Demon Sword (1988-)

• Developer: TOSE

• Publisher: Taito

• Genre: Platform

Demon Sword for the Nintendo Entertainment System was developed by TOSE and released in 1990. Published by Taito, the game was an action platformer that sought to blend fantasy themes with fast-paced gameplay. It remained an NES exclusive and did not see official ports to other platforms. Drawing from the popularity of sword-and-sorcery games during the late 1980s, Demon Sword placed players in a dark fantasy world where they battled through hordes of demons and monsters to retrieve a powerful weapon and save the land from evil.

The game’s story follows the unnamed protagonist, a heroic warrior on a quest to find and wield the titular Demon Sword, a legendary weapon capable of defeating the invading forces of darkness. Its inspiration appears rooted in classic fantasy literature and arcade-style action games, mixing intense combat with platforming challenges. Players navigate through multiple stages filled with varied enemies, traps, and environmental hazards, all designed to test reflexes and timing. The dark, gothic art style aimed to set an ominous tone, distinguishing the game visually from more colorful NES titles.

Gameplay features include side-scrolling action with a primary focus on sword combat, as well as the ability to pick up secondary weapons such as throwing knives and magic attacks. Levels require precision jumping and attacking, often forcing players to adapt to enemy patterns and terrain layouts. Boss battles punctuate the progression, providing tougher challenges that demand mastery of the game’s mechanics. The soundtrack is composed of energetic, driving music tracks that enhance the urgency of the quest, accompanied by sound effects that highlight sword strikes, enemy attacks, and item pickups within the NES’s audio constraints.

Demon Sword did not have a prequel or any direct sequels, and its promotion was relatively modest, with marketing mostly limited to magazine advertisements and retail store displays. The game received mixed reviews upon release; while some players appreciated its atmospheric presentation and challenging gameplay, others criticized it for its steep difficulty and sometimes unforgiving level design. Over time, Demon Sword has become a lesser-known title in the NES library, noted by collectors for its dark fantasy setting and solid, if demanding, action platforming.

Images from MobyGames