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* RescueFromTheUnderworld: The player characters are tasked with finding a kidnapped Athena. After the first stage, which is the Necropolis, they venture deeper and deeper into the Underworld until they face Neff.
to:
* RescueFromTheUnderworld: RescuedFromTheUnderworld: The player characters are tasked with finding a kidnapped Athena. After the first stage, which is the Necropolis, they venture deeper and deeper into the Underworld until they face Neff.
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* RescueFromTheUnderworld: The player characters are tasked with finding a kidnapped Athena. After the first stage, which is the Necropolis, they venture deeper and deeper into the Underworld until they face Neff.
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* NintendoHard: The arcade version and its ports. ''Especially'' some of the ports, which give only three lives, no healing items, no extra lives, no MercyInvincibility, and no continues.
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* ClassicCheatCode: When starting the Gensis, hold down-left, A, B, and C all at once, then press Start when the title screen appears. This will bring you to a menu where you can change things like the number of lives you start with, the amount of health you have, and what beast you turn into in each level.
to:
* ClassicCheatCode: There are three in this game.
** When starting theGensis, Genesis/Megadrive version, hold down-left, A, B, and C all at once, then press Start when the title screen appears. This will bring you to a menu where you can change things like the number of lives you start with, the amount of health you have, and what beast you turn into in each level.level.
** At the Title Screen of the Genesis/Megadrive version, hold B and press Start to access options for choosing your starting stage, the difficulty level, and how many lives and health segments you get.
** At the Title Screen of the Genesis/Megadrive version, if you hold A and press Start, you'll begin on the last stage you got a GameOver on. This is also how you start on the stage you picked from the aforementioned option screen.
** When starting the
** At the Title Screen of the Genesis/Megadrive version, hold B and press Start to access options for choosing your starting stage, the difficulty level, and how many lives and health segments you get.
** At the Title Screen of the Genesis/Megadrive version, if you hold A and press Start, you'll begin on the last stage you got a GameOver on. This is also how you start on the stage you picked from the aforementioned option screen.
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* NintendoHard: The arcade version and its ports. ''Especially'' the ports, which give only three lives, no healing items, no extra lives, no MercyInvincibility, and no continues.
to:
* NintendoHard: The arcade version and its ports. ''Especially'' some of the ports, which give only three lives, no healing items, no extra lives, no MercyInvincibility, and no continues.
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* OurMonstersAreDifferent: All the transformations of Neff. Including Aggar, a legless flesh monster with endless heads that he can rip off and throw at you, Octeyes, an eye composed plant creature, Mouldy Snail, a literal dragon snail (too much snail), and the Crocodile Worm, a jewel wielding dragon that can summon smaller, fiery dragons to attack. His final form is a giant Rhino-Man hybrid.
to:
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: All the transformations of Neff. Including Aggar, a legless flesh monster with endless heads that he can rip off and throw at you, Octeyes, an eye composed plant creature, Mouldy Snail, a literal dragon snail (too much snail), and the Crocodile Worm, a jewel wielding dragon that can summon smaller, fiery dragons to attack. His final form is a giant Rhino-Man hybrid.hybrid called Van Vader.
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A BeatEmUp by Creator/{{Sega}}, appearing at the arcades in 1988. It later ported to home consoles like the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. Two pseudo sequels were made, one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance titled ''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms,'' and a UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 reboot titled ''[[VideoGame/AlteredBeast2005 Project Altered Beast]]'' (which was released in Japan and Europe, [[NoExportForYou but not in America]]). The main gimmick is that your character can turn into various humanoid monsters, like werewolves and dragons.
to:
A BeatEmUp by Creator/{{Sega}}, appearing at the arcades in 1988. It later ported to home consoles like the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. Two pseudo sequels were made, one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance titled ''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms,'' and a UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 Platform/PlayStation2 reboot titled ''[[VideoGame/AlteredBeast2005 Project Altered Beast]]'' (which was released in Japan and Europe, [[NoExportForYou but not in America]]). The main gimmick is that your character can turn into various humanoid monsters, like werewolves and dragons.
