Ghosts ‘n Goblins | RVGFanatic

Demon’s Crest (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Capcom | November 1994 | 16 MEGS**

It’s rare in video gaming that an enemy will receive his or her own spin-off series. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Firebrand from Ghosts ‘n Goblins. You may remember him as that red little flying devil that terrorized you back in the ’80s on your 8-bit NES. Capcom saw dollar signs because they released Gargoyle’s Quest on the Game Boy in 1990. It was followed up with a sequel, Gargoyle’s Quest II, on the NES in 1992. Finally, in late 1994, Capcom released the final game in the trilogy, Demon’s Crest. It flew a bit under the radar during that holiday season of ’94 despite receiving more than its fair share of press. It was considered an underrated SNES action title for many years until it made so many underrated lists that it’s probably no longer that today (thank goodness too since it’s finally received its due props). Demon’s Crest is, in my humble opinion, Capcom’s finest hour on the SNES not named Street Fighter. It’s a tough call between this and Mega Man X, but I give the slight edge to Firebrand’s trilogy finale. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

IN THE BEGINNING…

He's known as Red Arremer in Japan — He’s known as Red Arremer in Japan

These games were well received and thought of rather fondly. Not only did Capcom take an antagonist and give him his own spin-off series but it’s also the only one (that I know of) to ever start out on the Game Boy, followed by a sequel on the NES and finally the SNES. I can’t think of another trilogy that can claim that. Speaking of the SNES, we come to the star of the show…

I got back into all things SNES on January 17, 2006. Demon’s Crest marked my 100th SNES game purchase and I did that on February 8, 2006. I know, crazy, huh? It took me just three weeks to accumulate 100 SNES games. But this was back when most of them were going for $5-$10. I had a want list in the hundreds and it was open season.

I'm a bit of a document guy as you can see... — I’m a bit of a document whore as you can see…

NOTHING BUT COLD HARD FACTS

Yup, we all owe it to Sir Arthur. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is awesome but Demon’s Crest is even better. Just my opinion, of course.

THE STORY GOES…

Uhhh... don't quote me on it... — Uhhh… don’t quote me on it…

I got five bucks on the demon, ahem — I got five bucks on the demon *cough*

He wasn't in this game — Ahem, as I was saying

Also see the Infinity Gems... — Also see the Infinity Gems…

EPIC PROLOGUE

Right away you know it's going to be special — Right away you know it’s going to be special

Shame you didn't spot his warning until it was too late — Shame ya didn’t see the warning until it was too late

Apparently some cursed prisoner was here before you and left a final note scrawled on the wall. You can even see the tally marks he scribbled against the wall. Looks like whatever terrible beast captured him got hungry after just four days… and guess who’s next…

He's a big pussycat though — He’s a big pussycat though

NOT SO FAST! Somulo rises again for one last go... — ***NOT SO FAST!*** Somulo rises again for one last go…

[SHEEEEET, why didn't you warn me earlier? -Ed.] — *[SHEEEEET, why didn’t you warn me earlier? -Ed.]*

Your initial firepower consists of a single fireball shot. While somewhat slow and weak, it serves its purpose well for this opening level.

Looks like he's got Firebrand in his grasp! Neat — Looks like he’s got Firebrand in his grasp! Neat

Life Lesson #87: Never mock the dead — Life Lesson #87: **Never mock the dead**

Now you're playing with super power. Obviously — ***Now you’re playing with super power***. Obviously

Extend your health bars? Ah, one of THOSE games — Extend your health bars? Ah, one of ***THOSE*** games

WHERE TO NEXT?

After the introductory stage you’re taken to a lovely giant overhead map screen where you swoop to your next location. Rather than holding your hand and forcing you to progress in a certain order, Demon’s Crest is nonlinear and allows you some creative freedom. I love games that do this. It really plays a bit like Super Metroid-lite. Be sure to search everywhere! Never know what you may find. Not all areas are filled with enemies but rather helpful denizens and other peculiar oddities…

INVENTORY

Pressing start takes you here. Select wisely. All of these are to be found throughout the game. Some are well-hidden while others are simply well-guarded!

HELPERS

You can even see him flip the pages — He even flips the pages. Nice

This is the wise man known as Malwous. He runs the Talisman Shop in town. No, you can’t coax the geezer to sell them to you. His sole purpose is to disclose their special powers… or is it… ?

"Yeah? Well we'll see about that, old-timer!" — *“Yeah? Well we’ll see about that, old-timer!”*

Soul energy recovers lost health. After finding the Skull Talisman and equipping it, it increases the percentage that slain enemies will drop soul energy. Only one Talisman can be equipped at a time so you’ll want to switch accordingly as each unique situation deems it so. Therein lies the strategy, options and customization of Demon’s Crest that put it (severed) heads and shoulders above the rest.

"OH NO! MY BOOK!" — ***“OH NO! MY BOOK!”***

But just in case the geezer planted the soul energy in those jars and is trying to hoodwink me — a reminder that no one messes with Firebrand!

MWAHAHAHA!

[There goes all the vital info. Smart… -Ed.]

Morack sells spells — Morack deals in the black arts

And this git here runs the Spell shop. For the price of some bills with dead demons on them, Morack will sell you whatever your heart desires most… or at least what Capcom has prearranged, anyhow. You’ll also need to find the spell vellum in order to carry spells. Up to five can be found. Make sure you explore every last hooker and nanny [That’s “nook” and “cranny” ya fool! -Ed.]

