Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Download Ghouls 'N Ghosts and help Sir Arthur vanquish the forces of darkness! Battle through a haunted land, defeat ghastly creatures, and rescue the princess. Courage and skill will be tested – play now!
a game by Capcom, and Sega
Genres: Action, Arcade Classics, Platformer
Platforms: Sega GenesisGenesis, Sega Master SystemSega Master System
Editor Rating: 7.7/10, based on 12 reviews
User Rating: 8.3/10 - 7 votes
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See also: Retro Games, Gameboy Color Games, Ghost Games
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Ghouls 'N Ghosts

In days of old when knights were bold And the Genesis was just invented. They programmed a host of Ghouls 'n Ghosts and gamers were contented.

Heroic knight Sir Arthur is one of the original princess-savers, and he's out to rescue Princess Tamara from the clutches of the vile Dark Prince, Loki. Run, jump, and hit that fire button - sure you've done it all before, but gadzooks! It's still fun!

Journey through Terror

Sir Arthur's five stage journey covers some of the most challenging SMS terrain around. Each stage consists of two rounds followed by a free-for-all versus a Gatekeeper, the boss who holds the key to the next level. All but one round scroll horizontally.

No vacation spots here; you'll tackle the Hill of Torture, the Village of Decay and Destruction, Baron Rankle's Tower, the Crystal Forest, and the creepy Castle.

Loki's minions overrun the land, and they exist to make your visit as unpleasant as possible. Take a hit and to add insult to injury you lose your armor and then your life. But though Spirits of Death, Pigmen, Skull Blossoms, mutant dragonflies, and Fire Bats look fierce (especially if you're only wearing underwear), it's negotiating the tricky obstacles such as rickety bridges, fire pits, tongue escalators, and a slippery stream bed that make the challenge intense.

Fight your way to Loki's doorstep and then you may find that it's like deja vu all over again.

ProTip: To beat the Stage 1 Demon boss, stand underneath its floating head and fire up at it. If you have the Red Armor, you can get it before it gets you.

Might Makes Right

The action's lively enough to keep your thumbs busy and your wits on edge without short circuiting your brain. Arthur's got a good arm (he throws all his weapons), so a keen shooting eye is your best offense. You start out with the trusty Javelin, but you can find Daggers, Axes, Discuses, and Fireballs.

In the vertical Stage 3-1 go right young man (or woman)!

For added punch you can acquire five types of magic, too, but you can actually make it most of the way through without using any at all.

  • If possible, upgrade your shoes first. Stage 2-2 is torture with the ordinary Silver Shoes.

  • The dagger is the best weapon. It's quick, and it has the longest range.

You get help along the way in the form of Treasure Chests, which can rise up out of the ground anywhere. Blast 'em open and you may reveal a secret Gate where you can upgrade your protective armor, don faster shoes, or recharge your magic power.

  • In general, Gates appear once each stage (unless you die and continue). After that you can bet that the Wizard is waiting for you in the remaining Treasure Chests.

  • It your life points are low, grabbing Armor from a Gate will restore them even if it's the same color as the suit you're wearing.

However, ninety percent of the time Chests hide the pesky Magician. If you aren't fast on the draw, he'll turn you into a daffy duck (if you're wearing armor) or an old geezer (if you aren't).

Unlimited continues help you make a strong bid for the endgame screen, but there's no password feature so be sure you've paid your electric bill if you try to go all , the way.

Ghoulish Looks

Ghouls is a sharp-looking game. The graphics are excellent and the animation's smooth, with the just the barest twinge of flicker. Sir Arthur is a neat little cartoon-character, and it's a crackup when he loses his clothes or turns into a geezer. The monsters look pretty mean, particularly the Demon Heads and Loki.

  • Stand above the Stage 4 Wurm boss' five hearts and attack them when the valves are closed.

  • When you encounter Stage 5-2's floating Demon Heads, attack the one on the right first. If you destroy it, keep moving right until the Head on the left goes off screen. Next move left until only the very tip of its horn appears. It won't fire at you, but you can destroy it off-screen.