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* {{Animorphism}}: The main mechanic via Spirit Orbs. You get them by beating up flashing enemies and picking the Spirit Orb that falls out.
to:
* {{Animorphism}}: The main mechanic via Spirit Orbs. You get them by mechanic. By beating up flashing enemies and picking grabbing the Spirit Orb that falls out.appears, your character will gradually become more muscular. Upon collecting the third one, you become a beast, the form of which changes in each stage.
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* ClassicCheatCode: Allows for reaching other levels, changing health / lives and which beasts you turn into in which levels.
to:
* ClassicCheatCode: Allows for reaching other levels, changing When starting the Gensis, hold down-left, A, B, and C all at once, then press Start when the title screen appears. This will bring you to a menu where you can change things like the number of lives you start with, the amount of health / lives you have, and which beasts what beast you turn into in which levels.each level.
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* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentionaly hilarious in the Sega Genesis port.
to:
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentionaly hilarious At the start of the game, Zeus says "Rise from your grave!" but in the Sega Genesis port.port, due to the audio being compressed compared to the arcade game, the "r" sounds are more heavily muffled.
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* PantheraAwesome: The Level 4 beast, a Weretiger.
to:
* PantheraAwesome: The Level 4 beast, a Weretiger. It can perform an attack that launches it upward before coming back down, and it can fire projectiles that travel in a wave motion.
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* SaveThePrincess: The objective of the game.
to:
* SaveThePrincess: The objective of the game.goddess Athena has been kidnapped by Neff, and Zeus has tasked you with rescuing her.
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Interestingly enough, the first game of this series is considered by many as a cult classic game and [[SoOkayItsAverage an average game]] at the same time. The reason is because the Sega Genesis port was extremely similar to the arcade version in gameplay, sounds, and even graphics.[[labelnote:*]]Although hardware limitations prevented the inclusion of the rather impressive (for the time) scaling effects sequences seen on the arcade original.[[/labelnote]] [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny This doesn't sound awesome nowadays]] (we even have a trope called PolishedPort), but don't forget we are talking about the late '80s, ports were either [[PortingDisaster terrible,]] [[ReformulatedGame different,]] or simpler games.
to:
Interestingly enough, the first game of this series is considered by many as a cult classic game and [[SoOkayItsAverage an average game]] at the same time. The reason is because the Sega Genesis port was extremely similar to the arcade version in gameplay, sounds, and even graphics.[[labelnote:*]]Although hardware limitations prevented the inclusion of the rather impressive (for the time) scaling effects sequences seen on the arcade original.[[/labelnote]] [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny [[OnceOriginalNowCommon This doesn't sound awesome nowadays]] (we even have a trope called PolishedPort), but don't forget we are talking about the late '80s, ports were either [[PortingDisaster terrible,]] [[ReformulatedGame different,]] or simpler games.
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* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentional ([[{{Narm}}y hilarious]]) in the Sega Genesis port.
to:
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentional ([[{{Narm}}y hilarious]]) unintentionaly hilarious in the Sega Genesis port.
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* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: After you defeat Neff at the end of each stage (except the last), he steals all your powerups and escapes.
to:
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: After you defeat Neff at the end of each stage (except the last), he steals all your powerups and escapes.escapes.
----
----
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Starting the move from the main Altered Beast page
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:442:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ab_arcade_cover_1988.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:442:some caption text]]
->''[[RiseFromYourGrave WIIIIIISE FWOM YOUR GWAAAAVE!]]''
-->--Sound compression making the game's opening memorable for [[{{Narm}} the wrong reasons]].[[note]][[TechnologyMarchesOn Keep in mind, this sounded AWESOME when it was released!]] [[/note]]
A BeatEmUp by Creator/{{Sega}}, appearing at the arcades in 1988. It later ported to home consoles like the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. Two pseudo sequels were made, one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance titled ''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms,'' and a UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 reboot titled ''[[VideoGame/AlteredBeast2005 Project Altered Beast]]'' (which was released in Japan and Europe, [[NoExportForYou but not in America]]). The main gimmick is that your character can turn into various humanoid monsters, like werewolves and dragons.
