This era to me is the most timeless of gaming. Bright cartoony graphics with lots of color, brutal gameplay but addictive all the same. I hate how brutal this series is, but I still keep coming back.
Super Ghosts and Ghouls was impossible. My 10 year old self was conviced of this. Then I saw my friend breeze through it like it was for toddlers. I suck at games but I sure do love em!
Got this game with my Genesis in 1989 on Xmas. It was incredible to see at home back then, the graphics, sound, and gameplay were jaw dropping back then. It felt and looked like the Arcade.
This is the thing, remembering what it was like at that moment in time. I was playing this on the Amiga at the time and the MD version just blew it away. A true sight to behold playing this in your own house.
That's what was amazing back then. Every time a new console came out or a big new game it always felt like a huge leap forward. It's hard to explain to the younger crowd if you didn't experience it.
Even though the very first game in the series that I played was "Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts" for the SNES, "Ghouls 'N Ghosts" on the Sega Genesis was the first one I was actually able to beat on my own, but I definitely have a bit of nostalgia for both games despite me having yet to beat the former.
@@RealziesCuts Really? I played Ghouls n Ghosts on arcade first, then on Genesis. I loved the Genesis version. As one of my first SNES games after Actraiser, I expected Super GnG to blow my socks off but I couldn't get into it. Double jump was a good mechanic, but no attacking up and down? Wow, what a huge gameplay downgrade. I couldn't enjoy it because of that limitation. Really bad choice by Capcom.
@@AntonioRodriguezSilver it comes to personal preferences. I loved the double jump and many other things the Super version has, like the better weapons and sound FX, the way the soundtrack sounds and most of the new stages design. I think it's my favourite GnG version after the original arcade (or even better, the X68k version with Roland SC55 soundtrack). On the other hand I really dislike the first stage of Super, it's a slug and it's bad designed compared to the charismatic and fun first stage of the OG. I also like better most of the original bosses. I think limiting the up and down attacks is a design choice rather than a downgrade, to encourage using the different new weapons and their charged attacks depending of the situation (weapon placement is still an issue tho, pretty much like in the OG). Many of them have arched range, like the bow, sword, axe or shuriken. But yeah, I miss that feature most times while playing.
@@elbitxo5945 I like Super GNG but I feel like Arthur got nerfed big time. Most of the weapons are useless, Arthur is slow as Hell, and they got rid of vertical shooting. Sound and graphics are better but GNG will always be king.
@@AntonioRodriguezSilverI’m much more of a fan of the double jump than shooting up and down. The double jump allows you to save yourself and to find treasure chests in trickier locations, which is essential for beating it. The gameplay is indeed slower but the game is built like a puzzle to strategize your next movement, instead of throwing yourself into danger like the previous games. Even the second playthrough is different since it allows you to use the bracelet which is a high risk high reward weapon. Aside from the admittedly awful final boss in the second run, the game is extremely well designed and gets exponentially better the more you learn it, which is why it’s one of my favorite games ever.
This was the game that ended the 16-bit war that was going on in my head during the lead up to Christmas of 1989. My parents asked me to choose between the Sega Genesis, TG-16, and technically the Game Boy. The Game Boy wasn't really in the running after I saw Legendary Axe on the TG-16 and Altered Beast on the Genesis at separate Toy's R Us kiosks. I was torn between the two 4th generation machines and I was really leaning towards the TG-16 until a good friend got his Genesis early. He invited me over to hang out and game...at the time I didn't know he had a Genesis. As I walked into his room I saw him playing Ghouls n' Ghosts and it blew my freaking mind. From that point forward all I wanted was a Genesis and Ghouls n' Ghosts for Christmas. I got my wish and that Christmas Eve I opened my Sega Genesis with two extra games (Altered Beast *pack-in, Space Harrier II, and Ghouls n' Ghosts). My parents also promised they would get Phantasy Star II as soon as they could find it and a Powerbase Converter for my Master System games. Question- Did you find Ghouls n' Ghosts on the Genesis easier than Ghosts n' Goblins for the Nes? I hated Ghosts n' Goblins because it was just so damn hard. Addendum- I wound up playing and beating the first Phantasy Star on my Genesis before getting the second game. Yes, I wanted Phantasy II on pure hype alone and I'm glad I did because that game was fire as well.
Great game which showed are marked difference between the console generations early. Always run to the left to discover the hidden treasure chest at the beginning of every GnG game (even Maximo: Ghost to Glory); it often times hides the magician/wizard but will bump the items forward with the following treasure chests for the rest of the level (ie you can get the Golden Armor quicker).
@@damin9913 I like the MegaDrive port, but the best one is the X68K, specially with the SC55 MIDI soundtrack, a 1:1 port with much better sound than the arcade original. The SNES version is a different game, with different weapons, stages and bosses, it's a little bit pointless to compare them. Comparing the MegaDrive port to the SuperGrafx version makes much more sense.
@richy69ify Ghouls n Ghosts for the snes just has graphics but the gameplay is limited for the character he can only shoot left and right but the genesis version he can shoot up,down,left and right plus the game is way more fun then Snes version
I still can't believe I completed this Game way back in 1990 lol. I showed my kids this game and they were like " Dad, How did you do it?" Lol. I told them " I honestly don't know" 😂. Classic title
I beat Ghosts and Goblins, Ghouls and Ghosts, and Super Ghouls and Ghosts back in the early 90’s. Then I played Ghouls and Ghosts a few weeks ago and got stuck into the 2nd level. Must be getting old! LoL
I loved the Sega Master System port by Sega. While a 8bit game, It has decent graphics and sound and a unique equipment/magic leveling system (similar to RPG). An improved armor will give more life. A new helmet will give you new magic. New boots will give you higher jumping. Additionally, you can use any magic power you've learned (a ton of different magic powers). When you dies, you don't loose equipment or magic power.
