Frustrating

That's probably close to the first thing most gamers associate with Ghosts 'n' Goblins (Makaimura in Japan) and its sequels. The hero, Sir Arthur, is awkwardly limited while most of his enemies are highly mobile. Many of the ghosts and goblins can fly, while Arthur can waddle and hop (often into bottomless pits). Many of his enemies take several hits to defeat. Arthur takes two.

The game feels so random. You never get the feeling that you've nailed down the pattern to kill every Red Areemer or that you won't accidentally be forced into collecting the Axe at the worst possible moment. At times, you need dumb luck just to survive.

Brutal

How many games force you to go through every level twice to get the real ending? I can think of 3: Ghosts 'n' Goblins, Ghouls 'n' Ghosts and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts. You can't even get started on your second time though unless you beat it the first time with a specific weapon. They really don't make games like this anymore.

Fun

After I purchased Capcom Classics Collection, I started with Ghosts 'n' Goblins and played it for a few weeks straight, and this is after playing the Arcade and NES versions regularly over the past 20 years. Despite the stifling challenge, these games keep you coming back. Graphics, music, atmosphere and level/weapon/character design are all first rate. You are instantly drawn to the comical knight running through a graveyard in his boxers.

Sir Arthur (aka Knight Arthur, King Arthur, Sir Michael)

In the Ghosts 'n' Goblins introduction, we see Princess Prin Prin attending to Arthur in the graveyard before she is snatched away by Satan. Most people seem to think that these two just like to hang out and party in cemeteries Goth-style, but I was always under the impression that Arthur was dead and she resurrected him. In the back of my head I'm sure I read this somewhere.

This is not supposed to be the King Arthur of the Arthurian legends, though certain versions mistakenly refer to his love as Guinevere and his land as Camelot.

Arthur dons a set of iron armor that will protect him from one collision with an enemy or enemy projectile. It will also protect him from some environmental hazards, such as spouts of fire on the bridge. It won't save him from falling in the water, a bottomless pit or boiling lava... those cause instant death. In the series' most famous turn, if Arthur is hit while wearing his armor, it is blown off, forcing him to continue on in only his boxers shorts. Any hit while starkers will kill him, though it is possible to locate another set of armor.

All of Arthur's weapons are missile weapons; that is, they are thrown. See the weapons section for more details. One of his more useful tactics is jumping and turning in the air. This won't change the direction of the jump, but does let you jump and then turn and fire behind you.

Incidentally, Arthur's shorts are white in every version except the NES/Famicom/GBC versions, where he prefers red.

Princess Prin Prin (aka Guinevere)

Arthur's lifelong love, who has quite a knack for getting captured (and sometimes killed and later resurrected). If the demons would just go about destroying the world or what not and leave her out of it, they might avoid rousing Arthur's ire. But no, I guess it wouldn't be a proper 80s video game without the obligatory princess-in-distress with blue anime hair.

I've read that "prin prin" is supposed to be the onomatopoetic sound associated with the movement of a nice ass. Clearly a deep and complex character here.

Further evidence for this is the inclusion of Prin Prin's "3-size" (in centimeters) during the credits of both Ghouls 'n' Ghosts and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts. In the former it's listed as 83-50-89. However, by the third game, it's become 88-58-90. I'd say she's had some work done, but from waist measurement it just sounds like she's been into the sweet rolls.

Astaroth (aka Lucifer, The Devil, Satan, Argon)

In this adventure, he's the head honcho. We find out in later installments that he's subservient to Lucifer and Samael. He's taken Prin Prin captive, sending Satan to do his dirty work. He sports not one, but two ugly faces from which to shoot fireballs, and he won't let you take him on with anything but the Cross/Shield. He even keeps around an identical illusion of himself (just as deadly) to thwart would-be rescuers. The first time Arthur makes it to level 7, he contends with the illusion. After its defeat and another trip through every level again, the true Astaroth reveals himself for the final showdown.

In the arcade version, Arthur can't damage Astaroth while standing on the ground, or at the height of his jump. He has to attack at the jump's midpoint to score a hit. Ten hits and Astaroth (or the illusion) is history. Astaroth's fireballs are the only projectiles in the game that are immune to the Cross/Shield's blocking effect. It's not an easy battle, but you won't mind because you start right back at him if you die.

Red Areemer (aka Red Devil, Red Destroyer, Gargoyle, Firebrand)

As well-known as Arthur himself (and much more prolific), the Red Areemer is one of the most notorious game villains in history. His appearance on the screen, seated in his self-assured cross-legged position, is enough to cause muscles to tense and beads of sweat to develop. His flight patterns are erratic and difficult to guess. His famous shuffle indicates an impending bum rush, so get ready to attack or get out of the way. Sometimes it seems like 3 hits will kill him, sometimes it requires 5. If you get 2 attacking at once, just walk away. You're done.

He is most probably named after Toshio Arima, main programmer and designer of Ghosts 'n' Goblins. Toshio also worked on Higemaru, Section Z and others, as well as Gyruss and Time Pilot for Konami.

In Ghouls 'n' Ghosts he appears as the Red Areemer King and in Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts as the Red Areemer Ace. The turn-based strategy title Namco X Capcom also contains a Red Areemer Joker, and SNK vs. Capcom has Red Areemer as a secret last boss. Areemer even spun off his own series of games: Red Areemer/Gargoyle's Quest for the GameBoy, Red Areemer 2/Gargoyle's Quest 2 for the NES (which was remade as Makaimura Gaiden in a Japan-only GameBoy release) and the fantastic Demon's Blazon/Demon's Crest for the SFC/SNES.