Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection Reviews

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is a stellar reboot that takes us back to the basics, adding new value to checkpoints and extra armor alike.

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.

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 surprising is that it also offers a surprisingly novel local co-op experience.

An endearing and impeccably-made reboot of a Capcom classic, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection not only looks really good, but it doesn't compromise on any of the aspects that made the original so special.

Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is a wonderful re-imagining of the brutally difficult iconic series. Featuring incredible hand-drawn animation and multiple difficulty levels to ensure that players of all skill levels can complete the game, this release will win over both old fans of the series as well as new players eager for a challenge.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins is one of Capcom’s most celebrated franchises, but also one of its most infamous. Sure, everybody knows about Arthur’s quest, and we all grew up playing it on the NES, SNES or Mega Drive, but this is a franchise known more for its difficulty than its fun factor. Furthermore, despite thinking that Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, its SNES iteration, is a pretty fun game that aged better than most, I actually don’t think that Ghosts ‘n Goblins is challenging in a fun way. J...

Capcom's notoriously difficult arcade classic Ghosts 'n Goblins now has a modern adaptation so put on your boxers and let's give it a go.

This long dormant franchise gets a rebirth on the Switch, and while it struggles to consistently hit that tough but fair sweet spot, there's enough charm in this brutal old-school platformer to warrant a look in

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.

Brave Sir Arthur's tale of love and loss is a timeless classic that ranks among the most iconic of Capcom storylines. Going from enjoying an afternoon picnic with Princess Prin Prin to having to rescue her from the clutches of some abducting demons is quite the turnabout, but our hero has managed to succeed time and time again. As the first Ghosts 'n Goblins game specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch (and the first new game since the PSP), Arthur has plenty of experience slipping into his strawberry boxers and rescuing the princess. In Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection, can Arthur do it again, or is he finally outliving his knight boots?

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.

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.

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 players to respawn where they perished to continue playing through the stage. This is excellent for players who don't want to spend much of their time replaying sections over and over again. Granted, playing on Page will prevent players from unlocking some of the extra content near the end of the game.

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.

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.

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 everyone, it remains solidly coordinated, upholding the series ethos of practice-based progression via old disciplines and new processes. Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is Tokuro Fujiwara’s love letter to a thirty-five-year-old series that’s famous for burying mortal men, and it’s a job done exceptionally well. By ignoring it, we risk having to wait another thirty-five years for a new entry, and, in a world where so many games have become cinematic, one-button-does-all 3D picture books, that’s an unacceptable prospect. If challenge is what you live for, toughen up, don that mental armour, and take up the mantle like a lance. If you put in the time and effort, Ghosts ’n Goblins Resurrection will see you reap the most valuable of gaming accomplishments: the prestige of victory.

Ghost 'n Goblins: Resurrection is a game that time forgot, designed to transport players to the heyday of the Super Nintendo where visual beauty meets gameplay brutality, dazzling and pummeling in equal parts. The stack of corpses Resurrection piled up during my playthrough made me swear like a sailor, and yet I walked away singing its praises as one of the best throwbacks I’ve ever played.

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.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins was never meant to be easy. I’ve been around this franchise long enough to know that Resurrected was going to be a daunting task, and I came away getting exactly what I expected: a savage beating for most of my playtime, inch-by-inch progression, and finally, victories filled with joyous yells. Moreover, I was rather happy with the visual redesign of characters, enemies, and levels that has brought this series forward to modern times. I’m glad the Squire and Page difficulty exist because otherwise it would be very hard to recommend this game to any but the most hardened platformer players. With those difficulty options, the magic system, checkpoints, and a save system around to ease the burden, the game becomes a much more accessible platformer to a wider range of players and skill sets. Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrected is an absolute monster of a game, but both a thoughtful redesign and a fully intact foundation make it one that feels glorious to tame at whatever level you play it, as well as a refreshing and colorful adventure all along the way.

I died 189 times on the second level of Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection. I’m laying my cards on the table here, knowing that when this game launches there will be a YouTuber who completes the thing in under 3 minutes while blindfolded and baking a soufflé at the same time. However, before talk of Resurrection’s difficulty becomes a pecker-swinging contest a la Dark Souls, I want you to understand just how obscenely tough this game is.

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

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 sensational second coming, but regardless Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is still a supremely spirited comeback.