Yeah, I also played the HELL out of the Master System version at my friend's place... back then, I used to have a "famiclone" known as Phantom System and my friend had the Master System... nowadays I have TWO copies of the master system version in my collecion, one with the old, red label and one with the newer blue one... Ofc, after I played the Genesis version, it was really hard not to compare both but still, it's a great game for the MS, with those doors you enter to get new stuff and all, which gives the game kind of a RPG feel... :)
@@CarecaRetrogamer Aqui era o contrário: meu amigo era quem tinha o Phantom. A gente alternava a jogatina um na casa do outro. Joguei bastante coisa boa na casa dele: Battletoads, Ninja Gaiden, Looney Toones, Soulbrain (que a locadora chamava de Robocop 2), Mega Man 3.
@@rael_gc E aew, BR! eheh Pois é, mano... Mas graças a esse amigo (e somos amigos até hoje, qse 40 anos de amizade!) joguei MUITA coisa boa no master... R-type, Phantasy Star, Ghouls n Ghosts, Jogos de Verão, Alex Kidd, muito game de master me traz MUITA nostalgia!
Everyone forgets. Before dark souls, before Ninja Gaiden. The standard for painfully diffcult but rewarding gameplay was held by the ghosts n goblins series.
Still, to this day, vividly remember the WTF moment of having to go through the entire game a second time to complete it. One of the very best Mega Drive ports.
Console gaming is awesome in the sense that it gives talented developers a fixed hardware spec they can precisely optimize and exploit. In '89 people probably thought this was peak Mega Drive visuals - almost arcade perfect, yet just 3 years later you'd have a game like Gunstar Heroes on the same hardware - featuring absolutely amazing effects, animations, and a huge, powerful soundtrack. What a showpiece! Treasure made that console roar like a savage tiger.
I got this game for my Genesis at launch and it did not disappoint. So sad that the GEMS sound driver ruined the reputation of Sega Genesis sound and music because the music in this game really stood out to me and I loved playing the game with my stereo headphones plugged in on my model 1 Genesis. Also, thank you for the perspective on how important the release was back in the day. I feel modern gamers scoff at every game that is not "arcade perfect" without recognizing the difference in hardware between consoles and arcades and the memory restrictions that came from the high cost of memory.
MANY Genesis games had fantastic music! Not sure if you had a chance to play Castlevania Bloodlines (my favourite of the series), but its score is one of the best 16-bit score ever!
@@plastique45 Yes. I agree. Castlevania Bloodlines sounds fantastic. The Genesis also has a great variety of good-sounding music when in the right hands. I also love the soundtrack in the Adventures of Batman & Robin. That is one hard-hitting techno soundtrack that would not be out of place in a rave or night club.
When I decided to get into Genesis collecting 3 years ago this was the first game I picked up. I’ve always loved this ever since my neighbour had it in the early 90s. Plays as well today as it ever did.
One of my first and favorite Genesis games. Controls were so tight and the mix of weapons & upgrades at your disposal were so unique and added a great deal of strategy. Many fond memories and attempts to complete and I still have yet to get all the way try the 2nd time to actually complete. Fantastic box art too
Great work Sega Lord X!! You all need to see aMaru's arcade restoration hack of this game. He is redoing the levels and adding back enemy animation frames and it looks amazing!! Video is called Ghouls'n Ghosts ARCADE EDITION for the SEGA MegaDrive
Back in the day I had the Japanese version and literally played it hundreds of times. One summer I played Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Golden Axe almost every day. My Genesis got so hot that it stopped working for a day or so, sending me into a panic.
Same here. Altered Beast, Golden Axe The Revenge of Shinobi,, Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Rambo 3. No surprise Genesis awarded the console of the year in 1989 and later again in two more years in a row.
This truly was from the golden age of Sega and definitely from the Genesis itself. It may not be a perfect version but especially for an early title this was amazing and it still holds up real well.
I actually just went through this a few weeks ago. I’m always so glad about those endless continues 😂 I didn’t realize that this came out within a year of the arcade tho! That makes even more sense now
Yuji Naka's experience in Ghouls n Ghosts directly influenced Sonic 1, especially the uneven terrain in GnG which was uncommon at that point (even with early SNES games like Super Mario World). It's just one of many minor events in history that benefited Sega in the long run, if Sonic looked like a typical platformer it may not have had the same impact on the industry Happy new year!
Great video. I remember this release very well. It was simply astonishing to be able to play such a high quality game at home back then. One soundtrack that I would put in the Top 5 of all Genesis games is “Master of Monsters”. I played that a LOT. Cheers.
Every person I knew who had the genesis pre sonic era had this gem. I played this the other day. This is an example and strider and also revenge of shinobi are the must haves and what a genesis was all about in 89-90 . I’m so glad I lived in this era of gaming.
I played the hell out of my buddy’s copy, and then I played the hell out of the version on Super NES. Beat them both. Good times. Capcom recently remade Ghouls and Ghosts for modern systems. Definitely check it out
I remember renting this game from Blockbuster video in 1991 shortly after getting my Sega Genesis Sonic the hedgehog bundle for Christmas, and even as a kid I was blown away by the graphics and presentation and cried because of the difficulty too LOL!!
speedruns using the fire bomb are the best. that weapon is way underrated don't forget that insane shortcut at the end of 3-1 where you boost onto the statue tongue
Amazing game, I was a huge fan of the arcade version and bought this as soon as it came out. I remember clearly in which store I bought it and see the look on the guy’s face when I asked to try it and blasted through the first level without even getting hit 😂. I can still 1CC it on a good day after all these years. You’re wrong about the weapons though: fire actually is the best weapon in the game (or at least in the first loop), specially combined with the gold armor, in fact it can rip through most bosses in mere seconds and is the easiest way to kill the first 4 bosses. The sword is amazing for the entire second level plus the boss, it is also super handy in the castle for the most part. The axe is rubbish because of its angle though (and it ironically is the best weapon to kill the red demons) and I almost never play with the disc unless I accidentally pick it up because the mirror is basically useless. When I think Mega Drive, this one is always the first game that comes to mind, so many fond memories, I must’ve played it a few thousand times in my life 😂
I always loved Super Ghouls & Ghosts for SNES, but this one seems way better. The way you can shoot in all directions gives you a fighting chance, such a great mechanic to add. And unlimited continues just makes sense!!
