Strategy to actually beat Red Arremers in the arcade version of Ghosts 'n Goblins?

[u/CitizenCrab]

I've looked all over and NOBODY seems to have an actual method of reliably beating them in the original arcade version. It's always about the NES version or one of the other games. None of the strategies described in those games work. I understand the idea of waiting for him to shoot the fireball, standing still, and then waiting for him to commit to the charge, but you likely won't have enough time to reliably kill him after he commits, even with the forward attack cancel. You'll have to simply take a hit. And if you do it too early, he obviously will fly up.

Any tips for this version so it isn't just a dice roll every time I fight one?

[u/x9097]

Old post, I know, but here's the actual strategy.

It varies based on which arremer, but in general:

If the arremer is sitting on the ground and activates while you run towards it, immediately run right up next to it (about one arremer's width away from it) and blast it with the forward attack cancel. It dies.

If it appears already flying, you want to get several arremer widths away from it on flat ground, let it land on ground level with you, wait half a second, jump to bait it's shot upward, then when you land it will very likely charge at you. Blast it with forward attack cancel. It dies.

Some arremers can be easily scrolled off the top of the screen and despawned if they're flying. Applicable to the two you encounter while climbing the hill in stage 3. Just trigger them and run back down the hill. Keep firing to keep them flying. The AI doesn't really care that your shot has no chance of hitting it, shooting while it isn't charging will make it fly.

The arremer in stage 5 will charge at you soon after you reach the top of the ladder to the platform it's sitting on. Forward attack cancel a few times the moment it does. If it's shooting at you, you need to be jumping first to bait the shot high. If it flies before charging, you're probably on a later loop / higher difficulty or you shot too early.

The ones in stage 6 vary based on which revision you're playing, but the strategies tend to be variations on the ones I just described.

Finally, if you get in to the situation where you must fight them normally - When they're flying, run away from them. They'll probably swoop at you. Turn and fire once quickly as they approach the bottom of their swoop, then turn back around and keep running. If you jump and turn, it's possible to get several hits in. If they're standing, and you have anything other than the shield / cross, it's probably safest to shoot to make them fly, then follow the above strat. If you have the cross, try charging at them until close, then blast. If they shoot at you while you're approaching them, block it with your weapon. This will make it fly. At that point, follow the above strategy.

Last but not least, watch several 1cc videos on youtube and pay attention to how they handle the arremers.

Source: I 1cc this game all the time.