Avenging Spirit
| Avenging Spirit | |
|---|---|
 Promotional flyer forAvenging Spirit | |
| Developer(s) | C.P. Brain[a][b] |
| Publisher(s) | Jaleco[c][d][e] |
| Platform(s) | Arcade Game Boy iOS Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S |
| Release | ArcadeGame BoyiOS
|
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single player,Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Arcade system | Jaleco Mega System 1-B |
Avenging Spirit,known inJapanasPhantasm(ファンタズム),is a 1991 2-playerplatformarcade gamedeveloped by C.P. Brain and published byJaleco.
Plot[edit]
During a walk with his girlfriend, the player is ambushed by agents of a mysteriouscrime syndicatewho take his girlfriend away and shoot him to death. Now, as a wandering spirit with the ability to possess most others, he is summoned by his girlfriend's father (who researchesghostenergy) and is given a mission to save her from the mysterious crime syndicate that holds her hostage, enabling the player to rest in peace.[1]
Coincidentally, the crime syndicate is also researching ghost energy, and they kidnapped the girl in an effort to force her father to cooperate with them. The player must fight through six stages to infiltrate the evil syndicate's base, collecting three keys on stages 2, 5, and 6. If the player has all three keys upon reaching the final leg of Stage 6, he can open the girl's cell and possess her to help her fight her way out. If not, he must abandon her and face the syndicate's leader alone. After the syndicate's leader is defeated, the base blows up, and the player ends up on a grassy field as his spirit's power fades. If the player fails to save the girl she presumably dies in theexplosionand he expects to see her in theafterlifeas he fades away. If the player does save her, she approaches the field, and the player expresses a wish for her future happiness as he vanishes.
Gameplay[edit]
Players can possess one of four characters with unique abilities at the start of the game, but the library of enemies expands and changes with each level. Players either attack or possess enemies, collect power-ups, and defeatBoss esto advance.
Reception[edit]
In Japan,Game MachinelistedAvenging Spiriton their July 1, 1991 issue as being the seventeenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[2]
Sinclair UsercalledAvenging Spirita "superior action game with a rather odd scenario." They praised the longevity of the game but admitted that it had a steep learning curve that might not appeal to more casual players.[1]British gaming magazineThe OnereviewedAvenging Spiritin 1991, stating that it "isn't destined to be a classic", but it has "originality and nice touches".[3]
Ports and re-releases[edit]
On December 14, 2010,DotEmu SASreleased aniOSport of the game.[4]TheGame Boyversion was re-released on theNintendo3DSeShop'sVirtual Consoledownload service in Japan on June 7, 2011 and was released worldwide on August 11, 2011. A physical catridge for original Game Boy systems was re-released by Limited Run Games in 2022.[5]A re-release developed by Shinyuden andCity Connectionand published by Ratalaika Games forNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,andEvercadewas released on July 29, 2022.[6]
Notes[edit]
- ^iOS port handled byDotEmu SAS.
- ^2022 re-release developed by Shinyuden andCity Connection.
- ^iOS port published byDotEmu SAS.
- ^Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console release published byHamster Corporationin Japan.
- ^2022 re-release published by Ratalaika Games.
References[edit]
- ^ab"Coin Ops: Avenging Spirits Review".Sinclair User.No. 113. July 1991. p. 39.
- ^"Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル hình TVゲーム cơ (Table Videos)".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 406.Amusement Press, Inc.1 July 1991. p. 29.
- ^"Arcades: Avenging Spirits Review".The One.No. 34. emap Images. July 1991. p. 83.
- ^Jordan, Jon (14 December 2010)."DotEmu kicks of the iPhone release of 17 Japanese arcade classics with possession battler Avenging Spirit".pocketgamer.Retrieved2022-07-22.
- ^"AVENGING SPIRIT (GB) at Limited Run Games".limitedrungames.2024-02-27.
- ^"Avenging Spirit Coming to Consoles, Evercade on July 29 - Hardcore Gamer".hardcoregamer.2022-07-21.Retrieved2022-07-22.
External links[edit]
- 1991 video games
- Arcade video games
- Dotemu games
- Game Boy games
- Hamster Corporation games
- Jaleco games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Multiplayer hotseat games
- Platformers
- Video games about ghosts
- Video games about spirit possession
- Video games developed in Japan
- Virtual Console games
- Ratalaika Games games