Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts/Stage 4

Stage 4-1
There are two enemies you will encounter throughout this stage and both of them can be trouble. The Axe Ghost is a real persistent problem here since they appear awkward places. They can move either left to right or up and down and they will get in your way a lot unless you kill them quickly. The other enemy is the Fire Spirit which are simple to kill but more than one will appear at once. Double jump at the start to find a chest and then run to the right.

An Axe Ghost will likely appear on the elevated ledges and below the platform in the open area ahead. Once you jump off the ledges on the ground below, the ground will start pulsating and spikes will appear out of it. Jump onto the platform before the spikes appear and it will close and turn clockwise. Destroy the Fire Spirit on the ceiling but watch out for Axe Ghosts coming from below. Run to the right and jump onto the platform at the edge before the spikes come.

After the platform rotates again, jump to the right and kill the Fire Spirit. A chest should automatically appear close to the ledges ahead along with another Fire Spirit. Jump upwards and then jump across the hole, where there’s a Fire Spirits waiting on the ceiling. Destroy it and continue left. There will be another Fire Spirit ahead along with Axe Ghost which will respawn quickly each time you kill it. After that one there will be a bunch of Fire Spirits ahead.

Get rid of them all and then jump onto the platform before the spikes appear. The Fire Spirit in the corner will pop up. Destroy it and double jump over the three spike beds protruding out of the ground. The first and third spike beds are longer than the rest and you should jump as close to the side of them as possible. Jump over the rest of them and grab the chest that will appear further on. Jump onto the platform on the far left and it will rotate clockwise again.

Head left over the hole and drop off the other side to the ground below. An Axe Ghost will likely appear in the wall on the right therefore you should be careful when you fall. When you touch down on the ground, walk to the left and you’ll be finished with this part of the stage. The next part of the stage is somewhat tougher so you might have your work cut out for you. I’m still here though and I’ll guide you through. =)

Stage 4-2
You start on a long platform that takes you through the stage automatically. You just have to avoid getting hit or falling off which is harder than it seems actually. There are the same pulsating spores you saw on stage 1-2 and jets of gas that come out of the ceiling and ground here. Watch for the little puffs of smoke that will appear when the gas is about to come out. The first part is pretty straightforward - just hit the spores when they appear and avoid the gas.

It should be simple to stay alive as long as you’re not reckless. When you reach the open area several platforms should appear. Jump onto them and destroy the Fairies that appear from the walls if they get close. Once you reach the top platform it will start moving again – this time to the right. Two gas streams will shoot out not far after the platform starts moving along with several spores. Destroy the spores and walk past the second gas stream quickly.

Another gas stream will show up further ahead where the ceiling gets low. Stand at the end of the platform and wait for it to stop. Once you pass that gas stream some more platforms will materialize in the open area ahead. Jump onto them and kill any Fairies that show up again. The platform at the top will start moving to the left. A gas stream will pop out of the ground right away. Either stand at the end of the platform or quickly run forward before it shoots out.

Fairies will be hover around you quite frequently here. Destroy them quickly – they will usually appear high in the air but if they appear low you might be in trouble. Stand away from them and wait for them to fly upwards and then blast them. Two more gas streams will come out ahead and then you will see a hole in the wall at the end. The platform will stop there and start disintegrating soon after. Quickly run into the hole to meet the boss.

Stage 4 Boss - Hydra
The Hydra has multiple heads like the mythological beast of old but this one doesn’t require a Herculean effort to defeat. It’s actually quite a simple boss. The three heads of the Hydra will each shoot fireballs at you that form at the base of their mouths and then fly off in your direction. After awhile the heads will transform into small dragons that will jump a little and then jump high over you to the other side of the screen. If you stand somewhat close to the small dragons you won’t get hit after they jump again. Once they jump the Hydra will start the attack pattern over again and you will have more free time to damage each of the heads.