Alright, so Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms on GBA—it’s basically a side-scrolling beat ‘em up where you play as this beefed-up warrior who can transform into different mythical creatures. You start off punching skeletons and werewolves (classic), but the real fun kicks in when you collect these floating orbs that morph you into a werewolf, dragon, or other beasts. Each form has its own attacks—werewolf’s got the claws, dragon breathes fire—and figuring out which one works best against certain enemies is half the challenge.

It’s got that old-school arcade vibe, but don’t expect anything too deep. The levels are short, the enemies repeat, and the controls can feel a little stiff if you’re used to smoother action games. Still, there’s something satisfying about plowing through hordes of monsters as a giant bear or tossing lightning as a thunderbird. Just don’t go in expecting a modern masterpiece—it’s more of a nostalgia trip with some janky charm.

If you played the original arcade version back in the day, this one’s a decent portable take on it. Otherwise, it might feel a bit dated, but hey, turning into a monster never gets old.