Home /
NES

Castelian

NES

NES

Castelian is a platform game with some distinctive, unique features. The player character, a small green creature called Pogo, is on a mission to destroy eight towers that have been built onto the sea by planting bombs at the towers' peaks. Pogo's progress is hindered by enemies and obstacles w...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
B.I.T.S.

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Hiro

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Wikipedia
View article →

Report this app

Images

Description

Castelian is a platform game with some distinctive, unique features. The player character, a small green creature called Pogo, is on a mission to destroy eight towers that have been built onto the sea by planting bombs at the towers’ peaks. Pogo’s progress is hindered by enemies and obstacles which he has to avoid in order to reach the top of the tower. The actual game play happens at each tower in turn. Pogo starts from the bottom and has to find his way up to the top. The towers are cylinder-shaped and have ledges on their outside, either horizontal, forming stairs or connected by elevators. Because of the cylindrical shape, the towers have no “left” or “right” edges, instead allowing Pogo to walk all around the tower.

There are some differences in the Japanese Famicom version. Pogo is replaced with Kyorochan (the cartoon bird mascot for ChocoBall), and the jewels have been replaced with ChocoBalls.

Castelian

Overview & History

Released by Infogrames in North America in 1991, *Castelian* for the Nintendo Entertainment System is a clever localization of the European computer hit *Nebulus* (also known as *Tower Toppler*). Developed by Hewson Consultants, this unique puzzle-platformer challenges players to guide a cute, green, frog-like alien named Julius up massive, cylindrical towers. The game stands out in the NES library for its pseudo-3D cylindrical perspective, which creates the illusion that the tower is rotating endlessly as Julius circles its perimeter to reach the top entrance.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core objective of *Castelian* is to scale eight distinct towers across multiple alien planets, planting explosives at the summit of each to trigger their destruction. Unlike traditional side-scrollers, the gameplay relies heavily on spatial awareness, as obstacles, doors, and enemies are hidden on the back side of the rotating pillar. Julius is equipped with a limited projectile attack to defeat bizarre mechanical and biological foes, but timing and platforming precision are paramount. Players must carefully navigate moving ledges, avoid crushing elevators, and slide down chutes to reach lower sections while managing a strict countdown timer. Bonus stages between towers offer frantic vertical swimming or flying challenges, adding a layer of arcade-style variety to the adventure.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move left/right around the tower, enter doors, and press down to drop through ledges
Action Keys: Jump and fire projectiles at enemies
Enter: Start / Pause