Interestingly enough, the first game of this series is considered by many as a cult classic game and [[SoOkayItsAverage an average game]] at the same time. The reason is because the Sega Genesis port was extremely similar to the arcade version in gameplay, sounds, and even graphics.[[labelnote:*]]Although hardware limitations prevented the inclusion of the rather impressive (for the time) scaling effects sequences seen on the arcade original.[[/labelnote]] [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny This doesn't sound awesome nowadays]] (we even have a trope called PolishedPort), but don't forget we are talking about the late '80s, ports were either [[PortingDisaster terrible,]] [[ReformulatedGame different,]] or simpler games.
Storywise, the original game has [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Zeus']] daughter Athena being kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Neff and two centurions being [[FirstEpisodeResurrection resurrected]] to [[ResurrectedForAJob rescue her.]]
----
!! [[ElmuhFuddSyndwome Wiiise Fwom Youw Twoopes!]]
* AbnormalAmmo: Aggar, the first boss, ''[[LosingYourHead decapitates]]'' himself and throws his head at you. His head regrows quickly to replace the lost one however.
* AdaptationExpansion: The NES version adds a werelion, wereshark, and werebird, and the GBA game adds power ups and beasts.
* AncientGrome: The manual says the protagonists are Roman centurions, yet the setting is clearly Greek and so are the gods' names.
* {{Animorphism}}: The main mechanic via Spirit Orbs. You get them by beating up flashing enemies and picking the Spirit Orb that falls out.
* ArcadePerfectPort: [[VeryFalseAdvertising A claimed example,]] and it was one of the biggest selling points for the Genesis / Mega Drive port. In truth, it's not even close, neither in terms of technical fidelity or content wise. From a technical perspective, the arcade version has higher quality sprites, larger color palette, much better audio quality, and scaling effects the Genesis version lacked (the Genesis version did however have parallax scrolling which the arcade version lacked). Neither is it very faithful in terms of content: The level layouts are different, the beasts perform differently than they did in the arcade, and trying what works easily on most of the bosses on the Genesis version will get you killed in five seconds in the arcade. Yeah, it SEEMS close, at least until you actually go back and play the arcade version.
** Still, compared to every other port of the arcade game at the time which had very significant alterations made (especially in graphical quality) and other arcade game ports, next to those the Genesis version was very accurate for its time. 40% of the arcade version may have been lost or deliberately changed, but on other platforms you could see as much as 80% of the arcade version lost.
* BaldOfEvil: Neff.
* BearsAreBadNews: The Werebear, the beast of Level 3. On one hand, you become a bear that [[TakenForGranite breathes enemies into stone]] and can turn into a rolling buzzsaw to shred your enemies. On the other hand, this bear is bad news ''for your enemies''.
* {{Camp}}: Between the comical designs of the animal transformations, the weird powers, the even weirder transformations of the villain, and the ending, it's pretty clearly going for this on some level.
* ClassicCheatCode: Allows for reaching other levels, changing health / lives and which beasts you turn into in which levels.
* CycleOfHurting: No MercyInvincibility means this will happen ''a lot'' if you aren't careful. Especially with the Chicken Stingers in the second stage who will trip you up and then just destroy you while you're on the ground.
* DubNameChange: The Chicken Leg is the Chicken Stinger outside Japan.
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentional ([[{{Narm}}y hilarious]]) in the Sega Genesis port.
* EvilLaugh: The main villain goes "Ho ho ho ho" when stealing your spirit orbs.
* FacelessEye: Octeyes, the boss of Level 2. In fact, its main attack even consists of firing off hundreds of poisonous spores shaped like eyeballs.
