History VideoGame / GhostsNGoblins

* PowerupLetdown: The torch and the axe in the first game. Made more insidious in some versions because the [[PowerUp Power-Ups]] appear in a specific order -- you have to pick up the worthless torch before the (very, very good) sword will appear. Later games made all [[PowerUp Power-Ups]] random, although they include many more let downs, too.

** Astaroth, the final boss of the original game, shows up in all later installments as the penultimate boss.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu

** This applies more to the NES port, where you're fighting low framerate and poor collision detection. The arcade original is significantly easier.

* BalefulPolymorph: A magician who likes to hide in treasure chests does this if you don't kill him fast enough.

Compare the ''{{Maximo}}'' series, which is a spiritual successor/spin-off.

* DamselInDistress: Princess Prin Prin is kidnapped in every single game she appears (four). It's a wonder why she never [[ReconstructedTrope takes exception on it and evolves]] into RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething territory.

* BladeOnAStick: Arthur's default weapon is a Lance.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: especially pronounced in the NES port, though the arcade original has some gaffs too.

* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: THIS ROOM IS AN ILLUSION AND IS A TRAP DEVISUT BY SATAN. GO AHEAD DAUNTLESSLY! MAKE RAPID PROGRES! . After defeating the Ghost'n Goblis FinalBoss, Artur is then forced to replay the entire game, on a harder difficulty level --of all things-- to get the genuine end.

* DegradedBoss: In the sixth stage of ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', the bosses from stages 1-4 show up again as regular enemies. They're no weaker than they were earlier, though.
** This happens in the later games too, but to a lesser extent. For example, the Cockatrice in ''Super'' shows up in the final level, but only as a head and neck mounted on the wall.

* DualBoss: In the first game, the boss of the second stage is identical to that of the first, except that there are two of it. The same is true of the sixth boss, which is two of the fifth boss.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Maximo: Ghosts To Glory'' is technically not part of the series, but was very obviously inspired by it. MediEvil too.

The game received sequels in ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' (''Daimakaimura'' in Japan) for arcades and the Sega Genesis, ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for the SNES, ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' for the PSP, and ''Ghosts'n Goblins: Gold Knights'' for the iOS. Also inspired a separate series comprised of ''[[VideoGame/GargoylesQuest Gargoyle's Quest]]'' for the Game Boy, ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' for the NES, and ''Demon's Crest'' for the SNES.

* BlindIdiotTranslation

* CrazyPrepared: According to the ending of ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', Arthur had spent ''three years'' improving his weapons because ''he knew'' the demon world would be restored eventually.

** In the second game, Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, Astaroth, the FinalBoss of the first game, comes back in the penultimate level several times as a KingMook. Later games put him as the penultimate boss fight.

* HitboxDissonance: Your player collision area in the first games is rather small compared to the player sprite.

* InexplicableTreasureChests: In ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', random treasure chests can somehow materialize from thin air.
* JumpPhysics: Present but not highly distinguishable. Jumping from foothold to precarious foothold isn't as big a part of gameplay in ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' as it is in {{s|uperMarioBros}}ome [[SonicTheHedgehog other]] [[DonkeyKongCountry platformers]], and Arthur's jump isn't all ''that'' much higher or more controllable than a real-life jump.

* PowerupLetdown: The torch and the axe in the first game. Made more insidious because the [[PowerUp Power-Ups]] appear in a specific order -- you have to pick up the worthless torch before the (very, very good) sword will appear. Later games made all [[PowerUp Power-Ups]] random, although they include many more let downs, too.

* SuperDrowningSkills: The numerous small pools of water in Arthur's path might as well be filled with lava or SpikesOfDoom.

* BalefulPolymorph: ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts''
** ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'', too.

* NintendoHard: THE VERY DEFINITION OF NINTENDO HARD. Only the ''NinjaGaiden'' series and ''{{Battletoads}}'' come anywhere near in difficulty to this series. And unlike other series, this game has continued to be this hard in all its incarnations. The last game of the series (for the PSP) actually has a life bar and you start right where you died and it's STILL hard as hell.

* DubNameChange: The official name of Arthur's beloved is "Princess Prin-Prin" (as displayed in the ending of ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts''), although some of the earlier localizations renamed her into "Princess Tamara" (in the Genesis version) or "Princess Guinevere" (in the SNES version, a reference to King Athur's own beloved). However, most official documentation (even for the Japanese releases) don't even bother mentioning her name at all and simply refer to her as "The Princess".

* NoNameGiven / DubNameChange / TakeAThirdOption: It seems Capcom just can't decide on Arthur's beloved definite name, Prin-Prin for the sake of tradition in older games or Guinevere in true KingArthur fashion and how it appeared in the SNES game manual. They decided to keep as just ''Princess'' on the PSP remake, it also sticks for ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.

