Blaqthourne

Since just about everyone in Sahara mentions Stom, I transform into him, getting Stom's Pendant from his father. Looking up where the two bracelets I'm missing are (since I don't use the swords' fully charged attacks due to the MP usage, I wasn't concerned about getting them), I head to the Oasis Cave to get the Storm Bracelet. I guess you have to access the area with the chest from the Oasis Cave entrance, as I accessed this area from Goa Fortress and the chest was not there. I had completely forgotten about the town with nothing but women and thought I'd fully explored the area around Brynmaer when I picked up the Ball of Water. Heading back there, I make my way to the town of Amazones. Using the Change spell to be able to accomplish anything here, I snag the Blizzard Bracelet. Being fully leveled and having the best armor and shield makes fulfilling the queen's request of retrieving the Kirisa Plant extremely easy. For bringing the plant, the queen rewards me with the Bow of Moon. In the cave north of the pyramid, I use the Bows of Moon and Sun to destroy their respective statues, allowing me to enter Dragonia's Flying Tower. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Remembering the chest I couldn't reach in the Cave of Styx, I head back there with the Flight spell and pick up a nice Psycho Shield. Passing through the town of Sahara, exploring the annoying Pyramid beyond eventually brings me to a battle against... Dragonia. Defeating him on my first try gets me the Psycho Armor. After picking up the armor, the floor beneath me disappears and drops me in front of Tamalic, who gives me the Bow of Truth. Thinking I might have missed a chest, I explore some more of the pyramid, hitting the max level of 16 in the process. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Restoring Kensu's body, he rewards me with the last spell, Flight. With the Flight spell, I'm able to jump the gap in Mt. Hydra and pick up the Bow of Sun. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

It takes me a couple more tries to finally defeat Mado, receiving a Sacred Shield, which is a downgrade to what I have equipped. This also frees Asina. I then make my way to Karmine, who I defeat on my first try, who drops a chest with Kensu's Body in it. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Continuing in Goa Fortress, I get a rematch with Sabera, who I defeat on my second try. This frees Tornel. I spend the rest of the video exploring the next area of the fortress, picking up a couple consumables and eventually making it to Mado. Failing and getting booted back to the town, I end the video. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Still trying to figure out how to proceed, I discover a cave in the desert that I can't enter. Out of pure luck, I figure out how to get into Goa Fortress (go to about the 11:30 mark to skip me wandering around pretty aimlessly) -- if only I would have appraised the Ball of Thunder. I then spend over 15 minutes wandering around the fortress before stumbling on the path to a rematch with General Kelbesque (go to the 27:30 mark to skip most of my wandering), who I defeat on my first try. Defeating Kelbesque restores Zebu. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

After speaking with Kensu in Goa, as I try to enter Goa Fortress, Zebu appears, telling me Shyron has been attacked and I need to return. I went back to the Cave of Styx because I was thinking there was a path I missed that would lead to the chest I couldn't reach. Back in Shyron, everyone has been wiped out or was waiting to talk to me before expiring, while the three magicians other than Kensu have been taken to Goa Fortress. It takes me a handful of tries, but I finally defeat Mado, receiving the Ball of Thunder for my trouble. I'll figure out how to get into the fortress someday... I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Still at a loss as to what to do, I explore the last area around here, coming to the town of Shyron. Speaking to Zebu, he gives me the key to open the gate to the Cave of Styx where the final sword is. Picking up the Sword of Thunder, Zebu appears and tells me to return to Shyron. Back in Shyron, I'm told that Mesia and I are the only ones who can combine the four swords into Crystalis. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Making my way to the town of Goa, being at a loss for what to do, I play around with the Change spell, which gets me the extremely useful Warrior Ring. Still having no idea what to do, I go back to exploring the area. Exploring the area to the south, I find some Leather Boots in the cave by the oasis. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Back in Joel, the town elder tells me how to calm the sea. Using the Eyeglasses in the shed opens up a door, which leads to where Kensu has been waiting. Giving him his Love Pendant, he rewards me with the Glowing Light before poofing off to the town of Swan. Since I appraised the broken statue, I know what item it repairs. Fixing the statue and placing it on the altar eliminates the whirlpool blocking access to the north part of the area. Asina appears just before I enter Swan and teaches me the Barrier spell. Completing Kensu's challenge, he teaches me the Change spell, which gets me past the soldiers guarding the gate. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

