Actraiser - The Greatest Action/Simulation Hybrid Ever? 

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I remember playing this game late at night, while everyone on my house was sleeping and hearing the music on the ice level. It felt like I was in another place. I don’t get that feeling from too many games anymore.

1990 was such an amazing year in terms of games, what a great start into the good '90s

This is one of favorite gaming memories from childhood. I think I was about 11 or 12 and I remember renting it from BlockBuster 3 straight weekends in a row to beat this game. I actually remember my mom having to convince me to pick out a different game to actually buy instead of this one, like 2 months later. It ended up being Super Metroid, so mom actually got it right! I cant believe I almost bought it after beating it twice thru on rentals, instead of buying a whole new different game. Regardless, it is a true old school masterpiece. Why no one has taken this property and made a new school version of this I do not understand? I can imagine how incredible it could be on todays newer systems.

Even with the censorship, the game's themes of nature of mortality and obligation to a deity are clear. If anything, this game is perhaps what started Nintendo's departure from their family-friendly/child-oriented attitiude and starting a more good-for-all-ages one. The soundtrack to this day is the pinacle of what can be done wiht SNES hardware. The game in it's entirety is memorable but if I have to choose it would be the ending - the demons are no more and Master's children can function on their own, so they don't need their god's intervention anymore. Rather than angry, the Master understands and leaves to the heavens in case someone needs him in the future. I think this is the main theme of this game - comparing Master's sincere love for his people regardless of their faith versus Tanzra's sick desire of ruling the land with an iron fist. And that is what really sets them apart, not the angelic/demonic themes. In the end, Actraiser's story can be seen as a alegory for good vs bad parenting.

I remember being so in love with this game when I was a kid, and it was because of the music. When I got to Northwall, I remember running to my dad, excited as ever, and asking him if he heard all the different instruments playing. The pyramid level was probably my favorite. So haunting and beautiful. The sim/action levels were fun, but the music just made it so much better. Thank you for posting.

Even with all the great RPGs on the SNES actraiser would still make my top 10

Can't count how many times I've played through this classic! This video makes me want to fire it back up!

Oh, I sure as hell didn't miss this game. This was one of my favorite games that I had on the SNES when I was A preteen. This game's music is what has stuck with me the most. It's an all-around great game.

A thoughtful, concise analysis, as always. I'm part of the audience that hasn't played this game yet, and yet your video still gives me a feeling of nostalgia like if had played back in the day. This isn't an isolated incident either, it happens often when I watch your content. So with that being said, I'd just like to say thank you. Please continue to create amazing videos cataloguing this amazing period in gaming. I am happy to be a part of your community and can't wait for your next video.

One of the first titles I rented on my SNES when I was around 10 or 11. Excellent title, very memorable soundtrack and the game play and graphics were so much fun!

Great game. Played through it a few times.

If you want to replay this game in a fun new way, try maxing out population. It’s a complex process involving score and pathing in sim mode.

Actraiser still one of my favorite SNES games of all time I would loved to see the series come back once again .....🛡🗡🔥

I loved Actraiser 1&2, them and illusion of gaia and soulblazer and terranigma were some of my favorite games. The recent remake of actraiser 1 on switch is really good too.

One of my most replayed and beloved games. Gotta say though that in terms of bosses the second end of area boss, the wizard/werewolf stands out the most... I mean, you have to adjust your strategy quickly. That aside, the sheer amount of detail in the graphics is noteworthy as well. And the soundtrack is legendary for a good reason.

Never played it until I got my SNES Classic. It was in tons of people's lists as a, "must play".

The soundtrack is memorable and it stuck to my head growing up

This a fantastic game, the intro of the first stage in which a bolt of light descends from heaven to give life to the avatar while the theme of Filmore sounds in the background is truly unforgettable. I like to think this was the beginning of Quintet's Heaven and Earth saga which includes Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma. Besides, now we have a remake to bring it up to new audiences, one that seems to pay respect to the original.

If there's a few things I remember about this game was how much I hated the bats, blue dragons from the sim mode and how terrified the skulls were. How all the magic was useful, tho some of course outshined other. But I did always like the one that basically used you as forcing point for a death laser from gods floating palace. And of course Fillmore's theme. Arguably one of the BEST stage one themes in video games.

Loved watching this. I loved this game! I remember, in particular, the way the galaxy swirled during that fight with the minotaur. Blew my mind. There was an indie game a couple of years back that used the same formula as this game. Did anyone play it?

Lovely video.Actraiser remaster was released yesterday.

