SUPERGRAFX Ghouls 'n Ghosts reviews, previews, comments/impressions

[handygrafx]

Since the Ghouls 'n Ghosts poll thread closed, I'm starting this thread, a place to post previews, reviews, comments & impressions of SuperGrafx Ghouls 'n Ghosts.  Anything from magazines, websites,  message boards.  Doesn't matter if it's from 1990 or 2008.   Also, at least in this initial post, I will not agree or disagree with anything said about the game, whether it is accurate or inaccurate.

Sometimes I'll post an article that is more than just about GnG, that is about SuperGrafx in general, in order to get the comment about GnG.

..........|magazines|..........

EGM #6 - January 1990
imagepup.com/up/W7zV_1208811338_SGXa.bmp

EGM #8 - March 1990
imagepup.com/up/q1Ei_1208811473_SGXb.bmp

EGM #10 - May 1990
/egmghoulshypecrop4kn.jpg


EGM #11 - June 1990
/sggngdestroysgenfk2.jpg

EGM #13 - August 1990
imagepup.com/up/KFJa_1207429812_SGXGnGpre.jpg

EGM #14 - Sept 1990
imagepup.com/up/KRzs_1208913920_EGM14a.bmp
imagepup.com/up/7oWA_1208913959_EGM14b.bmp

EGM #14 - Sept 1990
/egm14sgxgng345x960py7.jpg

EGM #15 - October 1990
/supergrafx4it3.jpg

TurboPlay Magazine #04  - December 1990 / January 1991
imagepup.com/up/3Kct_1208915278_TurboPlayGnG.bmp

GameFan - 1994 ?
/gnggamefangraveyardik4.jpg


..........|websites|..........

http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/final_word/super_grafx/dai_makaimura.html

GameZero
Import Impressions





Dai Makaimura -- NEC Avenue/Capcom

Dai Makaimura (also entitled Super Ghouls & Ghosts) is from NEC Avenue, only for the SuperGrafx. Based on the hit arcade game Ghouls & Ghosts, this 8meg Hu-Card has you off to rescue the princess once again.

E.Phoenix
Hey, everyone and there pet fish has played this game, so just know that this version is graphically slightly better than the Genesis version. The sound is not as good as the Genesis, and the difficulty is extreme. Recommended if you can stand the difficulty.

R.I.P.
This has got to be one of the most difficult games that I have ever played in my life. Even using a code which gave me additional continues and lives, I have never been able to advance beyond third level. I felt that graphics and sound were comparable to the arcade version, and play control was very accurate as well. I really enjoy this game and still go back to it from time to time, in hopes that I'll hit that magical groove and win this puppy!

(1/96)

http://pcenginebible.roarvgm.com/HTML_Games/Ghouls_n_Ghosts.htm

Superb conversion that out-does the much hailed Megadrive version. Lovely graphics are let down only a little by the sound, but it's a top game nonetheless. The best Supergrafx game you can buy.

GRAPHICS: Excellent sprites and backdrops, visually the closest conversion of its time.

SOUND: Great tunes, but sound could have been better.

old version

GRAPHICS: Excellent near-arcade perfect sprites and backdrops.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030512174343/http://pcenginebible.roarvgm.com/HTML_Games/Ghouls_n_Ghosts.htm




http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=review-490

98%

Ghouls and Ghosts was the first must own game for the Super Grafx, unfortunately it was also the first must own game for the Sega Genesis. Having said that, let me just assure you, no matter what system you get it for Ghouls and Ghosts is one of the best side scrolling games of all time. Period.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/turbo16/review/R78408.html

This game was released in Japan on the quickly defunct Super Grafx system along with about 5 other titles. Only a few titles were released for the ill concieved system.

Despite the insipient doom of the Super Graphics, Ghouls'n'Ghosts was a great game (as good as the Genesis version) and a closer translation to the arcade. Obviously, it never made it to the states and very few people have ever played it or heard of it. Some American players did order it from mail order companies and that is how I came to play it at a friend's house back in 1992.

So how was it? The game was excellent. It was a closer translation of the arcade game than the Genesis / Mega Drive version, with all characters and intro scenes completely dupilicated (albeit washed out of a few colors). The bosses are slightly larger and more detailed than thier Genesis counterparts, as are many of the characters, including Arthur himself.

