Actraiser: Wayback Wednesday Vol. 21, Part 2

Actraiser is one of the most innovative games a retro gaming fan could ever hope to find. It’s a fascinating blend of genres, made even more interesting because it was released early in the life of the SNES, which went against common gaming conventions of the time, and largely succeeded in doing something different.

There is a part of the story that predates everything that happens in the game, focusing on a fight between the Master and the Evil One. Good loses out, and the Evil One takes over the land and divides it into six sections, which leads up to the current circumstances. The Master is now much weaker than he was in the past because people stopped believing in him, kind of like the day we all found out Santa wasn’t real. So it’s the hero’s goal to convince people to believe in the Master again while defeating the Evil One’s six cohorts and, eventually, the Evil One himself.

Actraiser is an interesting beast. On one hand, it is a sim, on the other hand, it is a typical platforming game with some subtle RPG elements thrown in for good measure. While each of the first two genres is represented in a more basic fashion than other games with one primary focus, it provides an intriguing mix.

For each of the six lands, there are two platforming sections. The first platforming level has a sub-boss, and the second section has the main boss, who controls the area, one of the six generals serving the evil one. The platforming sections are shockingly easy, though some of the bosses can present a respectable challenge. The level designs aren’t complex, so be prepared if you’re coming from modern Metroidvanias.

The sim sections are easy and, from what I could see, impossible to ever actually fail. This section of the game is not just about building; you need to fend off a bunch of annoying monsters intent on messing up everything you are trying to build. In this section, you play as an angel who can shoot arrows to get rid of these annoying, evil flying beasts. However, the focus is not always on building, as sometimes to build you need to destroy everything. So you can use natural disasters such as floods, fires, and lightning to clear away the land and make it more hospitable in the long run.

The sim portions of the game are unlikely to impress most gamers graphically, though you have to consider this came out in Japan in 1990, so it is understandable. Even judging by the standards of other early 90s games, they look dated, though. However, the platforming segments, especially for the time, are impressive with large sprites and huge, detailed bosses.

The sound effects are very distinctive, yet, at the same time, typical of an early 90s Quintet game, and you can hear similar sounds in other Quintet-developed games, especially the noise the hero makes when he is hit or when a foe is destroyed.

Tracks that play during platforming sections are phenomenal, giving off the impression that getting through these levels rapidly is of the utmost importance, that every second matters. Boss battle music is some of the best on the SNES, and the building section theme is oddly relaxing and made me feel intelligent for a change. It just gives off that progressive, knowledgeable vibe!

Overall, Actraiser shouldn’t take too long, but it was very innovative for the time and largely succeeded in blending various genres. It is worth a look for anyone who wants to see just how creative the SNES was capable of being. However, the game falls short of being a classic because of how easy the majority of it is.

Wayback Wednesday Volume 1: Final Fantasy 7 and Chrono Trigger.

Wayback Wednesday Volume 2: Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Wayback Wednesday Volume 3: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

Wayback Wednesday Volume 4: Secret of Mana and Wild Arms

Wayback Wednesday Volume 5: Illusion of Gaia and Grandia

Wayback Wednesday Volume 6: Breath of Fire 3 and X-Men Legends

Wayback Wednesday Volume 7: Star Ocean: The Second Story and Super Mario RPG

Wayback Wednesday Volume 8: Demon's Crest and Dragon Quest VI

Wayback Wednesday Volume 9: Suikoden I and Jeanne d'Arc

Wayback Wednesday Volume 10: Ranking the first 6 Final Fantasy games

Wayback Wednesday Volume 11: Earthbound and Valkyrie Profile

Wayback Wednesday Volume 12: Legend of Legaia and Secret of Evermore