  • After you defeat Stage 5-2's Demon Heads, you'll come across two large doorways where two Blue Ogre's are hiding. To avoid a fatal crossfire find the spot in between the doorways where you can't be hit and only one of them appears at a time.

Good Knight

Ghouls 'n Ghosts is about as good a video adventure as there is. SMS crusaders searching for a quest ought to party hearty with Sir Arthur.

Download Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Sega Master System

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

It was spectacular on the Genesis and has now been downsized tor the Master System. Fight against Loki and his underworld servants as you try to survive through an onslaught of evil demons. Find and open treasure chests, at your own risk. Get either a needed power upgrade or a magician who will turn you into a duck. Make it through 5 levels only to have to repeat them all to get to Loki!

People say:

7.0

The 8-Bit Sega translation of Ghouls and Ghosts is pretty amazing! The graphics are some of the best you'll ever see on the SMS, and the game play remains just as strong. Sound quality isn't up to 16-Bit standards, but there aren't many SMS titles to strongly recommend, but this is one.

6.0

Sega is starling to breath more life into the 8-bit. Many of the older titles were only mediocre at best but G&G turns that around real fast. For a 2 meg game the product is spectacular! All the levels are there as most of the action. The bosses are done well and Loki is exceptional!

7.0

I'm impressed! I never thought Sega could actually shrink this awesome Genesis game into a 2Meg 8-bit and come out with something decent. Of course the graphics are toned down, but the play remains intact. It's all there, 2 quests, the weapons, Loki, and more.Can't wait to see HI' Strider.

7.0

This 8-bit version of Ghouls and Ghost was really great. The game play is a bit rough, there's a lot of flicker, and it does slow down. Otherwise, graphics are great and more than makes up for the lack of detailed backgrounds. It doesn't compare to the 16-bit version, but it's still good!

  • Manufacturer: Sega
  • Machine: Genesis

Go to the options screen and select the last musical score (26) and the last sound effect (56). On the D-button, press and hold D and A, B and C, then press START to exit the options screen. If you've done this correctly, the titles will appear on screen in Japanese. Thanks to Jacob Yanes of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for this find.

  • Manufacturer: SEGA
  • Machine: Sega Genesis

  • Sound/Music 10

  • Graphics 9
  • Playability 10
  • Overall 9

It didn't take long for Sega to produce a game worthy of the power of their new Genesis system. Ghouls 'N' Ghosts is a faithful replication of the arcade game upon which it's based. The graphics are extraordinary, the music is delightfully atmospheric and the game play is tough and addictive.

You, the player, control the actions of Sir Arthur on a mission to rescue your regal girlfriend from the clutches of the evil Prince of Darkness. He's taken her captive and terrorized the countryside with his hideous creatures: Angels of Death, gigantic skull-spitting plants, tentacles that beckon you from underground, birds of prey and dozens of others. Unfortunately, your defenses are thin: a coat of armor and a single weapon. One successful attack from an enemy and you lose your armor, leaving you to roam the countryside in your underwear - an odd sight, to be sure. One more attack and you're just another pile of adventurer's bones.

Scattered along the way are treasure chests, some containing demons and some holding armor or weapons. Should you find one with armor when you're already fully suited, you'll gain magical powers of exceptional effectiveness. Using magic requires a three-second power-up period each time, so you can't always use magic when dodging a tight situation.

There are six types of weapons, each with its own magic. The weapons -swords, axes, fire water, discuses and daggers - have different properties and are useful for various situations. Some must be used in close quarters, and some can be thrown short or long distances. At the end of each of the levels is a "boss monster", and usually there's one or two weapons that are most effective at destroying him. In fact, some of them can only be dispatched with a certain weapon. Deducing which weapon is needed is strictly trial-and-error.

The graphics in Ghouls 'N' Ghosts are extraordinary. The backgrounds move at a different rate than the foregrounds, giving a 3-D appearance that the Genesis is noted for. The game scrolls sideways, vertically, diagonally, up and down are ways you've never seen before.

