Rastan

Rastan is a side-scrolling fantasy action game where barbarian warrior Rastan must fight through five treacherous stages to defeat a dragon and save the kingdom. Players wield swords, axes, and other medieval weapons while battling mythological creatures like chimeras, harpies, and undead knights. The game features multi-layered scrolling backgrounds and detailed sprite work that was impressive for its time. Combat emphasizes careful timing and positioning, with Rastan able to crouch, jump-attack, and use different weapon types found throughout levels. Its challenging difficulty and dark fantasy atmosphere inspired numerous sequels and established Taito's reputation for quality arcade action games.