Ghosts'n Goblins
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''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', known in Japan as , is a run-and-gun platform video game series created by
Tokuro Fujiwara , sometimes credited as Professor F or Arthur King, is a Japanese video game designer, involved in the development of many classic Capcom video games. He directed early Capcom titles such as the run-and-gun shooter ''Commando'' (1985), the platf ...
and developed by
Capcom is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
. The first entry in the series was ''
Ghosts 'n Goblins ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', known in Japan as , is a run-and-gun platform video game series created by Tokuro Fujiwara and developed by Capcom. The first entry in the series was '' Ghosts 'n Goblins'', released in arcades on July 7, 1985. The seri ...
'', released in arcades on July 7, 1985. The series has subsequently been ported to and released on a variety of personal computers, game consoles and mobile platforms and spawned several sequels and spin-offs. The main series focuses on the knight Arthur's quest to save princess Prin-Prin from the demon king Astaroth. The primary spin-offs include the ''
Gargoyle's Quest ''Gargoyle's Quest'' is an action-adventure platform game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy and released in 1990. It is a spin-off of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series, featuring the series antagonist character Firebrand as the main playable ch ...
'' and '' Maximo'' game series. The series as a whole has sold over 4.4 million units as of June 30, 2022 and stands as the 13th best-selling Capcom game franchise. It has gained a reputation among players for its high level of difficulty. The most recent game in the series, ''
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection ''Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection'' is a platform game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Switch. It is the 8th game in the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series and was released on February 25, 2021 to celebrate the series' 35th anniversary ...
'', was released on February 25, 2021.


List of games


Main series

The main series consists of run and gun platformers with players controlling a knight named Arthur who must battle through hordes of the undead in order to rescue the kidnapped princess Prin-Prin (also known as Guinevere, or not named altogether depending on the game/translation) from the demon king Astaroth. Arthur's health and magic level is represented by the armor he wears, with Arthur capable of finding better armor and various weapons in treasure chests hidden throughout the game stages; even so, regardless of how powerful the armor Arthur wears is, he will lose it with a single hit. Once losing his armor Arthur is left only wearing his boxers (an image which has become iconic for the series). In most of the main series, once completing the game the player is forced to re-play the game's stages at a higher difficulty level in order to receive the game's "true" ending. The series has gained a reputation among gamers for its high level of difficulty. *''
Ghosts 'n Goblins ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', known in Japan as , is a run-and-gun platform video game series created by Tokuro Fujiwara and developed by Capcom. The first entry in the series was '' Ghosts 'n Goblins'', released in arcades on July 7, 1985. The seri ...
'' (1985) ( Arcade,
Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...
, Commodore Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC,
Atari ST The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first pers ...
, IBM PC compatibles, Commodore 16,
Game Boy Color The (commonly abbreviated as GBC) is a handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on October 21, 1998 and to international markets that November. It is the successor to the Game Boy and is part of the Game ...
, Game Boy Advance, NES, Xbox,
Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the succ ...
,
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online) **'' Ghosts 'n Goblins GOLD'' (2008) ( Java) – A port of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' adapted for the Java platform **'' Ghosts 'n Goblins MOBILE'' (2017) ( iOS,
Android Android may refer to: Science and technology * Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), Google's mobile operating system ** Bugdroid, a Google mascot sometimes referred to ...
) – A port of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' adapted for mobile platforms *''
Ghouls 'n Ghosts ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', known as in Japan, is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Capcom, released as an arcade game in 1988 and subsequently ported to a number of home platforms. It is the sequel to ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' and the second g ...
'' (1988) ( Arcade,
Amiga Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
, Amstrad CPC,
Atari ST The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first pers ...
,
Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...
, Sharp X68000,
Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the succ ...
, Xbox,
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
,
SuperGrafx The , also known as simply the SuperGrafx, is a fourth-generation home video game console manufactured by NEC Home Electronics and released in Japan in 1989. It is the successor system to the PC Engine, released two years prior. Originally know ...
,
Master System The is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...
,
Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...
, Virtual Console, ZX Spectrum) *''
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', known in Japan as , is a platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991. As the third game in the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series and the first not to be released ...
'' (1991) ( SNES,
Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the succ ...
,
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
, Xbox, Game Boy Advance,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
, Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade,
PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...
) **'' Choumakaimura R'' (2002) ( Game Boy Advance) – An enhanced re-mixed version of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' *''
Makaimura for WonderSwan is a game for the WonderSwan developed by Capcom, published by Bandai in 1999 and is the fourth game in the mainline series of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' franchise. Gameplay Sharing similar gameplay to its predecessors, ''Makaimura'' also shares ...
'' (1999) ( WonderSwan) *''
Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins is a video game in Capcom's ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series, developed by Tose and published by Capcom. It was released for the PlayStation Portable on August 13, 2006, in Japan and August 29, 2006, in North America. ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins' ...
'' (2006) (
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
) **'' Gokumakaimura Kai'' (2007) (
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
) – An enhanced re-mixed version of ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' *'' Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights'' (2009) ( iOS) *'' Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights II'' (2010) ( iOS) *''
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection ''Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection'' is a platform game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Switch. It is the 8th game in the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series and was released on February 25, 2021 to celebrate the series' 35th anniversary ...
'' (2021) (
Nintendo Switch The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
,
PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
, Xbox One,
Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
)


