Rastan

Rastan

Overview & History

Released by Taito in 1987, Rastan is a gritty, high-fantasy side-scrolling arcade hack-and-slash inspired by 1980s sword-and-sorcery cinema like Conan the Barbarian. The game follows the titular wandering barbarian, Rastan, who is summoned by the dying king of Brax to slay a dragon terrorizing the kingdom. In return, Rastan is promised unimaginable wealth and the throne. Across six distinct stages—spanning treacherous forests, dark castles, deep underground caves, and treacherous waterways—Rastan must conquer mythical beasts like harpies, chimeras, and undead warriors to claim his legendary destiny.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard arcade platformers of its era, Rastan incorporates heavy action-RPG elements. Players utilize a timed stamina gauge (represented by a health bar) and must manage weapon durability and upgrades. Throughout his quest, Rastan can collect powerful inventory items such as sheepskin boots to prevent slipping, rings of protection, fire swords, axes, and magical shields that grant temporary invulnerability. The character animation is notably fluid for 1987, featuring dynamic sprite work where Rastan visibly crouches, leaps, and brandishes his weapons with visceral impact. Background environments also feature destructible elements and environmental hazards, such as rising lava and swinging pendulums, demanding precise platforming alongside aggressive melee combat.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause