Home /
Sega Master System

Lord of the Sword

Sega Master System

Sega Master System

Art thou the man who will be King or just another rogue with a sword? Your name is Landau. Here's your chance to prove thy worthiness to the council of Elders. The followers of the evil Ra Goan have toppled the king from the throne. None are brave enough to take his place. The Elders have decr...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
Sega Enterprises

Released on
1988

Size
1 Player

Version
Sega Master System

Requirements
Sega Master System

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Sega of America

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Wikipedia
View article →

Report this app

Images

Description

Art thou the man who will be King or just another rogue with a sword? Your name is Landau. Here’s your chance to prove thy worthiness to the council of Elders.

The followers of the evil Ra Goan have toppled the king from the throne. None are brave enough to take his place. The Elders have decreed that any man who can pass three tests will become King of Baljinya. Find the Tree of Merill. Defeat the Goblin of Balala Valley. Destroy the Statue of Evil. It sounds easy But the followers of Ra Goan are waiting to stop you!

It’s an adventure that will take you across rivers and oceans, through swamps and over mountains. You have a sword and a bow. But magical weapons may become yours… for a price.

Pass the tests and you shall be king. But remember: There’s more to being a Lord of The Sword than hacking apart thine enemies!

Lord of the Sword

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1988 for the Master System, Lord of the Sword is an ambitious, dark fantasy action-adventure that stands out from typical 8-bit platformers through its unique blend of perspectives and role-playing elements. Developed during an era when Sega was eagerly expanding its console library, the game casts players as a legendary warrior named Rul, summoned by the King of Turtanen to defeat the evil dark lord Carnil. What makes its history fascinating is its structural ambition; rather than a simple left-to-right scroller, it incorporates overhead strategic travel sections, first-person targeting shooting galleries, and side-scrolling hack-and-slash combat. Though initially met with mixed reviews for its steep difficulty curve and sluggish pacing, it has since cultivated a cult following among retro gaming enthusiasts who appreciate its atmospheric world-building, sprawling map, and memorable chip-tune soundtrack composed by master Sega musicians.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Lord of the Sword defies single-genre classification by splitting its gameplay into three distinct phases. In the primary side-scrolling stages, Rul wields a trusty broadsword for close combat, but he can also collect and upgrade to deadly throwing axes and magical magic bows to dispatch bats, skeletons, and armored knights from a distance. Exploration is non-linear; players must traverse vast forests and caverns, converse with villagers in hidden settlements to gather cryptic lore, and purchase vital equipment upgrades like shields and heavier tunics from merchants. Between these platforming zones, players navigate an overhead world map where random enemy encounters pull you into a first-person perspective mini-game. In these moments, players must swiftly aim and throw projectiles at advancing monsters before their health bars are depleted. Magic scrolls also play a crucial role, allowing Rul to cast spells that illuminate dark areas, reveal hidden invisible platforms, or obliterate screen-clearing waves of foes, making resource management just as vital as pure platforming reflexes.