Altered Beast
Encyclopedia
Altered Beast is a 1988 beat 'em up
arcade game
developed and manufactured by Sega
. The game is set in Ancient Greece
, and follows a centurion
who is resurrected by Zeus
to rescue his daughter Athena
, and to do so become able to turn into beasts such as the werewolf
with usage of power-up
s. After its initial arcade release, it was ported to several home video game console
s and home computers, most notably the Sega Mega Drive
, to which it was a pack-in game
. The primary designer was Makoto Uchida
, also responsible for the creation of Golden Axe
.
centurion
who had died in battle is resurrected from the dead by Zeus
, who ordered the warrior 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 who turn 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.
After the centurion arrives in Dis
, he faces Neff himself, who becomes a rhinoceros
monster. 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.
Altered Beast is a side scrolling, platform
, beat 'em up
game. The player controls the centurion, fighting undead
creatures and monsters in a setting resembling Ancient Greece
, with originally five levels, in a graveyard, the Underworld, a cavern, Neff
's palace and base at the city of Dis. One of the enemies, a white two-headed wolf
(blue in the Mega Drive version, and a blue ox
in the DOS version) upon defeat releases a Spirit Ball, a power-up
orb which increase the strength and size of the player character. Three orbs turn the centurion into a beast, which in the original version were a werewolf
, a thunder weredragon
, a werebear
, a weretiger
, and the more powerful golden werewolf (other beasts can be seen in the Japanese Famicom
version and the Game Boy Advance
version). Each beast has its own abilities, such as the dragon's flight and lightning, and the bear's petrification. After becoming the beast, the character can face the end-level boss
, which upon defeat causes Neff to appear and remove the transformation orbs.
Altered Beast was ported to several platforms after its original release in 1988. It was released for Sega Master System
, PC Engine
, PC Engine-CD, Famicom
, Atari ST
, ZX Spectrum
, Commodore 64
, Amstrad CPC
, Commodore Amiga and DOS
. The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version is noteworthy for being the original pack-in game
for that system in North America, Europe, and Brazil
, before being replaced by Sonic the Hedgehog. A hand-held version of the game, made by Tiger Electronics
was released in 1988.
The Mega Drive version is included in the compilations Sega Smash Pack
, Sega Genesis Collection
and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
, with the latter two also including the arcade version as an unlockable game. The Wii
's Virtual Console
service offers emulated versions of both the arcade and the Mega Drive port, while the Xbox 360
's Xbox Live Arcade
and the PlayStation 3
's PlayStation Network have a re-worked arcade version with HD support, online leaderboards and network play. Sega released an official iOS port of the Mega Drive version in late 2010, played on the iPhone
and iPad
.
Certain differences are seen between the several versions of the game. Some of them, like the Master System one, were only single player and had only four levels. Others provided different beasts to mutate into, such as a humanoid lion
or a shark
form seen in the NES version.
was considered inferior to the arcade. Its re-release for the Wii
's Virtual Console
was given a lukewarm reception by GameSpot
and IGN
, describing the game as merely decent with some nostalgic value. The Xbox Live Arcade rerelease was even described by IGN as "relic of the arcade heyday that just doesn't hold up today".
title was released by Sega in 2005, known as Jūōki: Project Altered Beast in Japan and simply Altered Beast in Europe; the game was not released in North America. In Japan, it was rated 18+ for its intensity; however, the PEGI system rated it 12+, while none of the extreme gore animations were censored.
Rather than serving as a sequel to the original game, the newer title features a more modern setting that is unconnected to the original game. The story follows a man called Luke Custer who is a "Genome-Cyborg", which in the game is a human that has had his DNA and other genetic make-up altered so that he can (after acquiring the chip containing the right genes for each creature) transform into a mythical beast. The main creatures he transforms into are a Werewolf
, a Merman
, a Garuda
, a Wendigo
, a Fire Minotaur
, and a Thunder Dragon
. Its storyline differs from the original Altered Beast games where during the game, you gain a serum that allows you to change at will. There are a number of difficult boss challenges and puzzles within the game, plus some extra characters to transform into including a White Tiger
Man, a Grizzly Bear
, and the alien-cloned U.W.H. (Unidentified Weightless Human) for those who finish the game.
and published by THQ
, is a sequel for Game Boy Advance
in the style of the original arcade game. It adds new features like power-ups, new beast forms and destructible environments. http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=126703
In this game, you turn into a Werewolf
(called Canis), a Snake
Man/Nagi (or Naga
), a Dragon
(or Draco), a Tiger
Man (or Smilodon), a Spiked Turtle
(or Terapis/Terrapin), a Shark
Man (or Carcharodon), a Rhinoceros
Man (or Cerathos), an Eagle
(or Avion), a Scorpion
(or Scorpios), and a Chimera
.
