  30. Games Preview, "6 1989" (DK; 1989-xx-xx), page 50
  31. Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 96
  32. Popular Computing Weekly, "August 3 1989" (UK; 1989-08-03), page 15
  33. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  34. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  35. Tilt, "Juin 1989" (FR; 1989-xx-xx), page 60