Boy, I can't even remember how many times I rented this game! I used to love it back when I was a kid... then, when the SNES Super Ghouls'n Ghosts was released, it quickly became one of my most beloved games of all time!
I saw something about the Ghosts 'n Goblins games awhile back and noticed that the mechanics were constantly changing. Sr. Arthur is able to shoot projectiles upwards in Ghouls n' Ghosts, but he can't double-jump like he can in Super Ghouls n' Ghosts.
This is my game right here. I'm a very lousy gamer and struggle with just about every game I play. Ghouls n Ghost is an exception for me. I can walk right through this game and beat it in a decent amount of time. I'm no pro or speed runner I'm just a regular gamer that happens to love this game and learned it front to back. I used to sneak into my older brothers room and play Ghouls n Ghost when he wasn't home and it quickly became my favorite game of all time. That still holds true to this day. Thanks for the video. I get very excited when I see this game being talked about. I'm still a major Sega Genesis fan and play it often. The nostalgia I have for the console and it's games will never fade. It's still strong after 30 years. That's why this channel is at the top of my favorite UA-cam channel list. Thanks again 👍
As "Snes Drunk" says: this is a 'pick up and die' game. If you try and play it like Mario, you're going to hate it. You have to play by its rules. Play a bit and die, then learn how to not die there again and make it a bit further. I myself have tons of memories playing this game over a friend's house before I ever owned a Genesis myself. I never made it past the 3rd level back then riding on the tongues. Now, as an adult, both this game and Super GnG are favorite play throughs of mine. It's still exciting every time I beat them.
SLX, thank you for the in depth review and showcasing the (few) levels in this game. Damn near all reviews only showcase the first stage unless you watch a playthrough.
It all worked out in the end for Sega with Sonic in '91, but this would have been a much better pack in than Altered Beast. I assume they couldn't really do that with a Capcom port though.
For a long time, this was one of only a few platformers we had growing up. My dad got a Genesis at launch but lost interest in video games before Sonic the Hedgehog came out, so we were stuck with mostly Sega launch titles until the Gamecube came out... Beating this game was a major triumph for me, but the more emotional experience was probably the first time I ever beat the first level. I was 5 years old, and remember it taking days of playing over and over on my summer vacation on our little Goldstar basement TV. I think I cried when that cyclops finally exploded and I grabbed the key. Then came the turtles...
I love this game so much I went through beating the Genesis and super Nintendo versions both games were incredible 🏆 108 days no alcohol I am a winner 🥇
This and Castle of Illusion are my favorite Genesis games. Followed by the Road Rash series. Great video, ive been enjoying your content immensely. More Saturn stuff too please!
I liked everything you said from 8:45 - 10:00. I feel like having the patience and temperament to fail again and again as you gradually figure things out is becoming quite rare these days, and though I don't wish to tell anybody how they "should" play, I do feel like save-stating your way through to the credits as painlessly as possible is kind of missing the point and missing out on a large part of what makes these games so satisfying and memorable. As is often the case in life, the journey itself is more important than the destination.
I always looked at this game as a kind of run and gun with platforming elements as well, which it is 😂 but what I’m trying to say is I consider it much more of a platformer now. But I learned as I got older that if you slowed down and learned patterns and enemies. Along with some patience this game isn’t as difficult as I once thought. I played it in the SNES not the Genesis but I’m sure the concept holds true! Happy Gaming everyone!
One of my favourite games of all time. I never thought I'd be able to clear it but did so a few years ago, finishing the CPS1 and Megadrive versions. I did have help from viewing longplays though beforehand. I wish they would have kept this style of graphics for the latest game and also not made the game so hectic as to be unplayable. A missed opportunity.
Fantastic review of the Mega Drive port of one of Capcom’s legendary arcade games in Ghoul’n Ghosts, your reviews are always excellent and thoroughly researched,informative, you always go the extra mile with information such as who did the sound conversion for the Mega Drive port. I finally got a copy of my own and it will be new experience as I’ve never played any version before, great content and channel.
Yeah, this was a great arcade conversion! It still holds up quite well for an early Genesis title. While it is easy to play the original arcade version now, the Genesis version still is worth playing. Capcom then pulled out all the stops a few years later with Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the SNES, which is my personal favorite of the series.
I always thought the initial weapon you get was a Lance, not a sword. I think the Genesis version is the best home version. The Amiga version really sucks, it has this weird thing were if you scroll the screen to certain places, then it won't scroll backwards again, so you can get killed as your character hits an invisible wall when going left.
Nostalgia wise, it was this game, Shinobi, Double Dragon, and Altered Beast side by side at my local convenient store that were the first games to really strike me.
There is a project in the works by aMaru to make Genesis version MUCH closer to Arcade. There are videos of Stage 1 and half of Stage 2 and it looks crazy good.
I've proudly finished every game in this series except the latest version, as I don't have the means to play it, and the Wonder Swan game. For sure some of my greatest gaming accomplishments, as I may not finish them in one go, but I get there eventually, The NES game probably took the longest, at about 1 1/2 days, as I had to leave the unit on overnight, so I could finish it the next day. The SNES game was probably my favorite, as I can still get pretty far in that game on 1 credit, and I just loved the level design and the graphics of that game.
Well done, Sir. My favourites are Daimakaimura (no restarting at the end of the level) and Super Ghouls N Ghosts. I feel the series has lost it's way and it's now too manic. It was always frantic but I think they made the new game ridiculous in that way. I would have loved for them to have done a CPS1 port of the SNES game.
