Astyanax (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Jaleco's 1990 NES platforming action game, Astyanax.
Alright, first thing up is the age old question: how do you pronounce "Astyanax"?
\ ə-ˈstī-ə-ˌnaks \ "Uh-stai-uh-naks"
Betcha feel smarter already, huh?
Astyanax was released at the same time as Jaleco's arcade title, The Astyanax. They aren't the same game, but are instead two games based on the same general style of play. This also happens to be the same style and play as you'll find in The Legendary Axe 1 and 2 on the TurboGrafx-16. They all share the muscled meathead swinging huge weapons at things, and they all share the charging gauge that dictates the power of each hit. The NES and TG16 games differ the most from the arcade game in their pacing - the console titles all tend to be slower and more deliberately paced than the quarter muncher was.
Though they're not all technically related to one another, they were all developed by the same team at Aicom within a year or two of each other. It's apparent that Aicom found a system they liked and stuck with it for awhile. I'm also guessing that Astyanax was a test-bed for some of storytelling ideas that we later saw again in Vice: Project Doom, another Aicom title.
Astyanax on the NES is a standard platforming game with upgradable weapons, special attacks, life bars - if you've played an NES game released between 1988-1993, you know all the basics already. It plays competently despite its questionable hit-boxes and super-stiff animation - the charge bar forces you consider what you're doing (button mashing will get you killed quickly!), and the magic spells do a nice job at helping you side-step any ugly surprises - nobody likes being bounced backwards into a pit, right?
The difficulty level is nicely balanced. It's not so easy that you'll just race through, but it's never particularly frustrating or difficult. It's a good game to throw in and chill with if you don't want to be swearing at the NES within five minutes.
The biggie that really differentiates this one from the arcade game is the cinematic plot scenes that show up constantly. Sure, they look like low-rent pretenders when put up against Ninja Gaiden, but there's a lot of charm to be found in the stilted dialogue, neon colors, and poorly drawn portraits. I still get a kick out of them.
Astyanax isn't a top 10 title, but the nostalgia can be strong with this one. It's very good at putting a smile on your face as it reminds you of times long past.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Astyanax was one of those perfect weekend rental games. Anyone who picked this up on a whim after getting to Blockbuster too late on a Friday evening wouldn't have found themselves disappointed.

[@AndrewSouzaGames555]

Yes

[@72A1D372]

The cut scenes and story really took this to another level for me. One of my favorite NES games for sure!

[@edwardgaines6561]

Your descriptions always help set the mood and give a sense of place, especially for older games! Respect. 👍

[@FirestreakRodimusPr]

that's pretty much exactly how I rent it and beat it. now I feel really old since blockbuster doesn't exist anymore.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@edwardgaines6561 Thanks!

[@Dorian_Scott]

A hidden gem if ever there was one. Soundtrack's good, too. Also, _"Astyanax"_ sounds like the name of a prescription drug.😂

[@NearLife4life]

I think it's an anti-epileptic. And by the looks of it in the opening story, Astyanax might need it. Looks like he was having some serious auras and, from the sounds of the story, did fall into convulsions and hence the game!

[@Darkchao_berserko22]

You can’t go wrong with a Jaleco game. They may not be Capcom, Konami or even tecmo but they prove they can dish out some quality games

[@lawrencefitzgerald4744]

"Take this magic axe, Bash." 😂 Bash is the _perfect_ name for an *axe*! Also, this was actually one of my favorite games growing up. It wasn't perfect, but it was solid. I could always count on a few hours of enjoyment when I had nothing better to do.

[@eversosleight]

One of the first titles a fellow church member let me borrow as a kid back in the day. Lot of fun with this one!

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

I remember really loving this game just for the way it looked. Like the sprites were so gigantic to me for an NES game. I could never get very far in it, but I used to bust it out to show my friends how cool it looked lol

[@Dr.UldenWascht]

I had zero idea this game existed until now. As a kid who combed through all 3 of the local Nintendo shops in our town, I would've loved to play this 😄

[@mnemonichotpocket]

Killer sound track off jump. Haven't listened to the whole game, but would imagine it'd follow suit and slap as well.

[@elgatofelix8917]

Are you kidding me? This has possibly of the worst OST I've heard.

[@spoonshiro]

A cheesy fun time. It's basically an 80s fantasy film turned into a game.

[@Snyperwolf91]

>Being a 16 year old teen named Astyanax >Gets isekaid hard into a fantasy world >Getting magical Axe and suddenly getting buffed up and getting a helmet for free Story of my life .

[@NearLife4life]

My question to Astyanax would be; what is a 16 year-old doing in 9th grade. Shouldn't he be a junior?

