Rastan is a classic hack-and-slash action arcade game. This fantasy epic was both developed and published by Taito. Although Rastan was released on arcade cabinets, it received multiple ports to home consoles like Amstrad CPC, Apple IIGS, Commodore 64, Game Gear, IBM PC, MSX2, Master System, and ZX Spectrum.
When Rastan debuted in 1987, it became a wildly loved and successful game. The month that it was released, Rastan became the second most successful arcade game. Critics praised the game for its “realistic graphics” and “addictive gameplay”. This barbaric action game was the go-to arcade game of its era.
Rastan Premise
Rastan is a retelling of how a barbaric warrior became king of a vast kingdom. In exchange for immense riches, players have been tasked to slay terrible monsters. Doing this will also save the kingdom of Ceim from danger. Players will fight their way through an army of methodological monsters until they eventually face a magical red dragon controlling the monsters.
There are six different levels for players to fight through each with their own boss. All of these bosses are powerful monsters each more dangerous than the last. Rastan has access to a variety of weapons and power-ups that will help him on his quest. Players can pick up a mace, an axe, a fireball-shooting sword, or the standard sword and defend themselves with a shield, a mantle, or body armor.
Rastan Main Character
In this game, players will take control of the titular character Rastan. Rastan is also the game’s narrator, and the game’s story is a retelling of how he became king. Before Rastan was a ruler, he used to be a starving knave who had to rob and kill in to survive. Rastan’s difficult life has given him the skills to become an unstoppable warrior. This mission to slay the monsters plaguing Ceim is his opportunity to go from rags to riches.
Rastan Series
Rastan’s adventures didn’t end with this game. The success of Rastan earned it multiple sequels and guest appearances in other game series. Taito developed Rastan Saga II and Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III. The protagonist, Rastan, also shows up in other Taito games like Champion Wrestler. The original Rastan was added in multiple compilations of Taito games, such as Taito Memories, Taito Legends, and Taito Legends Power-Up.
Rastan Cheat Codes
There are multiple cheat codes available that can help players through Rastan. The Game Gear and Sega Master System versions of the game each have one cheat code. These cheat codes allow players to keep playing even after they lose all their lives. Effectively, players can play infinitely with these cheat codes.
Players who own an Action Replay can add even more cheats to the game. By entering special codes, players can make themselves impervious to damage or select which level they’d like to play. We’ve broken down each of these cheat codes in the tables below.
Game Gear:
| Effect | Code |
| Continue | Press Up + Start after losing your last life |
Sega Master System:
| Effect | Code |
| Unlimited Continues | Switch the game on and when the SEGA logo appears, hold down buttons 1 and 2 and press the control pad down-left until the game has loaded. |
Action Replay:
| Effect | Code |
| Infinite energy | 00C02064 |
| Invincibility | 00C01703 |
| Round select (replace the XX on the code for a hexadecimal number from 00 to 15 to go from the 1-1 round to the 7-4 round) | 00C14AXX |
Rastan Cheat Code FAQ
Does Rastan have any cheat codes?
Yes, Rastan has multiple in-game cheat codes that are available for players. The versions of Rastan on the Game Gear and Sega Master System each have cheat codes that allow players to continue after losing their lives. Players who own an Action Replay have access to even more cheat codes that can let them select levels.
What is an Action Replay?
An Action Replay is a cheat device that allows players to input different cheats and codes for multiple different consoles like the SNES, Game Cube, Commodore 64, GameBoy Advanced, and so much more. They manipulate the memory of the game code itself to allow cheats like infinite health, more powerful weapons, and even saving the game when it does not have a save mechanic.
How long does it take to beat Rastan?
Rastan is a relatively short game that can be completed in just one sitting. According to HowLongtoBeat.com, it takes an average of an hour to beat. For players who want to do absolutely everything in the game, this can be achieved in about two hours. The majority of arcade games are about this length.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Rastan Start Screen.