Overview
“Rise from your grave!” Zeus resurrects a fallen Roman centurion to rescue his daughter Athena from the demon god Neff. Altered Beast packed visual spectacle into its transformation mechanic—collect enough power-ups and morph into a werewolf, dragon, bear, or tiger. It defined the Genesis launch and introduced a generation to 16-bit gaming.
Fast facts
- Developer: Sega.
- Original: Arcade (1988).
- Genesis: Pack-in title (1989).
- Famous line: “Rise from your grave!”
| Beast | Abilities |
|---|
| Werewolf | Fireball, dash attack |
| Weredragon | Flight, electric attack |
| Werebear | Petrifying breath, rolling |
| Weretiger | Vertical fire, horizontal wave |
Gameplay mechanics
| Element | Function |
|---|
| Spirit balls | Collect three to transform |
| Punch/kick | Basic combat |
| Beast form | Enhanced powers |
| Auto-scroll | Forced progression |
Power progression
| Stage | Effect |
|---|
| Normal | Basic attacks |
| One orb | Larger, stronger |
| Two orbs | Even more powerful |
| Three orbs | Full beast transformation |
Boss encounters
| Level | Boss |
|---|
| 1 | Aggar (rotting corpse) |
| 2 | Octeyes (plant monster) |
| 3 | Moldy Snail |
| 4 | Crocodile Worm |
| 5 | Neff (final boss) |
Cultural impact
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|
| Genesis launch | Defined the console |
| Voice samples | Memorable speech |
| Visual style | Greek mythology aesthetic |
| Two-player | Cooperative mode |
See also