''Gargoyle's Quest'' series

The ''Gargoyle's Quest'' series is a group of side-scrolling
adventure game An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or Puzzle video game, puzzle-solving. The Video game genres, genre's focus on story allows it to draw ...
s with mild
role-playing video game A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
elements. Players control the character of Firebrand, a character who is based on an enemy in the main series. *''
Gargoyle's Quest ''Gargoyle's Quest'' is an action-adventure platform game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy and released in 1990. It is a spin-off of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series, featuring the series antagonist character Firebrand as the main playable ch ...
'' (1990) ( Game Boy) *''
Gargoyle's Quest II ''Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness'' is a 1992 action-adventure game released on the NES by Capcom. It is the prequel to '' Gargoyle's Quest'' (part of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' franchise) and features a similar gameplay style, which combi ...
'' (1992) ( NES) **'' Makaimura Gaiden: The Demon Darkness'' (1993) ( Game Boy) – An enhanced port of ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' *''
Demon's Crest ''Demon's Crest'', known in Japan as ''Demon's Blazon'', is a platform game, side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third video game starring Firebrand (an enemy ...
'' (1994) ( SNES)


''Maximo'' series

''Maximo'' is a 3D
hack and slash Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as ...
platformer series developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. The games are based on the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' universe and feature original character designs by Japanese illustrator Susumu Matsushita. *'' Maximo: Ghosts to Glory'' (2001) (
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
) *''
Maximo vs. Army of Zin is an action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom and developed by their US-based Production Studio 8 in 2003 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. This title is a sequel to ''Maximo: Ghosts to Glory''. It is part of the ''Ghosts ...
'' (2003) (
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
)


Other

*'' Arthur to Astaroth no Nazomakaimura: Incredible Toons'' (1996) (
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
,
Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the succ ...
) – Puzzle game based on
Dynamix Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of video games from 1984 to 2001, best known for the flight simulator ''Red Baron'', the puzzle game '' The Incredible Machine'', the '' Front Page Sports'' series, ''Betrayal at Krondor,'' and the online ...
's
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons ''Sid & Al's Incredible Toons'' is a puzzle video game developed by Dynamix and released by Sierra On-Line in 1993. Summary This video game is designed with the same style as that of '' The Incredible Machine'', except that the game takes place ...
*''Makaimura Online'' (NA) ( PC) – A licensed Korean MMO game. It began a closed beta in 2010 before proceeding to an
open beta A software release life cycle is the sum of the stages of development and maturity for a piece of computer software ranging from its initial development to its eventual release, and including updated versions of the released version to help impro ...
in 2013. However, the game never received a full release and the test servers were shut down in 2015.


''Capcom Party''

Capcom released a series of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''-themed Flash based mini-games for ''Capcom Party''; a subscription service related to its ''Capcom Park'' i-mode mobile app. *''Small Makaimura'' (2001) ( Flash) *''Puzzle Makaimura'' (2001) ( Flash) *''Puzzle Makaimura Revenge'' (2002) ( Flash) *''Puzzle Makaimura Final'' (2004) ( Flash)


Cancelled games

* ''Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness'' (Game Boy western release) * ''Ghosts 'n Goblins 3D'' (PlayStation) * ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts 64'' (Nintendo 64) * ''Maximo: Ghosts to Glory'' (Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Gamecube) * ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts Online'' (Microsoft Windows, Apple OSX, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox)


