PixlBit

With a creepy atmosphere and plenty of monsters, this is the perfect game for Halloween

Demon's Crest is the third and final game in the Gargoyle's Quest trilogy. It started on Game Boy, moved to NES, and ended on the Super NES. It was developed and published by Capcom and released in 1994. On the surface, it may seem to be just a regular action platformer, but the game has a lot more depth to it. There are plenty of places to explore and many items to find. Being a late SNES game, the graphics are gorgeous, with detailed sprites and hauntingly atmospheric backgrounds. 

You play as Firebrand, who is on a quest to get six powerful crests (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Time, and Heaven). He has a wide range of moves, including shooting fire, jumping, hovering in the air with his wings (for as long as you want), and doing a skull bash which can crush statues. Over the course of the game, Firebrand's moveset will grow as you collect different fire powers, transformations, and talismans. If you want to get everything out of the game, you'll have to use the different transformations (not to mention they're stronger than Firebrand's regular form). 

The game begins with a boss battle, albeit a simple one. This leads to the first level, a creepy cemetery in which zombies pop out of the ground. At the end you'll find a gargoyle to get your first transformation. Next the overworld opens up and you can freely fly around (in Mode 7 glory) and choose one of four levels to play next. The ability to choose is great since getting bogged down in one level is a great possibility in this game. You can also visit shops on the overworld, such as the Spell Shop (you can buy spells that will help you for a few seconds in battle) and the Potion Shop (which are invaluable in this game, especially potions which restore health). 

Levels are often short, yet interesting and full of secrets. As you play, you'll notice certain items just out of reach, hinting to the fact that you'll have to come back later when you have the ability to get them. Some levels have alternate routes or hidden passages which lead to completely new areas and a different boss. Once again, the levels are beautifully creepy: a forest filled with monstrous wildlife, a creepy cave which leads up to the sky, an underground monastery rife with undead creatures and secrets. Attention to detail is impressive, even to this day. The only downside to the levels is the fact that they can lag if too many enemies get onscreen. 

The different transformations are a big part of the game. The Earth gargoyle can ram through stone statues, the Air gargoyle can freely fly in all directions, etc. It's too bad you have to pause the game every time you want to change to a different form; it would have been nice to use the shoulder buttons to change on the fly. But you can also acquire stronger fire power which Firebrand can shoot in his regular form. Ultimately, there are four things to collect over the course of the game: fire power, transformations, potions, and talismans (which give you special abilities). 

Demon's Crest is not a game for the casual gamer. The levels can be challenging, but the bosses are gruelingly difficult. This is because bosses are unpredictable in their movements. I found myself fighting the same boss over and over and over. I think the developers knew the bosses were really tough because they let you retry endlessly, starting you at the last section of the level. There are no lives or continues in the game. Many of the bosses are huge and impressive, but figuring out their pattern is challenging. The best fights in the game are the 1-on-1 Gargoyle fights, in which you fight another dark fiend to get a transformation. These are exciting and intense. However, if you don't have much patience, you might give up quickly on the first difficult boss. 

The depth in DC is surprising. The game actually has three different endings. I was surprised when I fought Phalanx, thinking he was a regular boss, only to discover upon beating him that he was the final boss for the bad ending. I had only done the bare minimum. If you want to open up more levels and get more transformations, you'll have to explore previous levels and find alternate paths. This makes the game feel a little like a Metroidvania game, which is great. To top it all off, the atmosphere and the music only make the entire presentation better. 

Final Verdict--4.5 Stars: Highly Recommended

Demon's Crest is nearly flawless. The only downside is the fact that its sheer difficulty may turn away some gamers from exploring further into its dark world. The variety of gameplay is fantastic, along with its great levels and many secrets. It was sadly overlooked in its day, but it's come back from the dead (so to speak) for you to play on the Wii U Virtual Console. If you consider yourself a hardcore gamer, you owe it to yourself to get this game and try it out. It needs as much love and attention we can give it. Firebrand deserves at least that much. 

Due to the busyness of life (and the holidays coming up), Retro Game of the Week will be taking a break for a couple months. But don't worry, it will return in January! Thank you to everyone who enjoys this series.