I finished all Cuphead's bosses in Hard difficulty and i still love Capcom even though i haven't played Devil May Cry 5. Those mean i have to play one of Ghost 'n Goblin game. Or is it just me? To spice things up, i will play the one that i haven't finished yet. It's Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1991) that's exclusive for Super Nintendo console only!
I have no idea why Capcom keep using that Blue Demon as the logo throughout the series. It's definitely not the infamous Firebrand/Red Arremer or so i think. Some wiki page tells the otherwise even though Firebrand/Red Arremer has red color all over his skin. What if, just what if. The logo demon represents Capcom itself because Capcom logo is blue! *gasp* Or just the producer of this game.
The option setting is pretty standard for 90s game. Changing the game difficulty level to higher than normal is very inadvisable because the game is well-known for its rock-solid or maybe steel-solid difficulty. What really bothers me is the life count setting that is common for its time. Of course, i want the maximum amount of life! Maybe it's for cases like "I want have some quick fun so i only need 1 life" or no-miss challenger. But that's extremely rare case at the time.
The game starts with Arthur (the protagonist knight) run to castle through fireworks festival. Citizens are fixated with fireworks while those 2 guards just stand still stoned and let Arthur passes them easily. Maybe they're festival's statues and not real human.
Then Arthur meet the princess Prin Prin and have some lovely reunion. Like in first Ghosts 'n Goblins, a big red demon flies in and kidnaps the princess. This what you got if your castle security (that only consists of 2 festival statues) is very lacking, you highness. Put some anti-demon barrier, AA guns, or something!
Before the level starts, you will be presented with the map of all stages. I see there's 7 levels but wait! We're talking about Ghosts 'n Goblin game here! The real count could be the twice of it! For those who are new about Ghosts 'n Goblin series, the game doesn't end with finishing the final level. You will be forced to play the same levels again once more to see the ending with some difficulty boost. This "trick" is adopted by Taito in Saint Sword's gameplay design. With double playthrough and aggravating difficulty, no wonder Ghosts 'n Goblin series is considered hardcore game but it becomes cult classic to some people. Finishing a Ghosts 'n Goblin game sounds tedious task but don't you worry! I play Mobile Legends that filled with toxicity and frustration experience, everyday. Making playing Dark Soul 2 feels like a walk in a park so my mental is -more or less- ready for this game. Also savestate is at my disposal like usual.
Like its kin, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is 2D platformer with spooky theme. But unlike Konami's Castlevania, Arthur the protagonist doesn't whip enemies. He hurl lances by default, instead. Clearly he has better attack range than any Belmont by comparison but that's the only braggable thing that Arthur has. As you can see in controller setting, Arthur can jump and shoot, and that's pretty much of it. Looks like Capcom underutilize the capability of SNES' controller by only have 2 action button implemented but as they said "if it isn't broke, don't fix it!"
You can't control Arthur while he's in air, and he can't aim up or down like its predecessor game Ghouls 'n Ghosts. So the word "Super" on the game's title, sounds baffling except it implies that the game only for Super Nintendo console and i can't argue with that. But there's more to it. First, Arthur can do double jump from beginning! I can't recall any game that doesn't implement double jump at the start for the time except this game. So it's big something. Medic_positivevocalization01.wav
Other thing that proves the superness of the title is: this green armor. Once Arthur dons it, his weapon become powered version of the original. For example, the default lance becomes this lance with jet booster. It deals more damage but he can only throws 1 projectile at a time instead of 2 like the original lance.
There's a section in the level where a tide rises and then falls into you. You will die unless you stand on these rock pillars. The idea is they're more solid ground than the soil that they remain stand still and serves as your safe footing. This reminds me a boss battle of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia where this mermaid/sea demon summon a tide on you and you have to take shelter inside the rock pillars.
The first boss is this giant bird. The reason why he's half naked probably because he was half-way boiled inside a cauldron by other demons for dinner but the head honcho demon suddenly decide to give him task to deal with Arthur instead. Either way, he will practically dies. He can only stretches his neck to peck Arthur hopefully. Hit his head several times and he will die. Strange thing is: his attack only that beak attack as i remember. But this time he can occasionally spit eggs that later spawn his kids. Maybe if i wear this green armor, the boss will have one more move. Therefore the game gives you slight fairness if you don't get the special armor.
The bosses always drop key that unlock end of level's gate, after their demise. I think the gate unlocking part is half-baked. But "Searching randomly spawned chest in the middle of difficult stage, to find key to end level" sounds really awful. Good thing i never been in Capcom's developer team. I might suggest horrible idea one after another in Capcom's game development.
2nd stage takes place in ship graveyard and the game decides to prove the "ghosts" part of the title. I appreciate that but i don't think swinging blades that can be found throughout the level, are necessary because they're unrelated and annoying. Mostly, annoying.
Oh, shoot! A small ghost that comes out from chest got my special armor! If you don't know about the life system in any Ghost 'n Goblin game, i can make some quick recap about it. Arthur can withstand 2 hits. First hit will break his armor making him knocked back while wearing only his underwear. If Arthur get hit while he wears no armor, he will turns into skeleton and die. Do mind that Arthur can get killed immediately after his armor break by Ninja Gaiden's "trick"! Some people think the system is frustrating But in aesthetic point of view, it's amusing. Not many knight still go forward dauntlessly while in boxer short and the death animation gives humorous vibe instead of horror. Plus the sound effect of both armor break and death are really funny. So i rarely feels deeply frustrated when get hit. I even chuckle a bit.
