Kenseiden

Kenseiden (剣聖伝) is an action platformer side scrolling game with light role-playing elements released for the Sega Master System in 1988.

Plot
It's 16th Century Japan and evil warlocks have taken over the country, stolen the Sword of the Dragon King and five Secret Scrolls from a famed family.

It's up to Hayato, a member of that family, to retrieve the scrolls, the legendary sword and defeat the evil that waits in the Black Castle. The very fate of Japan rests on his shoulders.

Gameplay
The player takes on the role of Hayato, a samurai, and attempts to take down an assortment of bosses and monsters with his blade.

The player starts off with three lives, but will obtain an additional life everytime the score goes to a multiple of 20,000 points with a total of 9 lives. Additional point bonuses will reward the player with an additonal 5,000 bonus points for every 20,000 they obtain.

Hayato starts off only able to jump and swing his sword to attack enemies, but upon defeat one of the bosses, or warlords he will obtain new capabilities such as a high jump, an ability that allows Hayato to attack from overhead with additional power and range, or covering both your front and back at the same time.

Players can increase Hayato's strength bar(health bar) or obtain items that decrease damage done by opponents by engaging in Training Rounds. These are incredibly difficult obstacle courses that will have Hayato dodging arrows, spears and other obstacles. They can be skipped should the player wish to not obtain the additional health.

Along the way there are a few special items that will help Hayato and the player on their way:


 * Gourd of life (Hyotan): Appears when you defeat some enemies. It will partially restore your strength meter.
 * Sword (Katana): Strengthens your attack power. It can be found in different rounds.
 * Medicine Case (Inro): Obtaining this item will replenish your Strength meter when it reaches zero. Although you can only carry one at a time, you can take it from round to round until it is needed.
 * Talisman of Protection (Omamori): This increases your defense power. It is won in the training rounds. There are red and blue Omamori. The blue is the most powerful. However, your defense will be strongest if you obtain both.
 * Wooden Doll (Kokeshi): Finding this item will give you an additional life.
 * Diary (Nikki): Finding this item will allow you to continue the game once. If the game ends and you have the diary, you will see the CONTINUE screen.  Use the Directional button and choose Continue, or Stop. The game will continue from the last point that Hayato fell.

Stages
Each round represents one of the old Japanese provinces. In the Korean version of the game the rounds represent locations of Korea. After round 2, the player can choose any one of the nearest levels in the map. The player can go back to any level at any time after finishing it, except the final level.

Trivia

 * Alex Kidd makes a cameo in the Nagato region. His face is hidden in the wall.