基本資料與故事情節：日本大廠卡普空(Capcom)在1985年9月推出《魔界村》(Ghosts 'n Goblins)街機遊戲，並在隔年6月移植到任天堂紅白機平台。其他出現的平台有Sinclair ZX Spectrum、Amstrad CPC 464/6128、Atari ST、Commodore 16、Sharp X68000、SFC/SNES、GB、GBA、PSP。

故事發生在某個王國，騎士亞瑟（Arthur）與公主在晚上約會，忽然一陣雷響後，魔王出現在黑影之中並將普琳普琳公主(Princess Prin Prin)擄走。於是亞瑟穿上盔甲並拿起長矛，展開救援行動，但村子內的村民都受到魔法控制後變身怪物。騎士必須善用五種不同的武器來突破六個關卡，打敗魔王後才能救出公主。

這款被許多玩家評為紅白機最難過關的卡帶，主要是敵人會不規則的攻擊及主角盔甲只能抵擋一次敵人攻擊，之後就變成穿紅色內褲狀態，再受到攻擊就直接變成白骨頭死亡。因此每個關卡都有設置不少隱藏寶物及台數，武器則是有直線攻擊的長矛及適合近距離丟擲的火把等。在遊戲過程當中，最好能掌控敵人攻擊路線，避免來不及跳躍而造成損傷。

操作和遊玩方式：以經典的2D橫向捲軸方式進行，玩家需要操控亞瑟通過各個關卡，同時避開敵人和陷阱，使用武器來擊退怪物。透過十字鍵進行左右移動，A紐是跳躍，B紐是射擊。

還可以透過下蹲躲過敵人或子彈，需要收集武器和裝備來提升本身的能力。舞台有時間上的限制，如果看到頭目開始出現在畫面，不妨先遠距離展開攻擊。看到不想要的武器出現，透過跳躍避開。

關卡和頭目：遊戲中包含多個不同獨特風格設計的舞台和挑戰。從左畫面移動到最右邊的時候，將會遇到一個強大的頭目，需要擊敗他們才能取得鑰匙，移動到下一關。如果是裸體狀態，拿到鑰匙就能取得盔甲。

主要關卡:

1.從墓地到森林(From the Graveyard to the Forest)

2.鬼城(Ghost Town)

3.前往魔界城堡的地下通道(Underground Passage to the Demon Realm Castle)

4.魔界城的入口(The Entrance of the Demon Realm Castle)

5.前進魔界城(Charge to the Demon Realm Castle)

6.通往魔界城頂(To the Demon Realm Castle Top)

7.最終魔王阿格塔羅斯的房間(Demon Lord Astaroth’s Room)

出現的頭目:獨眼巨人(Unicorn)、龍(Dragon)、擄走公主的惡魔撒旦(Satan)、魔鬼大撒旦(Astaroth)。

武器種類:長茅(Lance)、匕首(Dagger)、火炬(Torch)、斧頭(Axe)、盾牌/十字架(Shield/Cross)。

密技：

1.選關:標題畫面出現時，先按住右鍵，再按B紐三次，再按上後鬆開。再按B紐三次。按左，放開後再按B紐三次。按下後放開，再按B紐三次，最後按開始。

2.日版的接關:當標題畫面出現時，按住右鍵，並同時按A或B紐三次，再按開始。

3.看到獎勵訊息:完成兩輪的挑戰後，在結局的畫面出現時，依序按A、B、上、下、A、B、左、右，就會看到隱藏的訊息。

4.隱藏盾牌:不需要等到第六關就可以提前取得盾牌。約在第四關的中間位置， 當在石頭路上看到紅色敵人Arremer，蹲在抵達橋之前的區域，這時候隱藏的盾牌就會出現並掉落在橋上，取得後就能抵禦敵人的子彈。

5.第六關的頭目:頭目是兩隻大型的紅色飛行撒旦。要讓兩隻撒旦在亞瑟頭上俯衝，使用盾牌武器，當他們位在左邊的時候，立刻跑到畫面的最右邊，轉身後快速密集的射擊。這時候會發現他們會站著無法攻擊，呈現毫無抵擋的狀況，很快就會被消滅。

銷售和影響：《魔界村》在街機和其他遊戲主機上的移植都取得不錯的商業成功。這款遊戲的高難度和挑戰性，以及獨特的怪物設計，成功成為一個引人注目的作品。儘管可能需要花費很多時間和努力才能克服高難度的遊戲挑戰，但也造成玩家們開始研究如何對付怪物及各種陷阱。其遊戲機制和吸引力直到現在仍有許多玩家收藏卡帶。