, was later depicted as a mountable character in the game Golden Axe.
Altered Beast was also the subject of a skit in the second season of Mega64
.
On Friday Night SmackDown, Matt Striker often called Batista "The Altered Beast" in addition to calling him "The Animal", in reference to Batista turning heel and showing a drastic change in his character compared to his face character.
Several musical groups have paid tribute to Altered Beast in some form. MegaDriver
released an album based on the game's music, Metal Beast, in 2004, with also a patch to include said soundtrack to the arcade version on MAME
. Matthew Sweet
named an album of his Altered Beast
after the game in 1993.
Robby Roadsteamer's 2008 album "LRP" features a song named "Altered Beast", as does We Are Scientists
' second album, Brain Thrust Mastery
, as does the White Fields & Open Devices album by Vessels; the game's name also serves as the name of an LP released by Additionally, Hello, Sailor
released a song titled "Hand Vs. Battle Axe" that includes the "POWER UP!" sample. The Mr. Bungle
song "Egg" samples the "Rise from your grave" line from the beginning of the first level. Alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin
created a flash game entitled "Altered Benjamin" in which you play as vocalist Benjamin Burnley
and is an obvious parody of Altered Beast. It is currently available for play on the band's website. Sydney based instrumental prog trio Altered Beast are named after the game and also reference various bits of in game music in the song "Super 7 Medley". The phrase "Welcome to your doom" is sampled by dubstep
artist Reso (artist) in his track "Beasts in the Basement".
On rapper Ludacris
' 2nd studio Album "Word of Mouf", the titular track has rapper 4-ize make an homage to the classic game during his freestyle verse when he says "I rock Shaq's clothes when I Alter Beast, Power up, get big it's disturbin the peace". The song Genesis 16:12 by The Left Rights references Altered Beast, specifically "Rise from your grave."
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
developed and manufactured by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The game is set in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, and follows a centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
who is resurrected by Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
to rescue his daughter Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, and to do so become able to turn into beasts such as the werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
with usage of power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s. After its initial arcade release, it was ported to several home video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s and home computers, most notably the Sega Mega Drive
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
, to which it was a pack-in game
Pack-in game
- Characteristics :Pack-in games are intended to be system-selling games that make good use of the positive features of a given system. Sometimes a pack-in game will be changed to a more popular game, or another game will be added, along with the original pack-in, if it is perceived that a newer...
. The primary designer was Makoto Uchida
Makoto Uchida
is a Japanese video game programmer and developer once employed by Sega Enterprises and a member of AM1/Wow Entertainment. Makoto Uchida was the lead creative developer for several Sega Arcade games such as: Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Wing War, Die Hard Arcade, Dynamite Cop, and Alien Front Online...
, also responsible for the creation of Golden Axe
Golden Axe
Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat 'em up and hack & slash arcade video game released in 1989 by Sega for the System 16-B arcade hardware. It is the first game in the Golden Axe series....
.
Plot
A RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
who had died in battle is resurrected from the dead by Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
, who ordered the warrior to save his daughter, Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, from a Demon God called Neff in the Underworld
Greek underworld
The Greek underworld was made up of various realms believed to lie beneath the earth or at its farthest reaches.This includes:* The great pit of Tartarus, originally the exclusive prison of the old Titan gods, it later came to be the dungeon home of damned souls.* The land of the dead ruled by the...
. To become able to withstand the perils, the warrior gets the ability to absorb spirit balls who turn 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.
After the centurion arrives in Dis
Dis (Divine Comedy)
In Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, the City of Dis encompasses the sixth through the ninth circles of Hell. The most serious sins are punished here, in lower Hell...
, he faces Neff himself, who becomes a rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
monster. 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
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
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.
Gameplay
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
, beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
game. The player controls the centurion, fighting undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
creatures and monsters in a setting resembling Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, with originally five levels, in a graveyard, the Underworld, a cavern, Neff
Neff
Neff is a surname of German , Swiss or Czech origin. It refers to:*Carl Timoleon von Neff , Baltic German artist*Charles D. Neff , American Mormon missionary and humanitarian...
's palace and base at the city of Dis. One of the enemies, a white two-headed wolf
Orthrus
In Greek mythology, Orthrus or Orthus was a two-headed dog and a doublet of Cerberus, both whelped by the chthonic monsters Echidna and Typhon.He was owned by the three-bodied giant, Geryon...
(blue in the Mega Drive version, and a blue ox
Ox
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
in the DOS version) upon defeat releases a Spirit Ball, a power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
orb which increase the strength and size of the player character. Three orbs turn the centurion into a beast, which in the original version were a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, a thunder weredragon
European dragon
European dragons are legendary creatures in folklore and mythology among the overlapping cultures of Europe.In European folklore, a dragon is a serpentine legendary creature. The Latin word draco, as in constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek δράκων,...