* FairPlayVillain: Neff will refuse to fight the player if they reach the end of the level while still in human form and will flee up to two times to allow the player to achieve transformation. It is implied that he does this because [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction he doesn't want an easy victory.]] However, if the player still hasn't transformed after running into Neff for the third and last time in a level, he will decide to stop running and fight you right then and there, leaving the player to fight with a more limited means of offense than he would've had in a beast form.
* ForcedTransformation: The cutscenes show Neff turning Athena into a bird. Once he's dead, she's returned to normal.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Level 4 has statues of anthropomorphic rhinos. Guess which form the final boss takes?
* GainaxEnding: The Arcade release [[spoiler:ends with the revelation that the entire thing was just a movie being filmed, and that the cast and crew all go out for a cold beer after wrapping the shoot]].
* GiantFlyer: The pterodactyl like enemy.
* GrowingMusclesSequence: The effect of the first two powerups.
* HalfHumanHybrid: Most of your beast forms. Neff's final form in Level 5, along with the Rad Boar, Dark Unicorn, and Gory Goat enemies from the same level.
* MagicPants: Character grows. Shirt rips. Pants still on. Though [[ClothingDamage the shirt still gets shredded with each expansion.]]
* MarketBasedTitle: It's known as Jūōki (獣王記, "Beast King's Chronicle") in Japan.
* MoodWhiplash: This otherwise dark game ends with a jarringly peppy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW19g4Zq6is ending theme,]] which wouldn't be out of place in ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo''. The arcade version even ends with [[spoiler:the game being [[NestedStoryReveal revealed to be one big movie production.]]]]
* NintendoHard: The arcade version and its ports. ''Especially'' the ports, which give only three lives, no healing items, no extra lives, no MercyInvincibility, and no continues.
* OneWingedAngel: All the bosses are Neff transforming into some kind of monster.
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: All the transformations of Neff. Including Aggar, a legless flesh monster with endless heads that he can rip off and throw at you, Octeyes, an eye composed plant creature, Mouldy Snail, a literal dragon snail (too much snail), and the Crocodile Worm, a jewel wielding dragon that can summon smaller, fiery dragons to attack. His final form is a giant Rhino-Man hybrid.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Werewolf and Golden Werewolf of Levels 1 and 5.
* PaletteSwap: The Golden Werewolf's actual powers are no stronger than the normal Werewolf's. He just [[MadeOfShiny looks shinier.]]
* PantheraAwesome: The Level 4 beast, a Weretiger.
* PersonalSpaceInvader: The Round Leech that goes on your head and stays there until you punch it out.
* PlayingWithFire: The powers of the Werewolf, Weretiger, and Golden Werewolf are based on pyrokinesis -- the werewolves being able to dash forward for a flaming tackle and throw fireballs that fly straight, whilst the Weretiger's fireballs move up and down in a wave pattern and its dash attack goes up then back down to attack enemies in mid-air.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner:
--> '''Neff:''' [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM!]]
* ProsceniumReveal: [[spoiler:The ending of the arcade version reveals that the entire game was, apparently, one really bizarre movie.]]
* RiseFromYourGrave: Possible TropeNamer. Zeus commands you to "Rise from your grave and rescue my daughter", whereupon your newly-reanimated body does exactly that.
* SavageWolves: The two-headed wolf enemy, which in its albino ([[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue]] in the Genesis port) version provides the UpgradeArtifact.
* SaveThePrincess: The objective of the game.
* ShapeshifterBaggage: Neff can transform into creatures twice the size of him.
* ShirtlessScene: In the Genesis version, the first Spirit Orb removes your shirt.
* ShockAndAwe: Weredragon's powers -- consisting of being able to fire off long ranged laser bolts, or produce a powerful electric field around itself in order to block projectiles and fry any enemies that come close.
* ShoutOut:
** The two headed wolves are likely a reference to ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|1981}}''.
** In the first level, the tombstones read Alex and Stella, after VideoGame/AlexKidd and his girlfriend (the Genesis version only has Stella).