儘管《魔界村》的難度很高，卻成為了遊戲歷史上不容忽視的作品之一，並且影響了後來的遊戲開發和設計。例如科拿米公司的《惡魔城》（Castlevania）系列，不論是舞台風格、敵人設計和挑戰難度都受到了啟發。

續作和翻製：遊戲的成功讓後來多個續作和翻製持續上市。包含《魔界村2》、《超級魔界村》（Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts）等。這些續作除了保留原始遊戲的核心要素的同時，還引入新的創意和改進，使系列能夠持續吸引更多玩家。

總之，《魔界村》是一款引人入勝的遊戲，具有獨特的怪物設計、高難度和挑戰性的遊戲機制，以及深遠的影響。無論是回憶起過去的童年，還是想要體驗一個經典的動作遊戲，這款作品都值得一試。

Story/Game Plot: "Ghosts 'n Goblins" is a classic 1985 side-scrolling action platformer developed by Capcom. The game follows the valiant knight Sir Arthur on a quest to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from the clutches of the evil demon king Astaroth. The story begins with Astaroth kidnapping the princess and Arthur setting out to rescue her. To do so, Arthur must traverse through a series of treacherous levels filled with monsters, undead creatures, and other supernatural enemies.

Gameplay: The gameplay is challenging and unforgiving. Arthur starts with basic armor, but if he is hit by an enemy, he loses his armor and is left in his underwear. Another hit in this state results in losing a life. The levels are filled with various enemies and obstacles that require precise timing and skill to navigate. Along the way, Arthur can upgrade his weapon and armor by picking up power-ups. The ultimate goal is to reach the final level, defeat Astaroth, and rescue the princess.

Instructions: The controls in "Ghosts 'n Goblins" are straightforward. On the NES version:

D-pad: Move Arthur left or right

A button: Jump

B button: Attack

Press down while jumping to throw weapons downward

Stages: The game is divided into six main levels, each with its own unique setting and challenges. The levels include a graveyard, a haunted forest, a cavern, a bridge, a tower, and Astaroth's lair.

Sequels and Spin-offs: The success of "Ghosts 'n Goblins" led to the creation of several sequels and spin-offs, each building upon the gameplay mechanics and expanding the lore of the series. Some notable titles include:

"Ghouls 'n Ghosts" (1988): The direct sequel to the original game, introducing new gameplay mechanics, levels, and challenges.

"Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts" (1991): Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), this installment brought improved graphics and gameplay while maintaining the franchise's difficulty.

"Maximo: Ghosts to Glory" (2001): A 3D action-adventure game inspired by the "Ghosts 'n Goblins" series, featuring a new protagonist named Maximo.

"Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection" (2021): A modern reimagining of the original game, maintaining the classic side-scrolling gameplay but with updated graphics and new mechanics.

Influence on Gaming: "Ghosts 'n Goblins" had a significant influence on the gaming landscape. Its challenging difficulty level set a precedent for "hardcore" gaming experiences and helped establish the idea of overcoming extreme challenges for the sake of accomplishment. The game's memorable enemies and iconic armor loss mechanic left a lasting impact on both players and other game developers. The franchise's legacy can be seen in the platforming and action games that followed, with many drawing inspiration from its mechanics and design principles.

Sales and Reception: The NES version of "Ghosts 'n Goblins" received positive reviews for its challenging gameplay, though some players found its difficulty level frustrating. The game's iconic status, however, solidified over time, and it became a staple in retro gaming collections. While exact sales figures for the NES version are not readily available, it's evident that "Ghosts 'n Goblins" remains a beloved classic among gamers and collectors.

Cultural Impact: The "Ghosts 'n Goblins" series has left its mark not only on gaming but also in popular culture. The franchise's characters, enemies, and distinctive visual style have appeared in various media, including comics, cartoons, and references in other video games. The game's challenging reputation has contributed to its legendary status, making it a frequent topic of discussion among gamers when reminiscing about classic titles.

In conclusion, "Ghosts 'n Goblins" stands as a timeless example of challenging gameplay and influential design. Its legacy continues to live on through sequels, spin-offs, and references, reminding gamers of the early days of gaming and the enduring appeal of overcoming difficult trials in virtual worlds.