A Makaimura with a unique flavor, more adventurous and exploratory than its cousins. A little known Capcom gem to devour.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Action game featuring Firebrand, the red demon from Ghosts'n Goblins, traversing infernal realms. Published by Capcom, released in the United States in 1994. Firebrand flying, breathing fire and using magic talismans, monumental demonic realm bosses and dark sumptuous visuals. A Capcom masterpiece, North American version of Demon's Crest.
Demon's Crest review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
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.
Dark and spellbinding, the music plunges Firebrand's adventure into a melancholy gothic of rare beauty, faithful to the world of Ghosts'n Goblins. The grave, atmospheric themes elevate each demonic realm. This mature, polished sonic atmosphere makes this underrated classic a treasure for connoisseurs.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
At the controls of Firebrand the gargoyle, you explore a fractured gothic world where each boss demands the right transformation at the right moment. The blend of aerial combat, exploration and punishing duels raises the bar markedly. Harsh but rare in its richness, it bewilders at first then fascinates, and remains a well-kept secret for fans of Capcom challenges.
The American NTSC SNES version of Demon's Crest, Capcom's Makaimura spin-off centred on Firebrand, released late in 1995 as attention shifted to 32-bit. The US print, sold off at end of life, was small, and the cart ranks among the hardest Capcom SNES NTSC titles to assemble in fine condition. The US cardboard box, scarce intact, and the aura of a misunderstood masterpiece never physically reissued sustain strong demand among American collectors.
Memorable bosses
A brooding dark fantasy, this adventure hands the gargoyle Firebrand clashes against charismatic demons, the rival Phalanx among them, in a world gnawed by decay. Changing form — fire, earth, air — reshapes how you approach each fight and explore. Polished gothic design, a heavy mood and crafty bosses give these duels a melancholy singularity that lingers.
An underrated gem
A spin-off of Ghosts'n Goblins where you play Firebrand, the red demon, this action-platformer swaps the series' usual punishment for evolving powers and controlled flight. Exclusively Japanese, it escaped many. Its polished gothic atmosphere and rewarding progression make it a little-known Capcom title to savor.
Is Demon's Crest still worth playing in 2026?
Demon's Crest, released as Demon's Blazon - Makaimura Monshou Hen in Japan, is an action exploration spin on the Ghouls 'n Ghosts universe signed by Capcom. The demon Firebrand shifts between forms to scour an open world dotted with spectacular bosses, and the wealth of replayable relics encourages experimentation. The gothic art direction and the soundtrack are top tier. Not the most mainstream Makaimura, yet one of the most creative. Recommended to Capcom fans and lovers of proto metroidvania.
