Super Ghouls'n Ghosts
Introduction
Released in 1991, Super Ghouls'n Ghosts remains one of the most celebrated and punishingly difficult side-scrolling action-platformers ever made. Known in Japan as Chohmakaimura (or Chou Makaimura), this title served as the third entry in Capcom’s legendary Ghosts 'n Goblins series. It arrived on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) as a technical showcase, blending hauntingly beautiful visuals with a relentless challenge that would define the 16-bit era. Whether you call it SUPER GHOULS'N GHOSTS or its original Japanese name, Choh Makai Mura, the game is a masterclass in gothic atmosphere and arcade-style precision.
Story & Setting
The narrative follows the dauntless knight Arthur, who finds himself caught up in the most dangerous of quests yet. Peace in the kingdom is shattered when a dark spell is cast upon the land, and Arthur's fair maiden, Princess Prin Prin, is snatched away by the malevolent Emperor Sardius. To rescue his beloved, Arthur must traverse a nightmare landscape populated by the undead and demonic entities that haunt every corner of the realm. The setting is a grim world where every graveyard, ghost ship, and icy cavern feels alive with malice, demanding that the player test their courage and skill to the absolute limit. You must keep up the quest, for the fate of the kingdom and the Princess rests solely on your shoulders.
Gameplay
At its core, Super Ghouls'n Ghosts is a high-stakes action platformer that punishes even the slightest mistake. Arthur begins his journey in his signature suit of steel armor, but a single hit from a stray ghoul will strip him down to his boxers, leaving him vulnerable to a second, fatal blow. A key mechanic introduced in this entry is the double jump. Unlike many modern games, Arthur cannot change his horizontal direction mid-flight during a double jump, meaning players must commit to their trajectory with absolute certainty.
Arthur’s arsenal is diverse, featuring lances, daggers, and scythes, but the real power lies in equipment upgrades. By finding hidden chests, players can upgrade to Bronze Armor and eventually the legendary Gold Armor. This golden suit allows Arthur to charge up his mightiest weapon of all: MAGIC! Each weapon possesses a unique magical ability when fully charged, such as a localized lightning strike or a defensive shield. However, the game is infamous for its "true ending" requirement: players must reach the end of the game twice, eventually using the Goddess's Bracelet to defeat the final boss.
This game has been made available across several generations of hardware, including the original Super Nintendo, the Wii, and more recent handheld systems.
Legacy
Super Ghouls'n Ghosts is often cited as one of the best games in the SNES library, lauded for its incredible soundtrack and innovative use of Mode 7 graphical effects to rotate and scale the environment. While it is known as Chou Makai Mura in its home country, it is globally recognized as a pinnacle of early 90s game design. Its legacy is defined by a "tough but fair" philosophy that would eventually influence the modern "souls-like" genre. It demonstrated how a home console could replicate the spectacle of the arcade, solidifying Arthur’s place in the pantheon of gaming icons.
Fun Facts
- The iconic winged demon enemy, Red Arremer (Firebrand), became so popular that he eventually starred in his own spin-off series, Gargoyle's Quest.
- The game's music was composed by Mari Yamaguchi, who also contributed to the legendary soundscapes of U.N. Squadron.
- Despite being the third game in the series, it is actually a reimagining of elements from the arcade predecessor Ghouls 'n Ghosts, though featuring entirely new level designs and bosses.
- The double jump was specifically designed to make the game's platforming more vertical and complex than its predecessors.