"Yes let's measure the circumference of your head..." — *“Yes, let’s measure the circumference of your head…”*

At the spooky Black Lotus shop you can stock up on various potions. For a fee, of course. Sometimes a finger, sometimes a toe, or even a whole leg. Hey, he’s gotta keep his hungry hounds well fed…

Hey, it’s an eye for an eye…

"Well if it isn't my drug dealer" — *“Well if it isn’t my drug dealer…”*

Trio the Pago runs various set-ups around town that specializes in “game for demons.” For a small fee, skulls will appear against the wall and it’s your job to smash as many as you can before the torches flicker off. Gold is your prize. There’s beginning, intermediate and expert to challenge players of all skill levels.

A head bangin' good time — A head banging good time

The high ones are the toughest. You can gain some invaluable practice by smashing the windows in town. You may also find some gold in the process too. Double whammy!

Makes for good practice — This makes for good practice

For each torch that remains lit you’ll earn five gold pieces for. Er, they look silvery but you get the picture, no pun intended [Har har -Ed.]

"Word on the street is Phalanx wants your head!" — *“Word on the street is Phalanx wants your head!”*

This denizen is something of a gossiping demon hobo. He even asks you a yes/no question. It’s little touches like this that help to give Demon’s Crest its own pulse and universe that very few 16-bit games managed to achieve.

Say hello to Phalanx... — Say hello to Phalanx… *gulp*

You wish this was Phalanx, the boss! — Were you expecting this guy instead?

"I also hear Sally is seeing Dan..." — *“I also hear Sally is seeing Dan…”*

"Damn Trump and his walls!" — **“Damn Trump and his walls!”**

This barrier can’t be flown over with your standard form, nor shot down. Hmmm, what could be behind that door? Valuable treasures locked up, or perhaps a vile beast fenced off from the rest of society? This creates a level of intrigue and anticipation. Jot it down as a place to revisit later…

Ah, a potion bottle, hurrah! Only four more lie in waiting. Firebrand can fly and hover in this form as much as you want, instantly separating Demon’s Crest from your typical SNES action platformer. Perks of controlling a winged demon, eh?

A spell vellum! I wonder where the other four are... — A spell vellum! I wonder where the other four are…

He's a stage five clinger... — He’s a stage five clinger…

[Reminds me of an ex... -Ed.] — *[Reminds me of an ex… -Ed.]*

In addition to hovering, clinging is another useful skill that the first form allows. Just because it’s Firebrand’s first form doesn’t necessarily make it the least significant. You can also headbutt objects in the background to possibly reveal goodies, so each form has its specific use throughout the game. You’ll find yourself switching back and forth rather than discarding a form. Forms don’t get “better” — they just serve different purposes. Pretty smart of Capcom as it increases the versatility of gameplay.

The night life's a bit dead, I reckon — The night life’s a bit dead, I reckon

Firebrand is such a kind, gregarious lad.

I love when a game has small quirky amusing details like such. You can actually smash in the skulls of these lifeless skeletons draping from bedroom windows. It reminds me of killing the chained innocent prisoners from Blackthorne. Always good for a laugh.

Looks familiar, Capcom... — Looks familiar, Capcom…

The game expands as you gain more powers. The Tornado allows you to create temporary platforms, acting much like the Magnet Beam from the original Mega Man game on the NES.

Magnet Beam from Mega Man — Magnet Beam from *Mega Man*

Whatever’s hiding behind this wall you won’t be able to access until much later in the game after you’ve acquired a certain weapon. I’m a sucker for these type of games, yes I am.

It'll be well worth your time — It’ll be well worth your time

But you can't move that statue in your current form — You can’t move that statue in your current form

I can’t stress enough the importance of exploring. The game can be beaten without finishing all the areas, but you won’t get the best ending nor the complete satisfaction knowing you’ve conquered this fantastic game.

Let’s take a look at some of the stages.

THE GRAVEYARD

"COME ONE, COME ALL!" — ***“COME ONE, COME ALL!”***

Ah indeed, this all wouldn't be possible prior to 1994! — Ah indeed, this all wouldn’t be possible prior to 1994

Around the middle of 1994 was when Nintendo revamped their violence policy. It started with Mortal Kombat II being uncensored, and allowed for games like Demon’s Crest to be released unaltered. Its dark and gruesome imagery probably would have been severely toned down prior to mid ’94.

Even the Game Boy got hit with some of that 'tude — Even the Game Boy got hit with some of that *‘tude*

THE FOREST

How to get that bottle there... — How to get that bottle there…

Strangeness abounds in this deranged woodland area. Keep your eyes peeled as there are secrets waiting to be found!

Incredible graphics! — The visuals are classic Capcom

Smokey Bear’s words (“Only YOU can prevent forest fires”) goes up in flames as the whole place goes ablaze. Tentacles awaken from a long slumber, rising up from the ground searching for its next meal.

Um, what's Capcom's deal with forest fires? O_o — Um, what’s Capcom’s deal with forest fires? O_o

Flame Lord is fairly tough. He has tricky offensive patterns so make sure you’ve got some herbs packed before taking him on.

THE CAVE

Now there's no holding back — It must be poisoned water…

The water actually hurts Firebrand until you acquire the Crest of Water and equip it. Then, and only then, may you explore what lies beneath.

Scula is quite the menacing monster.

Absolutely nothing like a two for one special!

THE CAVERN

Maximizing your gains by selecting the right form at the right time is all part of the fun. Ground Gargoyle is perfect for taking out enemies down below.

This enemy explodes into fragments when killed, so stay vigilant during the aftermath.

Afraid of the dark? HA! It pays to keep the lights on…

You'll need something stronger for this — You’ll need something stronger for this

[Just like the gawd damn in-laws -Ed.] — *[Just like my in-laws -Ed.]*

I don't want to know what that goo consists of... — I don’t want to know what that goo consists of…

Best not linger around! One of the game’s most dramatic moments is about to happen.

Not really. It's just your death spell in action :P — Not really. It’s just your death spell in action

Eye of the ti -- demon — Eye of the ti — demon

You thought you had eye boogers — *You thought you* had eye boogers

THE RUINS

Capcom and SNK playdate! — Capcom and SNK play date!

[Steve did it -Ed.] — *[Steve did it. It was Steve -Ed.]*

A sweet sound plays when you get one, á la Metroid — A sweet sound plays when you get one, á la *Metroid*

Crawler comes slithering after you relentlessly. Better not pussyfoot around! Statues block the way just to add a little extra drama. Nice touch there, Capcom.

At the end of the hallway you’re trapped and forced to do battle with this giant mass of tissue. It’s the kind of monstrosity that does the Contra franchise proud.

THE MURKY WATERS

Carefully blast the blocks so that you leave just the upper and bottom one intact. Recklessly destroy all the blocks and you’re likely to get badly punctured.

Hes a nasty bugger! — He’s a nasty bugger!

THE ICY BARRENS

More doors of terror I suppose — More doors of terror, I suppose

Should have kept your cocky trap shut. Now you’ll face the true terror that is this mid-boss.

Remember the rule: keep the lights on.

Did you tried pooping on my head?! — Better not poop on my head!

Grewon is a very agile and powerful wolf. Good luck.

THE TOWERS

Errors usually human based! — Errors are usually human based

Should you? I dont know about this... — Should you? I don’t know about this…

Play it to find out for yourself ;) — Play it to find out for yourself

Surely it couldn't be Fortunato... right? — Surely it couldn’t be Fortunato… right?

PHALANX’S CASTLE

Hey, I've seen you before!! — Hey, I’ve seen you before!!

C'mon Capcom. Don't be lazy — C’mon Capcom. Don’t be lazy

Another crippled demon — Behold, the Legendary Gargoyle!

Phalanx has three forms. Yup, it’s going to be one of those final boss battles.

The water will damage you unless you stay over it or unless you morph into the Tidal Gargoyle. It’s your call.

ULTIMATE GARGOYLE

The Ultimate Gargoyle can only be unlocked by beating Phalanx with 100% of your inventory slots filled. This then grants you the Crest of Heaven. And it’s only in this form that you can tackle the game’s true final boss.

Ultimate Gargoyle is Firebrand at the zenith of his power. It’s a combination of all previous forms, plus it gives Firebrand a charge shot similar to the Blue Bomber. So Capcom rewards the persistent player who fully explores the game. Otherwise, you can’t use this form. It’s a nice bonus for the dedicated completionist.

The game's TRUE final boss! — The game’s TRUE final boss!

DEMON-VANIA

Similar to Super Metroid, certain areas are playable but not until you’ve discovered weapon or power-up X. Only then can you backtrack to access these previously blocked off areas, opening up the game tenfold. There weren’t many games cut from this cloth in the 16-bit era. You can’t help but fall in love with Demon’s Crest. It really is kind of like a Super Metroid-lite.

Even a demon has his limits... — Even a demon has his limits…

Another example: Firebrand will actually get damaged if he falls into the water there. That is, UNLESS you use the Water Crest. After which, you’re feel to explore the water regions of the game fully unhindered. This of course opens up the game even more, unlocking new goodies and power-ups. Keeping a journal to jot down some notes is not a bad idea.

I dare call it a can't miss experience for SNES owners — I dare call it a ***can’t miss experience*** for SNES owners

It has shades of Super Metroid — It has shades of *Super Metroid*

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

This game is lit, fam [Stop it -Ed.] — This game is lit, fam *[Stop it -Ed.]*

Demon’s Crest did extremely well with the critics. Not only was the game well previewed within the pages of EGM and GameFan Magazine during the holiday season of 1994, but it was well reviewed, too. EGM gave it scores of 8, 8, 8 and 9. GameFan gave it ratings of 97, 97 and 98%. Super Play rated it 80%. Yet despite the praise from the press, it’s been a well-documented fact that this game sold very poorly. According to Nintendo Power Magazine, the game flopped at the box office. Capcom did very little to hype this release. True, Demon’s Crest did come out around the same time as Donkey Kong Country (which sold off-the-chart numbers), but did you know during one week Demon’s Crest generated NEGATIVE sales?! Preposterous! It’s a gaming tragedy that more people returned the game than bought it for that one particular week!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Moments like this add to the game's overall brilliance — Moments like this add to the game’s *overall brilliance*

While Demon’s Crest performed poorly in 1994 based on sales (despite critical acclaim), it’s made its mark ever since. Over the past 15 years or so, many people have had the pleasure of playing it and it’s been on many “Underrated SNES Games” lists. So much so, in fact, that it’s probably rated just right nowadays. I’m happy to see this game get the kind of respect that it deserved from day one. Magazines did their part to extol the virtues of Demon’s Crest but the buying public did not bite, and they missed out on a true gem as a result. Thankfully, one of the many luxuries of being a retro gamer is the ability to revisit these titles from yesteryear. And after playing through Demon’s Crest back in 2007, there is no doubt in my mind that it stands as one of Super Nintendo’s very finest action adventures.

A bit of a voyeuristic lad, are we? — No wonder he likes hanging around Arthur’s boxers!

