Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura: Incredible Toons

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Overview

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura: Incredible Toons is a Japan-exclusive puzzle game released on August 30, 1996, for both the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn¹². The game represents a unique crossover between two distinct franchises: Dynamix’s The Incredible Machine series and Capcom’s beloved Ghosts ‘n Goblins (known as Makaimura in Japan)³⁴. This unusual collaboration resulted in a physics-based puzzle experience featuring the knight Arthur and the demonic creatures from Capcom’s action platformer series, including chibi versions of Red Arremers and Astaroth⁵.

The game stands out as the only entry in The Incredible Machine franchise to feature an actual plot, distinguishing it from the purely mechanical puzzle focus of its predecessors³⁶. Players must help Arthur navigate through increasingly complex puzzle chambers by placing various machines, traps, cogwheels, and other contraptions to fulfill specific objectives such as guiding Arthur to the exit⁷. The combination of the whimsical Rube Goldberg-style mechanics with the gothic fantasy setting of the Ghosts ‘n Goblins universe creates a surprisingly humorous and engaging puzzle experience⁷⁸.

Developed by Magical Formation Co., Ltd. under license from Dynamix, the game was published by Capcom exclusively for the Japanese market¹⁹. It features remixed music from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series and includes 100 puzzles along with an editor for creating custom puzzle designs⁶¹⁰. The game has achieved cult status among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts as one of the more obscure spinoffs in both franchises’ histories⁵.

Game Info

Developer: Magical Formation Co., Ltd.¹ Designer: Unknown Publisher: Capcom Co., Ltd.¹ Engine: Unknown Platforms: PlayStation, Sega Saturn¹² Release Year: 1996 Series: The Incredible Machine / Ghosts ‘n Goblins Protagonist: Arthur Sierra Lineage: Licensed Dynamix IP

Story Summary

The game’s narrative centers on the demon Satan, the recurring antagonist from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series who has repeatedly kidnapped Princess Prin-Prin¹¹. Frustrated by Arthur’s persistent heroism in rescuing the princess time and again, Satan devises a new scheme to finally defeat the valiant knight¹¹. Rather than confronting Arthur directly in battle, Satan forms a pact with the powerful demon Astaroth to create a series of fiendish contraptions and impossible puzzles designed to prevent Arthur from ever reaching the princess¹¹.

Astaroth, drawing upon his demonic ingenuity, designs elaborate mechanical traps and physics-based challenges that would confound even the most determined hero¹¹. These are not ordinary obstacles but intricate Rube Goldberg-style mechanisms featuring cogwheels, conveyor belts, bombs, and various other hazardous devices⁷. The demons believe that by creating puzzles so complex and seemingly impossible, they can keep Arthur trapped forever while the princess remains their captive¹¹.

However, the player assumes the role of a benevolent force working to aid Arthur in his quest⁶⁸. By carefully analyzing each puzzle chamber and strategically placing the available mechanical components, the player must help Arthur navigate through Astaroth’s devious creations⁷. The narrative provides context for what would otherwise be abstract puzzle challenges, giving players an emotional stake in solving each level as they work to reunite the knight with his beloved princess¹¹.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura employs a point-and-select interface that allows players to manipulate objects within each puzzle chamber¹. The game supports both gamepad and mouse control options, providing flexibility in how players interact with the puzzle elements¹. Players view the action from a side perspective with 2D scrolling, allowing them to survey the entire puzzle layout before and during execution¹.

The core gameplay loop involves examining the pre-set elements of each puzzle, then selecting from available items to place strategically within the environment⁷. Once the player has positioned all their chosen components, they activate the puzzle to watch the chain reaction unfold in real-time⁷. If the setup fails to achieve the objective, players can reset and try a different configuration⁷.

Structure and Progression

The game features 100 distinct puzzles organized in sequential groups of five, creating a natural progression system with milestone achievements¹². The achievement structure reveals the game’s organizational philosophy:

• Puzzles 1-5: “Slow Beginning” – Tutorial-level challenges introducing basic mechanics¹²
• Puzzles 6-10: “Knightly Ambition” – Early complexity increase¹²
• Puzzles 11-15: “Battle of Minds” – Intermediate difficulty¹²
• Puzzles 16-20: “Fish Hunter” – Themed puzzle set¹²
• Puzzles 21-25: “Learning the Ropes” – Advanced mechanics introduction¹²
• Puzzles 26-30: “Grand Journey” – Mid-game milestone¹²
• Puzzles 31-35: “Jazzy Puzzling” – Stylistic variation¹²
• Puzzles 36-40: “Destination Castle” – Castle-themed challenges¹²
• Puzzles 41-45: “Thinking with Portals” – Portal mechanics¹²
• Puzzles 46-50: “Test of Might” – Halfway point difficulties¹²
• Puzzles 51-55: “Who Dares Wins” – Courage-testing challenges¹²
• Puzzles 56-60: “Shrimple as That” – Deceptively simple designs¹²
• Puzzles 61-65: “Aces High” – High-skill requirements¹²
• Puzzles 66-70: “Guaranteed Guide Free Unlock” – No assistance needed¹²
• Puzzles 71-75: “I Saw a Squirrel Today” – Whimsical themed set¹²
• Puzzles 76-80: “Paper Plane” – Aerial mechanics focus¹²
• Puzzles 81-85: “Chocolate Cookie” – Sweet-themed challenges¹²
• Puzzles 86-90: “The Greatest Achievement” – Peak difficulty¹²
• Puzzles 91-95: “Two Minutes to Midnight” – Climactic puzzles¹²
• Puzzles 96-100: “2nd Loop Clear!” – Final challenge set¹²

