Clash at Demonhead. This is a strange, but lovable game. It doesn't have the best graphics, plot, controls, heck even the ending is fairly meh, but it does have a unique design and art style - this was what appealed to me enough to buy it years ago.

The story is set in present day.  You are a secret agent on vacation, but you're needed urgently -- because you're Billy Blitz, one of the cool agent types that doesn't have to worry about regulations and just goes James Bond style, shooting things and solving crazy world-changing plots. There is a Doomsday weapon and you are needed to find a scientist and rescue him from evil Tom Guycot and his band of baddies. You'll meet Tom soon enough, a talking skeleton! Soon after you are taken to the map screen, with multiple branching paths to choose from as you try to climb Mount Demonhead. You can even (and sometimes must) backtrack, making this like a Super Metroid or Symphony of the Night game. Told you this was a unique NES game!


The screen is side scrolling, there are many odd, cartoon enemies, but that fits in with the whimsical anime-inspired close-ups of your character and the cut-scenes. Yes, the bosses and several other people you meet have them. You are climbing a mountain, so expect some pits, but rather than instant death, they take you to a penalty zone -- much like the old cpu game Dark Castle. You merely have to work your way to the exit and you are right back at the map -- you can choose to try the zone again or try a different, connecting path.

There are quite a number of things to find on the mountain, some hidden, and there is a shop that is vital. The shopkeeper sells many things such as power-up suits that give you abilities in the world (much like Mario Bros 3 and its special suits), and special ammo types for your gun, he also sells food and magic replenishing products.  What I really liked about this that is seldom found in other games is the Shopkeeper randomly sells out of product. For once it seems you're not their only customer! He also sometimes has sales on a special item. Its a nice touch.

The suits mentioned from the shop are necessary on certain levels, such as swimming for long periods (water doesn't kill Bang, he uses an oxygen meter but for deep diving or faster swimming the suit is important), or flying by Jet pack!  The cut scenes also show when you are wearing a suit, again, a small detail that plays out nicely.

Use the suits to climb the mountain and gain access to routes you may have not been able to reach otherwise. You can also find a old hermit (doesn't every mountain have one?) who can teach you spells, such as teleporting (nice!), or shrinking you to fit in tiny cracks. On the whole I could see the potential for the Hermit, but I didn't use his spells too much, personally. He comes riding in on a cloud, much like Master Roshi from Dragon Ball. Kooky!

Now armed with your bought guns, your spells, you must find and kill several bosses, some located a bit out of the way on your trek up the mountain. Once you kill them they will give you a medallion, which is important to getting access to the scientist and finishing the game. The bosses are a true oddball bunch, there is a dinosaur that rides a harley, a tiny guy that grows to be a giant, even a 50's style greaser in a flying car.  

The music isn't great, but its not bad either. Most are short loops that are just there. Don't go thinking Scott Pilgrim books/movie named a band after the game because of its music!


Well, that's about all you need to know to get a good start on it, I will say while it does have nice innovative touches like the changing pictures in cut-scenes, re-exploring paths you've taken before -- Clash at Demonhead  has some hang ups too.  You will need to do a lot of exploring here. The bosses (called Governors are not marked where they are, so you must hunt them down for the medallions you need. At the shop, some items are unbalanced; one suit is hardly ever used, and some of the bullets I found myself never using as one is pretty strong. The game uses a password system and its really long. The end game is probably worth mentioning for being pretty unfair. You don't kill a boss and the game ends. You have to do a final task that is not platforming related, is totally random each game, and you only get 5 attempts or instant game over. Yeah, rough!!


Clash At Demonhead is a fun game, despite its limitations and setbacks, and I hope it attracts people looking for a decidedly different looking platformer.