Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts review - Super Nintendo

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!

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!