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Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is an SNES hack and slash video game that was released during the console's launch window in all regions. After being released on the SNES, it was re-released on multiple other game consoles, most notably (for Nintendo) the Game Boy Advance and Virtual Console. Challenging gameplay make the game dreadfully (in a positive way) popular among hardcore gamers.
Plot[]
Gameplay[]
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a side-scrolling platform game with, in comparison to previous series entries, less an emphasis on run and gun and more on a typical platformer. The player takes the role of the knight Arthur, who years ago saved Princess Guinevere and rid the kingdom of the Ghoul Realm. Arthur is once again in the same situation. The Ghoul Realm is now revived under a spell of Emperor Sardius (known as Samael in the Japanese version), who has kidnapped Guinevere in the Phantom Zone. The game has four difficulty settings (easy, normal, difficult, and professional), and the player also can set the number of lives, topmost nine. However, there are also only six continues.
In each of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts's eight levels (named Quests), four of them consisting of two sections, Arthur, within a time limit, must fight ghouls before defeating a Foul Guardian that protects the gate to the next stage. The first five Quests (The Dead Place, The Rotting Sea, Vermilion Horror, The Ghoul's Stomach, The Deep Chill) take place in a variety of locations, such as graveyards, abandoned ships on sea, flame-filled caverns, and locales consisting of ice and snow. The final three Quests (The Castle of the Emporer, Hallway of Ghosts, and The Throne Room) are areas of Sardius' castle. Parts of the environment, such as earth ground lifting caused by earthquakes, blizzards, heavy sea waves, and avalanches, are also threats to Arthur. Ice Wall, the second section of the fifth level, depicts Arthur scaling a rotating palace a la Nebulus (1987).
Arthur starts in the Steel Armor with a lance. If he gets hit by an enemy or projectile, he loses his armor and is reduced to his underpants; getting hit again results in the loss of a life. An ability not present in previous series entries is the double jump, which allows Arthur to leap, then jump again when in mid-air. Although there is no control of momentum during a single jump, Arthur can change direction through a double jump. Other weapons can be picked up along the way, such as a faster-speed knife, hatchets, cross bows, daggers, torches with short arcs that explode on contact, and much more. However, only one can be held at a time. Like in Ghouls n' Ghosts, hidden treasure chests can be found for weapons, armor upgrades, and bonus points. On the other hand, there are also chests with unwanted traps that results in death, and an magician, the Conjurer, who transforms Arthur into one of four weaker forms temporarily: a baby, a girl, a seal or a wasp. Chests only appear when moving through specific areas of the screen.
Bronze and Gold are two other types of armor that are collectable. A bronze armor equips Arthur with a Weapon of Enchantment, a more powerful version of the weapon he's holding, such as flamed lances, lightning bolt daggers, and even more fire-y torches. A gold armor, a new feature for the series, provides him the enchanted weapon plus a Moon Shield, which protects him from one hit and only works while standing still, and magic that can power-up his weapon even more.
Sticking with tradition, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts must be defeated twice; after beating the last Foul Guardian before Sardius in the first playthrough, Guinevere informs Arthur that he cannot kill the Sardius without a mysterious weapon named the Goddess' Bracelet, of which Sardius captured the Princess because she once wore it. The Goddess' Bracelet must be found in the second playthrough and used to beat Sardius.
Controls[]
- A button - Perform your weapon attack
- B button - Make your character jump
- Y button - Same as A button
- Start button - pauses
Note: every other button, which includes the L, R, X and select button, is not used.
Development[]
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is the third entry of Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins series, following Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) and Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1988); it is also the series' first entry to not be released to the arcade. Leading the 50-member staff, in his first time managing a team, was Tatsuya Minami, who by then already took on positions as artist and producer for console ports of Rush & Crash (1986), Final Fight (1989), and Street Fighter 2 (1991). Capcom's boss assigned Minami to Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts following a two-week break that began after completing Final Fight. By then, the project was stagnant with only the first level completed. What followed was a very turbulent two years, so much so the master ROM was being remade several times near the end of the deadline. The project getting released to favorable reviews following a very difficult process inspired Minami to run future projects for Capcom.
Censorship[]
The original Japanese version featured crosses throughout the game. These were censored by modifying them into the Ancient Egyptian ankh symbol. The final boss had its name changed from Samael to Sardius. The censorship is most to avoid controversy with Christian community.
Changes in the GBA Version[]
Reception[]
Critics from Electronic Gaming Monthly and the German Video Games magazine called it the best entry in the Ghosts 'n Goblin series. As with prior Ghosts 'n Goblins games, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts's very high difficulty was discussed, with Nintendo Life's Damien McFerran declaring it "16-bit gaming at its most unforgiving". Most reviewers opined the challenge was never unfair. A minor criticism was directed at the lack of shooting flexibility, specifically that the player couldn't shoot up or down.
Trivia[]
- The game was featured regularly on the popular Nickelodeon game show Nick Arcade, but was seldom chosen because a map was shown for several seconds after each death.
- The game won the award for Best Challenge (Super NES) in the 1991 Nintendo Power Awards.
External links[]
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts at GameFAQs
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts at MobyGames
- Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts at Virtual Console Reviews
| Ghosts 'n Goblins series | |
|---|---|
| Ghosts 'n Goblins series | Ghosts 'n Goblins • Ghouls 'n Ghosts • Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (GBA) • Resurrection |
| Gargoyle's Quest series | Gargoyle's Quest • Gargoyle's Quest II • Demon's Crest |
| Related | Capcom • Cursed Castilla • Battle Princess Madelyn • Black Tiger • Project X Zone • We Love Golf! |