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''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', known in Japan as , is a series of run-and-gun platform
video games A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
developed and owned by
Capcom is a Japanese video game company. It has created a number of critically acclaimed and List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil'', ''Monster ...
. The first entry in the series was '' Ghosts 'n Goblins'', released in arcades on July 7, 1985. The series has subsequently been ported to and released on a variety of
personal computers A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...
, game consoles and mobile platforms and spawned several
sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
s and spin-offs. The main series focuses on the knight
Arthur Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...
's quest to save princess Prin-Prin from the demon king Astaroth. The primary spin-offs include the '' Gargoyle's Quest'' and '' Maximo'' game series. The series as a whole has sold over 4.6 million units as of December 31, 2023 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'', 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'' (1985) ( Arcade,
Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 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 ...
,
Amiga Amiga is a family of personal computers produced by Commodore International, Commodore from 1985 until the company's bankruptcy in 1994, with production by others afterward. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16-b ...
,
ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...
,
Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for "Colour Personal Computer") is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spec ...
,
Atari ST Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the company's Atari 8-bit computers, 8-bit computers. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985, and was widely available i ...
,
IBM PC compatible An IBM PC compatible is any personal computer that is hardware- and software-compatible with the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) and its subsequent models. Like the original IBM PC, an IBM PC–compatible computer uses an x86-based central p ...
s,
Commodore 16 The Commodore 16 is a home computer made by Commodore International with a 6502-compatible 7501 or 8501 CPU, released in 1984 and intended to be an entry-level computer to replace the VIC-20. A cost-reduced version, the Commodore 116, was ...
,
Game Boy Color The (GBC or CGB) is an 8-bit handheld game console developed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on October 21, 1998, and to international markets that November. Compared to the original Game Boy, the Game Boy Color features a color TFT scre ...
,
Game Boy Advance The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and to international markets that June. It was later released in mainland China in 2004, under the name iQue Game Boy Advanc ...
, NES,
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
,
Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about 9 times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 tim ...
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PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
,
Virtual Console The Virtual Console was a line of downloadable retro video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The Virtual Console lineup consisted of titles originally released on pa ...
,
Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) is an online subscription service operated by Nintendo for its video game consoles, the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The service is Nintendo's third-generation online service after Nintendo Wi-Fi Connect ...
) **'' Ghosts 'n Goblins GOLD'' (2008) (
Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...
) – A port of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' adapted for the Java platform **'' Ghosts 'n Goblins MOBILE'' (2017) (
iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...
, Android) – A port of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' adapted for mobile platforms *''
Ghouls 'n Ghosts ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', known as in Japan, is a 1988 platform video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. It is the sequel to '' Ghosts 'n Goblins'' and the second game in the '' Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series. It was a commercial suc ...
'' (1988) ( Arcade,
Amiga Amiga is a family of personal computers produced by Commodore International, Commodore from 1985 until the company's bankruptcy in 1994, with production by others afterward. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16-b ...
,
Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for "Colour Personal Computer") is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spec ...
,
Atari ST Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the company's Atari 8-bit computers, 8-bit computers. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985, and was widely available i ...
,
Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 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 ...
,
X68000 The is a home computer created by Sharp Corporation. It was first released in 1987 and sold only in Japan. The initial model has a 10 Megahertz, MHz Motorola 68000 Central processing unit, CPU, 1 Megabytes, MB of Random Access Memory, ...
,
Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about 9 times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 tim ...
,
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
,
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
,
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 kn ...
,
Master System The is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console manufactured and developed by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series ...
,
Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...
,
Virtual Console The Virtual Console was a line of downloadable retro video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The Virtual Console lineup consisted of titles originally released on pa ...
,
ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...
) *'' Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' (1991) (
SNES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania an ...
,
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 is the successor to the succes ...
,
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
,
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
,
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
,
Game Boy Advance The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and to international markets that June. It was later released in mainland China in 2004, under the name iQue Game Boy Advanc ...
,
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
,
Virtual Console The Virtual Console was a line of downloadable retro video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The Virtual Console lineup consisted of titles originally released on pa ...
,
Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Live Arcade (or XBLA) was a video game Digital distribution in video games, digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox (console), Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publisher ...
,
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 The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and to international markets that June. It was later released in mainland China in 2004, under the name iQue Game Boy Advanc ...
) – An enhanced re-mixed version of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' *'' Makaimura for WonderSwan'' (1999) ( WonderSwan) *'' Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' (2006) (
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
) **'' Gokumakaimura Kai'' (2007) (
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
) – An enhanced re-mixed version of ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' *'' Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights'' (2009) (
iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...
) *'' Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights II'' (2010) (
iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...
) *'' Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection'' (2021) (
Switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type o ...
,
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 The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
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Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
)


