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Neo Geo AES

Crossed Swords

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

In the enchanted land of Belkana all was well until plagues of creatures started rampaging through. But it didn't stop there, from deep within the mountains of Graisia, the Demon Warlord Nausizz arose and led the attacks wiping out settlement after settlement. However a brave warrior called "The ...

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Developer
Alpha Denshi Kōgyō

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

Publisher
SNK of America

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

In the enchanted land of Belkana all was well until plagues of creatures started rampaging through. But it didn’t stop there, from deep within the mountains of Graisia, the Demon Warlord Nausizz arose and led the attacks wiping out settlement after settlement. However a brave warrior called “The Knight of the Journey” came a long way on a quest to stop these monstrosities. After aiding the Poor Village of Dio from the Caterdragon, the knight heads to the Castle Pulista, but as he is briefed by the king of the problems they face, an elite dark knight appears and kidnaps the princess. The knight fights his way through the enemy lands in the Matius Tower, the Gauda Fortress, the Land Battleship and finally passes the Entrance to the Devil World. Along his way, he is helped by loyalties of the kingdom. The knight battles through the Castle Graisia and comes face to face with Nausizz. As a demon with honour, Nausizz is so impressed with the knight’s progress, that he has sent the princess back to Pulista. As the knight defeats Nausizz, he transforms into a fiendish demon dragon. The knight slays him and escapes the collapsing castle. Back in Castle Pulista the knight is offered to come and live with the king. Peace can proceed once more in Belkana.

Crossed Swords

Overview & History

Developed by Alpha Denshi (ADK) and published by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo AES and MVS arcade hardware, Crossed Swords stands as a fascinating, highly ambitious hybrid of traditional hack-and-slash action and first-person 3D-perspective melee combat. Set in the dark fantasy realm of Belkana, the kingdom has fallen under the tyrannical rule of the demon Naza, who has resurrected hordes of grotesque monsters. Players control brave warriors—initially a single knight, with a second player joining as an agile ninja—on a perilous crusade to ascend Naza's citadel, reclaim sacred magic, and liberate the land. Unlike typical side-scrollers of its era, Crossed Swords utilized scaled sprite technology to place the player directly behind their chosen avatar, creating a pseudo-3D viewpoint reminiscent of first-person dungeon crawlers, yet retaining fluid, arcade-style beat-'em-up mechanics.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The gameplay revolves around intimate, tactical encounters where button-mashing will quickly lead to defeat. Players must constantly read enemy patterns, utilizing a robust control scheme that features high, middle, and low strikes, alongside ducking and side-stepping maneuvers to evade incoming projectiles and claw swipes. Defense is paramount; holding the attack button triggers a shield guard, essential for blocking enemy strikes before executing a counter-attack. As players progress through the game's stages, they collect experience points to increase their health and weapon damage, and discover elemental magic scrolls—such as fire, lightning, and wind—that can clear the screen of tough bosses and lesser minions alike. The inclusion of simultaneous two-player cooperative play adds a strategic dynamic, allowing partners to flank shielded adversaries and overwhelm giant, multi-phased bosses.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move / Step Left and Right / Duck
Action Keys: Attack (High/Mid/Low based on direction), Jump, and Shield Guard
Enter: Start / Pause