The Master
The player-controlled deity who restores civilization and confronts Tanzra.
Documented for this version
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move |
|---|---|
B | Jump |
Y | Attack with the sword |
X | Cast the selected magic spell |
START | Pause the game |
How it plays
The action stages use a side-view perspective. The Master runs, jumps, attacks with his sword, and casts a selected spell while progressing through hazardous terrain and boss encounters. Defeating a region’s stage boss opens the way to its simulation section.
In simulation mode, the Master flies above a settlement and fires arrows at monsters, destroys nests, and directs the growth of roads and houses. Residents expand the town, provide useful information, and eventually reveal the route to a second action stage. Completing that stage and its boss advances the campaign toward Tanzra.
Plan your run
Learn the Master’s sword range and attack timing before relying on spells. Jump attacks are useful against many enemies, but careless movement near pits and projectiles is costly.
In simulation sections, clear monster nests quickly and connect settlements with roads. Protecting population growth gives the Master more room to develop each region and helps reveal the next action stage.
Meet the cast
The player-controlled deity who restores civilization and confronts Tanzra.
The principal demon antagonist responsible for the destruction of the world.
Before you begin
Use the simulation phase to remove enemy nests before concentrating on town expansion.
Save powerful spells for bosses or crowded sections rather than ordinary enemies.
ActRaiser is a hybrid action-platformer and city-building simulation developed by Quintet and published by Enix for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The player controls the Master, a deity whose world has been damaged by the demon Tanzra and his servants. Each region alternates between direct combat in side-scrolling stages and overhead simulation sequences in which the Master guides rebuilding settlements. This unusual structure gives the game two distinct rhythms: precise swordplay and strategic town development. Its dramatic presentation, music, and ambitious genre combination earned strong historical recognition, although the action sections and simulation rules can feel demanding. ActRaiser is widely regarded as one of the SNES’s notable early showcases for cinematic audiovisual design and genre experimentation.
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