Puzzles and Mechanics

The puzzle design draws directly from The Incredible Machine formula, requiring players to create chain reactions using various mechanical components⁷¹⁰. Available items include machines, traps, cogwheels, and numerous other contraptions that interact with physics-based rules⁷. The objective varies by puzzle but often involves getting Arthur to reach an exit point or accomplishing specific goals within the chamber⁷.

Notably, some puzzles take a dark comedic turn by requiring players to actually kill Arthur rather than save him, adding variety to the objectives⁶. The game incorporates items from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series, including the iconic armor power-up that Arthur requires to move⁶. This integration of franchise elements into puzzle mechanics creates unique challenges not found in other Incredible Machine titles.

Unlike other games in The Incredible Machine series, this title notably lacks Head-to-Head puzzles and Freeform Machine mode³⁶. The focus remains entirely on single-player puzzle completion, though the inclusion of a puzzle editor allows for creative expression and custom challenge creation¹⁰¹³.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Due to its Japan-exclusive release, Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura received limited coverage in Western gaming publications. The game was not formally reviewed by major English-language magazines at the time of release, making contemporary reception data scarce.

Modern Assessment

The game has garnered positive retrospective assessments from players who have discovered it through emulation and import collecting. GameFAQs users have rated the game as “Great” based on 18 ratings². The game has been described as “really a lot of fun and quite humorous” by multiple sources evaluating its gameplay⁷⁸.

On Emuparadise, the game achieved a notably high user rating of 4.87 out of 5 based on 23 votes, suggesting strong appreciation among those who have played it¹⁴. The Retro Gaming Daily Show podcast featured the game in a 2019 episode recommending Japanese-only Sega Saturn titles worth playing¹⁵.

Aggregate Scores:

• GameFAQs: “Great” (18 ratings)²
• Emuparadise: 4.87/5 (23 votes)¹⁴
• MobyGames: 3.0/5¹
• MyAbandonware: 3.5/5 (4 votes)¹⁶

Development

Origins

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura emerged from a licensing arrangement between Capcom and Sierra On-Line’s subsidiary Dynamix¹⁹. The game is based on Sid & Al’s Incredible Toons, which Dynamix developed and Sierra On-Line released in 1993¹⁰¹³. Capcom recognized an opportunity to leverage the proven puzzle mechanics of The Incredible Machine series while incorporating characters from their popular Ghosts ‘n Goblins franchise³⁴.

The decision to create a narrative-driven version of The Incredible Machine formula was unprecedented for the series³⁶. While previous entries focused purely on mechanical puzzle-solving without story context, this collaboration allowed for the integration of established characters and a plot motivation for the challenges¹¹. This creative choice helped differentiate the game from its predecessors while appealing to fans of the Makaimura series.

Production

Development duties fell to Magical Formation Co., Ltd., a Japanese studio that handled the adaptation of the Incredible Toons engine for console platforms¹⁹. The team faced the challenge of translating a mouse-driven PC puzzle game to console controllers while maintaining the precision required for effective puzzle construction¹.

The developers integrated visual and audio assets from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins universe, including chibi-style renditions of series enemies like the Red Arremer demons and the fearsome Astaroth⁵⁶. Music from the Makaimura series was remixed for inclusion in the game, providing familiar audio accompaniment for fans of the franchise³⁶.

Development Credits:¹⁹

• Developer: Magical Formation Co., Ltd.
• Publisher: Capcom Co., Ltd.
• Licensed From: Dynamix, Inc.

Technical Achievements

The game maintained the 2D side-scrolling perspective characteristic of The Incredible Machine series while rendering characters in the distinctive Ghosts ‘n Goblins art style¹. Screenshots indicate the PlayStation version ran at 320x240 resolution¹⁷.

The inclusion of a puzzle editor feature allowed players to create and save their own custom levels, extending the game’s longevity beyond the 100 included puzzles¹⁰¹³. This was a significant technical implementation for a console release of the era.

Technical Specifications

PlayStation Version:¹⁴¹⁰

• Resolution: 320x240¹⁷
• Media: CD-ROM
• File Size: ~238-404 MB¹⁴¹⁰
• Players: 1

Sega Saturn Version:²¹⁸

• Media: CD-ROM
• File Size: ~376-406 MB¹⁸¹⁶
• Players: 1

Cut Content

Unlike the standard Incredible Machine games, this title was released without Head-to-Head puzzles or the Freeform Machine mode that allowed completely open-ended machine building³⁶. Whether these features were intentionally omitted or cut during development remains unclear.

