Astal

From Sega Retro

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Astal Title.png

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

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP 		¥5,8005,800 GS-9019
Sega Saturn
US 		$59.9959.99[1] 81019
Sega Saturn
BR

Astal, known as Astal: Legend of the Brilliant Crystal (輝水晶伝説アスタル) in Japan, is a 2D platformer created by Sega exclusively for the Sega Saturn.

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


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 Astal: Legend of the Brilliant Crystal

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
  • Introduction Production/Editing: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Toshiyasu Kamiko, Yoshio Inoue, Mika Okada, Ryuta Ueda
  • Director: Toshihiko Masuda (Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., Ltd.)
  • Art Director: Toshihiko Masuda (Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., Ltd.)
  • Color: Tomoko Sakai (Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., Ltd.)
  • Producer: Koji Takeuchi (Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., Ltd.)
Opening/Ending Theme Music
S.O.A. Credits
Source:
In-game credits


Source:
US Manual
Astal sat us manual.pdf
[2]

Track list

1. [data track]  
2. Let me try again (01:59) 
From: Opening demo
Vocals: Aya Hisakawa
► Running time: 1:59

Magazine articles

Main article: Astal/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
72 №8, p114-117[3]
90 №44, p110-112
62 №164, p26/27[4]
50 №22, p65[5]
60 №333, p32
70
53 №33, p82/83[6]
63 №69, p56/57
92 №46, p34-41
73 №, p12[7]
Sega Saturn
 69
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
92
[8]
CD Consoles (FR)
72
[3]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC
62
[4]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
50
[5]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[10]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
66
[11]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[1]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
75
[12]
HiTech (ES) NTSC-J
60
[13]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
70
[14]
Mega (UK) NTSC
72
[15]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
80
[16]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
53
[6]
Players (BR)
94
[17]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[18]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
63
[19]
Sega Megazone (AU)
80
[20]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[7]
Ultimate Future Games (UK)
50
[21]
Última Generación (ES)
80
[22]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
75
[23]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
64
[24]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[25]
Sega Saturn
 72
Based on
24 reviews

Astal

Saturn, US
AstalBack us.jpgAstalBox us.jpg
Cover
Astal Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Astal sat us manual.pdf
Manual
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, 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

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:GamePro US 076.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 076.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ File:Astal_sat_us_manual.pdf, page 18
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:CDConsoles FR 08.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CDConsoles FR 08.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:CVG UK 164.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 164.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:Edge UK 022.pdf, page 65 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Edge UK 022.pdf_p65" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:MeanMachinesSega33UK.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega33UK.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 14 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p14" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  9. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 110
  10. ↑ Famitsu, "1995-05-05" (JP; 1995-04-21), page 1
  11. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 8 August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 37
  12. ↑ Game Informer, "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
  13. ↑ HiTech, "Junio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 62
  14. ↑ MAN!AC, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 46
  15. ↑ Mega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-30), page 4
  16. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "3/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 52
  17. ↑ Players, "Dez 95" (BR; 1995-1x-xx), page 16
  18. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1995 July" (JP; 1995-06-08), page 50
  19. ↑ Sega Power, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 56
  20. ↑ Sega Megazone, "September 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 20
  21. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-01), page 76
  22. ↑ Última Generación, "Julio/Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  23. ↑ Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 4: August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  24. ↑ Video Games, "8/95" (DE; 1995-07-26), page 70
  25. ↑ VideoGames, "September 1995" (US; 1995-08-22), page 73
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