Astyanax

Astyanax is a side-scrolling action game published by Jaleco for the NES in 1990. An ordinary teenager named Astyanax is led by the fairy Cutie into the fantasy kingdom of Remlia, where he receives a magical battle axe called Bash that can grow in size, and sets off to rescue Princess Rosebud. Players swing the axe to hack through enemies, and accumulating magic power unlocks elemental spells such as lightning and fire. The towering boss encounters at the end of each stage are a standout highlight. With vivid visuals and a rousing soundtrack, it remains a representative NES action-adventure.