Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, known as Chou Makaimura (which translates to "Super Demon World Village") in Japan, is a platform video game developed and released by Capcom for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom in 1991.
This game is arguably one of the best early examples of the SNES’s audio and visual capabilities. Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts proved that while the Super Nintendo might not have been the powerhouse arcade machine we all imagined as early 1990s' kids, it had a strong engine that could really push the limits of what home gaming could achieve.
The Story
You are Arthur, the bravest knight around, and you're on a perilous mission! Sinister enemies and nasty demons are ready to unleash chaos upon you! Your goal is to rescue the radiant Princess Guinevere. But be careful! The sinister ruler of the forbidden land can summon all sorts of evil and destruction. Who knows what lurking horrors await you in this eerie domain?
You might lose your armor and strength. You could be cursed, turning into a baby, a duck, or even a skeleton! But don't worry—you’ll always have a weapon, and magic is there to aid you. Defeat the witches, ogres, and ghosts. Avoid the snapping skulls and terrifying ghouls. And ultimately, save Guinevere from the mysterious depths of the Phantom Zone!
The Graphics and Sound
The visuals are vibrant and full of color. While I usually don't base a game's quality solely on its appearance, it is worth noting that the animations for all the enemies and the backgrounds are quite detailed. If you're feeling nostalgic or just tired of modern 3D graphics and newer consoles, you'll find this game to be a nice change of pace. Overall, it's held up surprisingly well over the years.
On the sound department, each stage features its own unique music, and a detail that might be overlooked is that most, if not all, of the bosses have their own distinct theme music as well, which helps keep the experience fresh and prevents it from becoming too repetitive. This is a thoughtful touch by Capcom. While the number of sound effects is somewhat limited, they are effective and fit the game well. Importantly, none of the sounds are annoying or grating, even after playing for hours, which is definitely a plus.
The Gameplay
Before you dive into this game, be prepared: It is damn hard! I’m not exaggerating. This game will have you throwing your controller in frustration, screaming out in anger, and pushing your patience to the limit. The difficulty is off the charts, and even seasoned gamers will struggle. Blessed is the one or anyone who’s actually beaten it. After battling through 7 tough levels, you’ll face the final boss, Sardius—but only if you have the right item. If you don’t, the game cruelly sends you back to level one!
To beat Sardius, you need the Goddess Bracelet, which is frustratingly the weakest weapon in the game, and you can only get it on your second playthrough. Defeating the 7th level boss with this bracelet is almost impossible—it takes a ridiculous number of hits, and you have to land them while double-jumping up close. It feels so tough.
Despite the punishing difficulty, the game itself is quite good. The graphics are impressive for an early SNES title, and the music holds up well. The levels are well-designed, and the animation is solid. The bosses are challenging, the variety of enemies is interesting, and some of them are really unique. Plus, the ability to pick up and try different weapons (if you can find them) adds a fun element that might keep you playing — if you can handle the difficulty.
My Verdict
If you are looking for an insanely tough game to conquer, or if you just enjoy punishing yourself with frustration, then by all means, give Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts a try. But if that's not your style, it is still worth checking out. Just do not expect to actually beat it.
Play it on the highly regarded Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a familiar emulator.
Quite a few old school games were way more punishing than modern titles. Maybe some people liked the frustration? I don't know, but they did keep coming back.