Graphics & Sound: 9/10: For the time this game was released these were the best visuals you could get on a home system (with the exception of the Neo Geo). However, although the graphics are mostly more detailed than the Genesis counterpart in some places they are actually less colorful than the Sega port. I don't know why this is as the Super Graphics had 256 colors on screen and the Sega Genesis only had 64. Wierd. The sound on this game was inferior to the Genesis version.

Game Play: 10/10: Exactly the same as the Genesis version. Very smooth, with no slow down.

Originality: 9/10: Ghouls'N'Ghosts was a standard platform game, but it had many bells and whistles not found in others. Such as top scrolling levels, and very original ways of getting your character killed.

Fun Factor: 8/10: This game was alot of fun. However, the difficulty level was too high for most players (just as it was for the Genesis version). The great difficulty insured hours of play but also guaranteed that many players lose interest in it before they reached the second level.

Over all: 9 of 10: If you can find this title it is worth owning, although buying the original arcade jamma board might be cheaper as this cart is extremely rare.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/01/04

http://www.illusionware.it/pc-engine/gng.htm

Review
Excellent port of the unquestionned arcade masterpiece. The cardboard outer box shows some great art so check it out!

The SGfx vers is technically superior to its MD counterpart

The NEC PC Engine Super Grafx version of GnG is amazing as well - best home console version that is, but too bad the system had a quick death and was very expensive at the time (and only available in Japan).

http://www.gamefaqs.com/coinop/arcade/review/R105176.html

To prove the power of the Super Grafx here, NEC released a new version of Capcom's Ghouls N' Ghost; a very popular arcade game which was also for the Sega Genesis. This new version of Ghouls N' Ghosts was so good looking that some people would say it had better than arcade graphics but still no one really cared about this aging title anymore in Japan especially when the Mega Drive version was just fine. So with their killer app game not selling the system and the other games weren't not winning any awards either, the Super Grafx was never a huge hit for NEC.

http://ryangenno.tripod.com/sub_pages/SuperGrafx.htm

Missing a few of the background details in this NEC SuperGrafx version.

http://www.skytopia.com/games/arcade/arcadecompare.html


..........message boards / forums / USENET..........

When the system is released three games will come out at the same
time, two by Hudson (a flight game and a hack-and-slash game), and
"Daimakaimura," otherwise known as "Ghouls and Ghosts."  This is
listed as being by "NEC Avenue," so I assume Capcom is doing the same
thing it did with Sega and not bringing the game out themselves.  From
the screen shots, the graphics look better than the PC-Engine
graphics, and possibly even better than the Megadrive (Genesis)
graphics.  It will be interesting to see how the two implemenations of
that game compare.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video/msg/88ff39826a617db4?dmode=source

However I don't see much interest in the Supergrafx, a high-end model
with a very high price.  So far there are only a couple games
available, and only "Daimakaimura" (Ghouls and Ghosts) seems to be
popular.  It was selling surprisingly well for a game for a system
with so few users, but the reviews were unflattering--essentially
saying that although the graphics were better than the Megadrive
version, that was it (and I believe the game price as well is very
high).

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video/msg/27278c8a6d5a8590?dmode=source

Graphics maybe (it can have more sprites; that's all. Also Genesis
has 2 screens, Super Grafx has also 2 screens. PC Engine(TurboGrafx) has only
1.  )                     
Certainly not *better* sound...it's got similar ones in regular PC Engine;
it's just that most Super Grafx games have 6+ megs. (comparing Genesis'
version of Ghouls 'n Ghosts with that of Super Grafx isn't really fair:
Genesis version is only 5 meg and Super Grafx version is 8 meg.)

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video/msg/8c23bd21fce36d3a?dmode=source

and it has been shown that the Ghouls and Ghosts SG is better
than the Genesis,

Personally, I don't even CARE that much that the SG Ghouls and
Ghosts has been said better than the Genesis version (as published
in American video game magazines).

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video/msg/77d9ae0e9c775184?dmode=source

The SuperGrafx has pretty much died. It was an advanced, if you
will, PC-Engine (TurboGrafx) It had better graphics than the
standard PC-Engine. In fact, the SG version of Ghould and Ghost is
regarded to be the best home version, over the Genesis and Super
Nintendo versions. (oops, that is "Ghouls"...)