What crazy timing for this video. Two weeks before the announcement of the remake? Absolutely insane. Definitely going to take a look at the game.

this was my favorite SNES game. Recently I been playing some indie game on steam called Songs of Syx. It's just a building game but the map reminds me of Actraizer

The Opening Theme gets me teary eyed every time. The Orchestral version even more overwhelming

This was one of my first Super Nintendo Games.

I have to play through ActRaiser at least once a year. Recently learned that building too many bridges (Specifically in Bloodpool) counts against your population max, sometimes making max health unattainable. The Reincarnation remake is decent, for a mobile game. I really wanted to like it, and for anyone who is an ActRaiser fan it is definitely worth it, but there are too many mobile game aspects that won't make me have to return to play again; I'll stick to the SNES version for my yearly play through.

I rented this game so many times. So many...

I loved this game as a kid. The sim part was fantastic and it’s a bummer there’s not more parts like that.

Beating Professional Mode once you beat the game the first time was memorable. You do not get to use magic and you do not get the projectile sword for the Serpent boss. Tough stuff. Actually, the simulation mode for Bloodpool has the people asking you to deliver a loaf of bread to their son Teddy. I was all like, "What? I am the Master and you want to make me a and my angel pal a delivery service? Why I ought to shove a lightning bolt so far up your shrine that...wait a minute...the game can't continue unless I give your boy his lunch? Alright fuckers."

Bruh, 2 weeks after this video and they drop an Actraiser Remaster launch trailer out of nowhere in this same month. Is there something you are not telling us? I literally still remember having watched this video this very same month, and today I got the remaster trailer on my frontpage.

That music for stage 1 is the best!

One of my favourite games of all time! What do you think of the surprise reveal of Actraiser: Renaissance? Will you be reviewing that?

This is a god game. I liked its simulation part the best!

Literally just started a playthrough again

Both games are awesome. Great video man.

ActRaiser was one of my favourite games from the SNES era, the best part was the city building IMO. I never bothered finishing ActRaiser 2 as I wanted more of what 1 had to offer. I had hoped that 2 would have you being able to pop back and forth between action & city more often and have more to do with building the civilizations. It was definitely one of those rare classics that playing reveals that its more then the sum of its base parts, as it doesn't sound like it would be as cool or fun as it was/is.

I LOVED THE SIMULATIONS!!!!

I remember wishing the city building stuff could be over so I could get to the platforming. They made the right choice in Actraiser 2. The graphics in Actraiser 2 were also twice as good; just stunning. They were good in Actraiser, maybe a 7/10, but Actraiser 2 graphics were 10.

Absolutely love this game. I actually got attached to the stories of the people in each zone. After beating the game and visiting the temples, only to find them empty made me both sad and proud. It was weird.

The "Simulation" portions were definitely my favorite, and a big reason I never really progressed past the first stage in ActRaiser 2. From my perspective, removing that portion from the 2nd game killed the franchise.

Kinda want to make simulation portion for the second one

Loved this game

What timing for this video and yesterday's Nintendo Direct

One of my favorite games on the system. Just not a lot of games like it.

I saw that everytime I watch Nick Arcade

I rented Act Raiser back in the mid 90s, a corner of the cartridge chip that goes down into the SNES was cracked off, so it never worked. I just brushed the game off and never even thought about giving it another chance. That saddens me, as every video I have seen on it generally praises it highly.

Great video btw

I've just started the rabbit hole recently. Great stuff! Thank you for all this content. Would you prefer a Join here or via Patreon?

Cool game and good video.

Is this where the extra credits history music is from?

I think I played this at a friend's house but I don't think I ever owned it. Looks pretty rad.

Love this game, great game!

Such a great game.

You knew something was coming huh? Are we going to get an update with your thoughts on the remake?

"The original cart isn't too expensive today" ...proceeds to show some repro carts xD

Yuzo Koshiro dominated not only the Genesis, but also the SNES at that time. Not many people had done that.

Sounds like an early version of Dark Cloud

Only downside was the bossrush in the end, only powerplayers made it trough, the rest of us had to embrace the suck.

community fan game actraiser 3 simulation mode only?

Flimore was a classic song

BTW, all those Actraiser carts shown on ebay are pirated duplications. Better to spend the money on a real cart IMO.

I watched this being played and I don’t understand the fuss. The platforming is so basic and so is the sim part. You don’t do anything much. Just go around burning trees and then they build a house on it, that’s more or less it. Oh then you shoot any flying monsters you see in the simplest shooting mechanic imaginable. The music isn’t anything special but you can make out what the instruments quite clearly. This is two 2/10 games shoved together with no real connecting mechanic and it’s still a 2/10 game. The sequel looks like a proper game at least.