Blood is red, spirits are blue, here come Ghosts ’n Goblins, to murder you.
If you’re a gamer of the old-school persuasion or just a masochist who enjoys agony, you will be undoubtedly titillated by the torture that Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection promises to deliver later this month.
The first new console game in Capcom’s fabled series since the PSP’s Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins in 2006, this is a series that’s suffered neglect for fifteen years. Well, no more. Dust off your Iron Maiden and affix those nipple clamps, because, this being the series 35th anniversary, Ghosts 'n Goblins is back to hurt you. A lot.
Tokuro Fujiwara, director of the original 1985 Ghosts 'n Goblins arcade game and subsequent ports, had involvement in almost all entries in the series until leaving Capcom in 1996 to form Whoopee Camp studio, responsible for the cult classic Tomba!. Capcom invited him back to handle directorial duties for Resurrection, and, obviously loathed at the thought of someone else presiding over his baby, he was quick to get involved.
An action-platforming trial by fire, populated with pitfalls designed to catch you out, trip you up, and kill you over and over again, Ghosts 'n Goblins is a series infamous for its hair-tearing difficulty. It’s also a game where the dedication to your demise is equally matched by a remarkably precise design ethic, and Fujiwara understands the formula implicitly. Bar a few choice moments, it’s very difficult to label the Ghosts 'n Goblins games as genuinely unfair. Evil is probably a more fitting term.
So how much of a ‘new’ game is Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection? At first glance it looks like a graphical re-skin of Ghosts 'n Goblins games past, and a mishmash of stages and enemies pulled from almost every entry in the series timeline. And while all of that is true, it turns out that Resurrection is actually far more new than it is old.
Familiar locales await you, but you now have a choice of stages at each new juncture, making the adventure less linear. The Graveyard from the very first game and the guillotine-laden Execution Grounds from its sequel, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, kick things off. And it all goes swimmingly for the first thirty seconds. It’s the same old Arthur, clad in Knight armour, spear throwing and hopping over headstones; but when the enemies start to pile in and the stages start to evolve into new design territory, you’re quick to realise that it’s really, really, really hard. More-so than any of its predecessors, Resurrection sets out to grind you into a fine dust from the get-go.
There are four difficulty options to choose from. Legend, the default, is billed as the most authentic Ghosts ’n Goblins experience (it's the setting used for the screenshots on this page). And, while that may be the case where Arthur’s health properties and stage checkpoints are concerned, this one impressively ups the ante in terms of pad-hurling, expletive-braying experiences.
Other difficulty levels allow you soften the game right down, through Knight and then Squire and Page modes. The latter, aimed at total beginners and/or the very young, won’t be acceptable for series aficionados, but certainly balances things out for a broader audience.
In addition to the old favourites, Resurrection features a host of new weapons, including flying discs and magic hammers that require close range negotiations, and a curious rolling boulder projectile. Most interesting, perhaps, is the new magic system and Arthur’s accompanying magic waistband, offering the player a range of offensive and defensive powers. We’ll explain all of this in detail in the forthcoming review, but it involves trees and bees. Make of that what you will.
One aspect that’s a first for the series is the addition of a clever co-operative two-player mode. While it might not be what you expect, it breathes new life into the platform adventure format by changing the way the game can be approached and dissected.
Traditionally, Ghosts 'n Goblins requires you finish two loops to see the game’s true ending. This involves finishing it once, watching the Princess get nabbed all over again, and then repeating the motions until the penultimate stage, where you’re tasked with acquiring a special weapon to defeat a true last boss.
Resurrection’s second loop deviates from this by plunging Arthur into ‘shadow’ versions of each stage, featuring remixed elements, enemies and traps. Instead of simply retreading old ground, the player is now required to come up with a whole new strategy.
Though typically dark and foreboding, Resurrection’s art style has been incredibly divisive since the first screens were released. Many feel as though it looks off or somehow ill-fitting, and that’s understandable. The marionette, shadow-puppet animation of the sprites and their gangly, soaring limbs does give one flashbacks of a late-'90s Newgrounds affair. In many ways it’s a Streets of Rage 4 situation all over again, and, like that game, we’re happy to report that once things get underway it’s a style that not only blends in well with the action, but grows on you extremely quickly. Rendered like a medieval picture book – albeit in traditionally cartoony form – it works perfectly with the game’s robust mechanics. In a nice touch, the camera often pans out to give you a better view of your surroundings and encroaching ghouls, while the enemy designs and Arthur’s oversized boxer shorts maintain the series staple sense of humour.
There’s a lot to cover in Ghosts ’n Goblins: Resurrection, and our forthcoming coverage will give you the full lowdown on exactly what works and, potentially, what doesn’t. But, if you’re a die-hard fan fifteen-years craving a return to Capcom’s most abominable hell village, fear not adventurer, it looks like you’re going to be well served.
On a platter. As an assortment of bones.
Comments 72
Sounds like a promising reboot
Day one for me great series super ghouls and ghosts is one of my favourite snes games and the difficulty is what draws me back to it time and time again
I got the game preloaded, so...can't wait to play it
If I could give Capcom a big fat hug for this game, I would.
