Here's an underrated 1990s Hanna-Barbera classic that not only saw a Mega Drive game, but also a Super Nintendo beat-'em-up in the vein of Final Fight.
On the distant and watery world of Mer, the dying King Primus escapes from the evil pirate-lord, Bloth, to reveal to Ren his past and his destiny. Ren, the son of King Primus, must save the planet Mer and his home, Octopon, from the deadly Dark Water.
By collecting all the Treasures of Rule, Ren can control the Dark Water and return Mer and Octopon to their former glory.
Ren and his crew, Ioz, the hardened ex-pirate, and Tula, the adventure-seeking heroine, must embark on a journey that will constantly test Ren and his crew's strength and dedication toward the quest for the Treasures of Rule. The evil pirate-lord Bloth and his army of ruthless pirates also seek the Treasures of Rule.
Bloth and his ship, the Maeslstrom, are always one step behind Ren. If Bloth can collect the treasures before Ren and his ragtag crew, the planet Mer is doomed to the Dark Water and Bloth's tyranny forever.
If you leave the game on the title screen long enough, you can get descriptions of all three playable characters.
When you start the game, you can play with either one or two players. From there, you'll be able to play as one (or two) of three characters. Ren is the most balanced of the three, Tula is the fastest character (but has low strength), and Ioz is the strongest (but isn't very fast).
Dragon's Maw
Just like in Final Fight, you can move in any direction as well as punch people and jump. Y is a strong attack, while X is a strong attack. By double-tapping Left or Right on the Control Pad, you can run in that direction. By walking into enemies, you can grab them and knee them up close. (If you do this with Ioz, you'll be able to grab enemies and walk around while holding them, but you won't be able to hold them for long.) Y lets you do some close quarter strikes, while X lets you throw. You can also block attacks with R, which is something that has never been utilized even in the best beat-'em-ups. Also, just like in other beat-'em-ups, you can perform a super attack with the A button, and if you hit an enemy with it, it will use up a little bit of your energy.
Along the way, you'll fight enemies such as D.Riders, Lady Pirates, Tattoo Men and Sickle Men, and they're pretty fast. Thankfully, you'll have plenty of opportunities to smack them around. It should be mentioned that the Tattoo Men and the Lady Pirates will block attacks, so be careful when fighting them.
When you are forced to stop to fight a salvo of enemies, you'll do a pose when you beat them all.
Also, if you're wondering why Ren has only has half a sword, this is because he got the sword from his father, who had it back when it was still whole. (In the Genesis game, you can restore it.)
After you head to the right for long enough and fight some enemies, an earthquake will occur and you'll be sent underground. There is a pit where you can throw enemies, instantly killing them. Use the running jump to jump over the gap. If you fall into a gap, you'll lose some of your health into
The rock that goes up and down can be destroyed, and it blocks a Minga Melon. Grabbing a Minga Melon will fully restore your health. There are other things that you can pick up, such as Ioz dolls (or Ren dolls or Tula dolls, should those respective characters find them) that act as extra lives as well as numerous treasures that give you points. Sometimes, you will have to destroy things like statues and barrels with your attacks in order to uncover them. Pick up treasures if you see them, as you can gain extra lives by getting enough points.
The tall pirates will swing their swords around, while the big pirates move a little more slowly (but are still powerful). You'll want to stay away from the tall pirates when they do the sword spinning, as they will slash at you.
At the end of this stage, you'll face Bloth. That blue energy bar of his signifies that he has more health than your usual enemy, and not only is he pretty powerful, but he can also perform a running shoulder tackle. He will usually do it after he gets up from you knocking you do, so if he hits the ground, you'll want to stay away.
When you beat Bloth, Bloth will run away. You'll get a time bonus and a clear bonus when you beat a stage, and when you get through the Dragon's Maw, you'll get the Compass.
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