An arcade Ghouls 'n Ghosts ported to SFC, gorgeous and brutal. A great classic to be tackled only with patience and steel nerves.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Intense action-platformer in which Arthur, an armored knight, traverses demon realms. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in 1991. Swarming enemies, armor and weapons to collect, flight phases, legendary extreme difficulty and music by Mari Yamaguchi. Original Japanese version of Capcom's Super Ghouls'n Ghosts masterpiece.
Chou Makaimura review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Haunted graveyards, hordes of demons and teeming gothic settings: the game unfurls a macabre fantasy of rare richness, carried by deep colours. The density of the enemies and the care of the backgrounds overflow with character. This visual direction, dark and polished, elevates a classic renowned for its ruthlessness.
Re-orchestrating the series' mythic themes, Capcom's music deploys a heroic gothic of striking intensity, from the famous main theme to the most nightmarish levels. Each track charges the game's fearsome difficulty with a galvanising energy. This sonic signature stays etched in players' memories.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
The double jump, as thrilling as it is unforgiving, never rescues a badly judged arc: here the armor falls at the first hit and the magic armor must be earned. Treacherous gusts, ambushing enemies and the duty to clear the adventure twice make a trial of endurance and nerve. Formidable yet utterly honest, it remains the gold standard of Capcom-style difficulty.
The Japanese Super Famicom version of 'Super Ghouls'n Ghosts', Japan-exclusive under this name. The Japanese cart is culturally important because it preserves the original difficulty unrebalanced for export. The presence on Switch Online and modern compilation-equivalents has not quenched physical demand, and intact boxed CIB with cardboard sleeve and illustrated manual remains a target for completionist Capcom Super Famicom collectors tied to Makaimura coherence.
Memorable bosses
Renowned for its relentless difficulty, this entry sends the knight Arthur against a demonic procession built for punishment: infernal giants, flying creatures and a lord of darkness who must be beaten after a required second loop. A double jump and specific weapons nuance every fight, where the slightest slip costs dearly. A legendary rigor that forged its reputation for merciless guardians.
Is Chou Makaimura still worth playing in 2026?
Chou Makaimura, known as Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts in the West, remains one of the most demanding platformers on the SNES and an absolute peak of Capcom's 16 bit craft. The directional double jump turns jump reading into precise placement work, and the full loop, namely having to play through again with a special ring to reach the true ending, demands complete mastery. The bestiary, atmosphere and soundtrack stay unforgettable. Recommended to retro challenge addicts and lovers of merciless design.