In Joel, the town elder gives me the Necklace of Fate, which will grant me access to the Island of Spirits where the townsfolk were turned into zombies. Inside the cave leading to the Island of Spirits, I find the Iron Necklace. Making it to the town on the island, venturing into the town's castle, I get to fight two vampires - a new one and apparently the same one from earlier. Once I realized the bats they spawn don't harm me, but rather simply push me, and that the vampires won't ever teleport to the southwest corner of the battle area, the battles became simply a matter of waiting for the vampire to teleport directly in front of me. Figuring out Sabera's ruse, It takes a few tries, but I finally defeat her and get a Broken Statue. Her defeat also cures the town. Clark, the son of the town elder of Joel, gives me some Eyeglasses to use in Joel. I thought they might reveal the invisible other than a shadow enemies in the castle. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

I really thought it was going to be a story item, not a simple Medical Herb, that would cure what turns out to be a dolphin. Since the dolphin takes off after giving me the flute to call it, I head to the cave a little southeast of the Waterfall Cave, finding the Fog Lamp inside. Now that the boat rental guy is back in Portoa, I give him the lamp he was looking for, getting free use of his boat whenever I want. Hopping on the boat, I take a slow ride down a river to a house on a beach. Since the boat disappears when I enter the house, I call the dolphin for a ride. Exploring the seas here, a small cave in the southwest corner holds the Love Pendant the guy in the house lost, which causes him to leave the house before I return. Continuing to explore the area, I end up in the town of Joel, where reloading after finding the pendant put me. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Back at the Waterfall Cave, I again find the Sword of Water. Exploring the rest of the cave I find another Flute of Lime to cure the nearby petrified man. He was looking for a special lamp, likely the Fog Lamp, and gives me the Shield Ring as thanks for saving him yet again. Wandering around trying to find the cave where the Fog Lamp should be, I stumble into a cave where I've given the Ball of Water, which allows me to see a recording of my fellow warrior-magician Mesia. Realizing that I can reach whatever that greenish thing in the water in Portoa is, Asina rewards me with the Recover spell as I approach where I can create an ice bridge. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

In the town of Portoa, using the newly learned Paralysis spell to reach the queen, she tasks me with discovering the town's secret in order for her to help me out. While trying to figure out what I need to do, I decide to go exploring the area and stumble across a cave behind the waterfall northeast of Portoa. Finding a couple people who have been turned to stone blocking the path further in, I leave since I don't have what's needed to cure them. Still at a loss as to what I need to do, I eventually happen to speak to the queen again, which trips the necessary flag. This leads to the third magician, Asina, revealing herself and giving me the Flute of Lime to cure the actual queen who is one of the people turned to stone in the cave. Curing the queen, I continue exploring the cave and find the Sword of Water. Thinking there is some dialog that I'm missing by not returning to Portoa before finding the sword, I reload. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Heading to the north path to Mt. Sabre, Zebu removes the wall since I know the Teleport spell. Finding the people kidnapped from Leaf, I then defeat General Kelbesque on my 2nd try, getting the Flame Bracelet he drops. Zebu then rewards me with the Paralysis spell. Exiting the cave, it's a short walk to the next town, Portoa. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Wandering around Mt. Sabre for way too long, I do find the Tornado Bracelet. It took me quite a while to realize that a fully charged shot costs MP, which made me never actually use fully charged attacks again, other than to see what they looked like. Finally finding Tornel, after congratulating me on finding the bracelet, he tells me Dragonia and his General Kelbesque attacked Leaf, taking all the townspeople (a bit of a hint there in the wording) to Dragonia's Flying Tower. To help me get back there as fast as possible, Tornel teaches me the Teleport spell. I would have thought Telepathy would be needed to talk to the rabbit-like creature in Leaf. I started using the 2nd save spot just in case there was a power outage happened after saving but before ending the recording. It's a good thing since the Retro Freak started crashing occasionally. Considering it hadn't happened prior makes me think having multiple saves in the game being played might be the cause. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Since he was mentioned in Brynmaer, I go train with Tornel. I really thought there was something more to the duel with Stom than just repeatedly attacking as fast as you can. Defeating Stom, Tornel teaches me the Telepathy spell. Venturing into the south path to Mt. Sabre, I get my first game over. Being placed back at the entrance to the mountain with full health started me wondering what the downside of dying is. With the one enemy I ran into being a major step up in difficulty, I'm fairly certain that I shouldn't try tackling this area yet. Checking out the north path to Mt. Sabre and encountering the wall I was told about, that leaves one path left to try. Entering the swamp and watching my health quickly drained, I start really testing out what happens when you die. It looks like the only downside is losing the Experience gained since you saved. Using the gas mask to survive the swamp, I eventually find the town of Oak. With the inhabitants hating humans, the only thing to do here is find the child who wandered into the swamp. Finding the child and leading him back to Oak, his mother rewards me with the insect flute to summon the monster terrorizing the swamp. The town elder gives me the Sword of Fire to slay the monster. It took a handful of tries, but I finally defeated it, getting the Ball of Fire as a reward. Tornel appears, tells me that a powerful item for the Sword of Wind is on top of the southern peak of Mt. Saber and to meet him there. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

