Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is out to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original arcade game. Capcom tried to stay true to the original as much as possible while still adding new challenges to further frustrate the players… in a good way.
Sir Arthur and his underwear are back
Ghosts’n Goblins isn’t known for its backstory at all and to be honest, I don’t think resurrection will give you anything more either. The game is more a re-imagination of the original game so I think this fits as an alternative version of the original. Sir Arthur is once again enjoying the company of his princess when all of a sudden all hell breaks loose and the princess is kidnapped. Demons have taken her to the demon realm so Arthur puts on his armor to go save her. It’s also pointed out the Umbral Tree is sapped from all its life which will mean nothing at the start. Later on, it is revealed the Umbral Tree can provide powerful magic when nurtured well which will come in handy for Sir Arthur.
At the start of the game, you choose one of 4 difficulties. Normally Ghosts ‘n Goblins only has a standard difficulty which is notoriously hard. Capcom probably figured out long-term fans would want it just as hard as the original but newer gamers might not have that acquired taste (yet). Depending on the difficulty it’ll just take longer to see Arthur in his underwear. For those initiated in the Ghost ‘n Goblins franchise, the health meter system in Ghost ‘n Goblins is translated as losing armor. Once Arthur is in his briefs he can only take one hit before he dies. Lower difficulties allow the armor to come off in more pieces before Arthur is holding on for his dear life.
Choose your path
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is a re-imagination of the first two games Ghost ‘n Goblins and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. The more iconic levels from the first games are in this game but adjusted just enough to make them feel fresh. When Arthur embarks on his mission you get to choose which path you take. Starting in the original graveyard level from Ghost ‘n Goblins or the Hangsite level from Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is a nice feature. They’re both still hard as nails and don’t really offer any advantages over the other besides adding some replayability. Getting through 7 levels will have Arthur reach the end boss after which the cycle repeats for the famous “shadow” part has to be conquered in order to reach the true ending.
New powers and useless weapons
During each level, you’ll encounter Umbral Bees. Collecting enough of these helps revivify the Umbral tree. This unlocks additional powers to give Arthur a bigger chance of actually making it to the end. These powers range from having an extra weapon slot, having lighting shoot in four directions killing anything in its path to creating an Arthur doppelganger who fights along with the good knight. The new powers might sound a bit overpowered but those knowing how difficult a Ghost ‘n Goblins game can get will know these will just give you a bit of wiggle room amongst a gazillion of enemies. Just like the original, you can collect different weapons but once again the dagger/lance weapons are the only ones really useful. Or at least they are the most versatile.
Co-op included
For the first time in 35 years, co-op is included in the game. Those who wanted to play as another sir Arthur along with a friend will be slightly disappointed. The second player assumes the role of one of 3 supporting ghosts and only has a supporting role. Sir Arthur takes the lead while the ghosts help. The ghosts can offer help in the form of providing a temporary shield, by picking Arthur up and getting him over a difficult platform point, or by providing the additional offense with a pretty minimal attack. It’s fun to try but couldn’t quite grab the attention that it probably intended.
All your favorite music without your favorite sprites
Since each level is pretty much conquered by using the trial and error method, you’ll be spending much time in one area. The soundtrack can be a great companion during those times. Especially remembering the original soundtrack I was glad they kept the same vibe for Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection. Things obviously sound much clearer nowadays but still managed to take me back on a nostalgia trip. The thing I wasn’t fond of was the art style used. Instead of using the classic retro pixeled look, Capcom went for a hand-drawn style. Every character is meticulously drawn giving it a very smooth look. An almost too smooth look if you ask me. It felt like everything was glued onto the screen like a sort of moving collage. Not my taste at all.
Conclusion
Capcom made Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection to celebrate a game known for its extreme difficulty. Gamers unfamiliar with the older versions won’t know what hits them and I fear – despite the efforts Capcom made to include a difficulty setting – this might not work for “the greater public”. So tread carefully if you are unknown to the series and be warned you’re about to be challenged big time.