''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' is Capcom's infamously NintendoHard {{action|Game}} {{platform|Game}}er from the 8-bit era that pits intrepid [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In (and occasionally Out Of) Shining Armor]] Arthur against endless hordes of undead, demons, GoddamnedBats, and the titular ghosts and goblins in a quest to [[SaveThePrincess save his sweetie]], [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] Prin-Prin, with only two HitPoints to his name. As with a great many games of its time, its first appearance was in arcades, followed by ports to home platforms, including the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, and NES. Later on, it appeared in updated form on the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and [=PlayStation=], and in 2007 was released on the Wii Virtual Console.

The game received sequels in ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for arcades and the Sega Genesis, ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for the SNES, ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' for the PSP, and ''Ghosts'n Goblins: Gold Knights'' for the iOS. Collectively, the series is known as in Japan as ''Makaimura'' (Demon World Village). Also inspired a separate series comprised of ''[[VideoGame/GargoylesQuest Gargoyle's Quest]]'' for the Game Boy, ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' for the NES, and ''Demon's Crest'' for the SNES.

The game received sequels in ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for arcades and the Sega Genesis, ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for the SNES, and ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' for the PSP. Collectively, the series is known as in Japan as ''Makaimura'' (Demon World Village). Also inspired a separate series comprised of ''[[VideoGame/GargoylesQuest Gargoyle's Quest]]'' for the Game Boy, ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' for the NES, and ''Demon's Crest'' for the SNES.

* GoofyPrintUnderwear: If Arthur takes a hit while armored, his armor falls off, revealing heart-print undies. If Arthur takes a hit while in this state, he gets StrippedToTheBone.
** Arthur instead has vertical stripes in the Wonderswan game and [[RealMenWearPink strawberries]] in ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' (and ''[[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Marvel vs.Capcom 3]]'').

Arthur himself has made an out-series appearances in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', as well as the ''MarvelVsCapcom'' series (AssistCharacter in [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes the first game]], then full-blown playable in [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 the third]]) The Red Arremer is also a BonusBoss ([[SNKBoss AND HOW!]]) in ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos''. Red Arremer (going by his moniker of Firebrand) was added in the UpdatedRerelease, ''Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3'', where he has special dialogue with Arthur.

* MKWalker: The Red Arremer comes close.

The game received sequels in ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for arcades and the Sega Genesis, ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' for the SNES, and ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' for the PSP. Collectively, the series is known as in Japan as ''Makaimura'' (Demon World Village). Also inspired a separate series comprised of ''GargoylesQuest'' for the Game Boy, ''Gargoyle's Quest II'' for the NES, and ''Demon's Crest'' for the SNES.

-->''[[{{Engrish}} THIS ROOM IS AN ILLUSION AND IS A TRAP DEVISUT BY SATAN. GO AHEAD DAUNTLESSLY! MAKE RAPID PROGRES!]]''

''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' is Capcom's infamously NintendoHard [[ActionGame action]] [[PlatformGame platformer]] from the 8-bit era that pits intrepid [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In (and occasionally Out Of) Shining Armor]] Arthur against endless hordes of undead, demons, GoddamnedBats, and the titular ghosts and goblins in a quest to [[SaveThePrincess save his sweetie]], [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] Prin-Prin, with only two HitPoints to his name. As with a great many games of its time, its first appearance was in arcades, followed by ports to home platforms, including the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, and NES. Later on, it appeared in updated form on the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Playstation, and in 2007 was released on the Wii Virtual Console.

* {{Bowdlerize}}: Lucifer and Samael, the final bosses in ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' and ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'' respectively, were renamed Loki and Sardius respectively (except in the arcade version of the former, where he was still called Lucifer).

* CleanDubName: In the console ports of ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'', Lucifer was renamed Loki in the localized versions, while Samael became Sardius in ''Super Ghouls'n Ghosts''.

* DemonicSpiders: ''RED fucking ARREMER''. Just whisper these words to any G'n'G player to see them whimper in pain.
** To make matters worse, you meet one about 25 seconds into the ''first level''.
** A lesser known strategy is to stop firing to lull Red Arremer into false security. once he lands and gets closer to you, fire away. He's still a close fight no matter what you do, though.

* {{Expy}}: Knight Arthur is technically not KingArthur, but just some knight who happens to be named Arthur. And the princess he's saving is officially called "Prin-Prin", but has underwent a few name changes between different localizations.

* FridgeHorror: Or FetishFuel depending on your tastes: Why is Arthur half-naked with Prin-Prin ''in the middle of a graveyard?!''
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: If Arthur takes a hit while armored, his armor falls off, revealing heart-print undies. If Arthur takes a hit while in this state, he dies.

