Introduction

Welcome to the bizarre world of *Altered Beast*, a beat 'em up game that implores you to rise from your grave and save a goddess. It's not a bad premise if you can overlook the fact that your powers are activated by balls of light from the sky. Not exactly the Greek mythology I imagine. But hey, if it gets you in the mood to slap some zombies with your bear claws, who am I to judge?

Gameplay

In *Altered Beast*, you're given the unholy honor of being a resurrected Roman Centurion chosen by Zeus himself (must be nice to be a demigod), to rescue Athena from the clutches of the evil Neff. The gameplay is like a 2D schoolyard fight gone interdimensional. You can throw fists, kick, and jump around the screen while encountering undead creatures and the occasional mythical beast, motivations and highly questionable decisions abound. Players can collect three spirit balls, which sound more like a bad musical act at a children's school function than power-ups, to transform into mythical creatures like a dragon or a weretiger-because being a resurrected Roman isn't enough class for you. Each beast form comes with its own unique abilities, allowing you to scorch, zap, or pounce your way to glory and probably a lifetime of therapy for the things you did while transformed.

Graphics

In terms of graphics, it's a nostalgia trip. Originally released in 1988, the visuals are like the funky uncle at a family reunion-outdated but somehow charming in their own awkward way. The character designs might not hold up to today's standards of triple-A graphics, but let's be honest: you didn't download this for the procedural animation. You came for the sheer absurdity of being a werewolf shooting fireballs and the questionable animation choices that make you question if you're on a gameplay trip or a bad acid trip.

Conclusion

*Altered Beast* is emblematic of its time-retro, silly, and slightly baffling in execution. If you're not a fan of rough edges, repetitive gameplay, and a plot that makes about as much sense as a cat playing the piano, you might want to steer clear of this game. But for those who embrace a past brimming with quirky charm, dust it off and indulge your inner beast. Just remember, sometimes you can't change back from that form. So, here it is, the charm remains if you squint hard enough. Let that beast out and may your gaming alter ever be flipped into weirdness!

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