Difference between revisions of "Astal"

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Revision as of 09:11, 8 October 2021

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  • NTSC-J

Astal Title.png

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Astal
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (1 track)
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP 		¥5,8005,800 GS-9019
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US 		$59.9959.99[4] 81019
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
BR
Tectoy: 6+

Astal, known in Japan as Kisuishou Densetsu Astal (輝水晶伝説アスタル), is a Sega Saturn action platform game developed by Sega CS and published by Sega. First released in Japan in April 1995, it was later brought to the United States the following August. Notable for its high production values, hand-drawn visuals, and well-received soundtrack, Astal has since gained a reputation as a cult classic.

Story

“

~Astal's Tale~

My story begins on a world that's different from your Earth. This is the legend of the beginning of the world of Quartalia.

Quartalia was created by our goddess, Antowas. Out of precious gems she made the land and sea, the mountains and the trees. And finally, from her last two jewels she created us. From a green jewel, Antowas created Leda, who has the power to make things live on Quartalia. From a red jewel, she created me, and made me really strong and powerful so I could keep Leda safe. Leda and I are as different as night and day. Leda is gentle and sweet and could never hurt anybody. I have a short temper, and sometimes I overdo things. That's what happened this time.

Unknown to us, the demon Jerado had been watching Antowas work. He wanted to rule a world all his own, but his powers weren't as strong as Antowas', and he didn't have the strength to make his own world. Instead he plotted to take over Quartalia, and change it the way he liked.

Exhausted from her work, Antowas fell asleep. That's when Jerado made his move. The first part of his plan was to get rid of Leda and me, and he created a powerful warrior named Geist to do the dirty work. One day, while I was taking a nap, Geist stole Leda away. I searched and searched, and I tore Quartalia apart looking for her. I finally found her, trapped in a crystal on the bottom of the sea.

Once I rescued Leda, I thought things could get back to normal, but the ruckus I caused woke Antowas up. When she saw the mess I'd made, boy, was she angry! When Leda found out about my punishment, she was heartbroken, and gave her green jewel to me to keep. Then Antowas sent me to Quartalia's moon, where I would stay out of trouble. Finally, Antowas used up the rest of her power to deal with Jerado, then fell into another deep sleep....

Now Jerado was out of the action, but Geist was still free. One day, from my prison on the moon, I saw him capture Leda again! This was too much! I destroyed my prison, broke my chains and headed back to Quartalia.

Nothing in the world means more to me than Leda—nothing! I will find her. I will find the one who took her, and I will deal with him! It's only a matter of time.

Quartalia has changed. The demon Jerado has transformed it somehow, and none of the creatures who now live here are friendly. Except for this bird I rescued, who for some reason, just won't leave me alone....

„

— US Manual [5]


Gameplay

Astal is a 2D platform game which supports one or two players. Player 1 plays as "Astal", alongside a cooperative buddy, a bird, which can assist Astal in several ways. In single player mode, Astal gives commands to this bird to attack enemies, retrieve health or even perform context sensitive actions that are specific to certain levels, however in two player mode, the bird can be controlled by a second player instead. Two player mode also allows both players to team up and perform attacks together, with the downside being that the bird now has a health bar, and both players share the same lives counter.

Hints on how to defeat bosses are hidden within the opening cinematic.

In the overseas (i.e. non-Japanese) version, the player's hit points are reduced to three and the opening cinematic music is changed.

History

It was originally released in April 1995 in Japan before subsequently seeing a release in North America and Brazil. Curiously the game was never released in Europe, despite initial plans.

Astal was not a launch title in western regions, though was brought to the Saturn in its "software drought" period, created when Sega of America unexpectedly brought the console's launch several months forward. Though reviews of the game were not stellar, it became a common and relatively well-known Saturn title in the regions it was sold in due to a lack of alternative software. Astal has yet to be bought to any other platforms or see any sequels since release.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English (US) Astal Astal
Japanese 輝水晶伝説アスタル Kisuishou Densetsu Astal

Screenshot

Main article: Astal/Comparisons.

Development

Main article: Astal/Development.

Production credits

スタッフ
プログラマー
プランナー
アーティスト
サウンド
アニメーション制作
Source:
In-game credits (JP)


Programmers
Planning
Artists
Sound Staff
Animation Staff
Opening/Ending Theme Music
S.O.A. Credits
Source:
In-game credits
Source:
US manual
Astal sat us manual.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Astal/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 [7]
Sega Saturn
 92
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
92
[8]
CD Consoles (FR)
72
[9]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC
62
[11]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
50
[12]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[13]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
66
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[4]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
75
[15]
HiTech (ES) NTSC-J
60
[16]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
70
[17]
Mega (UK) NTSC
72
[18]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
80
[19]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
53
[20]
Players (BR)
94
[21]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[22]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
63
[23]
Sega Megazone (AU)
80
[24]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[25]
Ultimate Future Games (UK)
50
[26]
Última Generación (ES)
80
[27]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
75
[28]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
64
[29]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[30]
Sega Saturn
 72
Based on
24 reviews

Astal

Saturn, JP
Astal sat jp backcover.jpgAstal sat jp frontcover.jpg
Cover
Astal Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Astal sat jp disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, US
AstalBack us.jpgAstalBox us.jpg
Cover
Astal Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Astal sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, BR
Astal BR cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Saturn
✔
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
627,301,920 1995-03-28 CD-ROM (JP) GS-9019 V1.006
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
636,808,704 CD-ROM (US) 81019 V1.003

Track list

1. Data track  
2. Let me try again (1:59) 
From: Opening demo
Vocals: Aya Hisakawa
► Running time: 1:59

External links

  • Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese): Saturn

References

  1. ↑ File:Astal sat jp backcover.jpg
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-04 08:13)
  3. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/9Acd907s5IU/m/upCNaurPXIYJ
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 62
  5. ↑ File:Astal sat us manual.pdf
  6. ↑ File:Astal_sat_us_manual.pdf, page 18
  7. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-05-11), page 34-41 (34)
  8. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  9. ↑ CD Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 114
  10. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 110
  11. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-09), page 26
  12. ↑ Edge, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-25), page 65
  13. ↑ Famitsu, "1995-05-05" (JP; 1995-04-21), page 1
  14. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 8 August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 37
  15. ↑ Game Informer, "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
  16. ↑ HiTech, "Junio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 62
  17. ↑ MAN!AC, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 46
  18. ↑ Mega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-30), page 4
  19. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "3/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 52
  20. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-27), page 82
  21. ↑ Players, "Dez 95" (BR; 1995-1x-xx), page 16
  22. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1995 July" (JP; 1995-06-08), page 50
  23. ↑ Sega Power, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 56
  24. ↑ Sega Megazone, "September 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 20
  25. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 14
  26. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-01), page 76
  27. ↑ Última Generación, "Julio/Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  28. ↑ Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 4: August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  29. ↑ Video Games, "8/95" (DE; 1995-07-26), page 70
  30. ↑ VideoGames, "September 1995" (US; 1995-08-22), page 73


Astal

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