* JumpPhysics: Present but not highly distinguishable. Jumping from foothold to precarious foothold isn't as big a part of gameplay in ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'' as it is in [[SuperMarioBros some]] [[SonicTheHedgehog other]] [[DonkeyKongCountry platformers]], and Arthur's jump isn't all ''that'' much higher or more controllable than a real-life jump.

* NoNameGiven / DubNameChange / TakeAThirdOption: It seems Capcom just can't decide on Arthur's beloved definite name, Prin-Prin for the sake of tradition in older [[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins games]] or Guinevere in true KingArthur fashion and how it appeared in the SNES game manual. They decided to keep as just ''Princess'' on the PSP remake, it also sticks for ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.

* PowerUpLetdown: The torch and the axe in the first game. Made more insidious because the {{Power Up}}s appear in a specific order -- you have to pick up the worthless torch before the (very, very good) sword will appear. Later games made all {{Power Up}}s random, although they include many more let downs, too.

* {{Satan}}: The recurring BigBad of the series is Astaroth, and Satan is his lackey. In ''Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', the BigBad is Lucifer (Loki in the American Genesis version). In ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', the final boss Sardius is called Samael in Japan. These are all separate entities. And in ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'', Astaroth is still there as the FinalBoss, but there's a PerfectRunFinalBoss after him: ''Hades''.

* SaveThePrincess: Every game is about Arthur rescuing Princess Prin Prin. Even in the second game, where she's killed by Lucifer, its Arthur's goal to rescue her soul and bring her back to life.
* {{Spinoff}}: The main series spawned the ''VideoGame/GargoylesQuest'' trilogy, a spinoff series starring Red Arremer/Firebrand, [[MauveShirt one of the enemies]] from ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''. And in those games, Lucifer from ''Ghouls 'N Ghosts'' ([[{{Woolseyism}} cleverly renamed]] to Rushifell in English) is [[spoiler:your WorthyOpponent, but not actually your enemy]].

* WallMaster: Some enemies appear uncomfortably close.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: If Capcom had been able to pull it together, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqbxe2LynG4 we could've had]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_k7ltA8mqM Ghouls 'N Ghosts Online]].
* AWinnerIsYou: [[{{Engrish}} "Congraturation. This story is happy end. Thank you. Being the wise and courageour knight that you are you feel strongth welling. In your body. Return to starting point. Challenge again!"]] ...which is followed by the GameOver screen.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Prin-Prin

* {{Spinoff}}: The main series spawned the ''[[{{Ptitle8zbvq64h}} Gargoyle's Quest]]'' trilogy, a spinoff series starring Red Arremer/Firebrand, [[MauveShirt one of the enemies]] from ''Ghosts 'n Goblins''. And in those games, Lucifer from ''Ghouls 'N Ghosts'' ([[{{Woolseyism}} cleverly renamed]] to Rushifell in English) is [[spoiler:your WorthyOpponent, but not actually your enemy]].

Arthur himself has made an out-series appearances in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', as well as the ''MarvelVsCapcom'' series (AssistCharacter in [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes the first game]], then full-blown playable in [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 the third]]) The Red Arremer is also a BonusBoss ([[SNKBoss AND HOW!]]) in ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos''. Red Arremer (going by his moniker of Firebrand) will also be joining the lineup of ''[[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3]]''.

Arthur himself has made an out-series appearances in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', as well as the ''MarvelVsCapcom'' series (AssistCharacter in [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes the first game]], then full-blown playable in [[MarvelVsCapcom3 the third]]) The Red Arremer is also a BonusBoss ([[SNKBoss AND HOW!]]) in ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos''. Red Arremer (going by his moniker of Firebrand) will also be joining the lineup of ''[[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3]]''.

** Arthur instead has vertical stripes in the Wonderswan game and [[RealMenWearPink strawberries]] in ''Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins'' (and ''[[MarvelVsCapcom3 Marvel vs.Capcom 3]]'').

* NoNameGiven / DubNameChange / TakeAThirdOption: It seems Capcom just can't decide on Arthur's beloved definite name, Prin-Prin for the sake of tradition in older [[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins games]] or Guinevere in true KingArthur fashion and how it appeared in the SNES game manual. They decided to keep as just ''Princess'' on the PSP remake, it also sticks for ''MarvelVsCapcom3''.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: According to Arthur's bio in ''MarvelVsCapcom3'', "Though he looks like an old man, he's really only 28 years old."

* OneBulletAtATime: Technically two, but torches can still count against the limit when offscreen. Some versions had a 1-bullet limit.