Magician Lord Fan Port Showcases Advanced Parallax Scrolling on NEC SuperGrafx

When ADK released the 2D platformer Magician Lord alongside the Neo Geo's debut in 1990, the game stood out for its shape-shifting protagonist journeying through a fantasy world reminiscent of the arcade classic Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

While franchises such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug have since enjoyed wide exposure across multiple consoles and digital platforms, Magician Lord remained a Neo Geo system exclusive for decades, never officially making its way to platforms like the Nintendo Switch or the eShop. That exclusivity may soon be challenged, thanks to the dedicated work of homebrew developer @Ryusennin—also known as Kaminarinom.

Kaminarinom has released a tech demo that successfully runs Magician Lord on the NEC SuperGrafx, a lesser-known console that launched in 1989 as an enhanced PC Engine (or TurboGrafx-16).

Although the SuperGrafx was commercially unsuccessful, released with limited support and just a handful of games, it continues to attract retro gaming enthusiasts. The demo, although currently lacking audio and limited to the main character, highlights the technical prowess of Kaminarinom by achieving visual fidelity remarkably close to the original Neo Geo version.

Notably, this rendition implements several layers of parallax scrolling—surpassing the original game's two-layer limitation.

Parallax scrolling, which creates depth by moving background layers at varying speeds, was a premium feature in the era of 16-bit and arcade hardware, and seeing it executed at this level on the SuperGrafx underscores the developer’s technical achievement. In a statement accompanying the demo's release, Kaminarinom expressed pride in pushing the SuperGrafx hardware to its limits, demonstrating what classic titles might have looked like had they made it to the platform during its brief lifespan.

"To see Magician Lord running—and with more sophisticated backgrounds—on the SuperGrafx is a testament to what homebrew developers can accomplish," the coder shared via social media. Fan-driven projects like this have played a significant role in preserving and expanding the legacy of classic games.

While this is not the first unofficial port of Magician Lord—a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) adaptation appeared recently—the SuperGrafx demo distinguishes itself by enhancing key graphical effects previously thought exclusive to more advanced arcade hardware. As retro gaming communities continue to revisit forgotten platforms, achievements such as Kaminarinom’s Magician Lord port for the NEC SuperGrafx not only revive interest in unique consoles but also highlight the creative potential of independent developers.

Whether or not an official re-release ever arises for digital marketplaces like the Nintendo Switch eShop, the enduring appeal of Magician Lord remains clear to fans and preservationists alike.

Neo Geo platformer NEC SuperGrafx Neo Magician Lord NEC SuperGrafx ADK Ryusennin Kaminarinom Fatal Fury Samurai Shodown Metal Slug SNES PC Engine TG-16