Something you should add in the future specially when they are arcade conversions for any Sega console is the size of the ROM of the original arcade game. This game was a 32 megabit ROM and ran on Capcom's CPS1 system which was essentially a 68000 CPU but ran a bit faster and had obviously a more extensive color palette. Regardless, it shows how capable and creative Sega was by being able to show how much could be done with a simple 5 megabits. I think if this game would have been made even a year later in the Genesis's life and on an 8 meg ROM, it would have been even more impressive. At the time the SuperGrafx was announced in Japan and EGM raved about that version, it was way overhyped. A clear comparison does show that it had more detail due to the obvious bigger ROM size, but the sound was awful and it was not that much better in comparison. This game for some reason was very impactful on most of the other arcade game conversions that came out for the Genesis. It made me pay extra attention to how close the home versions were to the arcade ones. Good review SegaLord.
One of my favorite Genesis games ever. Beat it countless time over the past 30 or so years. I do agree though that there are many useless weapons though. Once you get the 🗡 you're good.
Would love to see a comparison video between the Sega Génesis version VS the PC Engine version. As a kid I played Ghouls and Ghosts on the Génesis to death. It was an amazing game that to this day still holds up. But when I found out there was a PC Engine version and played it, I was surprised to see this version having what seemed to be more frames of animation for the characters and some level backgrounds being more detailed and having more stuff going on.
the supergrafx version? the graphics have more detail, but the sound is kind of weird. bouts of serious slowdown and choppiness, too. it's also more random and harder than the genesis port
I'm proud to say I lived through the 80's and starting with the Atari 2600 through the years, and the consoles,I loved this version and the pc engine version, Great video, well done.
@@SegaLordX You really should have clarified that in the episode, because even the Ghosts and Goblins wiki says the Genesis manual has misnamed it "sword" when it is actually a lance, and called lance, spear or javelin in other games.
I think this is an amazing game especially for it's time. I remember it's release and a review rating it 98 percent. Amazing classic example of arcade at home.
I love that Capcom made all 3 home versions different games. All felt similar but were drastically different. You just have to play enough to know the layouts. I agree that when you finally finish levels in these games, it's very satisfying.
"Capcom made all 3 home versions "?--> Sega bought rights for a in-house MD-SMS GnG conversion; Capcom has always developed games just for Nintendo (business deals..), the first Capcom developed game is SF2SCE for MD afaik.
The best version of the game IMO, I even rather the music in the MD version. Also lover the GFX on the rain storm on the 1st level. Great video again boss
This era to me is the most timeless of gaming. Bright cartoony graphics with lots of color, brutal gameplay but addictive all the same. I hate how brutal this series is, but I still keep coming back.
The golden age.
Yep and on hardware that had very defined limits to what it could handle and anything above that was mind blowing
Super Ghosts and Ghouls was impossible. My 10 year old self was conviced of this. Then I saw my friend breeze through it like it was for toddlers.
I suck at games but I sure do love em!
And it ages way better than early polygonal graphics from the PS and 64.
Arcade simplicity at it's finest.
Got this game with my Genesis in 1989 on Xmas. It was incredible to see at home back then, the graphics, sound, and gameplay were jaw dropping back then. It felt and looked like the Arcade.
Same here! My brother and I played this game so much
Yeah it was all about how the new systems looked just like the arcades. Mind blowing as a gamer bringing the arcades home.
This is the thing, remembering what it was like at that moment in time. I was playing this on the Amiga at the time and the MD version just blew it away. A true sight to behold playing this in your own house.
That's what was amazing back then. Every time a new console came out or a big new game it always felt like a huge leap forward. It's hard to explain to the younger crowd if you didn't experience it.
It’s definitely a nice looking and sounding game that is as close to the arcade original as possible on a 5 Megabit cartridge.
The best game to make use of the built in headphone jack. I would vibe out just listening to the option screen Music selector. This and Moonwalker...
This is one of my favorite games on the Genesis. I played it a lot when I was a teenager.
I still play it today!
Still playing this in 2023 😎
I didn't grow up with this game, but I'm really glad to own it now. One of my favorites on the Genesis as well. 🔥
Even though the very first game in the series that I played was "Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts" for the SNES, "Ghouls 'N Ghosts" on the Sega Genesis was the first one I was actually able to beat on my own, but I definitely have a bit of nostalgia for both games despite me having yet to beat the former.
That’s wild man I beat the super Nintendo one because it just felt like a way better game with better stages and I couldn’t put it down 😅🏆
@@RealziesCuts Really? I played Ghouls n Ghosts on arcade first, then on Genesis. I loved the Genesis version. As one of my first SNES games after Actraiser, I expected Super GnG to blow my socks off but I couldn't get into it. Double jump was a good mechanic, but no attacking up and down? Wow, what a huge gameplay downgrade. I couldn't enjoy it because of that limitation. Really bad choice by Capcom.
@@AntonioRodriguezSilver it comes to personal preferences. I loved the double jump and many other things the Super version has, like the better weapons and sound FX, the way the soundtrack sounds and most of the new stages design. I think it's my favourite GnG version after the original arcade (or even better, the X68k version with Roland SC55 soundtrack). On the other hand I really dislike the first stage of Super, it's a slug and it's bad designed compared to the charismatic and fun first stage of the OG. I also like better most of the original bosses.
I think limiting the up and down attacks is a design choice rather than a downgrade, to encourage using the different new weapons and their charged attacks depending of the situation (weapon placement is still an issue tho, pretty much like in the OG). Many of them have arched range, like the bow, sword, axe or shuriken. But yeah, I miss that feature most times while playing.
@@elbitxo5945 I like Super GNG but I feel like Arthur got nerfed big time. Most of the weapons are useless, Arthur is slow as Hell, and they got rid of vertical shooting. Sound and graphics are better but GNG will always be king.
