In spite of their crushing difficulty I love the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series. But the series does have a deep, dark, secret. The best games in the series have nothing to do with Arthur and star its most hated enemy, Firebrand. Gargoyle’s Quest 1 & 2 are some of the best games on their respective platforms and the same applies here. Demon’s Crest is one of my favorite SNES games and all around fantastic. More people would know it if it didn’t get crushed by Donkey Kong Country like every other game that Christmas.
Although Demon’s Crest had a mostly positive reception there was one common complaint. Most reviews criticized its length and even mentioned that it had little replay value. That is simply not true. If you simply go from left to right without exploring the game does end in less than an hour. But that is the bad ending. If you plum its depths Demon’s Crest has tons of depth, with hidden bosses, plenty of secrets, multiple endings and twice as many levels as it appears. Don’t miss out on a borderline classic.
Demon’s Crest more or less follows in the footsteps of Gargoyle’s Quest 2. You have the freedom to visit any location on the map initially although Firebrand is incredibly weak. You can fly in a straight line, cling to walls, head butt statues and walls, and breathe weak fire. As you progress you’ll gain new Crests that grant different gargoyle forms. The abilities of these new forms vary greatly and come with their own quirks. The ground gargoyle can dash and break walls and statues but can’t fly. The aerial gargoyle leaps higher and can fly freely but can’t cling to walls. Its breath attack is also useless against some enemies. The tidal gargoyle is only useful in water which sounds limiting but is needed to access many areas. There are two more forms for astute players to find as well.
As you accrue crests and gain new abilities the game takes on a Super Metroid tone minus the interconnected map. There are plenty of reasons to revisit previous levels as there are a ton of items to collect. None of these are mandatory but they do are extremely useful and even game breaking. There are vellums to imprint spells, numerous potions, talismans that give passive bonuses and new abilities for Firebrand’s base form. Almost every level has hidden items, and some will require multiple trips to find them all. The depth is there if you seek it out.
Unlike the main Ghouls ‘n Ghosts games Demon’ Crest presents a moderate challenge without being unfair. Life extensions are easy to find and eventually your hit points can reach twenty. With up to five urns for potions you essentially have energy tanks like Mega Man as well. Combine that with the talismans that double strength and defense and you are strong in a way Arthur can only dream of. But the game certainly puts up a fight in spite of that, especially the excellent boss battles. Their patterns are easy to spot but it still comes down to execution. Demon’s Crest is enjoyable in a way I wish the main series was and that is a compliment.
And now we come to the game’s length. If you play the game straightforward then you’ll reach Phalanx castle shortly. The ensuing boss battle is incredibly easy and you’ll receive the bad ending. But fully exploring the world will unlock new areas and with all of the game’s items and such you’ll get a few good hours out of it. While that is perfectly fine it is almost criminal that the game isn’t longer. Demon’s Crest could have been twice as long and I doubt the quality would have suffered There is an ultra-secret boss that is one of the most difficult boss battles of all time for those that want a true challenge. Beating it earns the best ending although it isn’t much of a reward.
Super Ghouls N Ghosts was already one of the best looking SNES titles at release. Demon’s Crest surpasses it thanks to gorgeous artwork and a creepy atmosphere. From a pure art perspective this is one of the best looking titles on the system. The sprite work is fantastic, featuring massive bosses that are immaculately designed with great animation. The initial undead dragon is just the tip of the iceberg as subsequent bosses are just as impressive. And this is all without any elaborate special effects outside of the Mode 7 world map. The soundtrack is just as brilliant although it is low key and content to stay in the background.
In Closing
Demon’s Crest is one of the SNES’ finest action adventure titles. It flew under the radar but still remains one of the best games of the 16-bit era. The game has been re-released multiple times and is easily accessible at a price that is a steal. It is more than worth it my book.
