Altered Beast is a side-scrolling beat 'em up originally developed by Sega and released for arcades in 1988. The Genesis version hit home consoles in 1989 as a pack-in title with early Sega systems, making it many players’ first taste of 16-bit power. Set in a mythological Greek underworld, you play a resurrected centurion brought back by Zeus to rescue his daughter Athena. As you punch and kick your way through undead enemies, you collect spirit balls that transform you into powerful beasts—werewolf, dragon, bear, tiger—each with unique abilities. What made this game iconic? The booming voice: "RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!" The transformation sequences The intense pixel art and gritty soundtrack And of course, that old-school Sega difficulty It’s cheesy, it’s brutal, and it’s pure '80s arcade energy. This video features the title screen, and a blast of gameplay straight from the golden age of Sega.