@@AntonioRodriguezSilverI’m much more of a fan of the double jump than shooting up and down. The double jump allows you to save yourself and to find treasure chests in trickier locations, which is essential for beating it. The gameplay is indeed slower but the game is built like a puzzle to strategize your next movement, instead of throwing yourself into danger like the previous games. Even the second playthrough is different since it allows you to use the bracelet which is a high risk high reward weapon. Aside from the admittedly awful final boss in the second run, the game is extremely well designed and gets exponentially better the more you learn it, which is why it’s one of my favorite games ever.
Ghouls 'n Ghosts is an excellent game and is still one of the best home ports of the Arcade original.
This was the game that ended the 16-bit war that was going on in my head during the lead up to Christmas of 1989. My parents asked me to choose between the Sega Genesis, TG-16, and technically the Game Boy. The Game Boy wasn't really in the running after I saw Legendary Axe on the TG-16 and Altered Beast on the Genesis at separate Toy's R Us kiosks.
I was torn between the two 4th generation machines and I was really leaning towards the TG-16 until a good friend got his Genesis early. He invited me over to hang out and game...at the time I didn't know he had a Genesis. As I walked into his room I saw him playing Ghouls n' Ghosts and it blew my freaking mind. From that point forward all I wanted was a Genesis and Ghouls n' Ghosts for Christmas. I got my wish and that Christmas Eve I opened my Sega Genesis with two extra games (Altered Beast *pack-in, Space Harrier II, and Ghouls n' Ghosts). My parents also promised they would get Phantasy Star II as soon as they could find it and a Powerbase Converter for my Master System games.
Question- Did you find Ghouls n' Ghosts on the Genesis easier than Ghosts n' Goblins for the Nes? I hated Ghosts n' Goblins because it was just so damn hard.
Addendum- I wound up playing and beating the first Phantasy Star on my Genesis before getting the second game. Yes, I wanted Phantasy II on pure hype alone and I'm glad I did because that game was fire as well.
Great game which showed are marked difference between the console generations early.
Always run to the left to discover the hidden treasure chest at the beginning of every GnG game (even Maximo: Ghost to Glory); it often times hides the magician/wizard but will bump the items forward with the following treasure chests for the rest of the level (ie you can get the Golden Armor quicker).
The Sega genesis version of Ghouls 'N Ghosts is amazing. 😀👍🎮
Its the best version better then the snes version
@@damin9913 I totally agree with you. 😀👍🎮
@@damin9913 I like the MegaDrive port, but the best one is the X68K, specially with the SC55 MIDI soundtrack, a 1:1 port with much better sound than the arcade original. The SNES version is a different game, with different weapons, stages and bosses, it's a little bit pointless to compare them. Comparing the MegaDrive port to the SuperGrafx version makes much more sense.
@@damin9913
I'm researching this game maybe to get a Japanese copy, it looks totally inferior to the SNES version, which is a master piece.
@richy69ify Ghouls n Ghosts for the snes just has graphics but the gameplay is limited for the character he can only shoot left and right but the genesis version he can shoot up,down,left and right plus the game is way more fun then Snes version
I still can't believe I completed this Game way back in 1990 lol. I showed my kids this game and they were like " Dad, How did you do it?" Lol. I told them " I honestly don't know" 😂. Classic title
I beat Ghosts and Goblins, Ghouls and Ghosts, and Super Ghouls and Ghosts back in the early 90’s. Then I played Ghouls and Ghosts a few weeks ago and got stuck into the 2nd level. Must be getting old! LoL
I loved the Sega Master System port by Sega. While a 8bit game, It has decent graphics and sound and a unique equipment/magic leveling system (similar to RPG). An improved armor will give more life. A new helmet will give you new magic. New boots will give you higher jumping. Additionally, you can use any magic power you've learned (a ton of different magic powers). When you dies, you don't loose equipment or magic power.
Yeah, I also played the HELL out of the Master System version at my friend's place... back then, I used to have a "famiclone" known as Phantom System and my friend had the Master System... nowadays I have TWO copies of the master system version in my collecion, one with the old, red label and one with the newer blue one... Ofc, after I played the Genesis version, it was really hard not to compare both but still, it's a great game for the MS, with those doors you enter to get new stuff and all, which gives the game kind of a RPG feel... :)
@@CarecaRetrogamer Aqui era o contrário: meu amigo era quem tinha o Phantom. A gente alternava a jogatina um na casa do outro. Joguei bastante coisa boa na casa dele: Battletoads, Ninja Gaiden, Looney Toones, Soulbrain (que a locadora chamava de Robocop 2), Mega Man 3.
I also played the Master System version two or three years ago, but I beat it in just two days. A quality port, but too easy for me
@@danielespeziari5545 Yes, too easy. In the 90s, it was harder, as a kid/teenager, find enough time to beat it than beat the game itself :D
@@rael_gc E aew, BR! eheh
Pois é, mano... Mas graças a esse amigo (e somos amigos até hoje, qse 40 anos de amizade!) joguei MUITA coisa boa no master... R-type, Phantasy Star, Ghouls n Ghosts, Jogos de Verão, Alex Kidd, muito game de master me traz MUITA nostalgia!
Everyone forgets. Before dark souls, before Ninja Gaiden. The standard for painfully diffcult but rewarding gameplay was held by the ghosts n goblins series.
Still, to this day, vividly remember the WTF moment of having to go through the entire game a second time to complete it.
One of the very best Mega Drive ports.
Maybe not port? Maybe it's another special version for Sega Mega Drive.
Console gaming is awesome in the sense that it gives talented developers a fixed hardware spec they can precisely optimize and exploit. In '89 people probably thought this was peak Mega Drive visuals - almost arcade perfect, yet just 3 years later you'd have a game like Gunstar Heroes on the same hardware - featuring absolutely amazing effects, animations, and a huge, powerful soundtrack.
What a showpiece!
Treasure made that console roar like a savage tiger.
This game and Golden Axe were the two main games that made me fall in love with the Sega Genesis. The rest is history.
Golden Axe is another arcade conversion that is very close to the original isn't it?