Each level features more sophisticated graphics than the last, with a near-photographic quality at times. But it's the dozens of minor details that really make the game special: attacking characters peek around the tall grass before approaching, feathers fly when the vultures are killed, trees sway, leaves spiral though the wind, thunder storms and earthquakes rock the scenery and more. All of this is accompanied by a series of intense arid catchy musical scores, funky yet sinister, vaguely reminiscent of Lurch's harpsichord from The Addams Family. The sound effects are also outstanding, especially the metallic clank of the blood-thirsty guillotines that pepper the first level.

With the various options available in the option screen, you can sample all of the musical licks and sound effects. Despite the misleading "1 Player" notation on the back of the box, the game has a two-player mode as well (which can be played with only one controller, if you wish). The nicest feature is the presence of two modes, practice and professional. In professional mode, there are more villains and they are quite a bit tougher than in practice mode. In either mode, you have unlimited continues that let you pick up the game close (to the nearest half a level) to where you left off.

All in all, Ghouls 'N' Ghosts is the most addictive and absorbing release for the Genesis to date. Even fans of the arcade version will be forced to admit that this is a near-perfect reproduction. It's one of the few totally satisfying video games I've had the pleasure to play.

Number of Levels: 4 Theme: Action/Adventure Difficulty: Average Number of Players: 1 Available: 1990

Put on Armor and Fight the Undead

In this remarkably faithful translation of the high-powered sequel to Ghosts and Goblins, you set out on a mythical quest to fight the ultimate evil and rescue the damsel in distress.

Ghouls and Ghosts is the flagship of the Genesis software library. No other home video game has ever had such detailed graphic characters, such beautifully drawn scrolling backgrounds, and such challenging game play.

You're Arthur, a brave knight who has once again been called upon to take on an undead evil from the underworld.

Prior to play, you're treated to a scrolling map that plots your progress and shows you the dangers to come. Each one of the game's five levels of play is broken up into three different sections that include a first and last half and then the Boss attack. It is during these encounters with the Boss creatures that the game really comes to life, with fabulously animated nasties that fill the entire screen!

People say:

9

Ghouls and Ghosts is a game you can't pass up! It's one of the few titles that packs enough action and challenge to keep any player busy! The game play is great, the Bosses truly frightening, and the power-ups different and exciting. Just what a 16-Bit game should be!

9

Easily the best cartridge game ever made! Also powerful - with audio that is second to none and animated backgrounds that add a great 3-D effect. Other graphic surprises include rain, wind, fire and more! Combined with extremely challenging play Ghouls is a superior effort!

9

An excellent mix of action and adventure. Ghouls and Ghosts is not only packed with fantastic play, it is also filled with some of the best Boss guardians ever! From the opening level to your battle with the devil himself, Ghouls and Ghousts keeps you enthralled and fully satisfied.

9

The best game for the Genesis so far. Awesome graphics and super detailed characters, combined with great game play make this one of the best all-around games I've played on any machine.

  • Levels: 5
  • Theme: Action
  • Players: 1
  • Difficulty: Average

The classic sequel to the original Ghosts and Goblins that won our 1990 Best Video Game Award. Guide Sir Arthur through the countryside in search of the evil demon Loki.

TAKE ON THE LEVEL THREE BOSS - THE DEADLY MISTRAL WIND

When you approach the end of Level Three, you must jump from the tongues of the stone idols. Don't get too close to the idols' mouth or you'll get gobbled up! Don't forget that you'll speed up as the monsters retract their tongues back into their mouths.

When you reach the last plateau, the Mistral Winds will appear. This Boss is comprised of a giant eye surrounded by clouds. Within the eye rages a violent electrical storm. You must repeatedly shoot the eye as it hovers around and below. While it is easy to hit the Winds when they are directly left and right, it is important to hit the Boss as it flies overhead (shooting up) and below (jump and fire down).

