Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts/Stage 1

Stage 1-1
There really isn't much to worry about in this stage. The Zombies and the Fire Spirits are all simple to kill, but watch out for the floating coffins and the unearthed coffins. Double jump to the left and a chest will appear. If it doesn't show up, stand beside the tree in the background and double jump there. The ground will rise when you get close to the stone pillar on the right. Jump onto it and fall off of the other side and another chest will appear.

Continue right and grab the Money Bag hanging in the tree. Double jump over the next two stone pillars and you'll come to a hill. You can either head on top of it or continue on the ground. If you go the ground route you'll end up inside the gated section of the hill with a Fire Spirit to keep you company. Jump and hit it a few times to destroy it and then head to the right to exit. There will be a Wolf on the stone pillar ahead.

Walk forward a little to make the Wolf jump off the hill and then kill it. Double jump on the right side of the hill to get another chest to appear. Get the contents and jump onto the stone pillar. A Fire Spirit will show up in a fairly awkward spot ahead. Make sure there aren't any Zombies walking around and fall off of the stone pillar and destroy the Fire Spirit. If you have the Flame or the Crossbow weapon you can just attack it from the top of the stone pillar.

Head right and you will see another hill. The lower path has two Fire Spirits and the upper path has two Wolves. It's actually easier to go through the two Fire Spirits at the bottom, and a chest will appear if you do. After you're outside again, kill the two Wolves from the bottom if you can, or jump to the top from the right side and kill both of them. Grab the chest and the Money Bag on the left and the other Money Bag on the tree.

Keep going and destroy the two Wolves under the huge statues in the background. Skulls will fall out of the mouths of the statues. Wait for the skulls to disappear and walk past them. Two more Wolves are waiting ahead. Get rid of them and keep walking. The chest that appears probably won't have anything useful if you have the gold armor. Hit it from the other side of the statue and see instead of going across again.

Stand on the stone pillar and jump to get the Money Bag on the statue if you want it. Obviously don't jump when skulls are falling out of the mouth though. Otherwise keep going until you see the ocean in the background. Jump onto the stone pillar when the huge wave appears or you'll get washed away. Kill the Clam when it jumps up and fires at you. After that just keep jumping onto the stone pillars when you see one or the tsunami wave that appears will kill you.

Jump across to the next stone pillar and a chest will appear. The next two jumps are a little tough. The way to do this part is to do a short jump and then another jump while pressing right until you're over the speck of land below. Do the same thing for the jump to the tiny spot of ground ahead. Continue double jumping to the pieces of ground further on until you reach the downward slope with the broken pillar and the vines.

Stage 1-2
This part of the stage is filled with pulsating spores that explode after awhile. Destroy the ones that get in your way and just avoid the rest. Head right until you reach the upward slope with the Skull Cart on it. When you get closer the slope will collapse and the Skull Cart will come rolling down toward you. Time your jump to pass it safely. This will happen numerous times throughout this part of the stage.

Head across the small dip in elevation and grab the Money Bag. Jump over the Skull Cart and once more when it comes wheeling toward you. It's difficult to get that Money Bag hanging in the air without dying but it's most likely a death sentence if you decide to go for it. Jump and wait until you're near the water to grab the Money Bag there and then jump back again to unearth another chest. Head back across the water and avoid the Skull Cart that comes rolling towards you.

Head over the water and carefully jump over the Skull Cart sitting on the downward slope. As soon as you're on the other side, it will come rolling down. Avoid it and jump to the ground ahead. Jump over the Skull Cart and then quickly jump again to avoid it when it's mobile. You have to be quick or it will hit you. Alternately, you can jump across the water along the bottom and avoid the Skull Cart easily. Either way, continue over the high ground to meet the boss.

Stage 1 Boss: Cockatrice
The Cockatrice is a simple boss, but it has a few tricks that aren't immediately noticeable. The first attack is an egg that it spits out and rolls a little and then hatches. The Miniwing inside of the egg will rush toward you, therefore you should destroy it quickly. The second attack is when the Cockatrice stretches out its neck—this one can catch you off-guard if you don't know it's coming. Stay at least half the length of the Cockatrice's body away to avoid that attack. The basic strategy against this boss is to stay out range of its attack and damage it as much as you can. It won't take long.