Released in 1991 for the Neo Geo (arcade & home console), Crossed Swords is a unique first-person hack-and-slash action RPG. Developed by Alpha Denshi, it stood out for its “behind-the-character” perspective, which was highly unusual for the hardware at the time.

Gameplay

• Combat Perspective: Your character appears as a wireframe silhouette so you can see the enemies directly in front of you.
• Strategy-Based Fighting: Instead of button mashing, players must block high or low to defend against enemy strikes before finding an opening to counterattack.
• RPG Progression: You earn Experience Points to level up (up to level 10) and Gold to buy stronger weapons and health-restoring food from traveling merchants.
• Magic & Specials: Each weapon features a unique magical spell. You can also perform a “desperation move” (like a whirlwind slash) that clears enemies but costs health.

Story & Structure

• The Plot: Set in the kingdom of Belkana, players control the “Knight of the Journey” to stop the Demon Warlord Nausizz, who has unleashed a horde of monsters from a mysterious demonic castle.
• World Design: The game spans seven stages (chapters). Players can choose different paths through some levels and can even skip the first two chapters if they prefer a faster start.