When the Mistral Winds become electrically-charged, however, you can't attack the Boss. It is also at this time that the Boss is at its most dangerous state of movement so back away! Resume the battle against the Level Three Boss once it has settled down into its regular patterns. The best weapon is again the dagger, since it fires with the most frequency.

LEVEL FOUR BOSS - THE ROTTEN WORM

The fourth Boss is difficult mainly because of the slinking snake that winds its way around the screen. Besides this attacker, smaller worms appear from the five pulsating hearts in the large worm, work their way up and onto the top of the main Boss, and then head in your direction!

To waste this Boss and proceed to the final level, use the dagger weapon and move to the very edge of the worm's backside. Crouch down and fire into the two left-most hearts. These will be destroyed quickly and with very little effort. If smaller worms approach, simply arise and fire. Move to the right side of the worm (right above the creature's head) and repeat this process on the two hearts to the right. Along the way, pump a couple of shots into the center heart and finish the beast off!

UNCOVERING THE PRINCESS AND DEFEATING LOKI...

To defeat the Ghouls and Ghosts and their leader Loki, you must first progress through the game's five levels of action and adventure, gather the necessary information on locating the Psycho Weapon and the Goddess of Battle from Merlin and the Princess, and set out to defeat a more powerful five rounds of monsters.

To obtain the Psycho Weapon, your allies will tell you, you have to open one of the special treasure chests while wearing the Golden Magic Armor.

Although the Psycho Weapon is extremely effective against the forces of evil, especially the supreme demon Loki, it is not the best weapon to have when fighting the inhabitants of the Ghouls and Ghosts' world (the dagger is a much quicker and effective item). The Psycho Weapon has a very limited length of attack, even when fully powered-up, making it a less than desirable offense. Instead of putting on your magic armor and meeting with the Goddess of Battle right away, wait until the end of your fight to uncover the Goddess and keep the dagger throughout the repeated five game levels.

Use this guide to uncover the magic armor, locate the Goddess of Battle, and retrieve the Psycho Weapon near the end of level five! Then move onto Loki and the final confrontation...

  • Jump right before the skull ladder to reveal the first chest. Shoot this treasure chest and eliminate the Wizard that appears. Now move up the ladder to get to the first batch of Mini-Bosses.
  • After destroying the two green cyclops heads, move to the right and into the chamber of the twin Lucifers. As you pass the first door in this red chamber, a treasure chest will appear. Do not get it or break the chest at this point. This is the treasure from which the Goddess will appear later in the round.
  • Attack the left cyclops head from BELOW the cyclops chamber to avoid double attacks. Stand on the chest and fire through the floor above you when the head appears. Once the first cyclops dies, shoot the chest but don't get the Armor left behind.
  • Move on and destroy the three Mini-Winds. If you are not wearing armor, jump to here and break the chest to reclaim a suit of normal armor.
  • The Bee Boss forms from smaller (but just as deadly) bees, then splits up again and follows you to reform again.
  • Once you have defeated the three Mini-Winds and are wearing a suit of armor, retrace your steps through the lair of the Lucifers (again ignoring the treasure chest), and work your way down the chamber of the Cyclops to where the Magic Armor lays resting. Get the Golden Armor and move back up to the red chamber of Lucifers to where the last treasure waits. Break it open and you will reveal the Goddess of Battle Grab the Psycho Weapon and move towards Loki!

LOKI...THE ULTIMATE EVIL!

Undoubtedly one of the most impressive Bosses to ever show up at your home, Loki is a fiery demon intent on keeping the Ghouls and Ghosts on Earth forever!

As Arthur advances into Loki's chamber, the monster will immediately come to life with his hands outstretched and eyes raging.

Loki attacks by firing laser beams from his hands and spitting bombs down from his mouth. The laser beams are definitely the more dangerous projectiles since they can be fired from almost any angle and also eliminate portions of the ground. Jump and fire at Loki's head, or jump on his foot or knee and wait for the monster to raise you up to his face. When you are in close proximity to Loki's vulnerable area, fire away and get set for a great ending!

