The History of Ghosts 'n Goblins (and Makaimura 魔界村) - Full Series Retrospective | Rewind Arcade
Rewind Arcade・53 minutes read
Capcom rose in the 1980s, creating iconic games like Ghosts and Goblins with designer Tokura Fujiwara, leading to the challenging yet beloved series with multiple sequels and adaptations. The latest entry, Ghosts and Goblins Resurrection, maintains the series' difficulty and tradition while introducing new gameplay elements and receiving mixed reviews.
Insights
- Tokura Fujiwara, a key game designer at Capcom, created the company's first hit game, Ghosts and Goblins, which set the foundation for their success, leading to the development of iconic franchises like Street Fighter and Resident Evil.
- Ghosts and Goblins, known for its challenging gameplay and memorable music composed by Ayako Mori, introduced Arthur, a steel armor-clad knight, on a quest to rescue Princess PrinPrin from demons, navigating through 2D platformer stages with various weapons.
- The evolution of the Ghosts and Goblins series, from Ghouls and Ghosts to Super Ghouls and Ghosts, introduced new gameplay mechanics, improved graphics, and additional weapons and armor upgrades, maintaining the franchise's reputation for fair difficulty and engaging gameplay.
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Recent questions
What inspired the creation of Capcom's hit game Ghosts and Goblins?
Ghosts and Goblins was inspired by demons and medieval themes, featuring cute and humorous monster designs, with a steel armor-clad knight named Arthur on a quest to rescue Princess PrinPrin from demons.
What challenges did the development of Super Ghouls and Ghosts face?
Development of Super Ghouls and Ghosts faced challenges with Nintendo's new hardware and project direction, leading to the addition of planner Tatia Minami to stabilize development.
What new gameplay mechanics were introduced in Super Ghouls and Ghosts?
Super Ghouls and Ghosts introduced new gameplay mechanics like a double jump ability, new weapons, and armor upgrades, allowing Arthur to upgrade weapons with bronze armor and gain a chargeable magic attack with golden armor.
What platforms were the Ghosts and Goblins series released on?
The Ghosts and Goblins series was released on various platforms like NES, Commodore 64, and Amiga, with subsequent ports to the Game Boy Advance and various collections.
What is the latest entry in the Ghosts and Goblins series?
Ghosts and Goblins Resurrection, the latest entry in the series, launched in 2021, maintaining the franchise's challenging gameplay and receiving mixed reviews.
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Summary
00:00
Capcom's Ghosts and Goblins: Gaming Success
- Capcom emerged in the 1980s to compete with established gaming companies like Namco and Konami, eventually creating iconic franchises like Street Fighter and Resident Evil.
- Tokura Fujiwara, a young game designer, created Capcom's first hit game, Ghosts and Goblins, setting the company on a path to success.
- Before Ghosts and Goblins, Fujiwara worked at Konami and then joined Capcom, where he designed well-received arcade titles like Valgus and Pirate Ship Higemaru.
- Ghosts and Goblins was inspired by demons and medieval themes, with cute and humorous monster designs, featuring a steel armor-clad knight named Arthur.
- The game required Arthur to rescue Princess PrinPrin from demons, navigating through challenging 2D platformer stages with various weapons like lances, daggers, and shields.
- Ghosts and Goblins was known for its difficult gameplay, requiring players to complete the game twice for the true ending by defeating the final boss, Asteroth.
- The game's iconic music, including the memorable graveyard melody, was composed by Ayako Mori, becoming a series main theme.
- Ghosts and Goblins was released in Japanese arcades in 1985, followed by international success and multiple ports to various platforms like NES, Commodore 64, and Amiga.
- A sequel, Ghouls and Ghosts, was developed in 1988, featuring improved graphics, new weapons like the sword and discus, and the addition of the gold armor with special magic abilities.
- Ghouls and Ghosts retained the challenging gameplay of its predecessor, requiring players to defeat Lucifer and navigate through difficult stages, with a new weapon, the Psycho Cannon, available in the second playthrough.
17:44
Super Ghouls and Ghosts: Development and Reception
- Fujiwara decided to create the next entry in the Ghosts and Goblins series exclusively for the Super Famicom, with him as the producer.
