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Play Astyanax (Europe edition · English) Online
Astyanax
Play Astyanax online on NES. Charge powerful strikes, choose spells and battle to rescue Rosebud. Includes a beginner’s guide and verified controller instructions.
Browser play
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) / Famicom — EmulatorJS controls
Default Player 1 keyboard mapping. Change keys in Controller Settings.
| Console button | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| ↑ / ↓ / ← / → | ↑ / ↓ / ← / → |
| A / B | Z / X |
| START / SELECT | Enter / V |
Open Controller Settings to configure your keyboard or gamepad. Touch controls are available on mobile.
How to Play Astyanax
Quick start
Use START to begin and skip story scenes. In the first round, keep a little distance from skeletons and let the power meter refill before swinging with B. Use A to clear gaps, and check stone idols for items. If an enemy threatens to knock you into a pit, magic can be safer than forcing a jump: pause with START, choose a spell with the directional pad, then resume and press Up+B to cast it. Keep an eye on spell energy; stronger spells cost more. If all lives are lost, press START to continue.
Controls
Left/Right: move. Down: duck. A: jump. B: swing the current weapon. Up+B: cast the selected spell if enough spell energy remains. START: begin, skip story scenes, pause, and continue after Game Over. While paused, use the directional pad to change spells, then START to resume. SELECT is unused. In Castle Terenea, stand in a doorway and hold Up for about three seconds to teleport.
Astyanax — About this game
A high-school student is drawn into another world and armed for a journey to free Princess Rosebud from Blackhorn. This NES adventure balances platforming with a distinctive attack rhythm: each swing empties a power meter, and waiting lets the next strike hit harder. Rapid attacks are still possible, but they trade strength for speed. Weapons also change the balance of your magic. The spear is weaker in close combat but economical for spellcasting, while the sword delivers stronger blows at a higher magical cost. Bind can stop enemies long enough to cross dangerous gaps, and the offensive spells help against crowded encounters and bosses. Stone idols hide useful items, so exploration and preparation can make a difficult stretch more manageable. Between rounds, illustrated story scenes follow the hero and the fairy Cutie. It is a separate NES adventure, not the arcade game’s two-player campaign.
Cheats
No cheats have been added for this edition.
Player verification and sources
Browser play was reviewed before this edition was published in the catalogue. The date below is the catalogue publication date, not the game’s original release date.
- Browser test and catalogue publication date
- Browsers and devices
- PC: Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Mobile: Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone and iPad.
- Player engine and core
- EmulatorJS 4.3.0-pre · nes
- Tested by
- rwEmulator
Sources and editorial basis
rwEmulator reviews edition metadata, release information, game manuals and first-hand browser-play notes. Available manuals are linked below; the editorial policy explains how facts are checked and corrections are handled.