  • Number of Levels: 5
  • Theme: Action
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Available: October 1989

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE IN THE HAUNTED RUINS!

Ghouls and Ghosts follows the further adventures of a brave knight who must conquer lands filled with monsters and magic. Continuing the theme made popular in Ghosts and Goblins, this high-powered sequel (which was released by Capcom in the arcades) is done complete justice on the Sega Genesis. The graphics are arcade-quality, the sound is rich and varied, and the game play is nothing less than extraordinary! In fact, Ghouls and Ghosts is so good, it very well may be the most advanced home video game of all time!

With lance in hand, you set out once again into five new worlds loaded with beautifully drawn scrolling backgrounds and a highly-detailed cast of demons and creatures!

In addition to the great graphics, sound effects, and music, Ghouls and Ghosts also introduces the same power-up enhancements that were used in Goblins. The weapons can be used in conjunction with a special suit of armor, however, for a whole new set of offensive and defensive functions! When you have the special golden armor, which is found in certain treasure chests like the other weapons, you can hold the fire button to store up energy and release a blast weapon. This play mechanic is similar to the Beam Laser in R-Type and adds a whole new dimension to play by upgrading your powers to all new heights!

Throughout the game, Ghouls and Ghosts remains challenging to even the most seasoned players, with a constant supply of danger always lurking ahead. While some may have trouble just getting through the first level, this type of respect to today's game players is much-welcomed!

Ghouls and Ghosts is a fantastic game and an absolute "must-have" for all new Genesis owners. It is nearly flawless in every detail!

RAINSTORMS

As you enter the second half of level one (after the log bridge), you will run into a torrential storm, with heavy winds and rain. You'll make slow progress if you try to run against the winds. Jump repeatedly to escape the area fast.

TREE OF DEATH

Before you pass through the guillotine that leads to the second half of the first quest, you must contend with the "Tree of Death". A flock of killer vultures rest upon the old and twisted limbs of the tree and attack when you approach! To meet this challenge, walk past the tree in short increments and wait for the birds to attack in small groups. If you try to run past the tree, all the vultures will swoop down on you at once, and make survival very difficult!

LEVEL ONE BOSS

Begin your attack on the armored unicorn by creeping up on him until he first appears. Jump and fire (use the spear, dagger, or shield) to taunt him into attacking.

When he begins walking toward the left, jump and fire (you should return to the wall at the extreme left). Duck to avoid his head, and fire straight up when the green monster is overhead. Remember to aim at the head!

START LEVEL TWO: The Village of the Damned

At the beginning of level two, you will encounter a number of bouncing turtle shells approaching from the right. Push ahead and pause only when the trajectory of a turtle gets in your way. Don't wait too long or the turtles themselves will appear and start a slow slumbering walk toward your hero!

TAKE ON BOSS TWO

At the end of the second level you will face the Fire Dog. This Boss creature attacks by charging at your hero. Rapidly fire at the hell hound when it is to your left or right and duck when it leaps overhead. Multiple hits will destroy it!

FIREWHEEL

Timing is critical to escape the flames of the fire wheel. Run ahead just when the arm of the wheel goes by.

BEWARE OF THE WIZARD!

When certain treasure chests are opened, they reveal a mad sorcerer who casts an evil spell to turn you into a hopping duck or an old man.

LOOK FOR TRAPS!

As you make your way across the wooden bridges, some of the steps will break open and drop you into the pits below. Jump over the traps!

Beware of the pillars of fire which appear from the top and bottom of the playfield. Attack them - but watch out for the Firebats which appear in their wake!

POWER-UP

During your quest you will encounter treasure chests. Inside some of these chests you will find new weapons which can greatly enhance your fighting abilities.

Sir Arthur to the Rescue!

