Daimakaimura (SuperGrafx) Playthrough
1Playthrough of NEC Avenue and Capcom's 1990 PC Engine SuperGrafx version of Ghouls 'n Ghosts, known in Japan as Daimakaimura, a port of Capcom’s 1988 arcade classic.
Daimakaimura, known internationally as Ghouls 'n Ghosts, is a side-scrolling action platformer originally developed by Capcom and released in arcades in 1988. The 1990 version for the PC Engine SuperGrafx, published by NEC Avenue, is one of the most faithful home ports of the arcade game, taking full advantage of the enhanced hardware capabilities of the short-lived SuperGrafx console. It features detailed sprite work, smoother animations, and fewer compromises compared to the versions found on other home systems of the time.
In the game, players control Arthur, a brave knight tasked with rescuing the soul of Princess Prin-Prin from demonic forces. The gameplay is known for its intense difficulty, requiring precise movement, sharp timing, and memorization of enemy patterns. Arthur can equip a variety of weapons and armor, but a single hit from an enemy will knock him down to his underwear, and a second hit means death. Each stage is filled with grotesque enemies, environmental hazards, and challenging boss fights, culminating in a twist that forces players to replay the entire game a second time to reach the true ending.
The SuperGrafx version is notable for closely replicating the arcade experience in both visual fidelity and level design. Backgrounds are richly detailed, and the enemy sprites are large and well-animated. The soundtrack is a faithful rendition of the arcade score, capturing the eerie and heroic tone of the game. Unlike many ports of the era, this version maintains the difficulty and mechanics of the original, offering a true challenge for fans of the series.
Daimakaimura on the SuperGrafx stands as a technical showcase for the console and remains one of its most respected titles. While the SuperGrafx itself saw limited success and only a handful of games, this port of Ghouls 'n Ghosts continues to be praised by collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts for its quality and arcade accuracy.