Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts review - Super Nintendo

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Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts box artThe third game in the legendary Ghosts ’n Goblins series of video games, Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts follows Arthur in another quest to rescue Princess Prin Prin, his fair maiden and damsel in distress. Take control of Arthur and defeat the creatures of the night to save the day once more. Only you can discover what glory awaits those brave enough to take on the armies of Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts.

What the Mean Machines staff thought

Reviewer

" Well, everyone knew this was going to be the big one, and indeed, Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts is another fine example of Super Famicom brilliance. First of all, let's start by saying that the graphics are turly exceptional. Capcom have even bettered UN Squadron in the brilliant backdrop stakes by producing some totally terrific visuals. I defy you not to be impressed by the ice level, where tons of snow falls over and behind the parallax scrolling backgrounds! The tower level too, where Arthur runs around a rotating tower is another fine example of exceptional graphics. The sound's awesome too with a kind of orchestral remix of the original Ghouls 'n' Ghosts theme. Capcom have also supplied us with a game that's high in the lastability stakes too. Even completing the first couple of levels takes some effort, and once you've battled your way to the end of the game there's a VERY nasty surprise waiting for you! Capcom are certainly producing the goods as far as Super Famicom games are concerned - Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts is an essential purchase! "

" I was knocked out by this when I saw it in the States back in June - in its finished form it's even better! The programmers have utilised many of the Super Famicom's special features to produce some of the most stunning graphical effects yet seen in a console game. The sinking ship, the snow-storm, the erupting ground, the sea swell...amazing stuff! And not only are the effects awesome, the graphics themselves are stupendous! Gorgeous multi-layer parallax-scrolling backdrops, brilliant-animated sprites and excellent end-of-level baddies makes this a feast for the eyeballs. It's an aural treat too, with a series of speaker-rending orchestral pieces that add to the atmosphere. On the playability side, this is tough. Obviously not on easy level, which takes a day or so to crack, but on the harder levels where the going is difficult enough to challenge even the most skillful of Ghouls 'n' Ghosts experts! For the second time in as many months, Capcom have come up with a blisteringly hot Super Famicom game that you just have to buy! "

Reviewer

Overall Score94%

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Retrospective comments

Reviewer

An absolutely outstanding game. The 94% awarded here was completely justified. When I first played this in my youth I was dubious when I realised Arthur had acquired the ability to double-jump! My doubts were thrown out of the window within minutes when I got to grips with this title and got a taste of what the Super Nintendo was capable of. From the rotating caverns to the snow laden ice world. Very impressive.

This game is rock hard and rewards only those who can fight their way through some frustrating (but totally fair) sections. Death means repeating half of the stage. No respawning or constantly refilling energy bars here. Capcom got this game spot on. You can be sure that the air will turn blue quite a few times when playing, but it doesn't stop you going back for another go!

Capcom has kept the memory of this classic title alive via the Playstation/Saturn 'Generations' collection and the brilliant GBA version, heck it is even on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console service as well now. However, this is such a stunning game it's worth owning several times over. A corker, and no mistake!

Have your say about Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Michaelb - 24 Sep 2008, 09:29 GMT

great game, pretty hard though

Richy Girth - 22 Oct 2008, 11:41 GMT

100% Agreed. This is definitely in my top 5 games for the console.
And it should be the instant treatment -along with the R-type games- for any gamer whining that modern games are too tough.
Merciless, beautiful and more addictive than breathing.
Despite its original SNES-only status, it felt like a 100% Capcom experience, utilizing the SNES hardware well, but never letting the gimmickery become the driving force, instead remaining focused on the richness of gameplay.
Also the 1st G'N'G home game -TG16 not included- to get the Arthur sprite looking exactly like the ghouls arcade version.
(A minor point, but one that annoyed me in the Amiga, Megadrive, and home computer versions by U.S gold..)
The added double-jump was a welcome addition for me too, but I did kind of miss the traded off ability to shoot below and skyward.
The graphics are stunningly detailed within their stylistic boundries,
and the backdrops/level design show the usual flair for visual imagination that Capcom had stunned the gaming world with in the late eighties/early nineties.
And as usual with the GNG saga, the levels are each divided into two graphically and geographically distinct areas.

Soundwise, the soundtracks and effects are haunting and memorably atmospheric, as the reviews here state, some GNG arcade themes being revisited -along with the new scores- played with by a string orchestra. Much of its sounds like Enya freaking out tied up and spiked in the Addams Family's basement in a scene directed by Tim Burton.... in a good way.

Gripping, compelling stuff and an excellent installment of one of the finest/toughest gaming sagas ever created.

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Genki Videogames
Mean Machines Issue 14 - November 1991
Issue14
Platform Game Super Nintendo
Capcom
Mega Game

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

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