- Development faced challenges with Nintendo's new hardware and project direction, leading to the addition of planner Tatia Minami to stabilize development.
- The game, titled Cho Makaimura in Japan and Super Ghouls and Ghosts overseas, introduced new gameplay mechanics like a double jump ability and new weapons and armor upgrades.
- Arthur could upgrade weapons with the bronze armor and gain a chargeable magic attack with the golden armor, along with a moonshield and sunshield.
- The game featured seven unique stages, requiring Arthur to play through twice to face the final boss, Samael or Sardius.
- Super Ghouls and Ghosts received positive reviews for its graphics, gameplay mechanics, and fair difficulty, despite criticism for slowdowns and the removal of vertical weapon aiming.
- The game was released in Japan in October 1991, followed by North America in November and Europe in late 1992, with subsequent ports to the Game Boy Advance and various collections.
- Fujiwara began work on a new game featuring the red armor character from the Ghosts and Goblins series, leading to the creation of Gargoyle's Quest for the Game Boy.
- Gargoyle's Quest featured platforming stages and an overhead mode reminiscent of RPGs, with Firebrand as the protagonist defending the demon world.
- The game received positive reception, leading to a sequel, Gargoyle's Quest 2, which maintained similar gameplay mechanics and was well-received in the West.
33:36
"Maximo: Princess Rescue in 3D Adventure"
- Armor-clad protagonist, Asteroth, and Princess capturing nemesis given set items to complete objective
- Game launched in summer of 1996 exclusively in Japan for Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn
- Three years later, another Ghosts and Goblins title released for Bandai's WonderSwan handheld console
- Titled Makaimura for WonderSwan, a joint collaboration between Bandai and Capcom
- New character Emperor Azazel introduced as final boss, requiring special weapon to confront
- Branching stage paths concept from Ghouls and Ghosts implemented for replay value
- Arthur gains ability to swim, first for the series, and unique stage requiring handheld rotation
- Capcom's venture into 3D with Ghosts and Goblins, inspired by Super Mario 64's gameplay
- Maximo introduced as new protagonist in 3D platformer, focusing on hack and slash gameplay
- Maximo must rescue Princess Sophia, aided by Grim Reaper, facing high difficulty levels and unique gameplay mechanics
50:16
Evolution of Ghosts and Goblins Series
- The original Goku Makaimura and a redesigned Kai version were on store shelves, with the Kai version aligning more closely with its predecessors in gameplay and mechanics.
- The Kai version remixed stages and enemy layouts, revamped the magic system, eliminated the inventory, and limited player continues.
- Goku Makaimura Kai remained exclusive to Japan, with Fujiwara taking a break from the gaming industry post Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins due to health concerns.
- Capcom ventured into mobile gaming in 2009, releasing Makaimura Kishi Retsuden, offering a new playable character, Lancelot, alongside Arthur.
- Makaimura Kishi Retsuden launched in Japan on the imode platform, later expanding to iOS devices globally, with additional abilities available as microtransactions.
- A sequel, Makaimura Kishi Retsuden 2, introduced Percival as a new playable character, offering varied gameplay and additional microtransactions.
- In 2008, Capcom Korea announced an MMO spin-off, Mageshon Online, allowing multiplayer gameplay akin to the mainline series, but it was discontinued in 2015.
- Fujiwara returned to develop a new mainline entry, Kaitekita Makaimura, closely tied to the original games, featuring Umbral Bees collectibles and new abilities.
- Kaitekita Makaimura introduced new weapons, armors, difficulty levels, and a two-player local co-op mode, enhancing accessibility and gameplay variety.
- Ghosts and Goblins Resurrection, the latest entry in the series, launched in 2021, maintaining the franchise's challenging gameplay and receiving mixed reviews.
01:06:46
Descendants of Arthur aid in resurrection.
- The three wise men in the game are actually descendants of Arthur, assisting him in the co-op mode of resurrection, not random ghosts. The favorite game in the series is "Super Ghouls and Ghosts" due to its double jump, stage design, and music, followed by "Ghouls and Ghosts" and "Resurrection." To try the series, check out Capcom Arcade Stadium for the first two games, "Super Ghouls and Ghosts" on SNES Switch Online, and "Resurrection" on major platforms.