This is the type of game that desperately needs modernization. Being a coin-muncher was always its primary problem, and a hard one to address.
That said, both Maximo games did an excellent job on bringing G&G to modern audiences back in Playstation 2 days... a real shame they're buried and long forgotten.
Looking forward to this one. I've been eyeing up a new telly but the old one still works so I can't justify replacing it just yet. Sounds like half an hour of this and it'll have a controller embedded in the screen and I'll be off shopping!
Good first impressions' article. I'm growing more and more inrerested in this game. A shame it's not available physically, though.
In a sense, I'm glad they remained true to the series and kept this game as hard as nails. But you also cringe going in, knowing your butt is about to get fried. Over and over.
Love the art style on this, looks similar while the same time offering a complete graphical upgrade, can't wait.
played Snes version so much, i managed to complete it a few times but was sooooo hard! Not sure i want to put myself through the torture again as this looks to be just as tough!!
I can’t get past the animation. I detest the marionette movements. I hope this does not become the new norm.
@Juga Demon's Crest was also pretty hard to swallow in 1990s, some parents were terrified by the idea the devil could be the main character of a videogame.
ALREADY PRE ORDER, CAN'T WAIT
25TH GHOST AND GOBLINS
26TH BRAVELY DEFAULT 2
This is a day one purchase for me, as I’m a glutton for punishment and a sucker for nostalgia. Very excited!
Gimme some Arthur, Prin-Prin and Firebrand spirits in Smash to mark the day, Capcom.
I've just been playing it in the Capcom Arcade in the free version. It seems much fairer than i remember as a kid to the point were i feel like i can actually beat it. My brothers could finish it but i never could. Will keep my eyes on this "new" take. I'll have to boot up Super Ghouls an Ghosts and play through that again at some point too.
I do like the artstyle but I will stick with battle princess madelyn. It’s good enough for me.
@Juga I do it all the time. Maybe that’s why the neighbors don’t talk to me.
@FargusPelagius I tried renting this as a kid a couple of times, never could get into it because I basically sucked pretty bad. Will have to give this one a go and see if I’ve improved! (Probably haven’t much)
I don't know. While I can appreciate the game's legacy, the new art style doesn't really click for me, also I need relaxing games, not challenging ones. But to each their own.
Fantastic, bloody hard game and yep on my hit list. However as with the Lost Vikings re-release I will wait until both are more sensibly priced. But great to have both games back again!!!! TMNT in time next???!!
They need to make a Physical Options.
Loved this game since I was a little kid can't wait to play it again
Once I buy this, I will own all these on Switch
Ghosts 'n Goblins - USA version on Capcom Arcade
Ghosts 'n Goblins - Japan version on Capcom Arcade
Ghosts 'n Goblins - NES online
Ghosts 'n Goblins - Famicom online
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection
Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Japan version on Capcom Arcade
Ghouls 'n Ghosts - USA version on Capcom Arcade
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - SNES online
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Super Famicom online
Am I missing any?
Strange that this doesn't get a physical release anywhere in the world, not even Japan. Would have picked it up immediately for sure. Now I'll wait for a sale.
@OorWullie Yeah, Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins for the PSP.
@Juga Yes! A very fun but expensive week for the gaming budget.
Not into the art style they chose, but your headline made me laugh my butt off, that was good.
NINJA APPROVED
I'd have put "Hell and high slaughter".
You're welcome.
Excited about this game too, but sincerely hoping Capcom brings Ultimate Ghosts N Goblins to a Nintendo console soon....where it belongs!
@OorWullie What's the difference between these two?
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - SNES online
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Super Famicom online
I can't be any worse than Super Ghouls and Ghosts, that game is probably the most brutal of them all. So I guess ultimate was pretty crazy too.
Looks cool, but if it’s really hard, it’s not for me.
@BionicDodo
15 minutes tops.
I’m in! Appreciate the game has difficulty levels to tone it down a bit though
"a masochist who enjoys agony"
Bit of a tautology there!
Don't really like the new artstyle, but might this a go as I enjoyed the snes version and Maximo a lot.
Homescreen icon:
http://www.switchiconshowdown.com/detail.php?id=5209
It’s not that the art is bad, it’s that for Capcom this could have been stunning had they given it the time and money. But it shows that they didn’t give it the time and money. Same thing for Mega Man 11. It’s a damn shame because their sidescrolling games in the 90’s were some of the best looking games around
I love super ghouls and ghosts, but other games in this series usually just anger me. Especially ultimate ghosts n goblins, which I wanted to love but which feels designed to enrage the player at every turn.
@Bydlak There's only some visual differences I think. The USA version censored the Christian symbols from the first stage. Though as you can see here, the changes are minor.
https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3887
Pre-order went in as soon as the game went live on the eShop. Cant wait to die over and over again. The original demon souls
Take £15 or £20 off of the price, and sure 👍
-Original director is back
-Caslevania III-style level progression
-screen zooms out to show even more enemies
-a second run that doesn't repeat the layout of the first
This game seems absolutely lovely!
@OorWullie that is all of them on the Switch, even though you do not own the games on the NES/SNES Online.