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.marketplace/msg/8ab64f575663b719?dmode=source

If the supergrafx WAS NOT backward's compatable it would be virtually
worthless, On the other hand if you are a Capcom diehard you would probly want
it just for the arcade PERFECT Ghost's and Ghoul's and 1941.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.sega/msg/2474e2d19ce69cba?dmode=source

Ghouls and Ghosts: the Capcom title that made the SuperGrafx famous, surpassing
the 5-meg Genesis version with a full 8-meg arcade translation.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.classic/msg/0223c6e683752bfa?dmode=source

There's only like 5 SuperGrafx games. The most notable is Ghouls 'n Ghosts, which is practically arcade perfect. I really hope the G'nG that was rated by the ESRB is the SuperGrafx version instead of the shoddy MD version.

http://www.vc-forums.com/supergrafx-t828.html

[Joe Redifer]

I like how the EGM #13, August 1990 which it says beats the living god damn mother fuck out of the pussy ass Genesis version which completely sucks balls and only losers own actually uses pics from the Genesis version and says they are the SG version to make its point.  ;)

[handygrafx]

I like how the EGM #13, August 1990 which it says beats the living god damn mother fuck out of the pussy ass Genesis version which completely sucks balls and only losers own actually uses pics from the Genesis version and says they are the SG version to make its point.  ;)

given even ANY graphical upgrade over the Genesis version, I can see why they'd go bonkers for the SG version

[Joe Redifer]

You seem to have missed my point.

[CrackTiger]

I like how the EGM #13, August 1990 which it says beats the living god damn mother fuck out of the pussy ass Genesis version which completely sucks balls and only losers own actually uses pics from the Genesis version and says they are the SG version to make its point.  ;)

Reminds me of your scan of the Mega Play(?) preview of Out Run for Megadrive.

[GUTS]

Man you really, really love Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, that was Mega Play.  Hilarious!

[Kitsunexus]

The 2 points I gained from this thread:

1. Joe Thornton is a cock-guzzling SEGA fanboy.

2. Battle Ace looks AWESOME!!!

[esteban]

Man you really, really love Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

Hahahahahaa.

Hey, I can understand it though.

[CrackTiger]

Apparently, the SuperGrafx was the only way the PC Engine could compete with the Megadrive.

[handygrafx]

oh SWEET! I haven't seen that in a long time,  if at all. 

I do, for certain, remember the GameFan GraveYard article on the SuperGrafx itself.
so perhaps not this one on just Ghouls 'N Ghosts.    I'm sure I read it back in the day, I just don't remember it well.

[Keranu]

Man you really, really love Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

Hahaha! 

[guyjin]

Apparently, the SuperGrafx was the only way the PC Engine could compete with the Megadrive.

lawl. 

I like how they misspell Aldynes. and Granzort.

[Ceti Alpha]

It's too bad they didn't develop GnG for the PCE/TG. A nice 8 or 20 meg HuCARD would have been just peachy.

[Tatsujin]

Man you really, really love Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

it's indeed one of the greatest game ever made!

[CrackTiger]

It's too bad they didn't develop GnG for the PCE/TG. A nice 8 or 20 meg HuCARD would have been just peachy.

I would've been happy with just a Super CD port on par with Forgotten Worlds, static bgs and all.

[Joe Redifer]

I would have been happy with that as well since I could actually play it (I don't have a SG and I'm not fond of emulation).  My only rule would be to make each stage's music track over 8 minutes long.  There is no excuse not to, and there's only 5 friggin' levels.  I don't like it when games fade the music out and start it over mid-stage.  The boss tracks could get away with 2+ minutes each and there would still be room on the CD for plenty of the typical anime (because Japan knows of nothing else) cut scenes.

[nat]

I'm fine with the SuperGrafx version. A "regular" PCE/Turbo version would have been redundant.

[Joe Redifer]

We're saying "instead of" the SG version.  The SG has less of a reason to exist than the 32X!

[nat]

The SG has less of a reason to exist than the 32X!

This is true.

But it does exist, as does it's port of GnG.

[CrackTiger]

I would have been happy with that as well since I could actually play it (I don't have a SG and I'm not fond of emulation).  My only rule would be to make each stage's music track over 8 minutes long.  There is no excuse not to, and there's only 5 friggin' levels.  I don't like it when games fade the music out and start it over mid-stage.  The boss tracks could get away with 2+ minutes each and there would still be room on the CD for plenty of the typical anime (because Japan knows of nothing else) cut scenes.