Playing through this game reminded me of the early SNES days where the games came packed with a true sense of awe and wonder. Titles like F-Zero, Contra III, Super Castlevania IV, Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Remember the sense of magic you felt playing such games early on in the SNES lifespan? Somewhere along the lines, the magic got a little lost in a wave of countless decent but ultimately forgettable “me too” titles. Demon’s Crest, however, was a mighty return to the fold; it recaptured the spellbinding wonderment of early SNES masterpieces that you remember fondly even to this day.

We've got to stop meeting like this — *“We’ve got to stop meeting like this”*

Graphically, almost every trick in the book is used: transparency, umpteen layers of parallax, soft eerie swirling mist, some excellent Mode 7 and so on. It fares even better with regards to the sound and music. At times it feels like a slice of Castlevania! You can’t ever go wrong when you can rightfully claim that. The music runs circles around other games which try desperately to summon a foreboding atmosphere but fail to do so. Demon’s Crest is packed with authentic sounding church organ, haunting horns and jiggling flute effects. It’s very orchestral and that boss theme is unforgettable! It’s tense and dramatic which perfectly fits the mood as the behemoth boss reveals itself to you. Classic Capcom quality. Even the little sound effect that plays each time you add another life unit to your health is spot-on perfect.

Gameplay? It’s the best part of all! The nonlinear, open-ended aspect of the game made it extremely fun to play. I love how gaining new powers would open up new parts of a world you’ve previously conquered. It’s quite similar to Super Metroid in that regard. There’s also an “RPG quest” flair to it, thanks to its various side games, shops, interesting NPCs and so forth. And let’s face it, Firebrand is an awesome anti-hero to control. Discovering and properly utilizing your various spells and forms add much strategic quality to a stellar product. However, for as much as I have raved about this game, it isn’t without a few imperfections. Namely, Capcom failed to make use of the shoulder buttons. Unlike Mega Man X where you could switch weapons on the fly using L or R, you cannot do that here. Thus, there’s quite a bit of menu toggling and it can interrupt the flow of the action. When you consider Demon’s Crest came out nearly a year AFTER Mega Man X, you can’t help but feel Capcom dropped the ball a bit here. It’s no deal breaker by any means, but would have made for a smoother playing experience.

Bottom line, Demon’s Crest just sucks you in with its macabre and dark nature. It’s definitely not another me-too platform action game from the mid ’90s! And yes, there are multiple endings depending on what you do or don’t do. The game is pretty short, and you’ll feel bad when it ends all too soon, but you’ll have an absolute blast while it lasts. Not only is it one of the best action games on the Super Nintendo but, in my book, it’s one of the best, PERIOD. I recommend it highly. Sans the Street Fighter II games, Capcom’s finest hour on the Super Nintendo — the best of the rest — is easily…

Put some respeck on my name — **Put some *respeck* on my name**

Graphics: 9
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 9.5
Longevity: 7.5

Overall: 9.5

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Capcom | November 1991 | 8 MEGS**

One of the earliest titles to hit the SNES, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is also often referred to as one of the top classics of its era. Its difficulty is well documented; in fact, rumors swirled back in the early ’90s that even Chuck Norris had trouble finishing it twice. As Sir Arthur, you must clear eight savage lands ranging from dark haunted graveyards to an icy forest in order to save your main squeeze. Easier said than done, especially back to back!

IN THE BEGINNING…

Capcom's original horror franchise! Sorry, Resident Evil — Capcom’s *original* horror franchise! Sorry, *Resident Evil*

Ghosts ‘n Goblins originated in the arcades in 1985. It later received a couple home ports, most notably on the 8-bit Nintendo. I remember seeing this game for the first time at my friend’s house in the late ’80s. Being a lover of monsters big and small, the stunning cover art immediately grabbed me by the ghoulies. Just look at those vile creatures! Now there goes a law-abiding group of good Samaritans if I ever saw one. I watched my friend Tommy fumble through the first level. The zombies were relentless. Arthur not exactly being a ballerina didn’t help matters any, either. But there was something compelling about it. I loved the ghoulish atmosphere.

Capcom released a superb sequel, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, in the arcades at the tail end of 1988. A Sega Genesis version was pumped out in 1989 to much critical acclaim. Then in November 1991, Capcom treated brand new SNES owners with an exclusive sequel, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. This franchise has certainly developed a loyal fanbase since the first game hit the scene in 1985. To this very day, fans still love playing through these classics and fans still clamor for a proper return. It’s a shame Sir Arthur’s future is up in the air. But hey, at least we’ll always have these great games to keep us warm.

RAINING GHOULS ‘N GHOSTS

Several months following my SNES rebirth in January of 2006, I decided to reinvest in another old childhood favorite… the Sega Genesis. Those were some fun and reckless days, I tells ya. I was scouring eBay nonstop, checking the forums for people unloading games and surfing Craigslist daily. It was on a crazy rainy Friday afternoon that I met ex-gamer Kevin outside a local grocery store to cut the deal. It was my $20 for his five Genesis games. Among them, of course, was Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. Kevin must have felt nostalgic that rainy late afternoon, because before he handed me the game, he looked me dead in the eye and he said, “This is one of the best video games I have ever played.”

I stood outside his red truck holding an umbrella as he sat inside all warm and toasty. A small cute looking beagle stood on the passenger seat, tilting its head as it stared at me. Kevin went on to tell me that these games were all purchased from him back in the day and that they had been resting unused in his attic for a good number of years now. But it was time to let them go to a new home that would play them rather than have them sit on a shelf collecting dust. He cut me a great deal, 20 for all five as I said, and I couldn’t have been a happier camper that rainy Friday afternoon. It was one of my most favorite experiences off Craigslist and a very fond game memory from that crazy year of 2006 — the year where I set out to reclaim bits and pieces of my childhood. As the gray afternoon skies continued raining Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, I drove home on that wet freeway with a grin plastered across my face as wide as the Mississippi River. What a bargain, sure, but it was the human element that made it such a memorable transaction.

