[1cc] Makaimura (Ghosts 'n Goblins JP) - Arcade Version - 2-ALL (commentary in subtitles)

Makaimura is the name of Ghosts 'n Goblins in Japan. There are several differences between versions, and there are also different revisions with small differences for the same language. For the full list, you can check this page: https://tcrf.net/Ghosts%27n_Goblins_(Arcade)
I'm playing Rev. C.

Differences are mainly in the final stage. Timer duration was reduced in the US version (which makes it very hard and more prone to being screwed by randomness) and boss HP was increased. Some versions, including the one I'm playing, have 2 unicorns (the Stage 1 and 2 bosses) at the start of the stage, so it's tricky. There's also one scrolling glitch that you can do in some versions and not others in order to get rid of some bosses (mainly the 4th one, and you can do it with the last 2 but it's easier to fight them in my opinion). I may be making assumptions, but it really felt like the hitbox of the character is smaller in this version, for example the last 2 stages' bosses feel easier to dodge compared to US GnG. But maybe it's only because I feel less pressured by time in this version. Also, the graphics of the Cross weapon were changed to a shield in the international releases, but they function the same gameplay-wise.

The general strat regarding weapons is to pick the knife when I can, then in the 4th stage I farm a little bit against respawning enemies to get the cross. It costs time, but you have plenty of it in this stage. The cross is actually a solid weapon for the last 2 stages. In the second loop, I prefer to switch back to knife or lance when possible, and farm again in stage 4 to get the cross. I farmed a little bit at the start of stage 3 in the loop to ensure I get the knife, because I am simply unable to beat the boss with the cross, it's way too hard.

You keep your weapon after death, which can be really annoying if you picked up a bad one. The torch and axe are really bad, and if you end up with them, it's going to be hard to survive until you get a good one again. The good thing is that if you have the cross or knife, which are two good weapons, then you can keep them even if you die.

You need the cross to see the true final boss. If you beat the Stage 6 boss with another weapon, you're sent to the beginning of the stage but with a cross. I prefer doing the stage with it anyway.

Loops in this game are weird. As it is well-known, you need to beat 2 loops to see the true ending, but the second loop isn't that different from the first one overall. It is admittedly harder, but honestly not that much, the difficulty is mainly being consistent enough to do both loops in a row. Then, the game loops again, and the third loop is much more difficult than the second one, with every enemy being much faster and bullets also being pretty fast.

Hardest enemies in this game are the red arremers, the little red devils. Some are fairly passive and you can murder them before they even move, but if you let them live it's very tricky. You pretty much have to learn a specific strat for each of them. For some you have to be aggressive, for others you have to let them get close to you, sometimes dodging their attack, and mash the attack button. If you shoot at them when they're far away, they will fly immediately and you won't hit them. Thankfully there aren't that many, and in the final stage you can despawn them.

Speaking of despawn glitch, there are two "versions". The first one is used against the 4th boss: you have to move up to a certain point (when the music change), then move back a little, and the boss will just disappear. Then, there's a vertical despawn version, which seems to only work against enemies with flying ability (namely red arremers, but you can make it work against the Stage 5 and 6 bosses). Basically just find a deep pit and jump into it. It works better if the enemy is currently flying, which is why I shoot at the first red arremer in Stage 6.

Most item drops are almost insignificant for score, but the little king item is worth 10k and there are a few hidden 10k items which are nice to get.

You can learn most of the game and do those parts consistently, but there will be random things with which you'll have to be patient. I think the two really random things that waste time are the big green goblins (Stage 2, 5 and 6) and the bosses in the last 2 stages that will sometimes fly way too high and become unreachable (whereas sometimes they are at the perfect altitude and you murder them immediately). The worst thing is when you're running out of time because of it. Stage 2 is always super tight (but I somehow always manage to beat it), and so is the Final Stage. Stage 5 has some randomness too but you have plenty of time, so it's not too bad.

Was pretty nice to do the last 2 stages in loop 2 with 1 life.

00:00 - 1-1
1:53 - 1-2
4:46 - 1-3
6:37 - 1-4
8:41 - 1-5
10:56 - 1-6
22:12 - 2-1
24:49 - 2-2
29:25 - 2-3
33:49 - 2-4
36:03 - 2-5
38:31 - 2-6
43:16 - I forgot how to play