Software:Demon's Crest

From HandWiki
Short description: 1994 video game
Demon's Crest
North American box art
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Ryo Miyazaki
Producer(s)Tokuro Fujiwara
Designer(s)Kenichi Iwao
Composer(s)Toshihiko Horiyama[1]
SeriesGhosts 'n Goblins
Platform(s)Super NES
Release
  • JP: October 21, 1994
  • NA: November 1, 1994
  • PAL: March 1, 1995
Genre(s)Platformer
Mode(s)Single-player

Demon's Crest, known in Japan as Demon's Blazon,[lower-alpha 1] is a side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third video game starring Firebrand (an enemy character from the Ghosts 'n Goblins series, known as "Red Arremer" in the Japanese version), following Gargoyle's Quest and Gargoyle's Quest II.

Plot

The game's story revolves around the Crests, six magical stones which preside over their respective elements (Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Time and Heaven). When all crests are combined, the Crest of Infinity will appear, allowing its holder infinite power and the ability to conquer all realms with it. The demons of the Demon Realm have long fought each other for possession of the Crests, five of which have since fallen into the hands of a red demon named Firebrand. Seeking infinite power, Firebrand challenges a Demon Dragon for the Crest of Heaven and is victorious, though badly wounded. In his weakness, a rival demon named Phalanx ambushes Firebrand and takes all the Crests except the Fire Crest, which shatters into five shards, one of which Firebrand retains.

As the game begins, Phalanx has already begun using the Crests to become the ruler of the Demon Realm, while Firebrand is imprisoned in an amphitheater and made to fight the zombified Demon Dragon, Somulo. After escaping the amphitheater, Firebrand sets out to regain the Crests and get revenge on Phalanx. Along the way, Firebrand is repeatedly challenged by Phalanx' general, Arma, who grudgingly returns most of the Crests to Firebrand out of respect for his power.

Finally, Firebrand challenges Phalanx in his castle within the Demon Realm. Depending on the player's choices, three different endings are possible in this battle. The worst ending has Firebrand killing Phalanx and leaving the Demon Realm as it falls into complete anarchy, while a more favorable ending has Phalanx sealing himself inside the Crest of Heaven and Firebrand hiding all the Crests. The third ending concludes with Firebrand slaying Phalanx after he summons the Crest of Infinity to transform into a hideous beast, then tossing the crests off a cliff after deciding that he does not seek conquest.

Completing the game with the third ending gives the player a special password that allows Firebrand to continue the game with a new transformation, the Ultimate Gargoyle, and access the hidden fourth ending, in which Firebrand can challenge a secret boss named Dark Demon. Upon winning this battle, the fourth ending plays, in which Firebrand casts away the Crests out of pride for his own power, then leaves to seek another worthy opponent to fight.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

The gameplay is a mix of standard platforming, with mild RPG elements.[2] The stages are divided into six main areas and can be played multiple times. The game also has Metroidvania elements, where the player has to revisit a level with new Crests to access areas, items, and bosses that could not be accessed before.[3] There is also a world map players use to navigate.

Firebrand's main abilities are his fire breath, claws for clinging onto walls, and wings to hover in the air (though he cannot gain height early in the game). As he collects Crests, Firebrand can transform and gain new powers that are specialized for combat and exploration: Ground Gargoyle, Aerial Gargoyle, Tidal Gargoyle, Legendary Gargoyle, and Ultimate Gargoyle. Other items to collect include extra hit points, flasks and spell vellums for using consumable magic items, and talismans that can improve Firebrand's abilities.

