Capcom Calssics Collection -- Day 6.

Ghouls 'n Ghosts was the second game released in 1988 using the CPS arcade hardware. It's the sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins. It picks up three years after the ending to Ghosts 'n Goblins with Princess Prin Prin being kidnapped again and being returned to Hades where she is being held by Lucifer. Arthur once again sets out to save her by going through six horror themed levels each with a boss at the end. The are some massive improvements all around with this game over the original. The control is tighter and more responsive. The graphics are truly beautiful. The music is easily some of the best music ever composed. They added some much needed new mechanics to the gameplay. You can fire up while standing, and you can fire up and down in mid jump. You can now earn golden armor when you collect armor while wearing the standard armor. While wearing the golden armor the weapons enable magic. If you hold down attack and charge up fully the armor unleashes the magic blast upon release of the button. The magic is different for each weapon type. The game is still easily one of the hardest games ever made and yet is much more fair than Ghosts 'n Goblins. This is one of the perfect arcade games. It's a 10 without question.

Final Fight was based on the CPS arcade hardware and released in 1989. It's essentially Capcom's Double Dragon. It's a sidescrolling beat-'em-up. You have attack and jump. Nothing more. You go through level after level and punch and kick your foes until they drop. The graphics are great. It's a very good looking game. The sound has all the right contact sounds to fit the game. The music works well for what it is. You can play as any of three different characters. With a twist on the ending for each one. The game is notable for introducing a couple of Capcom characters who would later show up in the Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter series. Also of note are the enemies in the game. A few of them are clearly based on celebrities of the time. Axl and Slash from are based on Axel and Slash from Guns & Roses, and the Andre characters are clearly based on Andre the Giant.

Mercs was released in 1990 and was based on the CPS arcade hardware. Mercs is the sequel to Commando. It's pretty much the same game with a couple changes. First off is the massive improvement in graphics and sound. Another thing improved on is the scope of the game. Commando pretty much stuck to reality not withstanding the odds of a lone soldier taking out an entire army single-handedly aspect of the game. Mercs throws in actual boss battles with vehicles like Harriers, tanks, PT boats, and the like. It's far more grand in scale. The game also allows for you to power up your weapons whereas Commando stuck with your initial machine gun. You can use three-way shots, flame-throwers, and the like. The grenades are still there, but now they act as smart bombs taking out all non boss enemies on the screen. The game also allows for three players to play simultaneously. Beyond that it's the same run and gun fun of the original Commando.