Astyanax

About

Astyanax is a side-scrolling action game where players swing an axe and cast lightning to tackle fantasy-themed stages. Developed by Aicom in 1989, it mixes platforming challenges with beat-em-up combat. You leap over pits, crush enemies, and grab hidden potions inside stone pillars. Each stage ends with a boss battle, demanding precise timing and upgraded magic to progress. Two-player co-op is available, though the second character is just a recolored version of the first. The game mirrors mechanics from Tokuhiro Takemori’s earlier work, requiring pauses between heavy axe strikes for maximum damage. Its two versions diverge wildly: the arcade cut features a demonic war saga, while the NES port swaps it for a high school fantasy where a teen is summoned to rescue a princess. This stark shift in tone, plus the co-op’s straightforward design, gives it a cultish charm among retro action fans.

Storyline

In the Arcade version, the plot is fairly typical-a battle is being waged between demons and people, and the people are not able to stand up to the demons. One day, a brave young man named Roche receives divine revelation from God and is granted a mythical Fire Axe. Roche embarks on a journey to the Castle of Algerine to defeat the evil demon overlord Argos and restore peace and happiness to the world. The plot of the NES version is entirely different from the Arcade version. Astyanax is a 16-year old boy who attends Greenview High School. He has been having a recurring dream in which a young woman is calling his name. One day while on his way to class, Astyanax is transported to another dimension. He meets the fairy Cutie, who explains that he has been summoned to rescue the ruler of the kingdom Remilia, Princess Rosebud-who has been captured by the evil wizard Blackhorn. Armed with the legendary Fire Axe, Astyanax sets out on a journey to Blackhorn's lair to rescue Rosebud.