Denjin Makai
Denjin Makai (also known as Denjinmakai) is a 1994 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game developed by WinkySoft and published by Banpresto. Set in the cyberpunk dystopia of 2079, a supercomputer known as the 'Control Body' governs a far-eastern nation, ostensibly eliminating crime. However, a new breed of criminal called 'Ghosts'—individuals invisible to the system's surveillance—has emerged. Players take on the role of the elite 'Ghost Chaser' task force, deploying six unique characters with distinct fighting styles to crush the terrorist threat through raw martial prowess and special energy-based techniques. The game was later ported to the Super Famicom as Ghost Chaser Densei, featuring a reduced roster and modified stages. A sequel, Guardians / Denjin Makai II, was released in 1995.
Game Controls
About This Retro Game
Developed by WinkySoft and published by the beloved 'glasses factory' Banpresto in February 1994, Denjin Makai stands as a technical powerhouse in the arcade beat 'em up genre. Distinct from its contemporaries, the game features a six-character roster—Makai (the balanced cyborg hero), Iyo (the agile simian fighter), Belva (the hulking robot), Kurokishi (the swift swordswoman), Zeldia (the beastly claw-user), and Tulks (the grappling wrestler)—each equipped with a deep moveset including throws, dash attacks, and screen-clearing specials governed by a recharging energy bar rather than health drain.
The game's narrative is steeped in 1990s Japanese cyberpunk aesthetics, depicting a society under the total surveillance of the 'Control Body.' The Ghost Chaser unit is tasked with neutralizing rogue cyborgs and bio-engineered monstrosities that slip through the digital net. The arcade original is notoriously difficult due to aggressive enemy AI and the sheer number of foes on screen, demanding mastery of crowd control and the unique 'team-up' combination attacks when playing co-op.
While the home console port to the Super Famicom (titled Ghost Chaser Densei) trimmed the playable cast to three and removed a stage, it refined the story and visual effects for a smoother experience. Interestingly, a pirated reverse-port of the SFC version back to arcade hardware became more widespread in certain regions than the original encrypted PCB. The legacy of Denjin Makai endures through its fluid combat engine, which served as the foundation for the 1995 sequel Guardians, a title that expanded the roster to eight characters and further polished the combo system.
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