Thats what I like about Lords of Thunder's soundtrack. The songs are not only longer than the stages, but they are roughly timed to compliment the action.

[nat]

Actually it bugs me when songs are longer than the stages, especially in games with fixed scrolling like shooters where the stage lasts the exact same amount of time each time you play. I always hear songs pulled from video game soundtracks, games I've played zillions of times, and in cases like this songs always have really killer sections that I've never heard. You NEVER hear them in the game because they come after the stage would have ended. I'm always like, what the fuck? Why not just shorten the song so the player actually gets to hear the coolest part of the song?

[esteban]

Actually it bugs me when songs are longer than the stages, especially in games with fixed scrolling like shooters where the stage lasts the exact same amount of time each time you play. I always hear songs pulled from video game soundtracks, games I've played zillions of times, and in cases like this songs always have really killer sections that I've never heard. You NEVER hear them in the game because they come after the stage would have ended. I'm always like, what the fuck? Why not just shorten the song so the player actually gets to hear the coolest part of the song?

I agree with you, but, on the flipside, how kool is it that you now have something "new" to appreciate about the soundtrack?

Seriously!

On a tangent: Valis II has at least 2 tracks on the CD that aren't used in the actual game. I was stoked when I realized this!

[Joe Redifer]

Nat, that's why you always take the game and listen to the audio in a real CD player!  I knew about 100% of the music in the Lords of Thunder soundtrack by the second day I owned it at the latest back in 1992 or 3 or whenever it was.

[spenoza]

There are lots of CD games I knew the ending themes for long before I won them legitimately through playing the game

[CrackTiger]

Actually it bugs me when songs are longer than the stages, especially in games with fixed scrolling like shooters where the stage lasts the exact same amount of time each time you play. I always hear songs pulled from video game soundtracks, games I've played zillions of times, and in cases like this songs always have really killer sections that I've never heard. You NEVER hear them in the game because they come after the stage would have ended. I'm always like, what the fuck? Why not just shorten the song so the player actually gets to hear the coolest part of the song?

You mean like the 7+ minute boss music in Monster Lair?

[Turbo D]

The SG has less of a reason to exist than the 32X!

32x has great reason to exist. Not only does it give you a few extra games, it gives you better picture and more colors for you favorite genesis games!

[Joe Redifer]

No it doesn't.  Ghouls N Ghosts is a great game, but it's not one of my favorite Genesis games.  I don't think any other "Genesis" games were on the SG.

[Turbo D]

I was talking about the 32x and how it enhances genesis games.


edit: it does enhance them, right?

[Joe Redifer]

Oh I thought you were talking about the SG. 

Anyway Genesis games play the same on the 32X, but the composite video is cleaner if you always have the 32X hooked up.

[nat]

Nat, that's why you always take the game and listen to the audio in a real CD player!  I knew about 100% of the music in the Lords of Thunder soundtrack by the second day I owned it at the latest back in 1992 or 3 or whenever it was.

You know, it's funny, I don't think I've ever done that. OK, maybe once.

It's just that usually when I want to listen to music, I have some other "real" music in mind.

You mean like the 7+ minute boss music in Monster Lair?

Hahaha, yeah, that's one example.

[Joe Redifer]

It's just that usually when I want to listen to music, I have some other "real" music in mind.

Real music is rarely as good as videogame music.

[guyjin]

edit: it does enhance them, right?

No. It lets you play games made for the 32X. However, some SegaCD games came with 32X discs, which were enhanced versions. But they were all FMV games, so they suck.

[Kitsunexus]

Who cares about this!? WHAT ABOUT BATTLE ACE? Is it a good game?

[nat]

Who cares about this!? WHAT ABOUT BATTLE ACE? Is it a good game?

Battle Ace has awesome music, IMO. It's actually an enjoyable little title, but it's quite underwhelming for a SuperGrafx game. It was the launch title. I'm not sure if it even takes advantage of the SuperGrafx hardware. The scaling is smoother than what you would get on a "regular" PCE/Turbo but that's about it.

Many people view it as the worst of the SuperGrafx games, but that's probably because there isn't really any kind of "wow" factor. There isn't really anything wrong with it, though. I like it a lot actually.

Check out this YouTube piece by sunteam_paul to hear the killer soundtrack:

Damn, I love the music to this game. Now I want to go play it.

