Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection

A textbook example of how to meaningfully update to a classic title while keeping the core appeal intact, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is a superb way to experience Capcom's arcade classic for both new and old fans alike.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is a surprisingly great modern rendition of the classic franchise that manages to be more accessible while never once letting up on the soul crushing challenge that has come to be synonymous with the series.

If you can’t stand the thought of tackling a game through an arduous process of restarts, walk away now. There are points in the campaign where Fujiwara comes close to overstepping the mark, and you do wonder why sections like the disappearing platforms of Zone Five need to be quite so drawn out, or why the hell he threw a Red Arremer into the mix at the start of Zone Four when you’re already being assaulted from every direction. But we’re here to criticise the game’s architectural makeup and not necessarily its palatability to a broader audience. Although its difficulty isn’t going to be for ...

While the gameplay itself definitely won't be for everyone, due to it being very rooted to the past, Capcom has certainly done a good job reviving what not too long ago seemed like a dead series with the very fittingly titled Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is an old-school action platformer that’s not too cruel to compromise, allowing you to fine tune its challenge level relative to your individual skill and tolerance for pain. Its seven-level story mode may be slightly short, but it packs in plenty of variety and unique challenges to navigate, and bolsters its replay value with the addition of the alternate Shadow levels that unlock after your first playthrough. If Capcom had added further flexibility to Arthur’s movement and attacks – and maybe had some fun with the story – this would have been a truly sensationa...

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection isn’t firing on all cylinders constantly, but when you’re in the groove, on any difficulty, or even with co-op in high gear, it reminds me of why I started to like this series in the first place. Capcom did a pretty good job of preserving it and bringing it to a new generation.

Content-wise, Ghosts n’ Goblins Resurrection is exactly the same on all formats – nothing new has been added since its original Switch release. Playing the PS4 version (on a PS5) made me appreciate the experience it provides more, however, thanks to sharper visuals and what feels to me like more responsive controls. The high level of difficulty means that it’s unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s a shame that its easiest mode locks players out of a great deal of content, but there’s no denying that a valiant attempt has been made to make it more accessible. And what’s really surprisi...

Overall, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is still an extremely punishing yet fair game. The controls are as clunky as always, but after a playthrough, you start to gain some muscule memory. But there's never a point where I can confidently say that the controls feel good.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is broken down into four different difficulty options: Legend, Knight, Squire, and Page. Legend and Knight are recommended for veteran players who are used to the brutal difficulty of the older entries, and Arthur will take only two hits before being defeated. Once the player has died, they will be sent back to the beginning of the stage or the last checkpoint. Squire allows players to take a few more hits, but defeat will cause the same result. For the true, classic experience, Legend and Knight are the way to go, but Page is the true game-changer, as it allows ...

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection marks a return of the classic and nearly everything about it feels entirely, painfully old-school.

A needlessly stringent remake of the original two arcade classics that is just as frustratingly difficult as ever, although it does have a neat co-op mode.

All told, the nostalgia rush of reliving a classic game is enough to make Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection a worthwhile experience, but the game's underwhelming design decisions may make some players bust out an NES Classic to enjoy the original Ghosts 'n Goblins instead. It has some unique concepts of its own, but those can only carry it so far.