Rastan

1987 · Beat 'em up · Arcade

Overview

Rastan (1987) is Taito's barbarian action game: a sword-wielding warrior fights through six stages of fantasy monsters, each ending in a boss.

Deep Dive

Rastan, a barbarian warrior in the Conan mould, fights through six rounds of dungeons, castles and wilderness with a sword that can be swapped for axes and maces. Swings take time and hits knock him back, giving the combat weight, while vines, ropes and pits make the stages platforming challenges too. Each round ends with a large boss. It was one of Taito's notable action games of the late 1980s.

Developer Story

Rastan was developed by Taito in 1987. Players controlled a barbarian warrior in a fantasy world, using a sword to fight enemies across six stages. The game was designed with a weighty, physical feel — attacks had swing time, enemies knocked the player back significantly, and stamina decreased during play. The barbarian aesthetic, explicitly inspired by Conan, was popular in mid-1980s entertainment.

Did You Know?

Rastan was explicitly inspired by the Conan the Barbarian film and character — the muscular barbarian warrior with a broadsword was Taito's direct homage.
Stamina decreased over time and had to be replenished by collecting potions — a survival mechanic unusual in 1987 action games.
Enemies had significant knockback — being hit threw the player across the screen, making wall positioning critical.
The six stages each ended with a large boss encounter that required specific attack patterns to defeat efficiently.