Best of Sega Genesis: Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was another game that started out as an arcade game which then transitioned to a home console game. This was a popular thing to do when the Sega Genesis and Super NES came out.
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was a great arcade game which ported very well to the Sega Genesis. Not all games ported well from the arcade. But this game worked great. Being able to play for hours at home was much better than dumping countless quarters at an arcade.
This game does get some flack for being difficult. Honestly, I never did finish it at the arcade. I’d run out of quarters. But at home I could keep playing until I got to the end. Only to be sent back to the beginning to start all over again. You had to get the (spoilers) golden armor and special weapon to defeat the final boss.
The game was so much fun I didn’t mind playing it all over again. It was difficult holding on to the armor but still not as hard as Super Mario Bros in my opinion.
New Kind of Side Scroller
Side scrollers had been around for a while but Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was memorable for many reasons. You travelled through several stages, had optional weapons, fought different bosses, and it had great music.
The stages had you starting in a graveyard, through a forest, across a decaying village, up a mountain, down underground caverns, and finishing with a castle inside a volcano.
Each stage had new enemies, a few old ones, and a boss. This was fairly new for games back then. Old side scrollers, like Defender or Moon Patrol, were pretty redundant and basic.
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts added more scenery, plus animated wind, fire, and water. Each stage had a different feel to it instead of being a slightly altered version of every other stage. Fighting your way up a mountain, down waterslides, and back up on a moving platform was mind blowing when it came out.
Additional Features
There were also seven different weapons to acquire. Each weapon had it’s own strengths and weaknesses. You definitely did not want the axe for fighting on the waterslide level or it’s final boss. Defeating that slug with the axe or sword was nearly impossible. However, the torch weapon made quick work of the slug.
On the other hand, the axe made the rising platform level easier. The daggers were handy throughout the whole game. The special attack for the dagger was great too. It temporarily created a clone, mirroring all your jumps and attacks.
Discovering each weapons special attack was a novelty since this was before the internet. Until you actually got the weapon and gold armor you had no idea what it did. Mostly I avoided getting the discus, axe, and sword. While seeking the dagger or lance.
Good vs Evil
Looking back the game is a bit on the dark side. It has ghouls, ghosts, devils, and scary looking bosses. In general, it was good vs evil. Still, the storyline is light which was common for games back then. Similar to Donkey Kong, the bad guy took your girl and you have to rescue her.
It sounds silly but I remember the bad guys were a bit shocking when it came out. The original Ghosts ‘n Goblins were much more tame compared to Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. It’s nothing like Mortal Combat or any of the GTA games. But the updated ghosts, ghouls, and evil looking bosses did catch everyone’s attention back then.
Conclusion: A Great Sega Genesis Game
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was an innovative side scroller game for the Sega Genesis. The game mechanics, sounds, and overall game play was much better than the original Ghosts ‘N Goblins. Both were known for being difficult. But with practice and learning the hit box size of your character it was a fun game.
There are several versions across platforms such as the SNES, C64, and others. But my favorite is the Sega Genesis Ghouls ‘N Ghosts version. I think it still holds up as a great game today and is worth checking out.
Best of Sega Genesis Games: Ghouls ‘N Ghosts brought to you by: David M.
I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.
