Hells Bells

Hells Bells

Overview & History

Released into the wild arcades of 1990 by Electrocoin, Hells Bells is a wonderfully eccentric platform-action game that swaps out generic fantasy knights for a pair of mischievous, cape-wearing demons on a subterranean rescue mission. Deep within the sulfurous caverns of the netherworld, a sinister overlord has kidnapped the royal imp-princes, plunging the underworld into bureaucratic chaos. As the fiery protagonists, players must traverse treacherous, shifting platforms and lava-filled chasms to restore order. Despite never achieving the massive global saturation of Capcom or Konami giants, this cult classic carved out a fiercely loyal following due to its distinct, vibrant pixel art—brimming with horned beasts, bubbling cauldrons, and gothic spires—coupled with an upbeat, chiptune soundtrack that makes purgatory sound like a Saturday morning cartoon.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrollers of its era, Hells Bells introduces a verticality-driven gameplay loop where players must constantly manage momentum while dodging erratic projectile hazards. The characters wield a unique ranged attack: hurling glowing, resonant hellfire spheres that bounce off walls and temporarily stun grotesque bosses. Combat requires strategic positioning, as enemies spawn from cavernous portals and patrol narrow, collapsing ledges. Players can execute a double-jump "hover" mechanic by frantically flapping their bat-like wings, allowing for precise mid-air corrections over bottomless pits. Along the way, collecting floating skull-tokens grants temporary invincibility and transforms your fireballs into screen-clearing shockwaves, adding a layer of frantic, high-score-chasing urgency to every stage.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause