Avenging Spirit mini-review

The 1987 film The Hidden centered around an alien who could shift between human bodies. Once in control of a person, the alien went absolutely wild. From robbing banks, jumping into the body of a stripper, and stealing Ferraris, it was the kind of pulpy, R-rated film that’s unlikely to be made today.

But seemingly, the film found an audience with the now defunct development team at Shinjuku-based C.P. Brain. Their 1991 coin-op, Avenging Spirit (aka Phantasm), had a remarkably similar theme. Players assumed the role of a ghost who leaped into the bodies of different characters, harnessing their offensive abilities. Once you sustained enough damage to deplete an on-screen energy meter, you returned to ghost form. Like The Hidden’s kill-happy alien, Avenging Spirit would try to find a new body to possess since the apparition was quite vulnerable.

Revisiting the title over three decades later delivers a fleeting dose of fun, but don’t expect long-term enjoyment. Avenging Spirit might have been built around an interesting concept, but in execution, the six-stage experience isn’t as engrossing as run-and-gun titles with a single, dedicated protagonist. But given the game’s six-dollar price tag, an afternoon of people possessing might be justifiable. There are a few delights, like the rooftop battle on stage three adorned with neon signs.

Certainly, there’s a bit of mischievousness for those interested in these kinds of quirky retro titles. At the beginning of a new game, Avenging Spirit is in ghost form, allowing you to possess a female fighter, soldier, ninja, or a onesie-wearing creature with a laser wand. After making your selection, you’re allowed to slaughter all the remaining runners-up.

Each character brings its own moveset to the rightward scrolling action. While the fighter only has a melee attack, she can jump quite high, reaching reward-filled areas inaccessible to other characters. Part of the fun is that there isn’t much balance in the game. Ranged-characters have a distinct advantage when confronting groups of foes and can shoot threats as soon as they appear on-screen. But occasionally, you’ll be the one who gets gunned down in the heat of battle, goading you into finding a new body as quickly as possible.

Success hinges on quick reflexes and level memorization. Both will allow you to duck under a torrent of enemy bullets, Rolling Thunder-style. Learning what characters to possess can make things easier too. On stage two, you’ll face a crane game-like arm, a conveyer belt, and a moving blockade. If you’re able to seize the body of a grenade-tossing commando, it’s an absolute cakewalk.

There’s a bit of enjoyment in learning to harness the abilities of each character. The aforementioned costumed character can fire up to three simultaneous blasts. While they’re not as hard-hitting as bullets, it possible to create a wave of firepower as you press on. There are also power-ups that any character can use, like objects which resemble grenades that clear every enemy from the screen. One of the rewards for progression is seeing new enemy types, which allow for possession. But given the game’s age, expect a substantial amount of palette-swapped foes as well.

Ratalaika Games’ port offers the now-standard features. Beyond being able to select from four difficulties, players are able to rewind gameplay at two different speeds.  But there’s a lack of any information about the developers or the game itself. Although it’s great to see coin-operated curios like this playable again, historical context is essential.

Avenging Spirit was played on Switch
with review code provided by the publisher.