''Mystic Defender'' is a two-dimensional action run and gun video game released for the

Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...

. Initially titled in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and based on the

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manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

Kujaku Ō is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Ogino. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Jump'' from 1985 to 1989, with its chapters collected in 17 ''tankōbon'' volumes. It spawned ...

'', it is the sequel to '' SpellCaster'' for the

Master System The is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console manufactured and developed by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series ...

Plot

Mystic Defender takes place in an alternate Japan fantasy setting in which the anarchistic sorcerer Zareth kidnaps a young woman named Alexandra. Zareth plans to use Alexandra as a sacrifice for the resurrecting of an ancient and evil god known as Zao. Not long after the kidnapping, Zareth's plan becomes apparent as Azuchi castle - the dwelling of Zao - rises from the waters. Joe Yamato, an experienced sorcerer, is called into action to save Alexandra and stop Zareth's plan to resurrect Zao by battling his way through the dark and bizarre disciples and demons of Zao.

Gameplay

The player's only means of defense in the game is the use of magical spells that can be acquired by finding the power-ups. The player starts with a single shooting ball of energy that can be charged to fire one powerful shot. The player can also acquire a spiritual flame that can be pointed in straight and diagonal directions and has a long reach when charged. Finally, the player can acquire a spherical power that launches ricocheting spheres around the screen which multiply when fully charged. Aside from these powers, the player can also use a screen-clearing attack that summons a three-headed dragon which destroys all enemies and fired shots onscreen.

Reception

Michael Suck, of

Aktueller Software Markt ''Aktueller Software Markt'' (literally ''Current Software Market''), commonly known by its acronym, ''ASM'', was a German multi-platform Video game journalism, video game magazine that was published by Tronic-Verlag from 1986 until 1995. It was ...

, thought it was an excellent action game.

References

External links

*{{moby game, id=/mystic-defender
''Mystic Defender''
at

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1989 video games Fantasy video games Platformers Sega Genesis games Sega Genesis-only games Sega video games Single-player video games Video games developed in Japan Video games set in Japan