Seirei Senshi Spriggan (1991). Play online

Summary

Seirei Sensu Spriggan (known in the West as Ghost Warrior Spriggan) is a fantasy‑themed, vertically‑scrolling shooter that first hit the PC‑Engine CD in Japan in July 1991. Built by Compile for Naxat Soft’s Summer Carnival contest, it swapped an originally planned Mega Drive release for the CD‑based system to satisfy a player‑driven demand.
The ship can carry three of four elemental orbs—fire, water, earth, wind—each slot shaping its primary shot, and the 29 possible orb mixes give players deep customization. Orbs can be ejected as a smart‑bomb, while a flashing orb temporarily shields you and clears the screen. When you die you respawn exactly where you fell, keeping the challenge tight and the action fluid.
The CD‑ROM format let the team use a broader colour palette, faster CPU and even full voice‑acting, a step up from the Mega Drive’s limits despite only a single background layer. Its soundtrack, composed by Einosuke Nagao, Katsumi Tanaka, Keiji Takeuchi and Toshiaki Sakoda, complements the vibrant visuals. Although Working Designs demonstrated a 1992 English version, it never saw a release, but the game’s legacy lives on through its sequel Spriggan Mark 2.

Storyline

Seirei Senshi Spriggan is a science‑fantasy vertically scrolling shoot‑em‑up that drops you into a high‑speed aerial battle. You control a sleek fighter called the Spriggan, fighting through six increasingly difficult stages.

The pilots Jega and Rikart take the Spriggan aloft to defend their homeland against the invading Buraizubara empire. Each stage ramps up the enemy onslaught, challenging you to master the ship’s firepower and survive the relentless assault.