** In the arcade version, the first part of the weredragon's roar during the TransformationSequence reuses one of Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'s roars from [[Film/Godzilla1954 his debut film]]. The second part reuses Film/{{Gamera}}'s roar from ''his'' [[Film/GiantMonsterGamera debut film]].
** The last level has in the foreground [[https://epicplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/altered-beast-rodin-1.gif two bodies that resemble famous works of art]], namely Rodin's ''The Thinker'' and Munch's ''The Scream''.
* SpinAttack: One of Werebear's powers -- the Body Spin -- enables it to leap up for a [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Screw Attack]] style vertical spin that can rip through enemies, and is the most effective way of defeating Mouldy Snail.
* TakenForGranite: One of Werebear's powers -- the Bear Breath -- enables it to turn enemies to stone by breathing on them for a OneHitKill. However, [[ContractualBossImmunity it doesn't work]] on Mouldy Snail or any of the other bosses.
* TempleOfDoom: Level 4.
* TransformationSequence: The player character, after getting three "POWER-UP!" [[TransformationTrinket spirit balls]] (the Werewolf morph is [[http://www.i-mockery.com/shorts/altered-beast/3.gif pretty detailed,]]) and the villain when seeing you're transformed.
** Interestingly, the other transformation sequences were not nearly as detailed -- they usually consisted of flickering back and forth from an image of the two forms rapidly.
** Instant in the C64 version.
* TurnsRed: The bosses.
* UndergroundLevel: Levels 2 and 3.
** Technically, Levels 4 and 5 are also underground. The centurions are traveling to the ''underworld,'' after all.
* UpgradeArtifact: The orbs that pop out of the blue wolves when you kill them.
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: After you defeat Neff at the end of each stage (except the last), he steals all your powerups and escapes.
%%[[caption-width-right:442:some caption text]]
->''[[RiseFromYourGrave WIIIIIISE FWOM YOUR GWAAAAVE!]]''
-->--Sound compression making the game's opening memorable for [[{{Narm}} the wrong reasons]].[[note]][[TechnologyMarchesOn Keep in mind, this sounded AWESOME when it was released!]] [[/note]]
A BeatEmUp by Creator/{{Sega}}, appearing at the arcades in 1988. It later ported to home consoles like the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. Two pseudo sequels were made, one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance titled ''Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms,'' and a UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 reboot titled ''[[VideoGame/AlteredBeast2005 Project Altered Beast]]'' (which was released in Japan and Europe, [[NoExportForYou but not in America]]). The main gimmick is that your character can turn into various humanoid monsters, like werewolves and dragons.
Interestingly enough, the first game of this series is considered by many as a cult classic game and [[SoOkayItsAverage an average game]] at the same time. The reason is because the Sega Genesis port was extremely similar to the arcade version in gameplay, sounds, and even graphics.[[labelnote:*]]Although hardware limitations prevented the inclusion of the rather impressive (for the time) scaling effects sequences seen on the arcade original.[[/labelnote]] [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny This doesn't sound awesome nowadays]] (we even have a trope called PolishedPort), but don't forget we are talking about the late '80s, ports were either [[PortingDisaster terrible,]] [[ReformulatedGame different,]] or simpler games.
Storywise, the original game has [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Zeus']] daughter Athena being kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Neff and two centurions being [[FirstEpisodeResurrection resurrected]] to [[ResurrectedForAJob rescue her.]]
----
!! [[ElmuhFuddSyndwome Wiiise Fwom Youw Twoopes!]]
* AbnormalAmmo: Aggar, the first boss, ''[[LosingYourHead decapitates]]'' himself and throws his head at you. His head regrows quickly to replace the lost one however.
* AdaptationExpansion: The NES version adds a werelion, wereshark, and werebird, and the GBA game adds power ups and beasts.
* AncientGrome: The manual says the protagonists are Roman centurions, yet the setting is clearly Greek and so are the gods' names.
* {{Animorphism}}: The main mechanic via Spirit Orbs. You get them by beating up flashing enemies and picking the Spirit Orb that falls out.
