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Also known as "Athena's Wonder Land", Athena in the Arcades is basically the same SNK side-scroller I hated for the NES, except prettier and "slightly" more tolerable. As such, people who tolerated the NES game will likely enjoy this one and the many people who apparently hate the NES game will hate this one a little less. Believe me when I say that I tried to tolerate this game, but I just couldn't in the end.

This game has frustrating level design and most levels require you to have the right items to proceed, such as a helmet to break blocks with your head or a blunt weapon to smash rocks in front of you, so it's annoying when enemies come from everywhere trying to give you bows or swords or magic weapons. This game also has annoying alternate paths. Choose the wrong one and you start the level over again without being healed and lose any and all upgrades you've gained. You can also get armor, which you'll need. Otherwise, you'll die in two or three hits. The hit detection is off and if you don't have a decent weapon and enough health to beat the end-level boss, you're basically screwed. Enemies can also break your upgrades (and very quickly I might add) and the game is just difficult for all the wrong reasons. If you know each level inside-out, you can actually get through them quickly enough, but that's time and energy that can be invested in a better game.

This is a video of the first two levels. Enjoy.