Demon's Crest Mini-FAQ v1.01, 8/21/95 Co-written by Jeff and J.J. Bogumil Maintained by Jeff Bogumil COPYRIGHT: This FAQ is Copyright (C) 1995 Jeff and Johnathan Bogumil. DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is not endorsed by Capcom U.S.A., Nintendo of America, or affiliates. The information contained within this document is provided without guarantee. All copyrights and trademarks are recognized. You can find this FAQ at Andy Eddy's FTP site: ftp.netcom.com, pub/vi/vidgames/faqs, filename demncrst.txt, or via e-mail request, nc500140@nccvax.wvnet.edu. UPDATED ------- I've had some e-mail asking how to beat the Skull Headbutt game, required for a life extension (difficulty level 3). Hence, a new question added... INTRODUCTION ------------ Demon's Crest, a semi-sequel to the popular Gargoyle's Quest series found on the Game Boy and NES, isn't necessarily a HARD game, but when it comes to finding all the items needed to see the "true ending", it can be a major bear. There are no less than 40 of these said items, so we've whipped up a small FAQ which gives the location of all of 'em (though we're rather vague in most cases -- wouldn't want to take ALL the fun out of the game). :-) Enjoy. And for those who'd rather cheat, and jump straight to the end: QFFF KNRR DDLR XGTQ CONTENTS -------- 1) Where are all of the urns (potion bottles)? 2) Where are all the vellums (spell scrolls)? 3) Where are all the talismans? 4) Where are all the life extensions? 5) Where are all the Crest of Fire pieces? 6) Where is the Crest of Earth? 7) Where is the Crest of Air? 8) Where is the Crest of Water? 9) Where is the Crest of Time? 10) Where is the Crest of Heaven? 11) How do I defeat Phalanx? 12) How do I defeat the Dark Demon? 13) I have a cheat code from a game magazine, but I can't get past level 4? What's wrong? 14) How do I beat the difficulty level 3 Skull Headbutt game? 1) WHERE ARE ALL THE URNS (POTION BOTTLES)? -------------------------------------------- The first is in Level 1 -- you'll find it in a canyon-ish pit; drop down the left side to find a small cubby hole containing the urn. The second is in Level 2 -- when you make it to the bridge area, you'll need to drop into the water by the second bridge (this is easiest with the Tidal Gargoyle, but is possible with other forms -- be sure to have your life meter filled and a couple urns filled, as you'll be damaged while underwater). It's at the right end of the bridge. In Level 3, the urn is in plane sight, but you'll need the Aerial Gargoyle form in order to obtain it. Level 4 -- you'll find a vertical corridor with bustable blocks lining the left wall. There'll also be a some of the same blocks on the right wall -- bust them out to find the urn. At the beginning of Level 6, fly straight up with the Aerial Gargoyle. 2) WHERE ARE ALL THE VELLUMS (SCROLL PAGES)? --------------------------------------------- In Level 1, bust the 4th statue you find with a headbutt. In Level 2, the Lamp section, use the buster to bust blocks near the end of the level, revealing a hidden door. Inside, you'll find a vellum. Level 3 -- fly along the ceiling as the Aerial Gargoyle. You'll find a bustable wall, leading to a vellum. In Level 4, just before the boss area, you'll see a whirlwind at the bottom of the screen. Drop in, exit the tower, and ride the air currents to the top. You'll find a vellum under the bridge. In Level 6, a vellum is hidden in a pile of skulls. Use the Ground Gargoyle to recover it. 3) WHERE ARE ALL THE TALISMANS? -------------------------------- Armor -- In the darkened area of Level 6, you'll find a statue in the upper right section of the level. Bust it for the Armor talisman. Fang -- In Level 7 (Phalanx's Palace), you'll find an area where you need the Aerial Gargoyle to fly over some spike towers. On the ground (one of the few spikeless spots you'll find), you'll fall through to a hidden chamber, containing the Fang talisman. Crown -- Level 4, outside of the tower: drop down to the bottom-most door on the left. Bust the 1st statue on the left for the Crown talisman. Skull -- In level 3, you'll find a section of a wall which can be broken thru with the Buster. This leads to the Skull talisman. Hand -- In level 2, at the end of the bridged water area. Drop into the water and you'll find a walkthru area of the wall to your right. (It helps to have the Tidal Gargoyle form, but is possible with other forms and lots of life.) 4) WHERE ARE ALL THE LIFE EXTENSIONS? -------------------------------------- There are 20 total. You begin the game with 4. Here are the locations of the remaining 16: 1. Defeat Somulo (the dragon) at the beginning of the game. 2. Defeat Hippogriff (winged gargoyle) in level 1. 3. Defeat Scula (the two-bodied creature) in level 3. 