Play Choh Makai-Mura R (J)(Eurasia) Online

Game Overview

If you've ever played Ghosts 'n Goblins and thought, "Man, I wish this was less brutal and more about exploring creepy demon worlds," then Chō Makai-Mura R is your game. You control Firebrand—that red gargoyle you might remember—but this time, it's less about instant death pits and more about unlocking wild demon forms and wrecking enemies with different abilities.

The pixel art is gorgeous in that grim, gothic way Capcom does so well, and the music? Perfectly unsettling. At first, I just flew around smashing stuff as a basic gargoyle, but then I found a power-up that turned me into this hulking ground-pound demon, and suddenly the whole game opened up. There’s something satisfying about figuring out which form works best for each area—like realizing the speedy underwater demon makes those flooded ruins way less annoying.

It’s still tough, but in a "learn the patterns, get stronger" way instead of "throw your GBA across the room" way. If you missed this one back in the day, it’s worth digging up—just don’t blame me when you get obsessed with hunting down every last upgrade.