The evil Lucifer, putrid king of the Ghoul Realm, has returned! It was merely three years ago that Arthur vanquished his mindless minions and rescued Princess Guinevere from Lucifer's wretched kingdom. And now, Lucifer has done it again -- he's spirited the Princess away, this time to the Phantom Zone! No, that isn't the place in Superman comics where all Krypton's bad guys wind up. The Phantom Zone is a nightmarish land, which is completely under power. It's also the home of some of the most horrible undead this side of a George Romero film.

If he's to rescue Guinevere and restore order to the kingdom, Arthur must survive four dangerous quests across eight stages and defeat a Foul Guardian at the end of each one that blocks the gate to the next level. And with twelve different weapons, three powerful magic spells, and your guidance, he just might succeed!

Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is a platform video game developed by Capcom in 1988. The game was released for the first time as a platform arcade game and was ported to many other platforms over the time. The game is a sequel to Ghosts ‘n Goblins.

The gameplay of the two games are similar. The player controls knight Arthur and must advance through a series of levels and defeat demonic creatures in order to restore the souls stolen by Lucifer. In the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Sega Master System versions Lucifer is called Loki. Lucifer stole the soul of Arthur’s lover as well, Princess Prin Prin. Arthur can use throughout the game a variety of weapons and armor.

In order to finish the game, Arthur must complete it twice. The first time the completion allows a special weapon to appear in the next round. The second time Arthur Is allowed to fire directly upward and downward while in mid air, otherwise the gameplay of the second game is identical with the one in the first game.

Arthur can jump in certain places and cause a treasure to erupt from the ground. Players may uncover new weapons, gold armor or get Arthur changed into an elderly man or a helpless duck. Each of the weapons has a special attack Arthur can use.

The music in the game was composed by Tamayo Kawamoto and the soundtrack by Tim Follin is featured on many computer ports, including Commodore 64, Atari ST and Amiga.

Several ports for this game were released all over the world. In 1989 the game was featured for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. All these ports were created by Software Creations and unfortunately omit lots of details from the arcade version. The game was featured in the same year for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in Japan and North America, and one year later in Europe. The game was re-released for Nintendo’s Virtual Console Wii in 2007, as a handheld TV game with Street Fighter II.

Sega also released an 8-bit port for the Master System in 1990. This installment had a new power-up system and new items, such as helmets, chest armor and boots. Later on the game was also made available for PlayStation and Saturn in Japan, but also for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2005.

8

The version for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was popular back when released and core a 9 out of 10 from the GameSpot critics. No less than 283 users voted the game with a total average feedback of 8.2.

This game is also known as Dai Makaimura.

Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Dai Makaimura, or "Great Demon World Village" in Japan) is a platform game/run and gun developed by Capcom and released as an arcade game in 1988, and subsequently ported to a number of other platforms. It is the sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins, and prequel to the Super NES game Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

The gameplay for Ghouls n' Ghosts is similar to that of Ghosts 'n Goblins. The player controls the knight Arthur, who must advance through a series of eerie levels and defeat a number of undead and demonic creatures in his quest to restore souls stolen by Lucifer (Loki in the English-language versions), including the soul of his bride, Princess Prin Prin. Along the way, Arthur can pick up a variety of weapons and armor to help him in his quest.

The fantastic Ghouls'N Ghosts which we all have grown to love on the Genesis has now been translated for the Master System! And it is a very fine one at that! All the levels are there as are the demons of the dead. The weapons are expanded though, requiring you to journey into secret doors which appear from within certain treasure chests. Once inside you can power-up one of three features: better armor, boots or a new weapon. Other times Arthur will enter a different shop that allows you to replenish your health or magic! Loki is back in this version and, similar to its 16-Bit brother, you must play through the game twice to reach his lair! It's a cartridge that Master System players have wanted for, and with all the new features and surprisingly good graphics for an 8-Bit engine, Ghouls and Ghosts is winner from beginning to end.

Snapshots and Media

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

Sega Master System Screenshots

See Also

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Legend of Galahad
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    Andy said on Forum:

    Well another classic game, Funny animations and pure pick up and play helped make this game into it's third console version and sadly final, Well worth a go i say!.