I had briefly seen and played Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, coincidentally, once again at Tommy’s place in the late ’80s. It had amazing visuals for its time. Who could ever forget that first gigantic boss who rips his own freakin’ head off? Arthur wasn’t much more athletic here than his NES outing but at least now he could shoot up. And like the NES game before it, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts was damn tough. Let’s see how Sir Arthur fared in his next adventure, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts…

THE STORY GOES…

“Look everyone! Our hero, Sir Arthur, is back! Hip hip hooray!”

"YEEEEAH, BOY! GO ON IN AND GET YOUR WOMAN!" — *“YEEEEAH, BOY! GO ON IN AND GET YOUR WOMAN!”*

"OH Arthur! Welcome back home!" — *“OH Arthur! Welcome back home!”*

“Thank you, Princess Guinevere. I’ve come back to check up on you. While journeying all over the world seeking more knowledge, I had a very strange premonition. So, how are things? Anything peculiar? Sick guards, dying crops, red demons, perhaps?”

*cue I always feel like somebody's watching me!* — *I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me!*

“Oh Sir Arthur, I too have felt an uneasy premonition as of late. I feel that someone… or something… is watching me… waiting in the shadows…”

“Not to worry, Princess. I’m here now. I won’t let anything bad happen to you ever again.”

“Thank you, Arthur. Your words comfort me but still, I can’t shake that horrible feeling that we’re being watched as we speak…”

Meanwhile… somewhere in the distance just beyond the castle…

"AWWWW! We NEVER get to have any fun!" — *“AWWWW! We **NEVER** get to have any fun!”*

“I sense something wicked watching us now!”

“Relax, Princess! You’re safe with me.”

“Oh you mean just like the last time, huh?”

“Don’t start that with me, woman!”

“SHHH! You hear that?”

“Hear WHAT?!”

*FLAP FLAP FLAP*

"AW CRAP, not this shit again!" — *“AW CRAP, not this shit again!”*

ARM YOURSELF

A welcomed change: he's not so unathletic anymore! — *A welcomed change:* he’s not so unathletic anymore!

You start out with the steel armor. Next upgrade is the Bronze Armor (middle), then finally the Golden Armor (right). The Bronze Armor grants Arthur power to use the Weapons of Enchantment while the Golden Armor allows him to cast magical spells. The shields are also invaluable.

Torch is eh, but the crossbow is my favorite

These only become available with the Bronze Armor

Here’s the Flaming Lance in action. Not only does it leave a nice trail but it’s twice as effective as the normal Lance shot.

Whether you’re using the regular weapons or their powered-up versions, you can release a stronger shot at the peak of your double jump. A successful attempt is highlighted via a red-ish glow. It’s a neat technique that adds a bit more strategy to the game, particularly during those boss battles.

Here’s the Magic Dagger in action. Discover the rest for yourself!

WELCOME TO THE MAGIC SHOW

Magic is yours to use once the Golden Armor is worn

Check out the Thunder Magic — this is when you’re wielding the Flaming Lance and rocking the Golden Armor.

Have the Magic Dagger on ya while wearing the Golden Armor? Then you have the power to call forth some Fire Dragon Magic! The weapon you’re currently in possession of determines what kind of magic you can unleash. They range in terms of effectiveness so it’s fun to figure out which ones work best when and where. One magic power doesn’t harm enemies; rather, it searches for hidden treasure troves! Acquiring AND maintaining the Golden Armor is key to success.

MAPQUEST

Thanks bogleech.com for this map — Thanks *bogleech.com* for this map

Trek through eight deadly worlds to save the blasted Princess. Er, actually 16 but uh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet…

LEVEL 1: THE DEAD PLACE

The original Capcom zombie right there, folks!

Ah, such a classic first stage — take a ghoulish romp through a haunted graveyard! From this forgotten cemetery, zombies arise to attack the living. Only the bravest and strongest will survive a journey through this cursed land.

So cool how the landscape shifts and changes

Thank you for that one, Mr. Nick Adams. Rest In Peace — Thank you for that one, Nick Adams. Rest In Peace

"YOU STINKIN' RATS!" — **“YOU STINKIN’ RATS!”**

Love having choices: do you go above or through?

Danger lurks at every turn. Beware of savage wolves! — Danger lurks at every turn. Beware of savage wolves

Whew! That was a close one... TOO DAMN CLOSE — Whew! That was a damn close one…

"Who needs a lousy key?!" — *“Who needs a lousy key?!”*

Occasionally, treasure chests will pop up out of the ground. Inside lies a random item. Perhaps a different weapon choice or even precious armor…

... and other times the evil Conjurer! — … and other times the evil Conjurer!

Better kill him fast or else... — Better kill him fast or else he could…

Hell turn you into a baby! — … turn you into a baby!

Thank goodness it’s only temporary. You can also be turned into a little girl or even a bee. Capcom sure had fun making this one…

It's not very potent but I love its range and speed — It’s not very potent but I love its range and speed

Pillars provide safe harbor from the crashing waves, which will carry you ruthlessly away to an early, murky grave.

(Double) jump at random points — you never know when doing so may trigger a hidden treasure chest to reveal itself from its hiding place. It’s fun to find them and feels a bit like an Easter egg hunt at times. It’s all a bit weird and cool at the same time.

NOW were talking! — **NOW** we’re talking!