* ArcadePerfectPort: [[VeryFalseAdvertising A claimed example,]] and it was one of the biggest selling points for the Genesis / Mega Drive port. In truth, it's not even close, neither in terms of technical fidelity or content wise. From a technical perspective, the arcade version has higher quality sprites, larger color palette, much better audio quality, and scaling effects the Genesis version lacked (the Genesis version did however have parallax scrolling which the arcade version lacked). Neither is it very faithful in terms of content: The level layouts are different, the beasts perform differently than they did in the arcade, and trying what works easily on most of the bosses on the Genesis version will get you killed in five seconds in the arcade. Yeah, it SEEMS close, at least until you actually go back and play the arcade version.
** Still, compared to every other port of the arcade game at the time which had very significant alterations made (especially in graphical quality) and other arcade game ports, next to those the Genesis version was very accurate for its time. 40% of the arcade version may have been lost or deliberately changed, but on other platforms you could see as much as 80% of the arcade version lost.
* BaldOfEvil: Neff.
* BearsAreBadNews: The Werebear, the beast of Level 3. On one hand, you become a bear that [[TakenForGranite breathes enemies into stone]] and can turn into a rolling buzzsaw to shred your enemies. On the other hand, this bear is bad news ''for your enemies''.
* {{Camp}}: Between the comical designs of the animal transformations, the weird powers, the even weirder transformations of the villain, and the ending, it's pretty clearly going for this on some level.
* ClassicCheatCode: Allows for reaching other levels, changing health / lives and which beasts you turn into in which levels.
* CycleOfHurting: No MercyInvincibility means this will happen ''a lot'' if you aren't careful. Especially with the Chicken Stingers in the second stage who will trip you up and then just destroy you while you're on the ground.
* DubNameChange: The Chicken Leg is the Chicken Stinger outside Japan.
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Probably unintentional ([[{{Narm}}y hilarious]]) in the Sega Genesis port.
* EvilLaugh: The main villain goes "Ho ho ho ho" when stealing your spirit orbs.
* FacelessEye: Octeyes, the boss of Level 2. In fact, its main attack even consists of firing off hundreds of poisonous spores shaped like eyeballs.
* FairPlayVillain: Neff will refuse to fight the player if they reach the end of the level while still in human form and will flee up to two times to allow the player to achieve transformation. It is implied that he does this because [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction he doesn't want an easy victory.]] However, if the player still hasn't transformed after running into Neff for the third and last time in a level, he will decide to stop running and fight you right then and there, leaving the player to fight with a more limited means of offense than he would've had in a beast form.
* ForcedTransformation: The cutscenes show Neff turning Athena into a bird. Once he's dead, she's returned to normal.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Level 4 has statues of anthropomorphic rhinos. Guess which form the final boss takes?
* GainaxEnding: The Arcade release [[spoiler:ends with the revelation that the entire thing was just a movie being filmed, and that the cast and crew all go out for a cold beer after wrapping the shoot]].
* GiantFlyer: The pterodactyl like enemy.
* GrowingMusclesSequence: The effect of the first two powerups.
* HalfHumanHybrid: Most of your beast forms. Neff's final form in Level 5, along with the Rad Boar, Dark Unicorn, and Gory Goat enemies from the same level.
* MagicPants: Character grows. Shirt rips. Pants still on. Though [[ClothingDamage the shirt still gets shredded with each expansion.]]
* MarketBasedTitle: It's known as Jūōki (獣王記, "Beast King's Chronicle") in Japan.
* MoodWhiplash: This otherwise dark game ends with a jarringly peppy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW19g4Zq6is ending theme,]] which wouldn't be out of place in ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo''. The arcade version even ends with [[spoiler:the game being [[NestedStoryReveal revealed to be one big movie production.]]]]
* NintendoHard: The arcade version and its ports. ''Especially'' the ports, which give only three lives, no healing items, no extra lives, no MercyInvincibility, and no continues.
* OneWingedAngel: All the bosses are Neff transforming into some kind of monster.