''Gargoyle's Quest'' series

The ''Gargoyle's Quest'' series is a group of
side-scrolling A side-scrolling video game (alternatively side-scroller) is a video game viewed from a side-view camera angle where the screen follows the player as they move left or right. The jump from single-screen or flip-screen graphics to scrolling grap ...
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-solving. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based m ...
s with mild
role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
elements. Players control the character of Firebrand, a character who is based on an enemy in the main series. *'' Gargoyle's Quest'' (1990) (
Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...
) *'' Gargoyle's Quest II'' (1992) ( NES) **'' Makaimura Gaiden: The Demon Darkness'' (1993) (
Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...
) – An enhanced port of ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' *'' Demon's Crest'' (1994) (
SNES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania an ...
)


''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's US-based Studio 8 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 Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
) *'' Maximo vs. Army of Zin'' (2003) (
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
)


Other

*'' Arthur to Astaroth no Nazomakaimura: Incredible Toons'' (1996) (
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
,
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 is the successor to the succes ...
) – 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 (1990 video game), ''Red Baron'', the puzzle video game, puzzle game ''The Incredible Machine (video game), The Incredible Mach ...
's Sid & Al's Incredible Toons *''Makaimura Online'' (NA) ( PC) – A licensed Korean MMO game. It began a
closed beta The software release life cycle is the process of developing, testing, and distributing a software product (e.g., an operating system). It typically consists of several stages, such as pre-alpha, alpha, beta, and release candidate, before the fi ...
in 2010 before proceeding to an open beta 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 Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
based
mini-games A minigame (also spelled mini game and mini-game, sometimes called a subgame or microgame) is a short game often contained within another video game. A minigame contains different gameplay elements and is often smaller or more simplistic than th ...
for ''Capcom Party''; a subscription service related to its ''Capcom Park''
i-mode i-mode (, ) is a Japanese mobile internet (distinct from wireless internet) service operated by NTT DoCoMo. Unlike Wireless Application Protocols, i-mode encompasses a wider variety of internet standards, including web access, e-mail, and ...
mobile app A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, phone, tablet computer, tablet, or smartwatch, watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop appli ...
. *''Small Makaimura'' (2001) (
Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
)Official webpage for ''Puzzle Makaimura''
in Capcom Japan
*''Puzzle Makaimura'' (2001) (
Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
) *''Puzzle Makaimura Revenge'' (2002) (
Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
) *''Puzzle Makaimura Final'' (2004) (
Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult 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'' (Nintendo 64, 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 th ...
*''Gekimakaimura'' (2005) ( Arcade) – A Japanese
medal game are a type of arcade game commonly found in amusement arcades and casinos, especially in Japan. In order to play a medal game, a customer must first exchange their cash into medals (metal coins, much like an arcade token). The rate of medals ...


