Demon's Crest

What if the main hero weren't a valiant knight, but the monster itself? Demon's Crest from Capcom casts you in the role of the demon Firebrand and is one of the darkest and at the same time most overlooked gems of the Super Nintendo.

It's the third and generally considered best instalment of the Gargoyle's Quest series, which itself grew out of the world of Ghosts 'n Goblins. This time you control a winged demon who collects magical forms (crests) that grant different abilities of flight, attack and movement. Switching between them is at the core of the gameplay: the fiery form burns enemies, another lets you swim or smash obstacles, and yet another opens previously inaccessible paths.

The game's structure is close to a Metroidvania. The world is interconnected and you return to it with new abilities to unlock hidden areas, secrets and alternative endings. Add to that the fluid flying, which gives movement a unique sense of freedom that wasn't common in platformers of the time. The boss fights are inventive and demanding, as befits the Ghosts 'n Goblins pedigree.

But Demon's Crest excels most in its atmosphere. The gloomy, gothic setting, the demonic music and the overall mood place it among the darkest titles Capcom released in that era. You play as a monster in a world of monsters, and the game holds this bleak tone from start to finish without compromise.

Even so, the title remained commercially overlooked and long lived in the shadow of more famous Capcom brands. Among connoisseurs, however, it earned a reputation as an underrated jewel that deserves far more attention than it ever received.

Why play it: For dark, atmospheric action in the role of a demon, an interconnected world with abilities in the spirit of Metroidvania, and a reputation as one of Capcom's best overlooked titles.