Arcade gambling machines

*''Double Fever Makaimura'' (1987) ( Arcade) – A Japanese
redemption game Redemption games are typically arcade games of skill that reward the player proportionally to their score in the game. The reward most often comes in the form of tickets, with more tickets being awarded for higher scores. These tickets can then ...
*''Gekimakaimura'' (2005) ( Arcade) – A Japanese medal game


Appearances in other game series

*'' Higemaru Makaijima'' – A Red Arremer appears as the end boss. *''
Black Tiger A black tiger is a rare colour variant of the tiger, and is not a distinct species or geographic subspecies. Description There are reports and one painting (now lost) of pure black non-striped tigers (true melanistic tigers). Most black mammal ...
'' – A Red Arremer appears as an enemy. *'' Breath of Fire'' – Paintings of Arthur appear in some homes. The Gargoyle enemies may be a nod to the Red Arremer enemies. *''
Cannon Spike ''Cannon Spike'', originally released in Japan as , is a multi-directional shooter arcade game released in 2000 by Psikyo and later in the same year for the Dreamcast by Capcom. It uses Capcom-designed characters and runs on Sega's Naomi Hardwar ...
'' – Arthur is a playable character. *'' Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure'' – A ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed minigame appears. *'' We Love Golf!'' – Arthur is a playable character. *'' Dead Rising 2'' – An Arthur costume can be worn in the game.


''Mega Man'' series

*'' Mega Man 7'' – The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' theme music can be heard at Shade Man's stage through a secret code. *'' Mega Man: The Power Battle'' – The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' theme music can be heard. *'' Mega Man Powered Up'' – A ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed level pack is available for download including an Arthur costume for Roll. *'' Mega Man Universe'' – Arthur was planned as a playable character before the game's cancellation and was featured in the game's teaser trailer.


''X Capcom'' series

*''
Namco × Capcom (pronounced as "Namco Cross Capcom") is a tactical role-playing (RPG) crossover video game developed by Monolith Soft for the PlayStation 2 and published by Namco in 2005. The gameplay combines tactical RPG and action sequences during battles, ...
'' – Arthur is a playable character. Astaroth, Nebiroth, and Red Arremer Joker appear as bosses along with several ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''
mob Mob or MOB may refer to: Behavioral phenomena * Crowd * Smart mob, a temporary self-structuring social organization, coordinated through telecommunication Crime and law enforcement * American Mafia, also known as the Mob * Irish Mob, a US crim ...
characters. The Demon Village is a major location in the game as well. *'' Project X Zone'' – Arthur is a playable character. Arremers appear yet again as standard enemies.


''vs. Capcom'' series

*'' Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes'' – Arthur is an assist character. *'' SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium'' – A ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed minigame can be played. *'' SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos'' – A Red Arremer is a playable character as well as a secret boss. *'' Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars'' – Arthur, Firebrand and Astaroth make cameos in Soki's ending. *'' Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds'' – Arthur appears as a playable character along with a ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed stage featuring Astaroth and Red Arremer. Additionally, Firebrand appears in Dormammu's ending. **''
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of '' Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds''. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book se ...
'' – Firebrand joins Arthur as a playable character, with Red Arremer King and Zombie Arthur/
Bishamon Bishamon is the Japanese name for Vaiśravaṇa, a Buddhist deity. Bishamon or Bishamonten may also refer to: * Bishamon Station, a railway station in Aomori, Japan Characters * Bishamonten, a character in the Ranma ½ movie, ''Big Trouble in N ...
-themed Armor appearing as downloadable costume for these two respective characters. *'' Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite'' – Both Arthur and Firebrand are playable.


Comics and manga


Wan Pakku Comics

In 1986, ''Ghosts'n Goblins'' was adapted into a manga by Sawada Yukio and published by Wan Pakku Comics, released as a five-part story in the anthology series .


Comic BomBom

''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' and ''Gargoyle's Quest'' are two of the video games featured in the manga titled ''Rock'n Game Boy'', by Shigeto Ikehara and published by Comic BomBom October 1989 to December 1991.


Corocoro Comic

''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', was one of the video games adapted into a manga titled ''Famicom Ryu'' (1985-1987) and ''Nekketsu! Famicom Shounendan'' (1986-1987), published by Comic Coro Coro. ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' is one of the video games featuring in the manga titled ''Cyber Boy'', by Nagai Noriaki, Published by Coro Coro Comic and Shogakukan, from 1991 to 1993.