Appearances in other game series

*'' Higemaru Makaijima'' – A Red Arremer appears as the end boss. *'' Black Tiger'' – A Red Arremer appears as an
enemy An enemy or a foe is an individual or a group that is considered as forcefully adverse or threatening. The concept of an enemy has been observed to be "basic for both individuals and communities". The term "enemy" serves the social function of d ...
. *'' Breath of Fire'' – Paintings of Arthur appear in some homes. The Gargoyle enemies may be a nod to the Red Arremer enemies. *'' Cannon Spike'' – Arthur is a playable character. *'' Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure'' – A ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed
minigame A minigame (also spelled mini game and mini-game, sometimes called a subgame or microgame) is a short game often contained within another video game. A minigame contains different gameplay elements and is often smaller or more simplistic than th ...
appears. *''
We Love Golf! is a 2007 Sports game, sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning, Camelot and published by Capcom for the Wii. The game was released worldwide in 2008. Gameplay ''We Love Golf!'' is played by swinging the Wii Remote like a golf c ...
'' – Arthur is a playable character. *'' Dead Rising'' – An Arthur costume can be worn in the game. *'' Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' - An Arthur costume for Mii Swordfighters was made available as DLC.


''Mega Man'' series

*'' Mega Man 7'' – The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''
theme music Theme music is a musical composition which is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...
can be heard at Shade Man's stage through a secret code. *'' Mega Man: The Power Battle'' – The ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''
theme music Theme music is a musical composition which is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...
can be heard. *''
Mega Man Powered Up ''Mega Man Powered Up'' is a 2006 action-platform game developed and published by Capcom. It was released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game console in March 2006. It is a remake of the original '' Mega Man'' game, released in 19 ...
'' – A ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' themed level pack is available for
download In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar systems. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote ...
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 A teaser trailer, also shortened to teaser, is a short trailer (promotion), trailer and a form of teaser campaign advertising that focuses on film and television programming. It is a videography pre-release film or television show advertisement. Sh ...
.


''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 battl ...
'' – Arthur is a playable character. Astaroth, Nebiroth, and Red Arremer Joker appear as bosses along with several ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' mob characters. The Demon Village is a major location in the game as well. *''
Project X Zone (pronounced as "Project Cross Zone") is a crossover tactical role-playing video game for the Nintendo 3DS developed by Monolith Soft with assistance from Capcom and Red Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is a follow-up t ...
'' – 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'' – Firebrand joins Arthur as a playable character, with Red Arremer King and Zombie Arthur/ Bishamon-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. (often referred to simply as Archie Comics) is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the village of Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jug ...
''Worlds Unite'' crossover along with various other Capcom and
Sega is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...
franchises, with the ''
Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara for Sega. The franchise follows Sonic the Hedgehog (character), Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battle ...
'' and ''
Mega Man ''Mega Man'' (known as in Japan) is a video game franchise developed and published by Capcom, featuring the Mega Man (character), protagonist of the same name. The Mega Man (1987 video game), original game was released for the Nintendo Enter ...
'' comic lines providing the backdrop.