@@virtuafighter3 Yes it is.
I got this game for my Genesis at launch and it did not disappoint. So sad that the GEMS sound driver ruined the reputation of Sega Genesis sound and music because the music in this game really stood out to me and I loved playing the game with my stereo headphones plugged in on my model 1 Genesis. Also, thank you for the perspective on how important the release was back in the day. I feel modern gamers scoff at every game that is not "arcade perfect" without recognizing the difference in hardware between consoles and arcades and the memory restrictions that came from the high cost of memory.
MANY Genesis games had fantastic music! Not sure if you had a chance to play Castlevania Bloodlines (my favourite of the series), but its score is one of the best 16-bit score ever!
@@plastique45 Yes. I agree. Castlevania Bloodlines sounds fantastic. The Genesis also has a great variety of good-sounding music when in the right hands. I also love the soundtrack in the Adventures of Batman & Robin. That is one hard-hitting techno soundtrack that would not be out of place in a rave or night club.
This and Strider are probably my 2 favourite games on the Mega Drive.
*SEGA have amazing programmers in-house* 💡
When I decided to get into Genesis collecting 3 years ago this was the first game I picked up. I’ve always loved this ever since my neighbour had it in the early 90s. Plays as well today as it ever did.
One of my first and favorite Genesis games. Controls were so tight and the mix of weapons & upgrades at your disposal were so unique and added a great deal of strategy. Many fond memories and attempts to complete and I still have yet to get all the way try the 2nd time to actually complete. Fantastic box art too
Great work Sega Lord X!! You all need to see aMaru's arcade restoration hack of this game. He is redoing the levels and adding back enemy animation frames and it looks amazing!! Video is called Ghouls'n Ghosts ARCADE EDITION for the SEGA MegaDrive
I had a friend named Andy who owned this game. Played it so much at his house, I could pass the game with my eyes closed.
You mean only when you'll be dead? 😂
Back in the day I had the Japanese version and literally played it hundreds of times. One summer I played Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Golden Axe almost every day. My Genesis got so hot that it stopped working for a day or so, sending me into a panic.
Same here. Altered Beast, Golden Axe The Revenge of Shinobi,, Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Rambo 3. No surprise Genesis awarded the console of the year in 1989 and later again in two more years in a row.
This truly was from the golden age of Sega and definitely from the Genesis itself. It may not be a perfect version but especially for an early title this was amazing and it still holds up real well.
I actually just went through this a few weeks ago. I’m always so glad about those endless continues 😂 I didn’t realize that this came out within a year of the arcade tho! That makes even more sense now
Yuji Naka's experience in Ghouls n Ghosts directly influenced Sonic 1, especially the uneven terrain in GnG which was uncommon at that point (even with early SNES games like Super Mario World). It's just one of many minor events in history that benefited Sega in the long run, if Sonic looked like a typical platformer it may not have had the same impact on the industry
Happy new year!
Great video. I remember this release very well. It was simply astonishing to be able to play such a high quality game at home back then. One soundtrack that I would put in the Top 5 of all Genesis games is “Master of Monsters”. I played that a LOT. Cheers.
This game sold Genesis machines like Soul Caliber sold Dreamcasts. Both were killer apps upon their releases.
Every person I knew who had the genesis pre sonic era had this gem. I played this the other day. This is an example and strider and also revenge of shinobi are the must haves and what a genesis was all about in 89-90 .
I’m so glad I lived in this era of gaming.
I played the hell out of my buddy’s copy, and then I played the hell out of the version on Super NES. Beat them both.
Good times.
Capcom recently remade Ghouls and Ghosts for modern systems. Definitely check it out
first genesis games I played were GnG and Altered Beast. Ghouls n Ghosts is still my favorite genesis game and favorite game in the whole series
I remember renting this game from Blockbuster video in 1991 shortly after getting my Sega Genesis Sonic the hedgehog bundle for Christmas, and even as a kid I was blown away by the graphics and presentation and cried because of the difficulty too LOL!!
speedruns using the fire bomb are the best. that weapon is way underrated
don't forget that insane shortcut at the end of 3-1 where you boost onto the statue tongue
Amazing game, I was a huge fan of the arcade version and bought this as soon as it came out. I remember clearly in which store I bought it and see the look on the guy’s face when I asked to try it and blasted through the first level without even getting hit 😂. I can still 1CC it on a good day after all these years. You’re wrong about the weapons though: fire actually is the best weapon in the game (or at least in the first loop), specially combined with the gold armor, in fact it can rip through most bosses in mere seconds and is the easiest way to kill the first 4 bosses. The sword is amazing for the entire second level plus the boss, it is also super handy in the castle for the most part. The axe is rubbish because of its angle though (and it ironically is the best weapon to kill the red demons) and I almost never play with the disc unless I accidentally pick it up because the mirror is basically useless. When I think Mega Drive, this one is always the first game that comes to mind, so many fond memories, I must’ve played it a few thousand times in my life 😂
Sega Lord X Enjoy Your Holidays I Appreciate You
Happy holidays!
@@SegaLordX you keep Sega alive more than Sega themselves
I always loved Super Ghouls & Ghosts for SNES, but this one seems way better. The way you can shoot in all directions gives you a fighting chance, such a great mechanic to add. And unlimited continues just makes sense!!
Boy, I can't even remember how many times I rented this game! I used to love it back when I was a kid... then, when the SNES Super Ghouls'n Ghosts was released, it quickly became one of my most beloved games of all time!
I still play Ghouls n' Ghosts on my genesis it's way more fun then the Snes
Got this at launch and still come back to it every now and then. Absolute classic! 🧟♂️👻
I saw something about the Ghosts 'n Goblins games awhile back and noticed that the mechanics were constantly changing. Sr. Arthur is able to shoot projectiles upwards in Ghouls n' Ghosts, but he can't double-jump like he can in Super Ghouls n' Ghosts.