Here's another video by sunteam_paul that actually shows some gameplay:

[Kitsunexus]

WOW. JUST WOW. I NEED THIS GAME.  Awesome music graphics and gameplay!


OK, you can all go back to talking about GNG now, I need to find out more about Battlle Ace.

[Joe Redifer]

Too bad Youtube is limited to mono.  That does have some good tunes.

[esteban]

Who cares about this!? WHAT ABOUT BATTLE ACE? Is it a good game?

Battle Ace has awesome music, IMO. It's actually an enjoyable little title, but it's quite underwhelming for a SuperGrafx game. It was the launch title. I'm not sure if it even takes advantage of the SuperGrafx hardware. The scaling is smoother than what you would get on a "regular" PCE/Turbo but that's about it.

Many people view it as the worst of the SuperGrafx games, but that's probably because there isn't really any kind of "wow" factor. There isn't really anything wrong with it, though. I like it a lot actually.

Check out this YouTube piece by sunteam_paul to hear the killer soundtrack:

Damn, I love the music to this game. Now I want to go play it.

Here's another video by sunteam_paul that actually shows some gameplay:

Wow, I've never given Battle Ace a second glance. It was great to hear the tunes, especially the third track that kicks in at 1:00 -- gorgeous!

[nat]

Yeah, Battle Ace has one of the better soundtracks for the system, especially for a 1989 launch title. It's never ever mentioned when "best soundtrack" discussions come up, and it ought to be. Definitely one of the most underrated games audio-wise in the 'Grafx family. It sounds really, really good coming from the actual system played over nice stereo equipment at home. It actually has some good lower-end sounds too, which isn't common on the system.

And the YouTube codec just doesn't do the graphics justice. The game is very very smooth.

[PCEngineHell]

Yea I like Battleace alot more then I thought I would. Its alot more fun then Afterburner 3 or G-Loc to me. For a 1989 title I was impressed with it,plus they were prob working on it in late 88-early 89,so I always take that into account too.

[Ceti Alpha]

Yea I like Battleace alot more then I thought I would. Its alot more fun then Afterburner 3 or G-Loc to me. For a 1989 title I was impressed with it,plus they were prob working on it in late 88-early 89,so I always take that into account too.

Agreed. I just watched that video and was about to give the game a hard time, but for 1989, perhaps earlier, its quite good. Also, as nat pointed out the codec probably isn't doing the scrolling justice either.

[Joe Redifer]

Its a lot more fun then Afterburner 3 or G-Loc to me.

Oh god...  don't remind me of those craptastic games.

[Keranu]

Check out this YouTube piece by sunteam_paul to hear the killer soundtrack:

Damn, I love the music to this game. Now I want to go play it.

Man a part in that first song sounded just like some Beatles song to me! I know crap about the Beatles, so I don't know the song name.

[Kitsunexus]

I REALLY WANT THIS GAME! ^___^

[Ceti Alpha]

Man a part in that first song sounded just like some Beatles song to me! I know crap about the Beatles, so I don't know the song name.

Haha! Nice ear Keranu.  The Beatles song you're thinking of is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I actually have to learn that song on piano for the cover band I'm in. Beatles stuff is fun to learn; lots of crazy chords.

Here's the song:

[Keranu]

That's the one!

[handygrafx]

Battle Ace was said to be a cross between Galaxy Force and AfterBurner,
but it turned out to be more like G-LOC and Strike Fighter (After Burner III on SegaCD)

I never really payed attention to the music - though I am listening to the stuff posted here.  it's not bad I guess.

It's a pity that Galaxy Force II was canceled. a translation was meant to hit either the PCE or a SG at some point.


EGM's first major article on SuperGrafx made Battle Ace sound really good

/supergrafxarticle15tb.jpg
/supergrafxarticle23es.jpg

It's a shame Battle Ace wasn't nearly as good as EGM made it out to be.

[nat]

Killer SG/Battle Ace article. Thanks for posting.

[Joe Redifer]

Love all those extra colors the SG provides!  Love how they didn't bother to mention the 2nd BG layer.

[ccovell]

Boy, EGM sure weren't that bright.  The article mentions how the SGX is composite-only, no RF provided.  Then on the next page, they misinterpret the PCE-SGX switch as a channel 1 or 2 switch for RF output!