Kenseiden

Kenseiden is a side-scrolling action platformer released by Sega for the Master System in 1989. Set in feudal Japan, the game puts you in the sandals of Hayato, a samurai on a quest to defeat an army of demons and reclaim stolen sacred scrolls. The gameplay draws heavy inspiration from Konami's Castlevania, trading whips for katanas and gothic horror for Japanese mythology. As you progress through the stages, you can find hidden rooms that teach Hayato new sword techniques, which are essential for surviving the game's brutal difficulty. The game is also notable for pushing the Master System hardware, utilizing the system's larger color palette to create vibrant sprites and detailed backgrounds that stood out from the competition at the time. It also received a port on the Game Gear, though the smaller screen real estate changes the experience slightly.