You just found the Bronze (even though it’s green) Armor! With this bad boy you can now employ the almighty Weapons of Enchantment. Unfortunately, one hit strips Arthur straight to his boxers rather than back down to his regular steel armor. That’s a bit of a bitch but it sums up the toughness of this game. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts separates the men from the boys.

Kill the wretched bubbly masses before detonation

Now equipped with the Bronze Armor, the crossbow becomes a homing weapon of destruction! Too bad though you can only fire one triple shot at a time. Should one shot linger searching for a target, you are left defenseless and are forced to wait until that last shot dissipates. This, as you can imagine, can prove costly in the heat of battle.

Be sure to look back for a nifty surprise!

Too bad one hit reduces Arthur to his boxers — Too bad ***just one*** hit reduces Arthur to his boxers

Congrats, it’s the almighty Golden Armor. So now not only do you have the powerful Weapons of Enchantment at your disposal but also magic! Charge up Arthur to unleash these magic powers.

Have the Crossbow? It seeks out hidden treasures

"Ah I'm safe now... TOTALLY in the clear..." — *“Ah I’m safe now… **TOTALLY** in the clear…”*

Remember how I said make sure you look over your shoulder after leaping over these fiery skeleton carts? Here’s why…

The ground shifts, sending em your way — The ground shifts, sending ‘em your way

Double jump straight up in the air to be safe

This is amusing to you, isnt it, Capcom? — This is amusing to you, isn’t it, Capcom?

Plus the dramatic boss music hits. Gotta love it

"GIVE ME BACK MY PRINCESS, BITCH!" — *“GIVE ME BACK MY PRINCESS, BITCH!”*

"KEEP HER, KEEP HER, KEEP HER!!" — **“KEEP HER, KEEP HER, KEEP HER!!”**

Nothing hits me in the feels like big bosses that flash

[Get this fake 1998 Godzilla crap outta here! -Ed.] — *[Get this fake **1998** Godzilla bull crap outta here! -Ed.]*

"Hey pal, don't get any funny ideas now..." — *“Hey pal, don’t get any funny ideas now!”*

What an amazing visual the Cockatrice was. And still is! — What an *amazing* sight the Cockatrice was and still is!

The Cockatrice, like all the bosses in this game, is easy to beat. In addition to laying its eggs, it’ll stretch that horrible long neck out in hopes of pecking you to a bloody death. This is a great example of a simple but effective boss design. Large, menacing and all-around badass. Few did it better than Capcom back in the early ’90s.

LEVEL 2: THE ROTTING SEA

This level is quite atmospheric. For starters, Arthur leaves this decrepit dock. No sooner then does it crumble into the sea, and you have the makings of yet another memorable level to come.

You find yourself trapped on the Graveyard of Ships. Long ago, this thriving harbor was home to hundreds of sea-faring men. But now the entire port is laid to waste, and only the restless and wicked ghouls remain.

Hurry, ascend before the sea swallows you whole!

Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride... — Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride…

You'll encounter man-eating mutant fish — You’ll encounter man-eating mutant fish

As well as this horrible squid-plant hybrid

Like the Cockatrice, he's easy enough — Like the Cockatrice, he’s easy enough

Yeah, what's the Princess ever done for ya anyway? — Yeah, what’s the Princess *ever* done for you anyway?

Ah, I see the mandatory fire and ice worlds up ahead... — Ah, I see the mandatory fire and ice worlds up ahead

LEVEL 3: VERMILION HORROR

Brave adventurers must first make it through the Crucible of Flame. Deep within the earth, the flames of evil burns brightly. Its glow drips with despair and darkness to all who venture forth.

Double jump, if ya dare, to nab the money

Visually, this level is pretty stunning. I love all the fire pits and how they turn different shades of red and orange. Nice. And you know what those demon head fire-spewing statues remind me of?

These guys from Genesis Ghouls 'N Ghosts! — These guys from Genesis *Ghouls ‘n Ghosts*

Almost a shame to kill this guy. ALMOST — Someone could use a Tic-Tac

I just love this guy. He’s like the Andore of Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. He’s bigger than most other normal bad guys and takes several shots before tapping out. I have a thing for regular enemies who are extra tough and a little bigger than the rest of the non-boss cast.

The green glow up top makes this part VERY cool — The green glow up top makes this part *VERY* cool

Capcom was so damn good at adding in these little details to make their levels even more interesting than they already were. Gotta appreciate the craftsmanship.

Evil eyes from the darkness track your every move... — Evil eyes from the darkness track your every move…

The pillars move up and down. Be patient but don’t take your sweet ass time, either! Used properly, the double jump comes in extra handy here. Sometimes you need to head back to the drawing board so save that precious second jump for any last second change. It could determine the difference between winning and losing, yes sir.

Safely past the Crucible of Flame, it’s on to the Towers of Molten Steel. The mere sight of the twin towers strikes terror into the hearts of men. Within these demented walls, the ghouls of the Phantom Zone practice their darkest and most unspeakable acts of evil.

Who needs fancy 3D graphics eh? ;) — Who needs fancy 3D graphics when you got this

Slightly reminiscent of Nebulus (Commodore 64), this is a rather impressive bit. The twisting and turning of the tower while those gargoyle statues slowly reveal themselves is splendid stuff, especially by 1991 standards.

Kirby's Adventure (NES) — *Kirby’s Adventure* (NES)

Foreboding skies greet you on the way to Tower #2

Nasty spear-wielding one-eyed demons give chase

I dont think hes friendly — I don’t think he’s friendly…

Talk about a monstrosity! He’s easier than he looks, though. I find it best to stay right there where Arthur is positioned in the pic and fire away.