, a werebear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, a weretiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, and the more powerful golden werewolf (other beasts can be seen in the Japanese Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
version and the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
version). Each beast has its own abilities, such as the dragon's flight and lightning, and the bear's petrification. After becoming the beast, the character can face the end-level boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
, which upon defeat causes Neff to appear and remove the transformation orbs.
Versions
Altered Beast was produced as a standard upright only with custom artwork on the cabinet. In most versions, the game's controls consist of an eight-way directional and three buttons, one each for "punch", "kick" and "jump". The game has single player and cooperative two-player modes. One of the more well-known features of Altered Beast is the use of voice-synthesis software, such as Zeus saying "Rise from your grave" and Neff's "Welcome to your doom!".Altered Beast was ported to several platforms after its original release in 1988. It was released for Sega Master System
Sega Master System
The is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
, PC Engine
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
, PC Engine-CD, Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Commodore Amiga and DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
. The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version is noteworthy for being the original pack-in game
Pack-in game
- Characteristics :Pack-in games are intended to be system-selling games that make good use of the positive features of a given system. Sometimes a pack-in game will be changed to a more popular game, or another game will be added, along with the original pack-in, if it is perceived that a newer...
for that system in North America, Europe, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, before being replaced by Sonic the Hedgehog. A hand-held version of the game, made by Tiger Electronics
Tiger Electronics
Tiger Electronics is an American toy manufacturer, best known for its handheld LCD games, the Furby, and Giga Pets. When Tiger was an independent company, Tiger Electronics Inc., its headquarters were in Vernon Hills, Illinois....
was released in 1988.
The Mega Drive version is included in the compilations Sega Smash Pack
Sega Smash Pack
Sega Smash Pack is a series of game compilations featuring mostly Sega Mega Drive games. Sega Smash Pack games have been released for the PC, Dreamcast, and the Game Boy Advance.-PC:The first Sega Smash Pack was released in 1999 for the PC...
, Sega Genesis Collection
Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Mega Drive Collection is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, compiled and emulated by Digital Eclipse and released in the U.S. in 2006 and Europe and Australia in 2007...
and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, known as the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection in PAL regions, is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles...
, with the latter two also including the arcade version as an unlockable game. The Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
service offers emulated versions of both the arcade and the Mega Drive port, while the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
's Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
's PlayStation Network have a re-worked arcade version with HD support, online leaderboards and network play. Sega released an official iOS port of the Mega Drive version in late 2010, played on the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
.
Certain differences are seen between the several versions of the game. Some of them, like the Master System one, were only single player and had only four levels. Others provided different beasts to mutate into, such as a humanoid lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
or a shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
form seen in the NES version.
Reception
In its initial arcade release, Altered Beast was a well-received game. Its conversion to the Sega Mega DriveSega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
was considered inferior to the arcade. Its re-release for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
was given a lukewarm reception by GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
and IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, describing the game as merely decent with some nostalgic value. The Xbox Live Arcade rerelease was even described by IGN as "relic of the arcade heyday that just doesn't hold up today".
Project Altered Beast
A PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
title was released by Sega in 2005, known as Jūōki: Project Altered Beast in Japan and simply Altered Beast in Europe; the game was not released in North America. In Japan, it was rated 18+ for its intensity; however, the PEGI system rated it 12+, while none of the extreme gore animations were censored.
Rather than serving as a sequel to the original game, the newer title features a more modern setting that is unconnected to the original game. The story follows a man called Luke Custer who is a "Genome-Cyborg", which in the game is a human that has had his DNA and other genetic make-up altered so that he can (after acquiring the chip containing the right genes for each creature) transform into a mythical beast. The main creatures he transforms into are a Werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, a Merman
Merman
Mermen are mythical male equivalents of mermaids – legendary creatures who have the form of a human from the waist up and are fish-like from the waist down.-Mythology:...
, a Garuda
Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
, a Wendigo
Wendigo
The Wendigo is a mythical creature appearing in the mythology of the Algonquian people. It is a malevolent cannibalistic spirit into which humans could transform, or which could possess humans...
, a Fire Minotaur
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
, and a Thunder Dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
. Its storyline differs from the original Altered Beast games where during the game, you gain a serum that allows you to change at will. There are a number of difficult boss challenges and puzzles within the game, plus some extra characters to transform into including a White Tiger
White tiger
The white tiger is a recessive mutant of the Bengal tiger, which was reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and especially from the former State of Rewa.-Color comparison:...
Man, a Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, and the alien-cloned U.W.H. (Unidentified Weightless Human) for those who finish the game.
Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms
Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms, developed by the now defunct 3d6 Games3d6 Games
3d6 Games was a video games development company based in Henderson, Nevada and founded in 1999. The company developed titles exclusively for GBC and GBA, and was best known for bringing Tetris to GBA in 2001 with Tetris Worlds....
and published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
, is a sequel for Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
in the style of the original arcade game. It adds new features like power-ups, new beast forms and destructible environments. http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=126703
In this game, you turn into a Werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
(called Canis), a Snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
Man/Nagi (or Naga
Naga
Naga or NAGA may refer to:* Nāga, a group of serpent deities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.-People:* Nayan / Nayar/Nair people of Kerala Society* Naga people, a diverse ethnic identity in Northeast India...
), a Dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
(or Draco), a Tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
Man (or Smilodon), a Spiked Turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
(or Terapis/Terrapin), a Shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
Man (or Carcharodon), a Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
Man (or Cerathos), an Eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
(or Avion), a Scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
(or Scorpios), and a Chimera
Chimera (mythology)
The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...
.
Tribute
A pink enemy creature, known as a cockatriceCockatrice
A cockatrice is a legendary creature, essentially a two-legged dragon with a rooster's head. "An ornament in the drama and poetry of the Elizabethans", Laurence Breiner described it...
, was later depicted as a mountable character in the game Golden Axe.
Altered Beast was also the subject of a skit in the second season of Mega64
Mega64
Mega64 is a low-budget series of comedy skits centered on video games.-Premise:In the not too distant future, a sinister scientist named Dr. Poque creates the most powerful video game console ever assembled...
.
On Friday Night SmackDown, Matt Striker often called Batista "The Altered Beast" in addition to calling him "The Animal", in reference to Batista turning heel and showing a drastic change in his character compared to his face character.
Several musical groups have paid tribute to Altered Beast in some form. MegaDriver
MegaDriver
MegaDriver is a Brazilian heavy metal and video game music cover band formed in 2003 by Antonio "Nino" Francisco Tornisiello, who uses the stage name "Nino Megadriver".-History:...
released an album based on the game's music, Metal Beast, in 2004, with also a patch to include said soundtrack to the arcade version on MAME
MAME
MAME is an emulator application designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. The intention is to preserve gaming history by preventing vintage games from being lost or forgotten...
. Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
named an album of his Altered Beast
Altered Beast (album)
Altered Beast is the fourth album by alternative rock musician Matthew Sweet. Released by Zoo Entertainment in 1993, the initial response to this record was cool compared to Girlfriend, with Rolling Stone writing that the album was "[f]rustratingly uneven," with "inspiring moments; the problem is...
after the game in 1993.
Robby Roadsteamer's 2008 album "LRP" features a song named "Altered Beast", as does We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
' second album, Brain Thrust Mastery
Brain Thrust Mastery
-External links:* *...
, as does the White Fields & Open Devices album by Vessels; the game's name also serves as the name of an LP released by Additionally, Hello, Sailor
Hello, Sailor
"Hello, sailor" is a sexual proposition made to a sailor, presumably by a prostitute or promiscuous woman supposing the sailor to be male and sexually frustrated after a long time at sea...
released a song titled "Hand Vs. Battle Axe" that includes the "POWER UP!" sample. The Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle was an experimental band from Northern California. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children's educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and...
song "Egg" samples the "Rise from your grave" line from the beginning of the first level. Alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, currently consisting of Benjamin Burnley and Chad Szeliga. The band has released four studio albums to date and a greatest hits album that was released on August 16, 2011. The group initially went on indefinite hiatus due...
created a flash game entitled "Altered Benjamin" in which you play as vocalist Benjamin Burnley
Benjamin Burnley
Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the band Breaking Benjamin.-Early days as a musician:...
and is an obvious parody of Altered Beast. It is currently available for play on the band's website. Sydney based instrumental prog trio Altered Beast are named after the game and also reference various bits of in game music in the song "Super 7 Medley". The phrase "Welcome to your doom" is sampled by dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
artist Reso (artist) in his track "Beasts in the Basement".
On rapper Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
' 2nd studio Album "Word of Mouf", the titular track has rapper 4-ize make an homage to the classic game during his freestyle verse when he says "I rock Shaq's clothes when I Alter Beast, Power up, get big it's disturbin the peace". The song Genesis 16:12 by The Left Rights references Altered Beast, specifically "Rise from your grave."
External links
- Altered Beast series games and statistics
- Xbox Page
- Contemporary reviews at Solvalou.com
- Altered Beast at Arcade-History
- Altered Beast at I-MockeryI-MockeryI-Mockery is a pop culture humor site owned and operated by Roger Barr that has existed online in various forms since 1996. Before then, it was a printed periodical called Visionary Darkness. Free copies of Visionary Darkness were distributed in local high schools and record shops...
- Altered Beast at allgameAllgameAllgame is a commercial database of information about arcade games, video games and console manufacturers.Allgame is owned by All Media Guide, along with Allmusic and Allmovie....