[@RaifSeverence]

Sophomore. Of course if this is just a translation from japanese, then 16 in tenth grade lines up. For reference Elementary school in Japan is grades 1 thru 6 Middle is grades 7 thru 9 High is 10 thru 12. (Freshmen in high-school in Japan is 10th grade)

[@raifield]

One of the few NES games I was able to beat as a kid. Should give it another try this week, see how I do 30 years later 😅

[@estebancebreros5432]

Make life count and ask your doctor if prescription-strength Astyanax is right for you. 👨🏻‍⚕️

[@d_valroth]

One of my all time favorites. Replayed it recently and took far, far too long to make it all the way to the end. 30 years ago me was *way* better at this game.

[@d_valroth]

Also always found it odd that the one weapon Bash can't change into is a mace.

[@NintendoComplete]

​@@d_valrothIt is a bit strange with a name like that, now that you mention it.

[@therealbigboss101]

​@@NintendoCompleteI had this game my mom bought it great pick up by me

[@xl3yonhax]

Lot's of memories ❤

[@TANKTREAD]

Still own and still one of my favorite NES games.

[@Loader2K1]

I've heard of _Astyanax_ , but this is the first time I've seen the game in action. Apparently, in Japan, this game, as well as its original arcade version, are known as _The Lord of King_ , and the NES port is a loose adaptation of the arcade game of the same name. Also, in the Japanese version of this game, Astyanax was named Roche, Princess Rosebud was named Princess Thompson, and the antagonist, Blackhorn, was named McMahon. I like how this game throws a curveball at you in the ending with you hooking up with the elf girl, now reincarnated as a human being, instead of the princess you're supposed to save, not to mention how Astyanax is a jacked, helmet-clad warrior in the game, but a skinny kid in the cutscenes, LOL. Lovely playthrough.

[@Shimlarian]

My copy of this went missing in my childhood, but i still love it.

[@THEMAX00000]

Very first game I can remember getting for my birthday and also the very first game I ever beat

[@justman4891]

Me and cousin used to wear this game out in summer of 1988!

[@mariusamber3237]

Fully agree, this is a very good rental. I liked the music and the gameplay was alright, it isn't that hard either besides the pits/knockback. Nice, big sprites too. I haven't played this one for ages... maybe the last time was back in the 2000s, hah. Maybe it doesn't stand out that much in the sea of NES/FC action games, but it's indeed good for a quick playthrough on the weekend.

[@JoTek730]

The music in this game is stained in my brain decades later…

[@xwf1000v3]

Played this game as a kid. Did beat it without the Game Genie thanks to that secret code I put in for invincibility. Nice storyline too. Of course people think that the game has some Glitches in it & I did see a few of them but it didn’t bothered me game wise.

[@am1k98]

11:35 😂😂 u vibing to boss music btw this game was named golden axe in sone cartridges. 🤔

[@johnle4091]

Beaten this game a long time ago on a weekend during a rental. Sprites were huge, gameplay was good, but story was okay (before the word isekai was coined). Very different from the arcade version.

[@senseicorey9979]

I felt like I never made progress in this game yet somehow I'd seen every level and boss.......must have been the game genie

[@cesarjoseromeromedina9510]

Que Juego siempre lo jugaba con mis Hermanos. Que Recuerdos

[@MBRetroGamer]

good gameplay, astyanax top

[@MatthewBenson321]

I remember this game from back in the day and assuming it was a sequel to The Legendary Axe. Another gem from the 8-Bit era. When I finally got around to play it on the Famicom a few years back, the difficulty level surprised me, though not as much as the ridiculously challenging Holy Diver.

[@therealbigboss101]

I had this game fun to play

[@donskiver]

I always pronounced it "ass-sty-uh-nax". Tomayto, tomahto.

[@bryany6565]

Oh man another brother and I classic!!! No power ups your dead!!! Haha.

[@rickn4301]

This and Karnov!

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

43:40 Embrace the plant My eggplant queen 🎵

[@NintendoComplete]

😂 perfect

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

@@NintendoComplete Arcus made the lyrics for his speedruns

[@ZacHawkins42]

::Sees first boss:: "Ain't nobody got time fo dat!" ::Proceeds to ruthlessly destroy said boss::

[@cobrakainevereverdies6940]

I don't know, if I still got the cartridge. But I beat this game. Jaleco didn't fool around with this or Bases Loaded.

[@AndrewSouzaGames555]

2:15 cute

[@Zero_Tester]

I remember when i was a kid,my Nes cassette was broken and the game has graphical glitch,and frequently the enemy disappeared offscreen(boss 3 the snail if im not forgotten) Never able to finish the game because of that back then

[@walterpetersen776]

I found a abriged edition of this game.

[@AndyGoth111]

2:32 Is this a pigeon?

[@Romantic8793]

Aka Golden Axe 4...

[@TheNei]

[@sebastianaranda3163]

Cualquiera finaliza el juego con vida infinita jajajjaa

[@kevinmurphy6679]

To answer your question in the description, I would pronounce it "As-tee-en-ax."

[@elgatofelix8917]

The opening cut scene music is some of the worst I've heard on the NES