About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.png" data-ref-id="1300-3040829" data-ratio="0.75" data-width="960" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 960px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:75.0%" href="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.png" data-ref-id="1300-3040829"><img alt="Genesis version." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.jpg" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.png 960w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.jpg 480w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/2/23093/3040829-swordofsodan001.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a><figcaption>Genesis version.</figcaption></figure><p>Sword of Sodan is a side-scrolling <a href="/sword-and-sorcery/3015-2739/" data-ref-id="3015-2739">swords-and-sorcery</a> hack-and-slash game developed and published by <a href="/discovery-software-international-inc/3010-2998/" data-ref-id="3010-2998">Discovery Software</a> and <a href="/innerprise-software-inc/3010-2999/" data-ref-id="3010-2999">Innerprise Software</a> for the <a href="/amiga/3045-1/" data-ref-id="3045-1">Amiga</a> in 1988.</p><p>As one of two heirs to the slain King Pallas of the Northern Kingdoms (either Prince Brodan or Princess Shardan), armed with the magical sword of the hero Sodan, players must venture out to fight the forces of the evil Zoras the Necromancer, bring peace to the kingdom, and avenge their father's death.</p><p>The game is known for its very large unscaled character sprites at the time, with the protagonist and several enemies taking up at least half of the screen. It is also known for its use of graphic violence, with blood and sometimes <a href="/decapitation/3015-1452/" data-ref-id="3015-1452">decapitations</a>.</p><p>It later received a port for the <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Genesis</a>, published by <a href="/electronic-arts/3010-1/" data-ref-id="3010-1">Electronic Arts</a> (<a href="/sega/3010-62/" data-ref-id="3010-62">Sega</a> in Japan) in 1990, and for for <a href="/mac/3045-17/" data-ref-id="3045-17">Macintosh</a> computers, published by <a href="/bethesda-softworks/3010-786/" data-ref-id="3010-786">Bethesda Softworks</a> in 1993. The Genesis version is known for its unique <a href="/alchemy/3015-1233/" data-ref-id="3015-1233">potion mixing</a> mechanic. An unreleased <a href="/apple-iigs/3045-38/" data-ref-id="3045-38">Apple IIgs</a> version by Visionware, shown on the Amiga version's box, and later distributed in 2018.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>The goal is to go from left to right, killing everyone. The protagonist can jump, do horizontal and vertical strikes and crouch. There are four different kinds of strikes (horizontal, vertical, jump and a crouch strike) each are more effective against certain enemy types. However the most effective move is the crouch strike as it is the only way to hit an enemy without getting hit back.</p><p>When enemies double up from the same direction, attacks hurt the one in front but not the one behind. Enemies can go through the player character and attack from both sides. An enemy's health is portrayed right beneath them and dead enemies sometimes drop potions. There are different types of enemies found during the quest such as soldiers, giants and zombies. Each must be killed in a different way. For the giants, they need two vertical strikes at close range then when his health is down to fifty percent the player must back up and hit him again with vertical strikes. For zombies, when killed, deadly fire balls start spinning around them.</p><h3>Potions</h3><p>Throughout the game, players can pick up <a href="/potion/3055-79/" data-ref-id="3055-79">potions</a> dropped by enemies to gain special effects, though both the Amiga/Macintosh and Genesis versions handle this gameplay system differently:</p><h4>Amiga/Macintosh</h4><p>In the Amiga and Macintosh versions of the game, potions either increase the hero's "hitstrength" automatically (making their attacks deal more damage) or provide them with one or two special one-use spells (of which they can only carry four at a time):</p><ul><li><strong>Magic Zapper</strong> - Automatically deal a significant amount of damage to the closest enemy.</li><li><strong>Power Shield</strong> - Grants <a href="/temporary-invincibility/3015-266/" data-ref-id="3015-266">temporary invincibility</a>.</li></ul><p>On Stage 9, one potion is used to summon a rideable animal.</p><h4>Genesis</h4><p>In the Genesis version of the game, players carry up to four potions in their inventory, with potions coming in one of four color-coded varieties (red Vitalium, blue Hydroium, orange Solarium, and grey Etherium). While they can be drunk on their own, they can also be drunk <a href="/crafting/3015-934/" data-ref-id="3015-934">in combination</a> for unique effects:</p><ul><li><strong>Red</strong> - Hit Strength Increased (+15)</li><li><strong>Blue</strong> - Stamina Increased (1/4)</li><li><strong>Orange</strong> - Magic Zapper (defeats/stuns the closest enemy)</li><li><strong>Grey</strong> - No Effect. Drinking four at once in earlier stages instead triggers "Warp!", which immediately <a href="/warping/3015-852/" data-ref-id="3015-852">skips to the next stage</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Blue</strong> - No Effect</li><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> - Flaming Brand (temporary damage increase)</li><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - <a href="/extra-life/3015-1806/" data-ref-id="3015-1806">Free Life</a></li><li><strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> - Poison! (<a href="/power-down/3015-2228/" data-ref-id="3015-2228">receive some damage</a>)</li><li><strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - Shield (<a href="/temporary-invincibility/3015-266/" data-ref-id="3015-266">temporary invincibility</a>)</li><li><strong>Orange</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - Flame Brand (temporary damage increase)</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> - No Effect</li><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - Free Life</li><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - No Effect</li><li><strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - Super Zapper (defeats/stuns all enemies on-screen)</li><li><strong>Red</strong> + <strong>Blue</strong> + <strong>Orange</strong> + <strong>Grey</strong> - Winners Don't Do Drugs (instant death)</li></ul><h2>Stages</h2><ol><li>At the City's Gate</li><li>Between the City's Walls</li><li>In the City Streets</li><li>In the Heart of the Forest (unavailable in the Genesis version)</li><li>In the Land of the Dead</li><li>The Foyer of the Castle Craggamoor</li><li>Descend the Stairs (unavailable in the Genesis version)</li><li>In a Passage Deep</li><li>In the Catacombs (unavailable in the Genesis version)</li><li>The Foyer of the Castle Craggamoor (reprise, unavailable in the Genesis version)</li><li>At the Wizard's Tower</li></ol>