Avenging Spirit

About

Avenging Spirit is a two-player arcade platformer from 1991 where you control a vengeful spirit hunting a crime syndicate. Choose from four starting characters each with distinct skills and take over enemies mid-level to turn them against their allies. The game switches between cooperative and competitive play as you navigate scrolling stages filled with hazards and bosses. Collect upgrades to boost your power while adapting to new enemy types in each level. The possession mechanic stands out as a fresh twist on beat-em-ups, letting you repurpose foes as weapons. Though its 90s arcade roots show in the rough visuals, the tight controls and evolving challenges keep it engaging. Players who enjoy team-based brawling with a strategic edge might find it memorable despite its age. No modern ports exist but arcade enthusiasts occasionally revisit it for the chaotic two-player action.

Storyline

During a walk with his girlfriend, the player is ambushed by agents of a mysterious crime syndicate who take his girlfriend away and shoot him to death. Now, as a wandering spirit with the ability to possess most others, he is summoned by his girlfriend's father (who researches ghost energy) and is given a mission to save her from the mysterious crime syndicate that holds her hostage, enabling the player to rest in peace. (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, s.v. "Avenging Spirit")