So no rooms for softies for this one😁😁😁
I never could get into this as a kid. The NES version is a bad port and way too hard. The SNES version is good, but found it too hard. The Switch Online service made the game enjoyable. Also the TG-16 and Genesis mini did as well. Playing the arcade ports on the Switch with rewind via Capcom Stadium Arcade makes them fun as well.
I completed the first loop on the Megadrive pulling an all nighter. This will bring back memories.
@NinChocolate „ It’s not that the art is bad, it’s that for Capcom this could have been stunning“
I feel the same about the SFII remake we got on Switch. It's okay, but feels like a wasted opportunity to do something great.
Big no from me.. just had to post that here as the game looks uninspiring
This game is hard n fun, there just enemies from the ground and above
I don’t know if I want to get this or not. I can actually beat Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts and Super GnG without too many problems, but these days I don’t really have the patience or time to be playing the same level over and over. Maybe a demo will convince me.
looks like a great game. I want to keep my hair, so I will be playing easiest mode for me. won't be pulling my hair out over this one.
I can see why some don't like the visual style. Having seen some video, that's not for me either. The difficulty looks to be a lot closer to the original Ghosts and Goblins rather than Ghouls and Ghosts which is actually quite manageable by comparison. For those looking forward to this one, have fun.
Well, when it comes to games, I'm a sucker for nostalgia, so this one is a given
I'm looking forward to NL's review and also for their review of Capcom Arcade Stadium. I've played through 1943 and the emulation seemed good. I'd like to know how the other games run - Ghouls and Ghosts, especially. The general design and options they've put in the collection are really nice!!
"Familiar locales await you." Yeah, as if anyone ever got past the first stage. Lol.
Looks bloody ugly to me. What’s the point in a remake which looks worse?
Looks like a crap flash game
@NinChocolate : for capcom it’s expected isn’t it?
Looks like the same awful style they did duck tales in
@rushiosan I can see your point, but it depends on what Capcom wants to do with it. There’s a big enough market for games like this that they don’t really need to water it down or “modernize” it, if you will. Though it will always be niche in that case. And maybe that’s okay. Otherwise they run the risk of alienating current fans and not getting enough new fans.
Fans of old school gaming should buy this. After all, sales numbers is what matters to Game Publishers. And success of these types of games will prompt these Publishers to resurrect their old properties and handle them with care (Sega and Konami, are you listening?)
Like a lot of Capcom games it’s launching at a price that seems designed to settle at 50% off as standard.
@Clammy Capcom, Sega and Konami have all been better, so I like to think they know better, but who knows!
I loved Ghouls n Ghosts and Super Ghouls n Ghosts. Hard? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes. In fact I might just play a few rounds of Super GnG today and see how far I can get these days. (last time I played it, end of the second level! )
Really cannot wait for this! Thought it’s existence must be BS when it was first leaked. This is further proof that Capcom are still at their peak and in touch with gamers.
@OorWullie Interesting, thank you!
I lost so much money in the Arcade to this series as a kid. Very stressful then and I am sure it will be again.
I used to love both 16-bit games (Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts), but always felt the original Ghosts 'n Goblins was too difficult. Even via Capcom Arcade Stadium, I had to slow down the speed and use the rewind feature... I could beat it, but only just!
I feel like I can finally get past the 1st stage now
@Darlinfan It's an ancient game with an ancient design, the fact you can deal with exaustive memorization to overcome its unforgiving design and limitations doesn't mean it's a well aged game. There are better examples of coin-munchers that are on par with good game design practices, Metal Slug 1 being, maybe, the best of them.
There's a big gap between difficulty "by design" and cheap difficulty in favor of making the arcade machine profitable. G&G is the latter.
@Realness Same here. I just think of Iphone games when i see that. Try Battle Princess Madelyne Royal Edition if you are looking for more of a sprite look.
@rushiosan Ultimate Ghosts N’ Goblins on the PSP did that. It was like the jump from Super Mario Bros. to SMB3 in terms of mechanics and player friendliness. There were shields (!), a triple jump, glides, magic, a health bar, checkpoints, hidden areas, etc., plus it was just a really great game to boot.
Really the gaming press and the audience at the time failed the attempt to “modernize”, so now we’re doing one step forward and two steps back for the nostalgia play.
I’m a huge fan of the series so I’m really excited anyway, but I think I would have preferred something more considerate of all the progress made in Ultimate.
I don't get the hate of the art style the same things where said about SOR4 before it came out and looked how that turned out. Wait for reviews before you buy by all means and I will wait for review, unless of course there isn't a review before launch which is very unlikely. Looking like a day one now just hoping for UK release date for the new R Type game as well,
I'm glad the only positive review of this love letter to one the finest videogame franchises is from you. You understand the game. I'm also glad the 'points' raised by those who've expressed negative opinions are all irrational and have no basis in objective reality - "IT ARE A FLASH GAEM HURRR HURRR"
Sadly, Capcom and the fans will lose, and the fools win (they win a little too often for my liking). And as such we'll likely never see another entry in the series.
@Spiders Ultimate is a great game. I'd love to see it get a release on current digital market places. It's even 16:9.
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