Dahna

Dahna: Megami Tanjō is a side-scrolling action-platformer in a medieval fantasy setting. The player controls Dahna, a warrior-like heroine with access to sword combos (standard three-hit melee, upward stabs, and downward stabs), magic spells (sideways fire, blinding fog, and full-power magma downpours), and riding abilities on beasts like horses, griffins, and ogres. The game features six stages with mythical creatures, cutscenes, and a dark fantasy theme where the protagonist fights an evil sorceress raiding her village after her mentor is kidnapped. It stands out with a rare dark fantasy tone devoid of anime influence, variable spell bar length, and high difficulty via five continues and no traditional lives system.