Archie Comics

The series would later be included in the
Archie Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.Sega is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
franchises, with the ''
Sonic the Hedgehog is a Japanese video game series and media franchise created by Sega. The franchise follows Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist. The main ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' games are platformers mo ...
'' and ''
Mega Man ''Mega Man'', known as in Japan, is a Japanese science fiction video game franchise created by Capcom, starring a series of robot characters each known by the moniker "Mega Man (character), Mega Man". Mega Man (video game), The original game w ...
'' comic lines providing the backdrop.


Characters

* Arthur: A knight in the service of princess Prin-Prin. Arthur is the primary
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series. The usage of the name Arthur is an allusion to
King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...
of Arthurian Legend. *Prin-Prin: Princess Prin-Prin is the ruler of the human realm (''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' specifies the Kingdom of Hus) and the last human with royal blood. She serves as the primary
damsel-in-distress The damsel in distress is a recurring narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has either been kidnapped or placed in general peril. Kinship, love, or lust (or a combination of those) gives the male protagonist the motiv ...
of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series. Astaroth kidnaps her in order to use her royal blood to invade the human realm. Although always referred to as Prin-Prin in Japan, she has been called both Prin-Prin and Guinevere in the various American releases. The usage of Guinevere is an allusion to
Guinevere Guinevere ( ; cy, Gwenhwyfar ; br, Gwenivar, kw, Gwynnever), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First ment ...
of Arthurian Legend. *Satan: A red beast who appears in both ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' and ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' to kidnap Princess Prin-Prin for the current demon lord, but is only fought in ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''. He is extremely cunning and sets up traps for Arthur in the first game. A similar character appears in the ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' called Malgor in the English translation, but he is known as Skull Satan in Japan, implying they are the same character. In the game, he is almost perfectly impersonating King Darkoan for Breager, showing his cunning nature. However, Firebrand sees through his disguise and defeats him. *Astaroth: A demon king and the primary
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist. Etymology The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series. When near death he transforms into the undead demon king Nebiroth, a separate entity and personality from Astaroth. The name Astaroth is an allusion to the
Astaroth Astaroth (also Ashtaroth, Astarot and Asteroth), in demonology, was known to be the Great Duke of Hell in the first hierarchy with Beelzebub and Lucifer; he was part of the evil trinity. He is known to be a male figure most likely named after ...
found in medieval demonology. *Lucifer: Also known as Rushifell in ''Gargoyle's Quest'' and ''Gargoyle's Quest II'', and alternatively referred to as Loki in the Sega Genesis version of ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts''. Lucifer is an extremely powerful noble in the demon realm and serves as the end-game boss ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts''. In the ''Gargoyle's Quest'' series he functions as both a rival and assisting character, testing and then aiding Firebrand in reaching his full potential. *Sardius: Known as Samael in Japan, he is the primary demon antagonist and end boss from ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts''. The usage of Samael is an allusion to Samael of Talmudic lore. *Hades: The Lord of Darkness who governs the Demon World in ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins''. He had orchestrated his scheme carefully after watching the rise and fall of his 'predecessors: Astaroth, Lucifer, and Sardius. Hades sought two goals in his invasion of the Human Realm - The first was to use the Prin Prin's to create a mixed-blood union between Humans and Demons, giving the demons dominance over the humans. The second is the destruction of the Demon Realm's most hated enemy, Arthur. He plots his scheme, with Astaroth serving as his lieutenant and the Black Palace as his stronghold. *Lancelot: One of Arthur's knights with a unique jump attack. He is kidnapped and brainwashed to fight Arthur. The usage of the name Lancelot is an allusion to
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), also written as Launcelot and other variants (such as early German ''Lanzelet'', early French ''Lanselos'', early Welsh ''Lanslod Lak'', Italian ''Lancillotto'', Spanish ''Lanzarote del Lago' ...
of Arthurian Legend. *Perceval: One of Arthur's knights and a powerful short-range fighter with a unique dash attack. The usage of the name Perceval is an allusion to Perceval of Arthurian Legend. *Firebrand: Known as The Red Arremer in Japan, Firebrand is the primary protagonist of the ''Gargoyle's Quest'' series. He belongs to a race of gargoyled demons known as the Red Arremer Tribe, considered the elite warriors of the demon king Astaroth. He is considered a hero among his peers, and as such he has been nicknamed Red Blaze (a title shared with his ancestor in ''Gargoyle's Quest II'', also named Firebrand) due to his bright red skin and prowess with fiery magic. The Red Arremer tribe appears as standard enemies in the main ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series, while a fiery blue silhouette of a Red Arremer serves as the series' logo. *Breager: An evil conqueror from another dimension that serves as the primary antagonist in ''Gargoyle's Quest''. Firebrand is sent to destroy Breager and save the Demon Realm. In the prequel game ''Gargoyle's Quest II'', Breager also attempted to conquer the Demon Realm but was defeated by Firebrand's ancestor. *Phalanx: A rival demon to Firebrand and the primary antagonist of ''Demon's Crest''. Using the power of magical Crests that he stole from Firebrand, he rules and oppresses the Demon Realm. His chief general is Arma, who confronts Firebrand multiple times during his quest to destroy Phalanx. *Maximo: The primary protagonist of the ''Maximo'' series. Maximo is a king who is slain by his adviser Achille. He strikes a deal with Grimm, the grim reaper, in order to rescue his betrothed, Sophia. *Grimm: The grim reaper who frees Maximo from limbo and aids him on his journey in exchange for killing Achille. *Sophia: The primary
damsel in distress The damsel in distress is a recurring narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has either been kidnapped or placed in general peril. Kinship, love, or lust (or a combination of those) gives the male protagonist the motiv ...
of the ''Maximo'' series. Sophia is Maximo's betrothed, kidnapped at the beginning of ''Maximo: Ghosts to Glory''.