Characters

*Arthur: A knight in the service of princess Prin-Prin. Arthur is the main
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 ...
of the ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series. He is named for
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
of
Arthurian Legend The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffr ...
. *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 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 latter is an allusion
Guinevere Guinevere ( ; ; , ), 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 mentioned in literature in the early 12th cen ...
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. He is named for
Satan Satan, also known as the Devil, is a devilish entity in Abrahamic religions who seduces humans into sin (or falsehood). In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the '' yetzer hara'', or ' ...
in the
Abrahamic religions The term Abrahamic religions is used to group together monotheistic religions revering the Biblical figure Abraham, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The religions share doctrinal, historical, and geographic overlap that contrasts them wit ...
. *Astaroth: A demon king and the main
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.Astaroth Astaroth (also Ashtaroth, Astarot and Astetoth), in demonology, is considered to be the Great Duke of Hell. He is described as a male figure, most likely named after the unrelated Near Eastern goddess Astarte. Background The name ''Ast ...
, a demon found in medieval
demonology Demonology is the study of demons within religious belief and myth. Depending on context, it can refer to studies within theology, religious doctrine, or occultism. In many faiths, it concerns the study of a hierarchy of demons. Demons may be n ...
. *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 final boss of ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' and ''Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection''. 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. He is named for
Lucifer The most common meaning for Lucifer in English is as a name for the Devil in Christian theology. He appeared in the King James Version of the Bible in Isaiah and before that in the Vulgate (the late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bib ...
, an entity found in
Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...
and later
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
. His alternate name Loki is a reference to
Loki Loki is a Æsir, god in Norse mythology. He is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mythology), Laufey (a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to the goddess Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi (son of Lo ...
of
Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology, is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia as the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The ...
. *Sardius: Known as Samael in Japan, he is the main antagonist and final boss of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts''. He is named for
Samael Samael (; , ''Sammāʾēl'', "Venom of God"; , ''Samsama'il'' or , ''Samail''; alternatively Smal, Smil, Samil, or Samiel) is an archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic tradition; a figure who is the accuser or adversary (Satan#Judaism, Satan ...
of
Talmudic The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the centerpiece of Jewi ...
lore. *Hades: The Lord of Darkness who governs the Demon World in ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins''. He seeks two goals in his invasion of the Human Realm: to destroy Arthur, and to use the Prin Prin's blood to create a mixed-blood union between humans and demons, giving the demons dominance over the humans. He resides in a stronghold dubbed the Black Palace, with Astaroth serving as his lieutenant. He returns as the true final boss of the shadow levels in ''Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection''. The usage of Hades is an allusion to
Hades Hades (; , , later ), in the ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, is the god of the dead and the king of the Greek underworld, underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea ...
in Greek mythology. *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), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
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 Perceval (, also written Percival, Parzival, Parsifal), alternatively called Peredur (), is a figure in the legend of King Arthur, often appearing as one of the Knights of the Round Table. First mentioned by the French author Chrétien de Tro ...
of Arthurian Legend. *Firebrand: Known as The Red Arremer in Japan, Firebrand is the main 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 main antagonist of ''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 main 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 main 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 The unofficial term Limbo (, or , referring to the edge of Hell) is the afterlife condition in medieval Catholic theology, of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. However, it has become the gene ...
and aids him on his journey in exchange for killing Achille. *Sophia: The primary
damsel in distress The damsel in distress is a narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has been kidnapped or placed in other peril. The "damsel" is often portrayed as beautiful, popular, and of high social status; she is usually depicted ...
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 (also known for producing games in the ''
Mega Man ''Mega Man'' (known as in Japan) is a video game franchise developed and published by Capcom, featuring the Mega Man (character), protagonist of the same name. The Mega Man (1987 video game), original game was released for the Nintendo Enter ...
'' franchise) and is produced by
Capcom is a Japanese video game company. It has created a number of critically acclaimed and List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil'', ''Monster ...
. 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''. 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. While initial consoles were dedicated units with only a few game ...
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 eBay Inc. ( , often stylized as ebay) is an American multinational e-commerce company based in San Jose, California, that allows users to buy or view items via retail sales through online marketplaces and websites in 190 markets worldwide. ...
. 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 4.6 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''. 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 Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...
for Capcom with its latest release in 2021 on the
Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
. The NES release of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' was rated as the 54th best NES game of all time by
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming 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 district and is headed by its former e ...
and the 124th best game on a Nintendo console by
Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninte ...
. 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 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'' which was released only in Japan, and a re-release of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' on the
Game Boy Advance The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and to international markets that June. It was later released in mainland China in 2004, under the name iQue Game Boy Advanc ...
, the main ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' series did not see a major release until '' Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' on the
PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
in 2006. The return of the series received mixed to positive reviews.
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
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'' is an American video gaming 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 district and is headed by its former e ...
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, 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 purposes of perfor ...
, 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 The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, 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 Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
. A sequel, '' Maximo vs. Army of Zin'' was released in
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
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