LEVEL 4: THE GHOUL’S STOMACH

To enter the frozen lands of the Emperor of Evil, you must first pass through the foul Ghoul’s Stomach. It won’t be easy, and it sure as hell won’t smell pleasant, either. Those axe-wielding goblins are annoying bastards. Deal with them quickly — you don’t want a pack of them coming after you.

Hope you've mastered your double jumping... — Hope you’ve mastered your double jumping…

Every so often the landscape changes from bad to worse and players must hotfoot it to safety via these platforms, or else.

Witness the amazing rotating prowess of the SNES

Shades of Godzilla's nemesis, King Ghidorah — Shades of Godzilla’s nemesis, King Ghidorah

LEVEL 5: THE DEEP CHILL

BRRR! Good to have that armor... for now anyhow! — *BRRR!* Good to have that armor… for now anyhow

First up is the Ice Forest. The blizzards constantly blow in this frozen world of ice and snow. Many have tried to conquer this land over the years but none have yet to return. Hope you don’t run across their decayed remains…

Ah, my favorite guy's back, but in icy form this time — Ah, my favorite guy’s back, but in icy form this time

"Nice boy... nice boy..." — *“Nice boy… nice boy…”*

Beyond the Ice Forest lies the Ice Wall. A wall of sheer ice surrounds the palace. If the freezing cold doesn’t kill you, surely the savage wolves will.

Hang onto a ladder during avalanches to stay safe

I guess you haven't found your better half yet... — I guess you haven’t found your better half yet…

At the end of this icy prison you come face to face with this terrible ice demon — the one they call Freon. He looks quite tough but he’s really not. The design isn’t bad but I would prefer if he was whole and not broken before you could lay a finger on him. Would have been much more satisfying if you could damage him bit by bit until nothing remained but his frozen head. But perhaps that’s just my sadistic side speaking. Also, it would have been more dramatic if he came bursting out of those frozen prison bars, but now I’m just nit-picking!

Come on Arthur, you know NO girl is worth all this

LEVEL 6: THE CASTLE OF THE EMPEROR

"One day I'll star in my very own SNES game... you'll see!" — *“One day I’ll star in my own SNES game… you’ll see!”*

At the beginning of this level, you’re once again greeted by the double tough Red Arremer, Firebrand.

The castle possesses a strikingly sinister design

Thats... not disturbing at all... — That’s… not disturbing at all…

A version of the Cockatrice stuck within the castle walls?! What kind of foul play is this?! It’s all twisted and PLAIN WRONG like a nightmare come to life.

"Whadaya think, does this coat color suit my eyes?" — *“Whadaya think, does this coat color suit my eyes?”*

It’s the mighty demon, Astaroth! Love the design. He’s the right-hand monster to Sardius (AKA Demon Emperor Samael). Astaroth sports two faces so hideous not even a mother could love. The bottom one looks like an evil tree.

LEVEL 7: HALLWAY OF GHOULS

Looks oddly familiar... — Looks slightly familiar…

Red Falcon from Contra III — Red Falcon from *Contra III*

Once more you must duel with Astaroth. He spews fire from his bottom mouth and fires lasers up top. Be patient and don’t double jump unless absolutely necessary; otherwise, his laser beam might slice you in half.

Meet his ultimate form — This doesn’t look too promising

After defeating Astaroth, you face a superior demon in the form of one, Nebiroth. Watch out for his laser shot which cuts a huge swath. He’s a tough cookie but you should be fine if you play it smart.

LEVEL 8: THE THRONE ROOM

Welcome to the Throne Room, home to the one and only Sardius! Talk about a menacing and imposing final boss. Towering over Arthur with his golden armor, it sure looks like a tall task ahead. To set the mood proper, lightning strikes the dark night sky, sending waves of white blinding flashes across the throne room. It’s a modern day David and Goliath. On paper at least. But in reality Sardius is pretty easy. You can kill him without even getting hit.

Positioning yourself properly is the key

A set of laser beams fly out of his mouth. Position yourself roughly around here. His right or left leg works fine. Oddly enough, just for your convenience, Sardius also sends out two icy platforms. Double jump on to one of them but not when he sends the lasers late, which he does a time or two.

The platform takes you up to his head level. You’ll be able to land a couple shots in before the ice gives way.

Regrettably, he’s all bark and no bite. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is a challenging game but that comes mostly in the levels themselves. The bosses are surprisingly easy to dispatch. It’s too bad too, because they’re wonderful designs and you expect them to put up more of a tough fight.

Speaking of challenging, you must beat this game TWICE but more on that later. For now, let us enjoy our victory and bask in the glow of a job well done.

"OH ARTHUR! Calm down will ya -- NOT RIGHT HERE!" — *“OH ARTHUR! Calm down will ya — NOT RIGHT HERE!”*

Somebodys getting SOME tonight — Somebody’s getting *SOME* tonight

Thanks Capcom for yet another classic gem — They lived happily ever after, right? Right…

All is right and peaceful... for now at least... — *[Sucker -Ed.]*

OH C’MON YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!

"You know... I've JUST about had enough of you..." — *“You know… I’ve had **JUST** about enough of you…”*

You must beat the game twice and kill Sardius with the Bracelet to get the true ending. The Bracelet isn’t exactly the best weapon, either. The difficulty of the game also rises in the second round. To find the Bracelet, you must have the final power-up item, the Sun Shield. The next treasure chest you uncover will contain the weapon required to properly kill Sardius. Don’t lose the Bracelet either or you’re screwed. Talk about tough love.