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: All the transformations of Neff. Including Aggar, a legless flesh monster with endless heads that he can rip off and throw at you, Octeyes, an eye composed plant creature, Mouldy Snail, a literal dragon snail (too much snail), and the Crocodile Worm, a jewel wielding dragon that can summon smaller, fiery dragons to attack. His final form is a giant Rhino-Man hybrid.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Werewolf and Golden Werewolf of Levels 1 and 5.
* PaletteSwap: The Golden Werewolf's actual powers are no stronger than the normal Werewolf's. He just [[MadeOfShiny looks shinier.]]
* PantheraAwesome: The Level 4 beast, a Weretiger.
* PersonalSpaceInvader: The Round Leech that goes on your head and stays there until you punch it out.
* PlayingWithFire: The powers of the Werewolf, Weretiger, and Golden Werewolf are based on pyrokinesis -- the werewolves being able to dash forward for a flaming tackle and throw fireballs that fly straight, whilst the Weretiger's fireballs move up and down in a wave pattern and its dash attack goes up then back down to attack enemies in mid-air.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner:
--> '''Neff:''' [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM!]]
* ProsceniumReveal: [[spoiler:The ending of the arcade version reveals that the entire game was, apparently, one really bizarre movie.]]
* RiseFromYourGrave: Possible TropeNamer. Zeus commands you to "Rise from your grave and rescue my daughter", whereupon your newly-reanimated body does exactly that.
* SavageWolves: The two-headed wolf enemy, which in its albino ([[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue]] in the Genesis port) version provides the UpgradeArtifact.
* SaveThePrincess: The objective of the game.
* ShapeshifterBaggage: Neff can transform into creatures twice the size of him.
* ShirtlessScene: In the Genesis version, the first Spirit Orb removes your shirt.
* ShockAndAwe: Weredragon's powers -- consisting of being able to fire off long ranged laser bolts, or produce a powerful electric field around itself in order to block projectiles and fry any enemies that come close.
* ShoutOut:
** The two headed wolves are likely a reference to ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|1981}}''.
** In the first level, the tombstones read Alex and Stella, after VideoGame/AlexKidd and his girlfriend (the Genesis version only has Stella).
** In the arcade version, the first part of the weredragon's roar during the TransformationSequence reuses one of Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'s roars from [[Film/Godzilla1954 his debut film]]. The second part reuses Film/{{Gamera}}'s roar from ''his'' [[Film/GiantMonsterGamera debut film]].
** The last level has in the foreground [[https://epicplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/altered-beast-rodin-1.gif two bodies that resemble famous works of art]], namely Rodin's ''The Thinker'' and Munch's ''The Scream''.
* SpinAttack: One of Werebear's powers -- the Body Spin -- enables it to leap up for a [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Screw Attack]] style vertical spin that can rip through enemies, and is the most effective way of defeating Mouldy Snail.
* TakenForGranite: One of Werebear's powers -- the Bear Breath -- enables it to turn enemies to stone by breathing on them for a OneHitKill. However, [[ContractualBossImmunity it doesn't work]] on Mouldy Snail or any of the other bosses.
* TempleOfDoom: Level 4.
* TransformationSequence: The player character, after getting three "POWER-UP!" [[TransformationTrinket spirit balls]] (the Werewolf morph is [[http://www.i-mockery.com/shorts/altered-beast/3.gif pretty detailed,]]) and the villain when seeing you're transformed.
** Interestingly, the other transformation sequences were not nearly as detailed -- they usually consisted of flickering back and forth from an image of the two forms rapidly.
** Instant in the C64 version.
* TurnsRed: The bosses.
* UndergroundLevel: Levels 2 and 3.
** Technically, Levels 4 and 5 are also underground. The centurions are traveling to the ''underworld,'' after all.
* UpgradeArtifact: The orbs that pop out of the blue wolves when you kill them.
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: After you defeat Neff at the end of each stage (except the last), he steals all your powerups and escapes.