I head off to slay a vampire. In the vampire's cave, I pick up the Ball of Wind to upgrade the Sword of Wind. Defeating the vampire on my first try, Zebu rewards me with the Rabbit Boots. After exploring the rest of the cave, I exit and make my way to the town of Brynmaer. After upgrading my shield, I retrieve Akahana's Onyx Statue, receiving a Gas Mask as a reward. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Epilepsy Warning: Skip about 10 seconds from 0:40 to 0:50. The text during this section states: "When war overtook the entire planet, some thought the true end had come." After being awoken, I enter the starting town of Leaf. Picking up the first sword, the Sword of Wind, gives the first example of the digitized human speech advertised on the back of the box (did they really consider the hero holding aloft the sword to be a "cinematic"?). Getting my first task from the four magicians, the miller magically appears for me to awaken (the reload was to confirm that the miller wasn't there before talking to Zebu, as well as seeing what the dialog for the miller is before using the flute), and I'm able to repair Leaf's windmill. Zebu then rewards me with my first spell. He then tasks me with defeating the vampire in the newly accessible cave. I've never played the NES version, so I can't compare the two. It's generally considered to be much better than this version. I played this on a Retro Freak, which can play cartridges/cards from around a dozen systems. It has the option of installing the game to a MicroSD card. I played off the MicroSD card. Captured using an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

My goal was to make it past the stage where the fruit is a banana. After that, it just alternates between the last two levels with random fruits. I then play a little bit of each of the 3 "beginner" game modes. The biggest change, to me, from the arcade version is the removal of the cutscenes. While I've never been a big fan of the Pac-Man games, I still think this is well worth having if you have an Atari 2600. The Atari 2600+ plays from cartridges (it also supports Atari 7800 carts). Recording at 60 fps accurately portrays the flickering. Played on an Atari 2600+. Captured with an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

My goal was to make it past the stage where the fruit is a banana. After that, it just alternates between the last two levels with random fruits. I then play a little bit of each of the 3 "beginner" game modes. The biggest change, to me, from the arcade version is the removal of the cutscenes. While I've never been a big fan of the Pac-Man games, I still think this is well worth having if you have an Atari 2600. The Atari 2600+ plays from cartridges (it also supports Atari 7800 carts). Recording at 30 fps causes the ghosts to appear to completely disappear when they're actually flickering and very rarely invisible. Played on an Atari 2600+. Captured with an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Since it has unlimited continues, and it's not all that difficult, even on Hard, it's simply a matter of wanting to get to the end credits. Free Mode allows you to play any of the 35 levels, which I show at the end. The ~30 second pause at 30:02 is due to receiving a phone call. I'm trying to figure out the cause of the blackout at 39:34. This is an issue with the Hyperkin converter. I've seen reported issues with this happening when the PSP AC adapter is connected. My best guess is that that is when the battery became fully charged. But it looks like it almost did the same thing at 10:18, causing the glitch. Played on a PSP 3000 model, using a Hyperkin HDMI cable and an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

I never played this back when it was released. I got good enough to be able to beat it on Normal, but don't like it enough to get good enough for the Harder difficulties. 1993 is the release year of the Sega CD Sega Classics release. According to Moby Games, this release has enhanced voice samples. Played on a Model 2 Sega Genesis/Sega CD combo, running it through a RetroTINK 5X-Pro to an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

I never played this back when it was released. I got good enough to be able to beat it on Normal, but don't like it enough to get good enough for the Harder difficulties. 1993 is the release year of the Sega CD Sega Classics release. According to Moby Games, this release has enhanced voice samples. Played on a Model 2 Sega Genesis/Sega CD combo, running it through a RetroTINK 5X-Pro to an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.

Unfortunately, I didn't notice the poor audio until I recorded playthroughs with Axel and Blaze. I'm fairly certain it's due to OBS Studio settings. I never played this back when it was released. I got good enough to be able to beat it on Normal, but don't like it enough to get good enough for the Harder difficulties. 1993 is the release year of the Sega CD Sega Classics release. According to Moby Games, this release has enhanced voice samples. Played on a Model 2 Sega Genesis/Sega CD combo, running it through a RetroTINK 5X-Pro to an Elgato HD60 X capture card. Recorded in OBS Studio.