SUPER CODES ‘N CHEATS

God bless this option to jump anywhere in the game

Continue off where you please... sweet — Continue off where you please… sweet

How nice of Capcom to even let you to pick the area in the stage you want to go to! With no save or password option, this cheat does well to increase the game’s longevity. Level select code is my favorite type of cheat, especially when the game is lacking a password or save option.

HOW FIREBRAND GOT HIS OWN GAME

Demon’s Crest, released in November of 1994, continued the high quality Capcom tradition on the SNES with gnarly visuals, amazing sound, addicting gameplay (Super Metroid fans will instantly eat it up), huge bosses and a totally badass protagonist. What’s not to love? It’s actually my favorite Capcom SNES game not named Street Fighter. Sorry, Mega Man X, but I give the slight edge to Demon’s Crest.

It's a lovely masterpiece — It’s a lovely masterpiece

Firebrand is so fun to control. Who knew back in the mid ’80s when we first faced the red demon that he’d get his line of awesome video games? Be sure to also check out Gargoyle’s Quest on Game Boy (1990) and the 8-bit NES sequel, Gargoyle’s Quest II (1992).

“Hey Arthur… remember that time long ago where I failed miserably to kill you by dropping you high from the sky?”

“Sure… kinda hard to forget stuff like that, you know?”

“Well I just want to thank you for making me see the light. I turned the other cheek and got my own Super Nintendo game, and it’s even better than yours.”

“WHOA! Slow your role, playa. Jeez, some things never change, I guess.”

They dance off to prove whos got the better game — They dance off to prove whose got the better game

Firebrand also appeared in SNES Brandish [Stop it -Ed.] — Firebrand also appeared in *Brandish*… *[Stop it -Ed.]*

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts was well received by critics and fans alike. It’s universally considered as a classic Super Nintendo game, and its inclusion in the upcoming SNES Classic Edition speaks to that. Super Play rated it 85% and EGM ranked it #22 in their Top 100 Games List in issuer #100 (November 1997). Below is an excerpt from RETRO GAMER Magazine.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is simply a classic. I’ve had a lot of fun playing through this one and discovering all the little nuances, from perfecting the double jump to finding out the secret locations of hidden treasure chests. This game kicked my ass, too. But never in a cheap way. Not because of faulty controls or anything like that. The level design is brutal, especially the first 20 times through. Some video games are frustrating in a cheap way but this isn’t one of them. It’s tough in a “Oooh, I’ll get you next time!” sort of manner, reeling you back in for another go and before you know it, an hour’s flown by. And if you’re good, maybe the level too. I never found myself blaming my losses on account of the game. It always came back to human error. And there’s something compelling and addictive about Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts that pushes me to say, “Alright Capcom, one more try…”

"Ever thought of getting a pedicure, mate?" — *“Ever thought of getting a pedicure, mate?”*

The game has a great atmosphere and truly lives up to the name of the title. Rotting zombies litter the Haunted Cemetery, the swirling mist in the Graveyard of Ships soon turns itself into ghastly apparitions, and what can you say about those vile monstrous bosses? Their incredible size and grand detail is awe-inspiring. From the sight of the very first boss, the abominable Cockatrice, you knew you were in for one hell of a ride. The monsters steal the show. Arthur is nothing special to look at, but his enemies sure are. The levels have a great deal of detail to them and though there are two areas per level, they’re actually fairly short. I was expecting the game to be a bit longer than what it is, but no matter, it’s a blast to work your way through them bit by bit. From undertaking tumultuous raft rides of death to scaling demon-infested towers, Arthur has plenty to do in his quest to save the day.

Not only are the visuals and sound right on the money and exactly what you’d expect from Capcom of that era, but the game is simply a sheer joy to play. From its varied locales to tricky predicaments, multiple tools of destruction and even magical spells, it’s got the lot, this one. Capcom was also nice enough to give us four difficulty options. On Beginner, it is actually very manageable. So is the default Normal difficulty in my humble opinion. Personally, I don’t think this game is as hard as many tend to say. With grit, patience and the right equipment, that is. But don’t get me wrong, it IS a very challenging game, especially on the second loop where it automatically gets more difficult. I don’t consider myself an expert player by any stretch of the imagination, but even I was able to get through the game on Beginner and Normal (the first loop, anyhow). As I said, the key is having a good deal of persistence and the having the right weapon in tow. It’s too bad you can only carry one weapon at a time (I hope you don’t get stuck accidentally with the torch) and it’s even worse that Arthur can only withstand two hits — regardless of whether you have the highest armor or lowest. But it’s a fun challenge. And that’s the big fundamental difference between games like this and games that are flat out impossible. The fun keeps you plugging away until at long last you break through, and it’s a great high when you finally do.

Super Ghouls 'NnGhosts: it's a scream! — *Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts*: it’s a scream!

The more I played Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts the more I came to appreciate it in all facets. Initially, I didn’t really like Arthur’s “stiffness” but it slowly grew on me. Mastering the double jump is crucial. Arthur can no longer shoot up but oddly, it somehow works for this game. This is thanks, of course, to the level design. Yeah, there is some slowdown during the more hectic parts, but does it adversely affect the gameplay? Not really. Bottom line, this game delivers in all the areas where it counts. There’s a reason why Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is considered as one of the many “essential must-have” games on the Super Nintendo. No truly great SNES collection is complete without a copy of Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts.

Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 7

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

Is it really? Is it? You're a better man than I am, Arthur — Come on, you know it isn’t…

You're a DAMN good man, sir — This game is lit, fam *[Stop it -Ed.]*