Run Saber

Introduction

Run Saber was developed by Horisoft and published by Atlus, released for the SNES in Japan and North America in 1993 as a side-scrolling action game set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by a rogue AI called Cain. Players choose between two laser-sword-wielding warriors, Allen and Shelly, cutting through mutated enemies and mechanical foes across stages that mix straightforward platforming with punishing enemy placement typical of early-90s action titles. Combat centers on melee sword strikes chained into combos, backed by a limited-use special attack that clears the screen when things get overwhelming. Though it never reached the profile of contemporaries like Contra III, Run Saber earned a following among genre fans for its moody sci-fi atmosphere, tight controls, and unusually difficult later stages.