4. There's a wall in level 1, with spiders crawling about. Use your Buster to destroy the bustable blocks that make up a section of the wall. 5. Use the Ground Gargoyle in level 2, in the graveyard section. You'll need to destroy a pile of skulls. 6. In level 2's torch-lite section, you'll need to use the Buster to reach a life extension, in the lower left area of the level. 7. In level 5, the underwater area. You'll have to use the Tidal Gargoyle and proceed through the passage. When you reach a fork, take the top branch. 8. When you reach the Crawler's fortress in level 5, destroy the 3rd statue you see with the Ground Gargoyle. 9. You need to win the difficulty level 3 Skull Headbutt game, which you can find hidden in a pond, somewhere in the north-east quadrant of the world map. (This one's a toughie...) 10. After you've defeated the Flame Lord of level 3, return to the area, where you'll see a life extension made visible after the forest has burned. 11. After defeating the Crawler of level 5, return to his fortress and use the Aerial Gargoyle to reach his lair. Bust the statue for a life extension. 12. In Phalanx's Palace (level 7), headbutt the bell in the first bell tower. 13. Defeat Holothurion (the giant snail) in level 5. 14. In level 6, you'll find a door in the sky, near the end of the first section. Enter it, battle your way 'till you reach two doors; enter the one of the left. 15. In level 3, headbutt the door you find in the jungle area. You'll enter a tide-flooding water area. Fight your way thru (easiest with the Tidal Gargoyle, but possible with flying forms and lots of life), until you reach some bustable blocks. Bust 'em to find a door, leading to a life extension. 16. Defeat Belth (sword wielding skeleton) in level 2. 5) WHERE ARE ALL THE CREST OF FIRE PIECES? ------------------------------------------- Fire -- you start the game with it... Buster -- Beat Ovnunu (the giant eyeball) in level 2. You'll need to use the Ground Gargoyle to move a pedistial in the bridged water area, which will reveal a door. This leads to Ovnunu. Tornado -- Defeat Flame Lord (the skull flame) in level 3. Claw -- Defeat Flier (the flying dragonfly creature) in level 4. Demon Fire -- Defeat Grewon (the wolf) in level 6. 6) WHERE IS THE CREST OF EARTH? -------------------------------- You need to defeat Arma (the laughing Gargoyle) in Level 1. 7) WHERE IS THE CREST OF AIR? ------------------------------ You need to defeat Arma in Level 4. 8) WHERE IS THE CREST OF WATER? -------------------------------- You need to defeat Crawler (the slug creature) in Level 5. 9) WHERE IS THE CREST OF TIME? ------------------------------- You need to defeat Arma (for the last time) in Level 6. 10) WHERE IS THE CREST OF HEAVEN? --------------------------------- You'll have to defeat Phalanx, while having ALL the other items in your possession. If you defeat him without all the items, you won't get the crest, and the game will end prematurely. If you do have the items, you'll be given a password after the ending sequence. Punch this in, and you'll see that you have the Crest of Heaven. 11) HOW DO I DEFEAT PHALANX? ---------------------------- When you reach Phalanx -- and have all the items (with the exception of the Heaven Crest) -- you'll have to fight him three times -- the first and second battles are easy, and shouldn't be much of a problem, with maybe an urn of Ginseng for help. His third form, on the other hand, is VERY difficult, with constant cheap hits, and a floor covered with lava. With the Legendary Gargoyle form, and the Armor talisman equipped, you need to stay in the air, while dodging his black lightning attack, dark orblettes, and mouth laser. Easier said than done, as his only weak spot is his face, and he only uncovers it when he's preparing to fire a laser blast. I pretty much use the following strategy -- stay even with his head and take some shots whenever they're available. This means you'll be tagged by his laser nearly every time, but should be able to stop those friggin dark orblettes each time he releases them. The black lightning, on the other hand, will prove to be most difficult to avoid, as he likes to lock onto your position before firing. Use the floating platforms as catch-falls only; riding them will run you right into Phalanx's body, for some major damage. As soon as you land or latch onto a platform, jump and hover back into position as soon as possible. Have your urns filled with Ginseng -- all five of 'em. If you've done well against Phalanx's other forms, you should still have 5 full -- it's possible. 