If not for that monstrous ship. The game could be mistaken for "Adventure of A Lost Surfer" or any possible heartwarming title. In this section, the tide rises and falls allowing you to move up and down to pass the hazard harmlessly or get item like that bow & arrow for instance. There's other weapon that you can pick up, some are good and some are bad. Mostly bad. Bow & arrow shoot arrows (obviously, duh!) that much faster than lance in 2 direction: diagonal & shallower diagonal. See the problem there? There's no arrow that flies straight horizontally! So you will have a bad time aiming enemies in front of you at the same height, which is obviously troublesome.
Here's what Arthur becomes when dies. A pile of lifeless bones which is pretty iconic. Capcom also use this death animation in Pocket Fighter/Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix along with Megaman's orb explosion. The raft follows Arthur so you don't need to worry about drowning. Apparently, it has the same technology use in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's hoverboard. So you only need to focus on spiky reefs, spitting anemone, and any aquatic monster.
The boss is this coral monster that can spawn projectiles but can be easily and swiftly defeated with knife weapon. So James Rolfe's (A.K.A Angry Video Games Nerd) advice proves well which is "Get the knife!". The knife deal less damage than lance but you can throw 3 of them at the times and flies very faster too. Because of its high fire rate, the knife is perfect to stunlock bosses. Sniper_meleedare01.wav
3rd stage takes place in this cavern where they produce lil' devil from lava furnace around here. Fairly adorable if you ask me.
It also home to these fire bears. But he doesn't know about "Don't bring a firebreath into knife fight!" Especially if the knife is upgraded to laser knife. 8D
The platforming section in this stage is no less challenging than in previous stage. You have to navigate this spiked conveyor belt made of meat and bone and these stone pillars that erect from lava river. You need perfect plan and timing to jump from pillar to pillar. As i have mentioned before, Arthur is stiff while jumping. Although you can use the second jump to alter his jumping but not by much.
Soldier_negativevocalization04.wav. It's the infamous Firebrand/Red Arremer, sitting there while cynically judging Arthur's new look. While sitting, he's easy target...for only 1 hit. Once he's flying, he's hard to hit like imagine if you try to swat a mosquito that has been injected with steroid and you get the idea.
Therefore i'm running away from him and he relentlessly chases me. His stubbornness could be inspiration for Nemesis in Resident Evil 3. So i keep running for several screen...
...until i find the golden armor that allow me to conjure magic dragon! I believe this is the same golden armor with Ghost 'n Goblin arcade game which is essential for true ending. By holding the shoot button and release it after the weapon indicator is flashing, will unleash magic depends on equipped weapon. Lance's magic is lightning that come down to Arthur and then travels left and right. Bow's magic is revealing hidden chest within a screen.
Not every chest contain good thing, more often than not a jester demon appears that can turn Arthur into quite fine lady. I thought this what happen to The Blue Saber but on closer inspection lady Arthur there more resembles to Alice Margatroid instead.
This time the boss stage is demon worm that like to spin around Arthur with some occasion spits rock that will come after him. If you stand still you won't get hit by the demon's body but you have to hit his head to damage him which can be tricky. The magic dragon that come from knife, moves fairly erratic and sometime can hit the boss' head.
Next stage is cavern that made by flesh and teeth. There's section when Arthur stand on a platform that turn to cage and the level rotates by itself to reveal next path. This is like in the level of Super Castlevania IV where Simon hang into a hook and level rotates! But the level is less tooth-y for sure.
On next section, Arthur travel on a moving platform in auto-scrolling section. This reminds me of that section in Hagane but the protagonist is on hoverboard instead of long platform. I notice that compare to 1st or 2nd level, this level is less busy with enemies but the hazards are located accurately so that they can harm you with high accuracy. I call these annoying section "gua kentut iblis" (translate: demonic fart cavern)
The stage boss is 3-headed Hydra. I know what you're thinking. For Hydra this monster lacks of 6 more heads, yeah. But that's what Capcom defines Hydra. See another 3-headed Hydra in King of The Dragon game if you don't believe me. The boss is significantly easier than the entire stage. The monster spit fireball and sometime split itself into smaller demons to move to other side, that's it. This boss has the same weakpoint as the giant worm: their 3 heads.
On to 4th stage. After traveling through snowy forest that inhabited by ice flowers which are the equivalent of flaming skull in 1st stage, i reach the ice cavern and encounter icy vines that grow by themselves and flying knight demon that can only be harmed from behind.
Then i met another Firebrand/Red Arremer and i get killed by one of the wolves while running away from him. He doesn't get the kill but he jigs anyway. He's one cheerful bastard.
There's section where avalanche occurs and you have to either get on higher ground or grab ladder, to save yourself. I haven't encountered avalanche myself but i don't think clinging to ladder within its coverage, can save you from it. The idea sounds bad to me.
What's the proper boss in ice level other than ice demon? My thought. The boss can shoot ice dust that can freezes you temporarily (and you have to mash the shoot button to break away from frozen status), or throw his arm twice. Again, his weakpoint is: his head. To be continue on next part. Speaking of continue...
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