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Avenging Spirit

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Avenging Spirit © 1991 Jaleco. Avenging Spirit (also released in Japan under the name Phantasm) is a scrolling platform shoot-em-up in which the game's hero is ambushed by a criminal syndicate, who kidnap his girlfriend and shoot him dead. The hero's spirit is summoned by his girlfriend's fath...

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Developer
C.P. Brain

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Platform

Publisher
Jaleco

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Avenging Spirit (also released in Japan under the name Phantasm) is a scrolling platform shoot-em-up in which the game’s hero is ambushed by a criminal syndicate, who kidnap his girlfriend and shoot him dead. The hero’s spirit is summoned by his girlfriend’s father and given a mission to save her from the mysterious syndicate that now holds her hostage. Only then can he rest in peace.

At the start of the game, players choose to possess one of four enemy characters to begin their quest. When the possessed body is killed, providing there is a living enemy nearby (other than that of a boss) the player can possess them and continue playing. Each time this is done, it costs the player ‘spirit energy’. Should the hero die when there are no enemies close by for the player to possess; the game is over.

The hero must fight his way through six stages to infiltrate the syndicate’s base, collecting a key on stages 2, 5, and 6 as he progresses. If he has all three keys upon reaching the final leg of Stage 6, the hero can unlock the girl’s cell, possess her and help her to fight her way out of the base. If not, he must abandon her and face the syndicate’s leader alone. Once the syndicate’s leader is defeated the base blows up, so with the latter option, the girl is not saved.

Avenging Spirit

Overview & History

Developed by Jaleco and originally released in Japanese arcades in 1991 (later ported to the Game Boy), Avenging Spirit is a darkly inventive supernatural action-platformer. The storyline kicks off with a brutal tragedy: your character and his girlfriend are ambushed by a nefarious crime syndicate. The syndicate kidnaps your beloved and tragically murders you, leaving your soul to linger in the mortal realm. However, a brilliant scientist rescues your spectral essence and equips you with the ability to possess the living. Your mission is to tear through six distinct, hazard-filled stages, rescue your girlfriend, and exact ultimate vengeance upon the syndicate using any mortal body you can commandeer.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrollers, Avenging Spirit introduces a brilliant possession mechanic. Your ghost form has a ticking life meter that constantly drains, forcing you to inhabit living hosts to survive and fight. You can seamlessly leap into and control a wide variety of enemies—ranging from standard mobsters and knife-throwers to ninjas, fat mob bosses, and even bizarre creatures like mummies and underwater divers. Each possessed character brings a completely unique set of attributes to the table, including distinct walking speeds, jump heights, health pools, and specialized attacks such as shuriken throws, heavy punches, or projectile magic. Mastering the game requires strategic host-swapping; when your current host's health depletes, you are forced out into vulnerable ghost form, requiring you to quickly latch onto a new body before your spirit dissipates. Hidden items, weapon upgrades, and challenging boss encounters round out this fast-paced, mechanically rich arcade gem.