Development

The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' franchise was created by
Tokuro Fujiwara , sometimes credited as Professor F or Arthur King, is a Japanese video game designer, involved in the development of many classic Capcom video games. He directed early Capcom titles such as the run-and-gun shooter ''Commando'' (1985), the platf ...
(also known for producing games in the ''
Mega Man ''Mega Man'', known as in Japan, is a Japanese science fiction video game franchise created by Capcom, starring a series of robot characters each known by the moniker "Mega Man (character), Mega Man". Mega Man (video game), The original game w ...
'' franchise) and is produced by
Capcom is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
. Toshio Arima served as lead programmer and Ayako Mori composed the score for the original arcade release in 1985.


Music

The original score for the initial arcade release of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' was composed by Ayako Mori. The music developed for the game's first level, entitled "Graveyard, Forest & Ice Palace," has since become recognized as the official theme for the franchise, appearing in a re-mixed form in every entry of the main series as well as making cameo appearances in other Capcom games such as '' Mega Man 7'' and ''
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of '' Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds''. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book se ...
''. Tamayo Kawamoto composed the score for ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', the next entry in the series, followed by Mari Yamaguchi for ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' (with Tomohiro Masuda and Nobuhiko Isa handling the GBA re-release), and Masaya Tsunemoto and Kazuhiro Kotani for ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins''. The score for the ''Gargoyle's Quest'' spin-off series was composed by Harumi Fujita (I) and Yuki Iwai (II) (with Norihiko Togashi handling the Game Boy re-release of ''Gargoyle's Quest II''). To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the franchise, Capcom released the ''Makaimura Ongakutaizen'' in Japan on December 28, 2005. This 7 disc boxed set featured over 350 tracks and was a complete soundtrack for the series to date featuring the complete scores of not only every entry of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' and ''Gargoyle's Quest'' series, but also of every PC and
home console A home video game console is a video game console that is designed to be connected to a display device, such as a television, and an external power source as to play video games. Home consoles are generally less powerful and customizable than ...
port of each game therein. This collection quickly sold out and was praised by various video game music review sites. In reference to the series' soundtrack as a whole, one reviewer noted:
With each of Makaimura's original scores, Capcom's composers and sound programmers pushed various consoles to the limits to produce high quality scores. With ''Makaimura'', ''Daimakaimura'', and ''Choumakaimura'', the series evolved admirably to refine a dark action-packed orchestral sound that fitted the scenes of the games. The classic series is especially strong thematically, remembered not just for the first stage theme but for other striking compositions. The series has demonstrated plenty of diversity over the years with the Baroque-influenced approaches to ''Makaimura for WonderSwan'' and the Red Arremer titles, the exceptionally ambient score to ''Demon's Blazon Makaimura Monshou Hen'', and the dabs of avant-garde and rock influence in the classic series. All these factors considered, the series has secured the legacy of being one of the most musically and technologically influential video game franchises.
Though selling for around $100 upon its release, the collection was highly sought out by fans and continues to fetch a high price on Internet auction sites such as eBay. Capcom released a soundtrack for ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' on September 30, 2006.


Reception

The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' franchise stands as Capcom's 13th best-selling game franchise, having sold over 4.2 million units. It is generally well regarded by critics and somewhat notorious for its traditional high level of difficulty. Additionally, the franchise frequently makes cameo appearances (the character of Arthur in particular) in other Capcom titles, the latest of which being ''
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of '' Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds''. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book se ...
''. The main series starring Sir Arthur and Princess Prin-Prin was initially released as an arcade title in 1985 and subsequently re-released and ported to a variety of home computer consoles. It continues as an active intellectual property for Capcom with its latest release in 2021 on the
Nintendo Switch The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
. The NES release of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' was rated as the 54th best NES game of all time by
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
and the 124th best game on a Nintendo console by Nintendo Power. The game is considered by
GameTrailers ''GameTrailers'' (''GT'') was an American video gaming website created by Geoffrey R. Grotz and Brandon Jones in 2002. The website specialized in multimedia content, including trailers and gameplay footage of upcoming and recently released v ...
to be the world's second most difficult game ever made. As of 2008, the original ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' is Capcom's 18th best selling title, having sold over 1.6 million units. Similarly, ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' is Capcom's 42nd best selling title, having sold over 1 million units. The main series went on a minor hiatus after the release of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' in 1991. Capcom general producer
Noritaka Funamizu , sometimes credited as Poo, is a Japanese video game designer, director and producer formerly employed by Capcom. In 2004, he left Capcom to help found Crafts & Meister. Career Funamizu was employed by Capcom in 1985. Prior to that, he wrote f ...
explained that the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' games take a long time to develop and were not popular in Japan; as a result, Capcom had taken a net loss on previous installments and were wary of producing a new entry. With the exception of the largely overlooked ''
Makaimura for WonderSwan is a game for the WonderSwan developed by Capcom, published by Bandai in 1999 and is the fourth game in the mainline series of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' franchise. Gameplay Sharing similar gameplay to its predecessors, ''Makaimura'' also shares ...
'' which was released only in Japan, and a re-release of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' on the Game Boy Advance, the main ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series did not see a major release until ''
Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins is a video game in Capcom's ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series, developed by Tose and published by Capcom. It was released for the PlayStation Portable on August 13, 2006, in Japan and August 29, 2006, in North America. ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins' ...
'' on the
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
in 2006. The return of the series received mixed to positive reviews. GameSpot noted that the entry would appeal to fans of the original, but that many of the old-school game mechanics including level design and jump mechanics, along with the traditional level of difficulty, may not appeal to the current generation of gamers. These concerns were echoed by such sites as GameDaily and AtomicGamer. Other sites such as
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
and GameCritics praised this adherence to the series' old-school mechanics and traditional level of difficulty, while noting that the new health, armor, and waypoint systems as well as tiered difficulty options went a long way in adjusting the difficulty for new gamers. ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' was also the first entry in the series to employ
3D graphics 3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for the ...
, a fact praised by most reviewers: "The 3D graphics enhance the 2D gameplay by giving the world a sense of depth without interfering with the gameplay, and the whole package simply glows with vibrant color and lighting effects." The ''Gargoyle's Quest'' spin-off saw a series of releases between 1990 and 1994. The introduction of RPG elements in ''Gargoyle's Quest'' was praised, however reviewers noted an uneven level of difficulty. ''Demon's Crest'' was highly regarded as "one of the finest action titles on SNES, and without a doubt the crowning achievement of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' line" by critics; however, it went largely unnoticed in terms of sales being labeled a "major flop". Similarly, the ''Maximo'' spin-off sub-series was initially well-received, though criticized for being difficult and inaccessible. ''Ghosts to Glory'' (2001) achieved PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits status in the United States, selling more than 400,000 units in North America. IGN ranked the game as the 6th most difficult game on the
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
. A sequel, ''
Maximo vs. Army of Zin is an action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom and developed by their US-based Production Studio 8 in 2003 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. This title is a sequel to ''Maximo: Ghosts to Glory''. It is part of the ''Ghosts ...
'' was released in
2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...
with better critical reception but faltering sales, ultimately leading to the cancellation of ''Maximo 3''. The future of both the ''Gargoyles Quest'' and ''Maximo'' spin-off series is unknown.


References


External links

* {{Franchises by Capcom Capcom franchises Video game franchises Video game franchises introduced in 1985 Video games developed in Japan Run and gun games by series