Play Phantasm Online

Summary

Phantasm, known in the West as Avenging Spirit, packs a surprisingly deep possession system into the tiny Game Boy cartridge. You start by choosing one of four characters, each with a distinct ability, and then you can take over enemies to use their powers against the ever‑changing roster of foes.

The handheld version holds up surprisingly well, thanks to crisp 8‑bit sprites and tight controls that make switching bodies feel fluid rather than clunky. Power‑ups appear as you clear rooms, and each level throws in new enemy types that keep the strategy fresh.

After its original 1991 arcade debut, the Game Boy edition resurfaced on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2011 and even got a limited‑run cartridge re‑issue in 2022, proving that its quirky mechanics still charm retro fans today.

Storyline

In Phantasm, the protagonist is ambushed while walking with his girlfriend; agents of a shadowy crime syndicate kidnap her and shoot him dead. His spirit gains the power to possess others and is summoned by the girlfriend’s father, a researcher of ghost energy, who tasks him with rescuing her from the syndicate’s stronghold. The player must battle through six stages, gathering three keys on stages 2, 5 and 6, to reach the final area of Stage 6. If all three keys are collected, the girl’s cell can be opened and she can be possessed to fight alongside the spirit; without the keys, the spirit must face the syndicate leader alone. After defeating the leader, the base detonates, and the spirit fades on a grassy field—either watching the rescued girl walk away or, if she perished, fading into the afterlife alone.