Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III

This is another of my favorite beat em ups of all time, it's also another arcade edition in the "Under the Radar Video" series. I do remember the "Rastan" franchise from Taito, the first game of course is one of my favorite video games of all time (and one I reviewed), the second was a huge mis swing for me and worth skipping.

However, I honestly never heard about a third and technically final entry; though I'm not alone in this as there was barely any to no marketing for this sequel, let alone there weren't many arcade units distributed in enough places. Discovering and playing this game was a real treat for me as it shows that the "beat em up" genre from the 90's still has plenty left yet to offer; this was one of only a very few "beat em up" games Taito had and to me it's one of their best.

Most of what you see and play in this game isn't new but like all beat em ups it's the execution that makes the sharpest cut. For one thing the game has the crispest graphical presentation, I really love the detail in both the backgrounds and characters, they feel like the fantasy paintings of Frank Frazeta and even the comic panels from the "Conan" comic series come to life.

Even like the music which is very good as it's done by the same team that did the music from the first game, it just sings out fantasy action. And there is the fact that you get to play this game on a widescreen which I love as there are very few arcade games that utilized that; the widescreen feature I always found beautiful because of how you are just getting a fuller picture of everything and gave you a feel the world you were playing in is much bigger than your eyes can see.

But I really like the gameplay which is solid as it should be. You get to play three different characters whom each utilize different weapons, combos and have strengths and weaknesses, to me I like to play as the main man Rastan as he's more balanced of the three. I like how with each of the characters you not just have different moves which make each enjoyable to play, but for one thing you can hit right behind as your swinging in a big overhead arc, which is cool as it helps in your defense whenever the baddies are coming right behind you. Also, you can disarm and even break your opponent's weapons, deflect any oncoming projectiles. And, while your opponents are in the air you can hit them and finish them off when on the ground.

You do get some weapon power ups depending on your character, like the fire sword that can shoot fireballs and do incendiary damage with each swing that makes contact. Another is the lighting sword where you hit an opponent, and lighting comes down on them. And best of all is when you have a wizard companion that comes with you, when you hit him he will summon whichever spell comes up which helps in cutting the odds down. Though use this wizard wisely as his MP (Magic Point) gauge will drain the more you use his power.

I like the fact that you can select the levels, so you can beat the game anyway you see fit. But you also if you beat the stages quickly enough you uncover another stage and even the story in the game may change and effect which ending you get. Branching pathways and the multiple ending concept was a unique feature in beat em ups at the time and is still something I rarely see in the "beat em up" genre. I like that each of the stages in the levels are all different and they don't feel like in most "beat em ups" like they blend.

Each of the stages are a different kind of challenge, there are some moving stages like riding a horse and another a dragon and trying to knock down any one else riding. The boss battles are actually easy but each of them are set up as a different kind of challenge but still you strike them down enough times to defeat them as long as your in the right position at the right time. But the best thing to me about the stages are the fact that they go by at a fast pace which helps keep the game flowing and also helps in reenforce the feel like your playing a 80's fantasy film.

This hidden "beat em up" classic makes the cut and for any fans of the "beat em up" genre it's worth a swing.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.