Rygar is an arcade game created by Tecmo in 1986 and originally released in Japan as Argus no Senshi. It is a scrolling platform game where the player assumes the role as the "Legendary Warrior", battling through a hostile landscape. Only with the attack and movements mastered would the player stand a chance of progressing through later stages.
The main feature of gameplay is using a weapon called the "Diskarmor", a shield with a long chain attached to it.
Source: Wikipedia, "Rygar (arcade game)", available under the CC-BY-SA License.
Admin Note:
Rygar has been split into two entries. Differences:
Rygar (Arcade):
The arcade version is more of a standard side-scrolling action title.
Rygar (NES):
The NES version is an open-ended, action-adventure game like Metroid. It was particularly notable for its permanent power-up mechanic, which at the time blurred the line between the power-ups used in action-adventures and the experience points used in RPGs.
The NES version of Rygar did not allow for game saves. The cartridge did not contain a battery, nor did it contain a password feature. As a result, many players were forced to pause the game and leave their NES on overnight.
The PAL version of the NES game reportedly contained a computer error which inadvertently increased (substantially) the difficulty in the final portions of the game, particularly in beating the final boss.