When I was a child at the height of the NES years, I thought it would last forever. I don't think I had the concept in my head that's popular now about the inevitable march of technology. But, all of a sudden, maybe when I was about 12 years old, I was on the way home from swim practice when my friend regalled me with stories of the new Sega Genesis, and one of the games on it, Ghouls N Ghosts. As he told me about it, I became increasingly excited to one day have one. I was totally sold when he told me about the pig enemies who puked on you.
That Christmas I did indeed get a Sega Genesis, and I remember it as fondly as I do the one I got my NES. My friend came over later that day and we played through Altered Beast together. But finally I got my hands on Ghouls N Ghosts, and for the next few years, I would play it over and over.
I don't know how I can explain how amazing the graphics seemed at that time... I was in love with them. There was so much detail, so much to absorb in the creature designs and backgrounds. The music was lusher than the NES as well.
I think I had played the original Ghosts N Goblins on somebody's C64, but it was too hard... Ghouls N Ghosts was much more playable and fun. And it was epic... there was so much to explore on each level.
I haven't played it for years now, and no doubt some of its warts would be more obvious now. But at the time, I was so filled with the joy this game provided me. It was a wonderful time.
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