Release

Demon's Crest was released in Japan on October 21, 1994.[4] It was followed by a release in North America in November 1994.[5]

In 2014, Demon's Crest was re-released on Nintendo's Virtual Console.[6][7] In 2016, it was released for the 3DS Virtual Console.[4] It is available for the Nintendo Switch with the console's online subscription service.[8]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings87%[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM33/40[10]
Famitsu28/40[4]
GameFan292/300[11]
GamePro4.5/5[12]
Joypad79%[13]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[14]

GamePro praised the macabre graphics and complexity of the gameplay, particularly the use of the acquired abilities, but criticized the repetitive music and lack of variety in enemy attacks. They summarized that "Demon's Crest brings depth and artistry to the action/adventure genre, making it one of the season's top SNES games".[12] Electronic Gaming Monthly scored it 33 out of 40, with their four reviewers applauding the game's beautiful graphics and complex gameplay.[10] Japanese video game magazine Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[4] Next Generation gave it a score of 3 out of 5, noting that the game is very short, and that most secret items are not needed to complete the game.[14]

Joypad gave it a 79% score.[13]

Nintendo Power praised the game, noting "excellent graphics, play control and game balance and sound".[16]

In 2018, Complex listed Demon's Crest 59th on their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". They commented that Demon's Crest is like Castlevania, but with the abilities to fly and shoot fireballs, and they felt the game was "awesome".[17] In 1995, Total! ranked the game 57th on their Top 100 SNES Games writing: "Almost an RPG but this platformer has more action then you can wave a demonic entity at."[18] IGN rated Demon's Crest 44th in its Top 100 SNES Games.[19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Full title: Demonzu Bureizon Makaimura Monshō-hen (Japanese: デモンズブレイゾン 魔界村 紋章編, lit. Demon's Blazon: Demon World Village Crest Chapter)

References

  1. ↑ CPCA-10128~34 | Makaimura Ongakutaizen Video Game Music Database, retrieved 24 July 2012
  2. ↑ "Die Gargoyles-Saga: Retro-Special zur fast vergessenen Serie". 11 August 2018. http://www.pcgames.de/Gargoyles-Quest-Classic-3233/Specials/retro-saga-nostalgie-nes-snes-game-boy-1262302/. Retrieved 13 August 2018. 
  3. ↑ "Demon's Crest: Forgotten Ghost n' Goblins Game is a Hidden Classic" (in en-US). 2018-07-27. https://www.denofgeek.com/games/demons-crest-forgotten-ghost-n-goblins-game-is-a-hidden-classic/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "デモンズ・ブレイゾン -魔界村 紋章編- [スーパーファミコン / ファミ通.com"]. https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3611. 
  5. ↑ "SNES Games". http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "Demon's Crest and Gargoyle's Quest 2 Coming to Virtual Console This Month". 16 October 2014. https://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/10/16/demons-crest-and-gargoyles-quest-2-coming-to-virtual-console-this-month/. Retrieved 13 August 2018. 
  7. ↑ "『デモンズ・ブレイゾン -魔界村 紋章編-』Wii Uバーチャルコンソールにて本日7月8日より配信開始 - ファミ通.com" (in ja). https://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/08082735.html. 
  8. ↑ McFerran, Damien (2020-02-24). "Guide: The 26 SNES Games On Nintendo Switch Online, Ranked By Us" (in en-GB). https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/guide_the_26_snes_games_on_nintendo_switch_online_ranked_by_us. 
  9. ↑ "Demon's Crest for SNES - GameRankings". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588275-demons-crest/index.html. Retrieved October 27, 2015. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Review Crew: Demon's Crest". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (63): 32. October 1994. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_63_October_1994_U/page/n32. 
  11. ↑ "Viewpoint - Demons Crest". GameFan (DieHard Gamers Club) 2 (11): 33. November 1994. https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_11#page/n32/mode/1up. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "ProReview: Demon's Crest". GamePro (IDG) (64): 114–115. November 1994. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n123/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Import: Super Famicom". Joypad (39): 108. February 1995. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Rating SNES". Next Generation (2): 101. February 1995. 
  15. ↑ "Capsule Reviews". Video Games: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (71): 126. December 1994. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_71_December_1994/page/n125. 
  16. ↑ "Now Playing". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America Inc.) 67: 102. December 1994. 
  17. ↑ Knight, Rich (April 30, 2018). "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time" (in en). https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/. 
  18. ↑ "Top 100 SNES Games". Total! (43): 46. July 1995. https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n45/mode/2up. Retrieved February 28, 2022. 
  19. ↑ (in en) Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com, https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-snes-games, retrieved 2022-08-25 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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