Demon's Crest

"An amazing, not-oft seen masterpiece"

Demon's Crest is one of the finest games ever made for the SNES. This title is the third of the Gargoyle's Quest games, which started with Gargoyle's Quest for Game Boy then moved on to Gargoyle's Quest 2 for NES. If you are really picky then consider Ghosts N' Goblins the first in the series.
In this side scrolling adventure by Capcom you assume the role of Firebrand, the Red Demon who beat the crap out of you in Ghosts N' Goblins for the NES. Again the demon's realm is in trouble and it is up to you to save the world (isn't it always?) Of course you do not know this at first! The game opens with you fighting for your life against a dragon that is fused into a wall. Right away we are treated with stunning visuals. From there your adventure begins. Besides top notch play control and graphics, this game has a great storyline as well! Why was this not a best seller?!!

Graphics=9.6 A wonderfully dark and gothic game. The world you travel in is very spooky, with dead-tree forests and castle ruins everywhere. The animation on the characters is very smooth and Capcom taps into many of the special effects the SNES offers, such as parallax scrolling, a few mode 7 tricks, and more. Firebrand looks as mean and tough as ever (kind of like a mutated Karnov: separated at birth?)

Sound=9.3 Haunting themes and baroque fugues abound in this aural masterpiece. All of the battle effects are well done and the music is sensational. The SNES had a way of making wonderful, sweeping songs with ease.

Playcontrol=9.2 Super tight and well thought out key functions. In the various forms you can assume as Firebrand all react perfectly. The power-ups give you a lot of versatility and force you to use your brain in some sections.

Storyline=9.0 An engrossing tale to play through. The demon realm presents a unique cast of characters. It is a nice change from the ''white guy saves the world theme'' we are so used to. You are convicted of a crime you did not commit, escape and go to find out you have been set up to save the world.

Challenge=8.7 It takes some creative thinking to get by some of Demon Crest's trickier levels. The various forms of Firebrand (denoted by different color bodies) each have different powers ( kind of like Mega Man) and thus you have to discover the best way to get by problems and defeat bosses.

Overall=9.4 Perhaps it came out a little too late in the SNES's life, but this game is a true masterpiece. In fact ALL the Gargoyle's Quest games are incredible. From the stunning backgrounds to the beautiful soundtrack, this game gets an A.

*BRU'S MUST GET OMETER*=10 You need this game, especially if you like adventure or Castlevania-esque games.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/19/00, Updated 02/19/00