Released for the NES (Famicom) in 1987 by Hudson Soft, Faxanadu is a classic side-scrolling action RPG that brings the deep mechanics of the Dragon Slayer series to console players. As an adventurer returning to a home at the base of the World Tree, you discover the Elven realms besieged by monsters and their vital water sources blocked. The journey blends challenging platforming combat with rewarding RPG elements, allowing you to explore towns, upgrade your weapons and armor, and learn powerful magic as you climb higher into the branches.
How to Play
Your objective is to ascend the World Tree, navigating complex labyrinthine dungeons to defeat the Evil One and restore peace. The original NES controls map directly to your keyboard: use the Arrow Keys to move and climb, Z to jump, and X to attack or cast your selected magic. Press Enter to pause the action and Shift to access your inventory to equip items or view your stats.
Tips
- Speak to the Guru in every town to receive your “mantra” (password). This is essential for saving your progress and ensuring you don’t lose your hard-earned gold when defeated.
- Gold drops from defeated enemies are based on the enemy type, so find a safe spot with respawning foes if you need to quickly grind for a crucial armor upgrade.
- Magic is incredibly powerful for taking out flying or out-of-reach enemies, but keep a close eye on your magic meter and carry restorative items before tackling a boss.
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