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Altered Beast
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Altered Beast

198845/100
PlatformHack and slash/Beat 'em up

Boss Battles · Fantasy · Historical · Pixel Art · Survival

Side-scrolling brawlers rarely offered the absurd power fantasy of Altered Beast. The simple gameplay loop of punching, kicking, and transforming into increasingly ridiculous beasts — a werewolf, a dragon, a bear — remains a potent hook. Its arcade roots are evident in the difficulty, which demands pattern recognition and careful resource management to survive each stage and witness the next outlandish transformation.

About Altered Beast

Details
A Roman centurion who had died in battle is resurrected from the dead by Zeus. The centurion is ordered by Zeus to save his daughter Athena from a Demon God called Neff in the Underworld. To become able to withstand the perils, the warrior gets the ability to absorb spirit balls which transform him into an Altered Beast, a part animal, part human creature of formidable force. Between each level are small animations giving the player glimpses of Athena's peril. He first travels through the graveyard fighting past zombies and winged demons. The centurion becomes a werewolf in order to fight Neff in the form of Aggar. The centurion defeats him, but Neff escapes. The centurion travels through the Underworld where he fights through giant leeches, Chinese dragon-headed rattlesnakes, and ferocious Chicken Stingers (resembling the ones from Golden Axe). The centurion turns into a humanoid thunder dragon in order to fight Neff in the form of Octeyes. The centurion defeats him, but Neff escapes. The centurion travels through the Cavern of Souls where he fights through Cave Needles (which resemble giant ants), turtle/snail hybrids, and zombies known as Grave Masters. The centurion turns into a humanoid bear in order to fight Neff in the form of Mouldy Snail. The centurion defeats him, but Neff escapes. The centurion arrives at Neff's palace where he fights through zombies, Chicken Stingers, and Hammer Demons. The centurion turns into a humanoid tiger in order to fight Neff in the form of Crocodile Worm. The centurion defeats him, but Neff escapes. After the centurion arrives in Dis, he fights through winged demons, Goat Men, Boar Men, saw fishes, and purple Unicorn Men to get to Neff. When the centurion confronts Neff, the centurion becomes a golden werewolf while Neff transforms into a Rhinoceros-Man. After he is defeated, a blue bird comes out of the ground and transforms back to Athena. Afterwards she is shown holding arms with her lycanthropic hero, thanking him for rescuing her. In the original arcade, the end credits are interspersed with images of actors in costumes for the different characters and monsters of the game, implying the whole game was a film production.

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Top 4 Alternatives to Altered Beast

1
Rating
Critic & community
79
Match
Recommendation strength
89%

Ghosts 'n Goblins

1986 · Platform

Like Altered Beast, you're a lone hero battling hordes of mythical creatures, but here, every hit strips your armor, making progress a brutal dance of precision and perseverance.

Why recommended

  • Features relentless side-scrolling action against a backdrop of fantasy horror, where precise platforming and combat are key to survival, much like Altered Beast's brawling segments.
  • Criteria — Delivers a notoriously Challenging Difficulty through relentless enemy spawns, tricky platforming, and a punishing health system where a single hit can leave you vulnerable.
  • The Adventure unfolds across a series of visually distinct, monster-filled stages, each culminating in a challenging boss encounter, mirroring the progression of Altered Beast's levels.
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2
Rating
Critic & community
80
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

Trade the beastly transformations for vampire-hunting tools, but keep the side-scrolling, monster-slaying action and the sense of a lone hero against overwhelming mythical evil.

Why recommended

  • Offers classic side-scrolling Action combat where players use a whip and sub-weapons to dispatch a diverse array of mythological and gothic horror creatures.
  • Criteria — Provides a Challenging Difficulty through intricate level design, precise enemy attack patterns, and limited health, demanding mastery of movement and combat.
  • The game is an Adventure through Dracula's castle, uncovering secrets and battling iconic monsters in a non-linear fashion, akin to Altered Beast's progression through distinct, themed levels.
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3
Rating
Critic & community
75
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

While the aesthetic is different, Battletoads captures the essence of Altered Beast's side-scrolling brawler action, demanding quick reflexes and pattern recognition to overcome its notoriously tough stages.

Why recommended

  • Emphasizes intense side-scrolling beat 'em up Action with varied combat mechanics, including powerful finishing moves and environmental interactions.
  • Criteria — Infamous for its Challenging Difficulty, requiring perfect timing, memorization, and coordination to navigate its diverse and often unforgiving levels.
  • The game takes players on a wild Adventure across different planets and through various gameplay styles, from traditional brawling to high-speed vehicle sections, maintaining a sense of constant progression.
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4
Match
Recommendation strength
70%

Step into a world of ancient Chinese mythology where you'll face powerful beasts and gods, much like Altered Beast, but with a modern action RPG twist and stunning visuals.

Why recommended

  • Features intense, fast-paced Action combat against a wide array of mythological creatures and powerful bosses, drawing parallels to Altered Beast's focus on combat against fantasy foes.
  • Criteria — While not explicitly stated as 'Challenging Difficulty', its Souls-like combat design implies a high skill ceiling and demanding encounters that will test player reflexes and strategy.
  • The game is an Adventure rooted in Chinese mythology, where players explore a fantastical world, uncover ancient secrets, and battle powerful deities and demons.
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