Now available for the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console, the arcade version of Altered Beast!

Altered Beast will always hold a special place in my heart because it was one of the original games released with the SEGA Genesis — a true harbinger of the 16-bit revolution! The more famous version of the game, though, might have been the Arcade version, and it’s a fine reminder of the fact that before they plunged into Console gaming, SEGA was, in fact, an Arcade powerhouse.

Altered Beast is a kick-and-punch fueled side-scrolling brawler, pure and simple. The “hook” of the game, of course, is being able to collect power-ups in order to turn into all variety of ferocious were-beasts, including the iconic werewolf creature used in so many of the game’s promotional screenshots. There’s definitely a high nostalgia factor to this game. The music is terrific, but maybe the best part (aside from turning into all kinds of ferocious were-animals) are the bosses — but don’t take my word for it. Behold! An enormous pod-creature, ripe with a seething mass of homicidal eyeballs:

It’s also worth mentioning that this game is actually very difficult, in the “arcade” vein of difficulty that demands your skill be matched up against your reserve of quarters: This is definitely a case where the ability to give yourself unlimited continues is a good thing. Of course, for a real challenge, limit yourself to however many quarters  you happen to be carrying in your pocket at the time you start playing. Special bonus points if you actually ditch those quarters somehow — put your laundry at risk as you “rise from your grave”!