This is my game right here. I'm a very lousy gamer and struggle with just about every game I play. Ghouls n Ghost is an exception for me. I can walk right through this game and beat it in a decent amount of time. I'm no pro or speed runner I'm just a regular gamer that happens to love this game and learned it front to back. I used to sneak into my older brothers room and play Ghouls n Ghost when he wasn't home and it quickly became my favorite game of all time. That still holds true to this day. Thanks for the video. I get very excited when I see this game being talked about. I'm still a major Sega Genesis fan and play it often. The nostalgia I have for the console and it's games will never fade. It's still strong after 30 years. That's why this channel is at the top of my favorite UA-cam channel list. Thanks again 👍
I got this game nearly 31 years to the day ago (my tenth birthday - 31/12/91). Still one of my favourite games of all time. Great stuff.
As "Snes Drunk" says: this is a 'pick up and die' game. If you try and play it like Mario, you're going to hate it. You have to play by its rules. Play a bit and die, then learn how to not die there again and make it a bit further.
I myself have tons of memories playing this game over a friend's house before I ever owned a Genesis myself. I never made it past the 3rd level back then riding on the tongues. Now, as an adult, both this game and Super GnG are favorite play throughs of mine. It's still exciting every time I beat them.
SLX, thank you for the in depth review and showcasing the (few) levels in this game. Damn near all reviews only showcase the first stage unless you watch a playthrough.
Top 5 favorite game of mine. I own the arcade of it. US and Japan boards also every console version. Some Japanese console versions as well.
I guess only the master system manual got right the first weapon of Arthur. This is a javelin and not a sword.
You can’t own a Genesis without this game. It’s one of the best.
Nice video. Cool game. Must play again soon. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the visit.
It all worked out in the end for Sega with Sonic in '91, but this would have been a much better pack in than Altered Beast. I assume they couldn't really do that with a Capcom port though.
For a long time, this was one of only a few platformers we had growing up. My dad got a Genesis at launch but lost interest in video games before Sonic the Hedgehog came out, so we were stuck with mostly Sega launch titles until the Gamecube came out...
Beating this game was a major triumph for me, but the more emotional experience was probably the first time I ever beat the first level. I was 5 years old, and remember it taking days of playing over and over on my summer vacation on our little Goldstar basement TV. I think I cried when that cyclops finally exploded and I grabbed the key.
Then came the turtles...
I love this game so much I went through beating the Genesis and super Nintendo versions both games were incredible 🏆
108 days no alcohol I am a winner 🥇
Ghosts 'N Goblins was my first Arcade game that I played in my childhood. I was so surprised when I knew the Ghouls'n Ghosts in Mega Drive.Good times.
I misread the title and was absolutely confused as to why Ghouls 'n Ghosts body pillows would be a thing.
This was a great port...was so jealous of this port cause all I had access to was the nes one for a while
This and Castle of Illusion are my favorite Genesis games. Followed by the Road Rash series. Great video, ive been enjoying your content immensely. More Saturn stuff too please!
I liked everything you said from 8:45 - 10:00. I feel like having the patience and temperament to fail again and again as you gradually figure things out is becoming quite rare these days, and though I don't wish to tell anybody how they "should" play, I do feel like save-stating your way through to the credits as painlessly as possible is kind of missing the point and missing out on a large part of what makes these games so satisfying and memorable. As is often the case in life, the journey itself is more important than the destination.
Well said
Love the content as always! Wishing you and your channel a happy and successful 2023!
Same to you!
I always looked at this game as a kind of run and gun with platforming elements as well, which it is 😂 but what I’m trying to say is I consider it much more of a platformer now. But I learned as I got older that if you slowed down and learned patterns and enemies. Along with some patience this game isn’t as difficult as I once thought. I played it in the SNES not the Genesis but I’m sure the concept holds true! Happy Gaming everyone!
One of my favourite games of all time. I never thought I'd be able to clear it but did so a few years ago, finishing the CPS1 and Megadrive versions. I did have help from viewing longplays though beforehand. I wish they would have kept this style of graphics for the latest game and also not made the game so hectic as to be unplayable. A missed opportunity.
Cheat codes for invincibility helps a lot for this game
You're kidding🙄😂
Fantastic review of the Mega Drive port of one of Capcom’s legendary arcade games in Ghoul’n Ghosts, your reviews are always excellent and thoroughly researched,informative, you always go the extra mile with information such as who did the sound conversion for the Mega Drive port. I finally got a copy of my own and it will be new experience as I’ve never played any version before, great content and channel.
Do videos on the rest of the series too. SNES, SuperGrafix, PSP, and Switch
Yeah, this was a great arcade conversion! It still holds up quite well for an early Genesis title. While it is easy to play the original arcade version now, the Genesis version still is worth playing. Capcom then pulled out all the stops a few years later with Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the SNES, which is my personal favorite of the series.
I always thought the initial weapon you get was a Lance, not a sword. I think the Genesis version is the best home version. The Amiga version really sucks, it has this weird thing were if you scroll the screen to certain places, then it won't scroll backwards again, so you can get killed as your character hits an invisible wall when going left.
I was checking if anyone else caught that. It's very much a lance.
Agreed. Very much a lance.
The first weapon is a javelin and the chests follow a pattern that mean you get an armour every 2nd or 3rd chest.
Nostalgia wise, it was this game, Shinobi, Double Dragon, and Altered Beast side by side at my local convenient store that were the first games to really strike me.
I played tons of the arcade version at our local Aladdin's Castle arcade. Sorry Super fans... this one is still the zenith of the franchise.
This is one of the few games I owned on my genesis, I can't believe I actually beat it when I was a kid
One of my favorite games on the SEGA Genesis! Brutal, but rewarding!
There is a project in the works by aMaru to make Genesis version MUCH closer to Arcade. There are videos of Stage 1 and half of Stage 2 and it looks crazy good.
I've posted the same comment regarding aMaru incredible MD GnG remaster (wip), strangely my comment has been DELETD, dunno why...
