Visually sumptuous platformer, one of Saturn's most beautiful games. Gameplay is simple but effective, fairy-tale atmosphere is charming. Short and fairly easy, but the visual journey alone is worth it.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
Poetic tale in which Astal, a mystical creature with powerful arms, protects the young Yuki. Published by Sega, released in the USA in 1995. Levels with lavish hand-drawn backdrops, enemies grabbed and hurled as weapons, impressive bosses and an orchestral soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakimoto. An overlooked visual gem of the Saturn.
Astal review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Colourful sprites of magnificent roundness, settings painted like a fresco and a dazzling palette: the game stood as a graphic showcase at the Saturn's launch. The fluidity of the animation and the richness of the colours overflow with charm. This visual generosity, polished and warm, remains a jewel of the 2D action game.
North American edition of Astal, distributed by Sega USA in August 1995 as a Saturn launch title, a 2D platform designed by Yuji Naka and Toshiyuki Naka at Sega CS, whose pushed colour palette has remained a reference for Saturn 2D enthusiasts. Sega USA run was sized by market, the 1S jewel case is typical of the first Saturn batch, and the platform's launch slot makes a US identified clean complete copy a central documentary piece for Sega CS 2D production enthusiasts.
An underrated gem
A living painting in motion, this platformer unfolds hand-painted backdrops of rare beauty, where Astal grabs and hurls his enemies to protect little Yuki. Short and demanding, it suffered from the console's small install base. But its enchanting art direction makes it a marvel ripe for rediscovery by anyone who loves polished pixel art.
Is Astal still worth playing in 2026?
A 2D platformer by Sega, Astal offers a poetic adventure where the young hero and his bird companion Leda traverse a fantasy world with sumptuous scenery. The absolutely sublime watercolour art direction, precise handling and enchanting soundtrack make it an absolute visual gem of the Saturn catalogue. For anyone fond of artistic 2D platformers or seeking an aesthetic showcase of the Sega machine, a warm recommendation still valid today without any hesitation for contemplative 2D genre fans truly indeed here.
