Demon's Crest

RETRO NEWS

Happy Friday, retro friends! Today's retro news takes us from running a drugstore to blowing things up on a motorcycle.

Hamster is bringing The Drug Store, a rather obscure 1998 Japanese PlayStation management sim, to PS5 and Switch 2 through its Console Archives lineup.

If managing inventory and keeping customers happy isn't your thing, Thundercade is also back, bringing its 1987 arcade motorcycle shoot 'em up action to modern consoles.

Meanwhile, Anbernic's upcoming RG DDS handheld has apparently had its pricing leaked, with models starting at $299.99, preorders expected October 16, and shipping reportedly beginning December 10.

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Capcom must have been in a particularly bad mood in 1994. While most platformers gave you a few easy enemies to warm up against, Demon's Crest throws you into an arena with a giant zombie dragon. No tutorial, no friendly introduction. Just a very angry pile of bones trying to kill you.

Our hero is Firebrand, the red gargoyle who originally made life miserable for players in Ghosts 'n Goblins. After starring in two Gargoyle's Quest games, he finally got his own Super Nintendo adventure.

Unfortunately, hardly anyone bought it. Which is a shame, because Capcom had something pretty special on its hands.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

If you've never played Demon's Crest, imagine a darker, more exploration-heavy cousin of Mega Man.

Firebrand can breathe fire, cling to walls, and hover in midair, although those little wings aren't nearly as useful as you'd expect at first. The story picks up after a demon named Phalanx steals the magical crests Firebrand fought to collect, leaving him imprisoned and stripped of most of his power.

Naturally, Firebrand isn't the forgiving type. Rather than following a straight path through the game, you travel between locations using an overhead map, choosing which stages to tackle and returning to old ones whenever you've acquired something useful. It's a design that feels surprisingly close to what we'd eventually call a Metroidvania.

Much of the fun comes from experimenting with Firebrand's different forms. Each crest grants a transformation with its own strengths and limitations.

The Ground Gargoyle can smash through obstacles but can't fly, while the Tidal Gargoyle trades its usefulness on land for the ability to explore underwater.

Later, the Aerial Gargoyle makes reaching previously inaccessible areas much easier. You'll also find extra health, magical spells, and talismans scattered throughout the stages, often hidden in places you probably walked right past earlier.

There's a satisfying moment when you remember some suspicious wall from an hour ago and realize you finally have the means to break through it. The game rarely tells you where to go next, though, so expect a fair amount of wandering around.

And don't expect an easy ride. That zombie dragon at the beginning is only the first of several nasty encounters, and some bosses can absolutely demolish you if you arrive without the right abilities.

Fortunately, you're free to explore elsewhere, collect upgrades, and come back better prepared. There's also more to finishing the game than simply beating Phalanx.

Depending on your progress, you'll see one of several endings, with a fourth ending and an additional boss waiting for players who uncover enough of the game's secrets. You can finish a basic playthrough in a few hours, but finding everything takes considerably longer.

What really makes Demon's Crest memorable, though, is its presentation. Capcom's artists filled the game with ruined castles, grotesque creatures, gloomy landscapes, and some wonderfully detailed monster designs.

Even the smaller enemies look like they crawled out of somebody's nightmare. The soundtrack fits the mood, leaning heavily into eerie, dramatic melodies rather than the energetic tunes you'd normally associate with a Capcom platformer.

It's one of those late-generation SNES games that reminds you just how much developers had learned to squeeze out of Nintendo's little gray box.

Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads

Home furniture brand Blu Dot blew up on CTV with help from Roku Ads Manager. Here’s how:

After a test campaign reached 211,000 households and achieved 1,010% ROAS, the brand went all in to promote its annual sales event. It removed age and income constraints to expand reach and shifted budget to custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.

The results speak for themselves. As Blu Dot increased their investment by 10x, ROAS jumped to 2,308% and more page-view conversions surpassed 50,000.

“For CTV campaigns, Roku has been a top performer,” said Claire Folkestad, Paid Media Strategist, Blu Dot. “Comping to our other platforms, we have seen really strong ROAS… and highly efficient CPMs, lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”

Using Roku Ads Manager, the campaign moved from a pilot to a permanent performance engine for the brand.

Learn More

GAME INFORMATION

WHERE TO PLAY

• Nintendo Switch Online- SNES App.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $190

  • Complete: $500

  • New/Sealed: $530

COVER ART

Leave Granola and get up to 12 months free of Wispr Flow Notetaker + Dictation

If you have paid time left on an individual Granola plan, we'll match it with a Wispr Flow subscription that includes Notetaker and dictation, and add bonus time, up to 12 months total. Sign in or create a Wispr account and submit proof of your plan to check eligibility.

Try Notetaker Free

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Demon's Crest has one of the stranger reputations in the SNES library. Critics generally liked it, but sales were miserable. Nintendo Power even reported a week when more copies were returned than sold. That's not exactly the sort of achievement Capcom was hoping for.

Thankfully, time has been much kinder to Firebrand. Today, the game is remembered as one of the system's overlooked gems, particularly among players who enjoy exploration-heavy platformers. And you don't need to spend a fortune tracking down an original cartridge. It's available through the SNES library on Nintendo Switch Online, complete with a rewind feature for those particularly unpleasant boss fights.

It's also worth remembering that this was Firebrand's third adventure, following Gargoyle's Quest on Game Boy and Gargoyle's Quest II on NES. Sadly, he hasn't received another solo game since, although he's made a few appearances in Capcom's fighting games.

Nearly thirty-two years later, I'd say the little red troublemaker deserves another shot.

SUPPORT

This is a passion project made with love, and every open or read means the world.
If you’d like to show extra support, you can use the button below.

RETRO HARDWARE

The Miyoo Flip V2 is a tiny clamshell retro handheld that lets you carry a whole library of classic games in your pocket. With a bright screen, solid controls, and the nostalgic flip design we all remember, it’s perfect for quick gaming sessions anywhere. Click the picture to check it out. My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12