Demon's Crest

Demon's Crest SNES is Capcom's 1994 single-player action-platform game starring Firebrand, the red gargoyle known from the Ghosts 'n Goblins series and the earlier Gargoyle's Quest games. Released in Japan as Demon's Blazon for Super Famicom, it sends Firebrand through the Demon Realm after his rival Phalanx steals the magical Crests. Capcom both developed and published this darker, more exploratory chapter in Firebrand's story, which combines side-scrolling combat with a route-selecting world map and an inventory of powers.

The tale begins after six stones bearing the Crests of Fire, Earth, Air, Water, Time, and Heaven spark a struggle among demons. Firebrand has won five Crests and defeats the Demon Dragon to take the last, but the battle leaves him vulnerable. Phalanx ambushes him, takes the Crests, and divides their power. Firebrand escapes captivity and pursues the scattered stones, confronting Phalanx's forces and reclaiming the strength needed to challenge him. The campaign moves between grotesque castles, caverns, icy terrain, and other hostile corners of the realm rather than following one uninterrupted linear path.

Firebrand's standard skills define the platforming. He can jump, cling to suitable walls and platforms, breathe fire, and turn a hover into horizontal flight. These abilities make vertical routes and enemy encounters part of the same challenge: a ledge may require a careful glide, while a wall can provide a temporary foothold before another leap. Completing an area or using the appropriate item opens the overhead flight view, where the player steers Firebrand across the realm to choose available destinations. Previously visited areas can be revisited, making newly acquired powers useful for reaching places that were inaccessible before.

The Crests change both combat and exploration. The Earth Crest creates the quick Ground Gargoyle, whose strength can break stone statues; the Air Crest creates an Aerial Gargoyle able to gain much greater height but unable to cling to surfaces; and the Water Crest makes the Tidal Gargoyle capable of surviving underwater. The Time Crest grants the defensive Legendary Gargoyle form, slowing time and reducing incoming damage. Firebrand also builds the Fire Crest by finding alternate attacks, including projectiles that smash stone blocks, create temporary tornado lifts, or help him negotiate hazardous spiked walls. Choosing the right body and fire power is often as important as precise movement.

Progress is supported by an item screen, vitality upgrades, talismans, spells, potions, and currency. Shops scattered through the Demon Realm sell useful supplies once Firebrand has found the containers needed to hold them, while a separate challenge shop offers chances to earn prizes. These systems give the adventure a light role-playing texture without replacing its platform-game foundation. A password feature records progress, and the options menu allows control assignments and sound mode to be adjusted on the original Super NES release.

Demon's Crest features several routes to its conclusion, with different endings determined by how the conflict with Phalanx is resolved. A particularly thorough completion path also unlocks the powerful Ultimate Gargoyle and a hidden confrontation. The game stands as the third title led by Firebrand, following Gargoyle's Quest on Game Boy and Gargoyle's Quest II on NES, while retaining the character's connection to Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins universe. Nintendo later reissued the Super NES game through Virtual Console services for Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS, preserving this Capcom adventure for later players.