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Altered Beast

Arcade

Arcade

Unleash metamorphic power. "Awaken, dead warrior!" cries Zeus, God of Thunder. And you rise. Called upon to live again, you kick, punch, grapple and tear at the inhuman and monstrous flesh of horrible, dangerous underworld henchmen out to do you wrong. Savagely intent upon rescuing Athena, daught...

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Developer
Team Shinobi

Released on
1988

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

Publisher
Sega Enterprises

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Unleash metamorphic power. “Awaken, dead warrior!” cries Zeus, God of Thunder. And you rise. Called upon to live again, you kick, punch, grapple and tear at the inhuman and monstrous flesh of horrible, dangerous underworld henchmen out to do you wrong. Savagely intent upon rescuing Athena, daughter of Zeus, from the demon god Neff, you stalk the bowels of Hades and beyond.

What you are now you will not be. You are the Altered Beast – bestowed with five formidable forces of transformation – each more ferocious, more overwhelming, than the last. By battling, conquering and capturing spirit balls, your metamorphic powers will grow. But to what end?

The final confrontation. Your triumph over crocodile worms, hammer demons and grave masters brings on the horror of Neff himself. But boldness and cunning will be rewarded – in the ultimate Altered Beast!

Transformation is the ultimate power.

Altered Beast

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1988, Altered Beast is a legendary dark fantasy side-scrolling beat-'em-up that defined the late-80s arcade landscape with its mythological horror aesthetic. Conceived by industry icon Makoto Uchida, the game drops players into a grim, resurrected version of Ancient Greece. Zeus has resurrected a fallen centurion for one specific, gruesome task: to rescue his daughter Athena from the underworld god Neff. To accomplish this, the player must punch and kick hordes of the undead, collect mystical "Spirit Balls" from white two-headed wolves, and ascend through biological tiers of sheer power before confronting Neff in flesh-distorting boss battles across five distinct stages, from graveyards to the fiery bowels of the underworld.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, Altered Beast is an unapologetic test of aggressive timing and positioning. The centurion starts in a fragile human form utilizing basic punches and high kicks. Collecting three Spirit Balls triggers a visceral, screen-shaking transformation sequence accompanied by the iconic digitized voice sample: "POWER UP!" Players can transform into the Werewolf (capable of unleashing projectile fireballs and a devastating aerial somersault), the Dragon (which commands lightning bolts and an invincible dash), the Bear (featuring a petrifying breath attack and rolling body slam), the Tiger (with vertical wave projectiles), and the ultimate Golden Werewolf in the final stages. Each beast completely alters the rhythm of combat, turning defensive positioning into ferocious screen-clearing dominance against grotesque monsters like zombified Romans, leaping goats, and multi-headed bosses.