Rastan

[BioForceApe]

Rastan, originally released as Rastan Saga(ラスタンサーガ^?) in Japan, is a fantasy-themed side-scrolling action game originally released for the arcades in1987 by Taito and later ported to various platforms. The player controls a barbarian warrior who has embarked on a quest to slay a dragon. While his on way to the dragon's lair, Rastan must fight hordes of enemy monsters based on mythical creatures such as chimeras and harpies.

 

Ends - Next Sat.

 

jblenkle - 37,300

roadrunner - 23,700

Torr -

LarcenTyler -

zylon - 30,300

skosh -

BillyHW -

Jess - 236,200

 

HSC Points:

jblenkle - 7

roadrunner - 10

Torr - 2

LarcenTyler - 2

zylon - 8

skosh - 6

BillyHW - 1

Jess - 3

 

Tips and Tricks:

 

Jess

* Rastan's jumps are a little strange, affected by the direction you hold the d-pad rather than the length of time you hold the button. Holding up along with jump lets him jump higher. You can also high jump to the left or right by holding up-left or up-right, but you won't get much horizontal reach out of these. Finally, you'll want to stick with the short jumps if you're in a cramped corridor, lest you bump your head on the ceiling and plunge into the fiery depths below.

 

* Hazards like fiery pits and raging rivers won't kill you outright, instead taking a small amount of health. However, the damage is cumulative, and you stand to take a lot of it if you don't get out immediately! Hop out quickly, or leap to a raft if one happens to drift past.

 

* The designers like to hide spears in the walls and floors of dungeons. Tread carefully, looking for white pixels that seem out of place. They're usually the tips of spears.

 

* Enemies occasionally drop items, including gems which are worth a lot of points. You could theoretically sit in one area and just pick off monsters as they walk onscreen to drive up your score, but the levels darken if you dawdle, making it difficult to see your surroundings. (There may also be a time limit for stages; I haven't figured this out yet.)

 

* Bonus weapons like axes and flaming swords can be helpful, but aren't permanent. You can expect them to last about a minute... after that, they disappear and you're returned to the default sword.

 

* Chimeras (those lion-like things with the three heads) are especially bothersome, spitting out stars that are difficult to avoid. Pick them off before they climb up to your level to keep them from coughing up these projectiles.

 

* Memorization is key to your long-term survival. Playing through levels repeatedly will reveal all their hidden traps, making them a cinch to play through and maximizing your score.

 

You CAN point farm in stages if you're so inclined, but after sundown the regular enemies are replaced with bees and bats, the bane of every gamer's existence. If you farm for points, stay close to the exit so you can escape once the more aggravating nocturnal foes make their appearance.

 

Also, if you get really low on health, milk enemies for potions (the blue ones... don't drink the red ones!) and the elusive golden ram's head that will return you to full health. You run the risk of bringing out the bats this way, but if you're already very weak, what do you have to lose? It could be the Hail Mary pass that keeps you in the game.

Edited July 1, 2012 by BioForceApe

[zylon]

Hmmm. I work with a bunch of Harpies...

[Jess Ragan]

Yikes. This one just won't cut you a break, will it?

 

I can understand why Master System fans were fond of this... it's as close to the arcade game as one could expect from an 8-bit system. If it had been on the NES, there probably would have been half the colors and completely different, maze-like level designs. Nevertheless, I enjoyed last week's game more. You're probably going to have a lot more luck beating my score this time!

 

Anyway... a few hints 'n tricks for your convenience!

 

* Rastan's jumps are a little strange, affected by the direction you hold the d-pad rather than the length of time you hold the button. Holding up along with jump lets him jump higher. You can also high jump to the left or right by holding up-left or up-right, but you won't get much horizontal reach out of these. Finally, you'll want to stick with the short jumps if you're in a cramped corridor, lest you bump your head on the ceiling and plunge into the fiery depths below.

 

* Hazards like fiery pits and raging rivers won't kill you outright, instead taking a small amount of health. However, the damage is cumulative, and you stand to take a lot of it if you don't get out immediately! Hop out quickly, or leap to a raft if one happens to drift past.

 

* The designers like to hide spears in the walls and floors of dungeons. Tread carefully, looking for white pixels that seem out of place. They're usually the tips of spears.

 

* Enemies occasionally drop items, including gems which are worth a lot of points. You could theoretically sit in one area and just pick off monsters as they walk onscreen to drive up your score, but the levels darken if you dawdle, making it difficult to see your surroundings. (There may also be a time limit for stages; I haven't figured this out yet.)

 

* Bonus weapons like axes and flaming swords can be helpful, but aren't permanent. You can expect them to last about a minute... after that, they disappear and you're returned to the default sword.

 

* Chimeras (those lion-like things with the three heads) are especially bothersome, spitting out stars that are difficult to avoid. Pick them off before they climb up to your level to keep them from coughing up these projectiles.

 

* Memorization is key to your long-term survival. Playing through levels repeatedly will reveal all their hidden traps, making them a cinch to play through and maximizing your score.

 

This instruction manual may come in handy too:

 

http://www.smspower.org/seganotebook/rastan/manual/rastanm.html

Edited June 24, 2012 by Jess Ragan

[Jess Ragan]

Annnnnd another high score. Just so you know, you CAN point farm in stages if you're so inclined, but after sundown the regular enemies are replaced with bees and bats, the bane of every gamer's existence. If you farm for points, stay close to the exit so you can escape once the more aggravating nocturnal foes make their appearance.

 

Also, if you get really low on health, milk enemies for potions (the blue ones... don't drink the red ones!) and the elusive golden ram's head that will return you to full health. You run the risk of bringing out the bats this way, but if you're already very weak, what do you have to lose? It could be the Hail Mary pass that keeps you in the game.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Jess Ragan

[jblenkle]

Rastan - 37,300

[roadrunner]

23,700

 

round 2-1

[zylon]

30,300

[Jess Ragan]

Another high score. Gonna have to roll up my sleeves and crack six figures... I'm certain it can be done!

[Jess Ragan]

Six figures reached!

 

If you want to crank up your score, drink the poisons! Those red vials are worth a whole lot of points and don't do excessive damage. Just gulp 'em down and keep hacking away at enemies to get the blue antidotes.

[Jess Ragan]

My final entry for this competition. At this point I can't see a situation where anyone will be able to top this... certainly not in the hour before Saturday officially arrives.

 

I'll admit, much of this was luck of the draw. If you're persistent you can force enemies to cough up a ring, which doubles the points you get for other items. Sit near the exit and farm for poison vials, and you can break six figures before the first round is finished.

 

However, I made it pretty far this time, reaching the third boss before Rastan was defeated. Pretty embarrassing loss too, because the bosses in this game are as dumb as dirt. The wizard in the third stage flings out three fireballs and just sits there for a while letting you hack him to bits. The first boss can be defeated with three downward strikes. The second boss is the trickiest of the ones I've fought, but even he can be trapped in a pattern... let him fly up next to you, catch him with a jumping slash, back away, and repeat the process.

 

Also... did you know there's a triangle jump in this game? There is, and you'll never finish the later dungeons without it. Jump toward a wall, push the controller in the opposite direction, and tap jump again. I think there's a wall at the start of the first stage... you can test it there to get the hang of it.