12) HOW DO I DEFEAT THE DARK DEMON? ----------------------------------- He's difficult -- very difficult, but easier than Phalanx's last form, IF you know the trick in defeating him. The best advice would be to go in with the Ultimate Gargoyle form, with the Armor talisman equipped. This configuration will result in the least amount of damage possible when you take a hit (and you WILL be hit -- many times over). Spells won't affect this boss, so spend your money on Ginseng potions -- fill up all 5 urns with the stuff. The Dark Demon has two forms -- the floating Skeleton chariot and the stationary Dark Angel. Whenever the demon is in his Skeleton form, steer clear. Try to avoid being hit with his constant onslaught of sickles, while shooting those irritating dark orbletts out of the air, while avoiding his crush attack, WHILE keeping an eye out for his deadly lava waterfall. If he does pull the lava stunt (he'll absorb energy beforehand), try and stay under him -- it's the only safe area during the flood. I don't THINK you have to hit Dark Demon in this form (you'll have to hit the upper section of the boss; he'll flash with a hit) to make him change into the Dark Angel form, but it probably does cause overall damage. My advice -- don't try and attack, but instead spend your time trying to stay alive. :-) When Dark Demon takes his Dark Angel form, you should attack as quickly and relentlessly as possible, WITHOUT the Armor talisman. Instead, equip the Fang talisman as soon as the boss takes this stationary form, then jump and latch onto the LEFT wall in front of the Dark Angel. Adjust your position until you're evened up with his head/chest area, and then start throwing flame breath as QUICKLY as possible. Without the Armor talesman, you'll take more damage when hit, but with the Fang talsman equipped, you'll DO more damage with your flame breath. While firing, push back towards the wall with the control pad. This way, when you take a hit, you'll quickly re-attach yourself to the wall, hardly losing any positioning. The Dark Angel, along with his sickle and boulder attacks, will throw out large, black spheres of energy to the walls and floor, changing the hit section to spikes. This is rather unfortunate, as it makes it difficult to walk on the floor, or latch to the walls. :-) BUT, the area you're latched to -- the wall area even with the boss' head and chest, will be one of the last to be sphered. You need to defeat the boss before he does so, else you probably won't survive. :-) Bad news is, the Dark Demon likes to switch back and forth between his Skeleton and Dark Angel forms. Be sure to re-equip the Armor talisman when he changes back to his roaming Skeleton self. Of course, always have a Ginseng-filled urn on hand at all times, and be sure to watch your life meter so you'll know when to use it. These strategies, some practice, plus a little luck, will allow you to defeat the FINAL boss of the game. 13) I HAVE A CHEAT CODE FROM A GAME MAGAZINE, BUT I CAN'T GET PAST LEVEL 4? WHAT'S WRONG? ------------------------------------------------------------- Nintendo Power and Electronic Gaming Monthly (possibly other mags as well) have printed what they call the "Boss Fight Code", which supposedly allows you to fight your way thru the game without ANY minor enemies, only the boss characters. What the magazines fail to tell you is -- the game stops progressing with level 4. Even if you have all the needed items up to that point, levels 5 & 6 will not appear. Phalanx's Palace (level 7) DOES, however -- your only alternative is to beat Phalanx (rather easily), which ends the game. The code is nice if you're just beginning the game and wish to explore a bit, but otherwise, don't use it, as you won't be able to find all the items, meaning you won't be able to complete the game with the "best" ending. Here's the code: RBNL XHGB VGBB LYLD 14) HOW DO I BEAT THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3 SKULL HEADBUTT GAME? ------------------------------------------------------------- In order to obtain ALL the life extensions, you need to defeat this difficult game. It's not easy, and there's no easy way to go about it, but here are some tips: --- In level 2, practice using your headbutt on the windows of the old house. With the Crown talisman equipped, this is also a good place to rack up some gold. --- Equip the Crown talisman when playing the game. This will increase the amount of gold you'll recieve in defeating enemies (in this case, the pop-up skulls), which may help you recoup your losses (i.e. the fee to play the game). --- If you KNOW you're not going to headbutt enough skulls in the time allowed, don't ignore the random gold pieces as much as you usually would -- if you're going to lose, you might as well earn a little money to help with the next game. --- You need to bust 25 skulls in the time allowed, in order to win. [END OF FILE]