Astyanax

Astyanax, originally released in Japan as The Lord of King (ザ・ロード・オブ・キング), is a side-scrolling action/platform game developed and published for the NES by Jaleco. It is based upon the arcade version of the game (know as The Astyanax, also published by Jaleco), but contains significantly altered gameplay and a much different plot.

Story
Astyanax is a 16-year-old student from Greenview High School who has been having a recurring dream in which a young woman is calling out for his name. One day, while on his way to class, Astyanax is suddenly transported into another dimension. Astynax meets the fairy Cutie, who explains that he is in the kingdom of Remlia and has been summoned to rescue its ruler, Princess Rosebud, who is being held captive by the evil wizard Blackhorn. Armed with the legendary axe Bash granted, Astyanax sets out on a journey to Blackhorn's lair with Cutie in order to rescue Rosebud.

Gameplay
Unlike the arcade version, the NES version can only be played by one player. Like in the arcade version, the player has a life gauge, a strength gauge that fills automatically when he is not attacking and a magic gauge for his spells. Unlike the arcade version, the player can wield other weapons besides the default axe, as well as use different magic spells (which are selected by pausing the game).

By picking up a power-up, Astyanax's weapon, the Bash, changes shape from its default axe form into a spear, which can be upgraded again into a sword. The spear has the weakest attack strength, but allows Astyanax to use his magic spells more often by consuming less magic points, while the sword can deal the most damage on enemies, but consumes the most magic points when casting a spell. The player will revert to his previous weapon after losing a life.

The player's magic spells consists of a binding spell that temporarily freezes all enemies for a few seconds, a fire blast spells that damages all enemies within range and a thunderbolt spell that damages every enemy on-screen. Each spell consumes a different amount of magic points, with the binding spell consuming the least point, while the thunderbolt consumes the most.

Other power-ups that includes a power supply that extends the length of Astyanax's power gauge, allowing for stronger axe swings, a wing that increases the refill speed of Astyanax's power gauge, potions that restores the player's health and magic and extra lives. Astyanax can also encounter Cutie throughout certain stages, who will offer to either change Astyanax's weapon or refill his magic points.