Ghosts ‘n Goblins Is Back—Pain, Laughs, and All

I was 9 years old when Ghosts ‘n Goblins first landed at my local arcade in 1986. This 2D side-scrolling platformer cast you as Sir Arthur, a noble knight running headstrong into battles against zombies, demons, and a variety of other monsters to rescue a princess.

The horror styling and spellbinding musical score sucked me in right away. And the lighthearted comical mood, with Arthur’s armor falling off whenever he took damage leaving him vulnerable in strawberry-covered boxer shorts, disguised a fiendishly difficult challenge. I spent a summer of my pocket money without ever moving past the second level.

Fast forward 35 years and I’m playing Ghosts ‘n Goblins: Resurrection on the PlayStation 5. Much has changed in that time, but taking on the mantle of good Sir Arthur and battling waves of ogres, specters, and man-eating plants is still incredibly fun and frustrating.

A Co-Op Challenge

The warm glow of nostalgia hit me as soon as the unforgettable theme kicks in. The Ghosts ‘n Goblins series always featured riveting music that pushed the boundaries of whatever system it was on. Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, the chief producer for the game at Capcom, says that in Resurrection there are fresh arrangements of classic tracks, including the main theme, alongside newly composed music.

“The original game had two key pillars which have stayed consistent in the series all the way up to Resurrection,” Hirabayashi says. “The horror theme-park concept, which is about both the atmosphere of the game and the layout of the levels, and a level of challenge that may come across as impossible at first but that you can get through if you try.”

The latest entry is instantly recognizable as a part of the series, but there are many tweaks and additions. The art style has more of a storybook feel that fits the narrative, there’s a choice of four difficulty levels, and you can play co-op with a friend for the first time.

“We wanted to include the kind of fun you only get from couch co-op where you’re in the same room with the other player,” Hirabayashi says. “You may come to blows sometimes, but as the [game’s] director Mr. [Tokuro] Fujiwara told me, a little mischief between the players is one of the joys of co-op. Ultimately, you should be able to get through the game together and have a blast.”

You can toggle multiplayer on and off whenever you like. The second player is a floating ancestral spirit who can fire projectiles, but there are three of these “wise men” to choose from, each with their own special power. Barry can conjure a shield around Arthur, Kerry can pick him up and carry him a short distance, and Archie can build a temporary platform. A devoted companion can be the difference between life and death in Resurrection.

“Co-op is also a great tool for cross-generation play,” Hirabayashi says. “Parents who are old enough to have played the classic Ghosts ‘n Goblins games could introduce the series to their own children by handing them a controller and inviting them to join in the fun.”

This is exactly what I did. I enlisted the help of my daughter, who happens to turn 9 this week. We played the Unravel series together, so I knew the gameplay would appeal to her, but I had no idea Resurrection would become our go-to for after-school play sessions. Even her persistent favorite, Sackboy, has been temporarily shelved in favor of this spooky platformer.

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