Developer: Quintet Publisher: Enix Release: 11/1/91 Genre: Action/Simulation
Issue 27 of Nintendo Power is one of my favorite issues of a video game magazine. It was where I first learned of the SNES and it was incredible. Seeing screenshots of Super Mario World, Super Castlevania IV and Gradius III was mind-blowing. But Actraiser was the one I found the most intriguing. The combination of action gameplay and simulation elements was something my eleven year old mind could not comprehend. To say I was hype for the game is an understatement. As one of the first Super Nintendo games I had the chance to play Actraiser lives up to the hype and remains one of the most unique titles on the system.
Long ago God was defeated in battle by Satan and his six lieutenants. He retreated to his sky palace to recover and fell in to a deep sleep. In his absence Satan would divide the world in to six regions, one for each of his lieutenants. After several hundred years God would return but found his power diminished. Satan and his lieutenants had turned the people against him, and it is now up to the avatar to assist God in rebuilding civilization.
For its North American debut Actraiser was hit with censorship. God is now the Master, Satan is Tanzra and all other religious iconography was changed. There were also gameplay adjustments for the better. Enemies have new attacks and deal less damage, spells require magic to cast, and most importantly spikes no longer equal instant death. There are also a significant number of changes to the sim portion of the game that make it harder. I guess the lord giveth and taketh away.
Almost immediately Actraiser’s symphonic score hits you. The music in this game is legendary and as an early SNES title a nice portent of things to come. The orchestral compositions feel epic and emotional and match the mood of each scene perfectly. It is suitably bombastic in its action levels but knows when to tone it down and become somber when the citizens of Kasandora fall under a plague. Similarly it changes when they create music. It set a high benchmark that inspired other composers to do better and is even more memorable than the game’s solid visuals.
Actraiser has a dual structure: action mode and simulation mode. Usually two disparate genres do not mesh well. Actraiser is the rare case where they complement each other. The world has six regions and when you enter them you must first proceed to the land and eradicate the demons to make it hospitable. Once you finish the action stage you descend to the land and build settlements to increase the population. You listen to the people to solve their problems as well as receive hints on how to cultivate the land. Once the population reaches a certain level the true evil causing each land’s problems will arise. This second action level will free the land, prompting you to move on. Although you can move the sky palace around the map freely each country has minimum level and population requirements before you can enter.
The action levels play like a faster version of Rastan. Your sword wielding avatar moves at a brisk clip and is quite agile. Supplementing your sword attacks are magic spells you earn from the strategy portion of the game. There are four spells that vary in their effects. In reality one in particular, magical stardust, is so powerful the rest are not worth it. The controls are a little stiff however your movement is not as restrictive as the Castlevania games. This is good as there is a fair amount of platforming in each massive level. The level design is generally excellent. There are usually branching paths in the stages, a large variety of unique enemies in each region, and a well-paced difficulty curve. The bosses are fantastical and creative as well. While later games would eclipse it Actraiser remains solid.
Once the land is clear the sim portion of the game begins and is more relaxed. Although action is at the forefront the simulation elements of Actraiser are why most remember it so fondly. The goal is to guide the people’s growth as they rebuild the land and increase the population. Using your cupid follower as an avatar you guide the direction the people will build their cities as you protect them from monsters. Each land has a different climate with obstacles and such that you can clear using your “miracles”. These are lightning to destroy rocks, heat to clear patches of desert, etc. All the while demons spawn from monster lairs. While you can kill them one by one, guiding the people toward them will destroy them faster. There are a set number and destroying them all makes the land safer.
The simulation mode is not as overbearing as something like Populous. However it offers just enough depth to make it fun. You can listen to the people for hints where items may lie on the map. Initially your people create simple huts and tents. But as the overall civilization level rises they learn how to create more advanced buildings. Since you are God you can choose to be benevolent or vengeful. Picking the latter is how you min/max the population of each region. They also create tools that benefit other regions as well such as music or medicine. This is how the game forces you to move on. Eventually each land is inflicted with a malady that only another regions tools can fix. It is a pretty smart way of telling you to go.
It seems simple at first, and truthfully it is. However the way your actions in the simulation affect the action mode is why progression feels meaningful; your actions directly impact the world.. As the population increases you earn experience and level up, raising your maximum hit points and magic. When the people flourish they give better offerings. Technically you do not need to cover every inch of the map. But items are hidden everywhere making it worthwhile. The better you are in the sim mode the easier the game becomes. Actraiser is only moderately difficult due to the adjustments made during localization but every bit helps. As I said before, the magical stardust spell is so stupidly powerful it can carry you through the game. Normally changes during localization can go bad. I am looking at you Exile: Wicked Phenomenon. Here they do a good job.
In Closing
ActRaiser is a remarkable hybrid that successfully merges action and simulation into something greater than the sum of its parts. With its memorable soundtrack, satisfying progression, and unique concept, it remains one of the Super Nintendo’s most standout titles. Usually launch titles do not hold up over time. Actraiser remains a gem even all these years later.
