Editing Altered Beast (section)

==Gameplay==
[[Image:altbeastplay.png|thumb|left|A single player fighting against the undead in the first level of the arcade version]]

''Altered Beast'' is a [[side-scrolling video game|side scrolling]] [[beat 'em up]] game with light [[platform game|platform]] elements. It has five levels and can be played by up to two players simultaneously. Combat takes place across five levels set in [[Ancient Greece]] and populated by aggressive [[undead]] creatures and monsters resembling those from Greek mythology. The demonic god Neff waits at the end of each level. Between each level are small animations giving the player glimpses of Athena's peril.<ref name="ag2">{{Cite web|last=Sutyak|first=Jonathan|title=Altered Beast - Overview - SMS|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1766|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114111239/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1766|archive-date=November 14, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2020|website=[[AllGame]]}}</ref><ref name="ag3">{{Cite web|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan|title=Altered Beast - Overview - Genesis|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=66|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114131331/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=66|archive-date=November 14, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2020|website=[[AllGame]]}}</ref> Players can punch, kick and jump.<ref name="ag1">{{Cite web|last=Dean|first=Michael W.|title=Altered Beast - Overview - Arcade|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9491|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114131403/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9491|archive-date=November 14, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2020|website=[[AllGame]]}}</ref>

The game's premise is that Neff, ruler of the [[Greek underworld|underworld]], captures the goddess [[Athena]]. Angry, her father, the Olympian god [[Zeus]], decides to choose a champion to save her. Respecting the bravery of [[Centurion|Roman Centurions]], Zeus resurrects one of them and empowers him as a champion. The game's player character is the resurrected Roman Centurion, given extra power by Zeus so they can battle Neff and his supernatural minions.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|last=Bevan|first=Mike|date=January 2014|title=The Making Of: Altered Beast|url=https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_124#page/46/mode/2up|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|issue=124|pages=46–49}}</ref> In the original arcade game, the end credits include the revelation that the whole game actually depicted a staged film production.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Horowitz |first=Ken |title=The Sega Arcade Revolution: A History in 62 Games |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |year=2018 |isbn=9781476631967 |pages=134–136}}</ref>

Whenever a player defeats a white [[Orthrus|two-headed wolf]], a Spirit Ball [[power-up]] appears. Each obtained Spirit Ball increases the player character's strength and size. Collecting three Spirit Balls allows the player character to transform into a powerful beast form, increasing their combat abilities before having to face Neff at the end of the level. The player character's beast forms include a [[European dragon|weredragon]], a werebear, a weretiger, a [[werewolf]], or a golden werewolf. Each beast form grants its own abilities. The dragon can unleash lightning bolts and an electric barrier, the bear has a petrifying breath that turns enemies into stone, the tiger can throw fireballs in a zig-zag pattern, the wolf can throw direct, but weak fireballs and has a powerful thrust attack, while the golden werewolf has the same abilities as the wolf form. In the [[Famicom]] version of the game, available beast forms also include a shark, lion, and phoenix form.<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine|date=July 1989|title=Altered Beast - Top Secret!|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_02/page/n67/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=2|page=67}}</ref>