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
1.0	August 30, 1996	PlayStation	Japanese release1
1.0	August 30, 1996	Sega Saturn	Japanese release2

Technical Issues

No significant bugs or technical issues have been documented in available sources. The game has been reported to work with the Mednafen emulator for PlayStation emulation¹³.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• The game is the only entry in The Incredible Machine franchise to feature a complete narrative storyline³⁶
• Some puzzles require players to kill Arthur rather than save him, subverting typical puzzle game objectives⁶
• The game features chibi-style renditions of Ghosts ‘n Goblins enemies, including Red Arremers and Astaroth⁵
• Arthur requires the series’ iconic armor power-up to move in certain puzzles, integrating franchise lore into puzzle mechanics⁶
• The achievement “Thinking with Portals” in modern achievement tracking appears to reference Valve’s Portal series, added posthumously¹²

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

As a Japan-exclusive release, the game had limited commercial reach outside its home market. No official sales figures have been published. The game has never been re-released digitally or included in any compilation, limiting its availability to original physical copies and emulation¹⁹.

Collections

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura has not been included in any official game collections or compilations. It remains one of the more obscure entries in both The Incredible Machine and Ghosts ‘n Goblins franchises.

Fan Projects

No significant fan projects, remakes, or translations have been documented. The game remains accessible primarily through original hardware or emulation, with ROM distributions available through various preservation sites¹⁴²⁰.

Related Publications

No official guidebooks, hint books, or related publications have been identified for this title. The GameFAQs archive contains a “Series Ending FAQ” by ReyVGM (2006) that covers multiple Ghosts ‘n Goblins titles, though its specific coverage of this game appears limited²¹.

Critical Perspective

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura occupies a curious position in gaming history as a crossover that few knew existed. The combination of Dynamix’s beloved puzzle mechanics with Capcom’s iconic action franchise could have been a significant commercial success had it received wider release⁵. Instead, it remains a fascinating footnote—evidence of the creative licensing deals that characterized the 1990s gaming industry.

The game demonstrates how established puzzle frameworks could be successfully adapted with new intellectual properties, predating the modern trend of franchise crossovers by decades. For collectors and enthusiasts of either parent franchise, the game represents a rare and unusual artifact worthy of preservation⁵. Its strong user ratings suggest that despite its obscurity, those who have played it found genuine entertainment value in its unique premise¹⁴².

Downloads

Download / Preservation

• MyAbandonware – Sega Saturn Version¹⁶

Emulation

• Vizzed – Browser Emulation²⁰

Series Continuity

Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura exists at the intersection of two separate franchises. As an Incredible Machine spinoff, it follows Sid & Al’s Incredible Toons (1993) in utilizing character-driven puzzle scenarios rather than abstract mechanical challenges¹⁰¹³. Within the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series, it represents an unusual puzzle spinoff that maintains narrative continuity with the main action titles through its use of established characters and storylines.

The game features characters, music, and items from the Makaimura series while adapting the gameplay entirely from the Dynamix puzzle franchise³⁶. This unique hybrid nature means the game stands largely alone, with no direct sequels or follow-ups combining these two franchises again.

The Incredible Machine Series:

• Previous: 1993 - Sid & Al’s Incredible Toons

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Series:

• Spinoff title; does not directly continue the main series timeline

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames – Arthur to Astaroth no Nazo Makaimura: Incredible Toons – developer, publisher, release dates, technical specs, ratings, trivia ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵

2. GameFAQs – Saturn Version – release date, developer, publisher, user ratings ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

3. LaunchBox Games Database – Saturn Version – series information, unique features, remixed music, missing modes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

4. IGN – Game Database Entry – developer credits, Japan-only release, Ghosts ‘n Goblins connection ↩ ↩²

5. Tumblr – mendelpalace – discovery of obscure spinoff, chibi character descriptions ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

6. LaunchBox Games Database – PlayStation Version – plot uniqueness, gameplay features, puzzle editor ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

7. RomStation – gameplay description, mechanics, objectives ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

8. [Consolidated Research Data] – gameplay descriptions, humor assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. MobyGames – Releases Page – Dynamix license, release details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. romsfun.com – Sid & Al’s connection, 100 puzzles, puzzle editor, Sierra On-Line 1993 release ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

11. RomStation – Plot Description – Satan and Astaroth pact, princess rescue narrative ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

12. Exophase – Achievement Data – 100 puzzles, achievement names, progression structure ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²²

13. RomStation – Technical Info – emulator compatibility, level editor feature ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

14. Emuparadise – user ratings, file size, platform confirmation ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

15. Retro Gaming Daily Show – July 2019 – recommended Japanese Saturn games coverage ↩

16. MyAbandonware – user ratings, file size, download availability ↩ ↩² ↩³

17. MobyGames – Screenshots – resolution data ↩ ↩²

18. GameFAQs – Saturn Game List – Saturn file size ↩ ↩²

19. Steam Store Search – no digital release available ↩

20. Vizzed – browser emulation availability ↩ ↩²

21. GameFAQs – FAQs Page – available guides, franchise connections ↩