Did you post a link? Links are auto deleted do to scammers posting links to porn and to "win prizes".
@@SegaLordX Yes, i post a direct link to system16 forum aMaru GnG thread, nevermind..
I have nothing to say. I'm literally only commenting to let the algorithm know that these videos are enjoyed.
Thanks for that!
One of the reasons I brought a megadrive. This was leaps ahead of what we was used to in the uk at that point
I've proudly finished every game in this series except the latest version, as I don't have the means to play it, and the Wonder Swan game. For sure some of my greatest gaming accomplishments, as I may not finish them in one go, but I get there eventually, The NES game probably took the longest, at about 1 1/2 days, as I had to leave the unit on overnight, so I could finish it the next day. The SNES game was probably my favorite, as I can still get pretty far in that game on 1 credit, and I just loved the level design and the graphics of that game.
Well done, Sir. My favourites are Daimakaimura (no restarting at the end of the level) and Super Ghouls N Ghosts. I feel the series has lost it's way and it's now too manic. It was always frantic but I think they made the new game ridiculous in that way. I would have loved for them to have done a CPS1 port of the SNES game.
The axe weapon isn't clumsy it just lacks multiple rapid fire it can only shoot one at a time on screen
I absolutely love your reviews!!!! Here's an idea... top 10 (or top 5 at least) Sega Genesis games of each year of It's life!!!!!
The O.G. Ghosts N' Goblins arcade game was the game that got be hooked on gaming as a kid.
Something you should add in the future specially when they are arcade conversions for any Sega console is the size of the ROM of the original arcade game. This game was a 32 megabit ROM and ran on Capcom's CPS1 system which was essentially a 68000 CPU but ran a bit faster and had obviously a more extensive color palette. Regardless, it shows how capable and creative Sega was by being able to show how much could be done with a simple 5 megabits. I think if this game would have been made even a year later in the Genesis's life and on an 8 meg ROM, it would have been even more impressive. At the time the SuperGrafx was announced in Japan and EGM raved about that version, it was way overhyped. A clear comparison does show that it had more detail due to the obvious bigger ROM size, but the sound was awful and it was not that much better in comparison. This game for some reason was very impactful on most of the other arcade game conversions that came out for the Genesis. It made me pay extra attention to how close the home versions were to the arcade ones. Good review SegaLord.
One of my favorite Genesis games ever. Beat it countless time over the past 30 or so years. I do agree though that there are many useless weapons though. Once you get the 🗡 you're good.
This was one hard game for a kid! My older brother beat it only to have our jaws drops when it makes you repeat it again.
I love this game but I prefer the Supergrafx version, more detailed and is closer to the arcade. I prefer the Supergrafx cover 😍😍😍
Supergrafx edition has a lot going for it but I still prefer the Genesis version.
@@SegaLordXnobody is perfect, but you are subjective 😉😉😉
back in the day few ppl were importing a supergrafx for 100s of dollars
The new port for the Mega Drive/Genesis being created by aMaru is going to absolutely crush the Supergrafx version.
@@SegaLordX that's a Lance not a sword in the beginning
This is the 2nd game I owned back in the early 90s. Great game.
Would love to see a comparison video between the Sega Génesis version VS the PC Engine version. As a kid I played Ghouls and Ghosts on the Génesis to death. It was an amazing game that to this day still holds up. But when I found out there was a PC Engine version and played it, I was surprised to see this version having what seemed to be more frames of animation for the characters and some level backgrounds being more detailed and having more stuff going on.
the supergrafx version? the graphics have more detail, but the sound is kind of weird. bouts of serious slowdown and choppiness, too. it's also more random and harder than the genesis port
This was a great episode! Nice job SLX!
Awesome video! I remember my dad buying this game for us on Christmas 1989. It was way more fun than the Altered Beast pack in title
This is my favorite title in the Ghosts and Goblins saga, i really think it is the best one, a forgotten gem
One of the most difficult games that I've never played, but I loved and played for many many times
if you want a good follow-up, try mastering Alisa Dragoon
Like. Good review. Ghost 'n Goblins really difficult games in all platforms in various games and versions.
I'm proud to say I lived through the 80's and starting with the Atari 2600 through the years, and the consoles,I loved this version and the pc engine version, Great video, well done.
The pixel art shpwpiece. It just looks so good and the music catchy as hell.
The pool hall in my city had the arcade of this game. I got it on the snes and this game is tight
Great video, but he doesn't start out with a throwing sword. It is his lance that is the starting weapon
I specifically and purposefully called it what the manual called it.
@@SegaLordX oh wow...never knew that, thanks!
@@SegaLordX You really should have clarified that in the episode, because even the Ghosts and Goblins wiki says the Genesis manual has misnamed it "sword" when it is actually a lance, and called lance, spear or javelin in other games.
This was the game that made me buy a Genesis!! Still impressed to this day!
the starting weapon wasn't a sword it was a jousting spear :-)
Thanks for another great video sega lord x
I never played ghoul's ghosts before! Even ghost'n goblins!
this is one of my favorite games on the sega genesis. I've only beaten it using a cheat code for invincibility though.
Here I am at 43 and I just learned that there is a totally different ghouls and ghosts for sega genesis. And now I have to play it
I think this is an amazing game especially for it's time. I remember it's release and a review rating it 98 percent. Amazing classic example of arcade at home.
Ohh my Nemesis
I love that Capcom made all 3 home versions different games. All felt similar but were drastically different. You just have to play enough to know the layouts. I agree that when you finally finish levels in these games, it's very satisfying.
"Capcom made all 3 home versions "?--> Sega bought rights for a in-house MD-SMS GnG conversion; Capcom has always developed games just for Nintendo (business deals..), the first Capcom developed game is SF2SCE for MD afaik.
The best version of the game IMO, I even rather the music in the MD version. Also lover the GFX on the rain storm on the 1st level. Great video again boss