Astal

Astal is a 2D side-scrolling platform game. The player must guide the title character through the course of a level while avoiding or eliminating obstacles and opposing forces. In addition to running and jumping, different button combinations allow for punching or throwing enemies. The ground can be punched to stun opposing enemies nearby, and a blowing attack can be charged by inhaling and exhaling, which blows enemies or obstacles away from the character.

Certain parts of the level's environment, such as trees or rocks, can also be picked up and thrown. Defeating special glowing enemies charges up a meter that allows for the use of a bird character who assists the player. A limited asymmetrical co-op mode includes a second player controlling the bird characters action, which includes wing attacks and divebombing.

Somewhere in the universe, the Goddess Antowas created a world from a single jewel. On this world, Quartalia, she created the earth, water, sky and air. To inhabit this world, she created two humans: from a green jewel, a girl, Leda, who has the power to make things live on Quartalia; and from a red Jewel, a boy, Astal, whose purpose was to protect Leda. Content with her creation, Antowas slept.

While she slept, the evil Jerado tried to take over Quartalia. To ensure victory, Jerado created a warrior: Geist. Geist kidnapped Leda, and held her at the bottom of the ocean. In an effort to get her back, Astal tore Quartalia apart, awakening Antowas.

Astal was developed internally by Sega for the Sega Saturn. Contemporary previews highlighted the game's traditional side-scrolling design, illustrated environments and extensive character animations. In a May 1995 preview, British magazine Edge drew attention to the game's fairy-tale visual style, comparing its character artwork and backgrounds to Disney animation. The magazine also praised the integration of foregrounds, backgrounds and characters to create a sense of visual depth.

Japanese magazine Saturn Fan highlighted the use of scrolling, enlargement and reduction effects, alongside animated story sequences and environmental interactions. Its pre-release coverage also described the game's support system, in which the bird companion could assist Astal under computer control or be controlled independently by a second player.

According to Famitsu, Astal sold 23,919 copies during its lifetime in Japan. The Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game sixth in popularity in its July 1995 issue, and it received a 19.2/30 in a readers' poll conducted by Saturn Fan. In 2000, Astal earned an average score of 7.3452 out of 10 in a reader survey conducted by the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine, raking among Sega Saturn titles at number 564. The game was met with average critical sentiments.

GamePro's Lawrence Neves criticized the game's visual aesthetic, saying that "The beautifully drawn graphics are charming, but unfortunately they're charming in the style of those round-eyed-waif paintings." Neves added that the challenge would be too frustrating for children, and that the short stages leave the game with little longevity. He concluded that while it "strengthens the Saturn's platform potential", Astal was merely "a good rental". Jennifer Diane Reitz reviewed the game positively but criticized it for being too short and having a limited number of actions available to players.

Astal made several cameo appearances in Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series, particularly in illustrations by artist Patrick Spaziante. These included appearances in issue #50 and on the covers of issues #51 and #125.