Avenging Spirit

Avenging Spirit, known in Japan as Phantasm, is a 1991 arcade platformer from developer C.P.Brain and publisher Jaleco. It arrived in Japanese arcades in May of that year, with a North American release following in October. This is an official Jaleco title, not a hack or homebrew. You control a ghost-like spirit on a quest for revenge. The core mechanic sets this game apart: rather than attacking directly, you possess enemies you encounter. Each possessed enemy grants you its unique weapon or ability, and you can switch between them by possessing other foes. The stages scroll sideways, and you'll need to use the right possessed form to overcome obstacles and defeat bosses. It's a clever twist on standard platformer combat. Avenging Spirit stands out in the arcade library for its possession gimmick, which predates similar ideas in later games. The sprites are colorful and the action is fast-paced, typical of early '90s arcade design. It's not a deep or lengthy experience, but for fans of quirky platformers, it's a fun relic worth a few credits. If you've never tried it, the mechanic alone makes it worth a look.