Released in the arcade on September 19th, 1985, Ghost n’ Goblins redefined the run-and-jump genre with its harder than nails gameplay; its two-hit death penalty; and nail-biting boss encounters. Gamers everywhere spent countless quarters helping the game’s protagonist, Arthur, save princess Prin-Prin from the evil demon king Astaroth.
Ghost ‘n Goblins and its many iterations have been ported to numerous platformers, including its more popular sequel, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. The iOS version of Ghosts ‘n Goblins emulates the arcade classic perfectly, reviving the shambling zombies, crows and demons that made the series a household name during the heyday of gaming.
The game includes two modes of difficulty — ‘Classic’ and ‘Casual’. Classic mode, as the name implies, is the original coin-op game with no alterations. Purists will want to experience this mode first. ‘Casual’ mode provides the player with some perks, including the option to reuse weapons that were acquired during previous games.
By default, Ghost ‘n Goblins uses an odd control scheme where a separate button is dedicated to climbing ladders. It’s as confusing as it sounds. Luckily, the player can select a more traditional ‘Virtual Pad’ from the game’s menu.
Not surprisingly, Ghost ‘n Goblins’ gameplay has aged relatively well, as the player jumps over tombstones, climbs ladders and fires projectiles at incoming crows, zombies and the occasional Red Arremer. As mentioned earlier, the game relies on a two-hit death penalty that makes surviving the game’s levels a challenge. When an enemy hits Arthur, he will lose his armor. Naked and vulnerable, Arthur will die if an enemy strikes him again.
The only way to survive Arthur’s ‘naked’ state is to learn the creature patterns of each level (which isn’t easy), and then find the armor and weapon power ups that appear throughout each level. Otherwise, Ghost n’ Goblins will test the player’s patients every step of the way. The lack of a ‘continue’ feature also makes the game extremely difficult to play.
As it stands, Ghost ‘n Goblins is a fun retro game to have on the go. The emulation is spot on, and the Virtual Pad option makes the game easier to play. Just remember that Ghost ‘n Goblins is a touch, retro 2D platformer that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: iPhone 6 Plus (iOS Devices)
Compatibility: Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
ESRB: N/A
Price: $1.99
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ghostsn-goblins-mobile/id1203557096?mt=8
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| The 2D graphics still manage to impress after all these years. | |
| Sound | |
| It's classic Ghost 'n Goblins; what more could you possible ask for? | |
| Gameplay | |
| A game as difficult as Ghost ’n Goblins needs a continue feature. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Ghost 'n Goblins is a challenging game that isn't for the faint of heart. | |
