The unfortunate little fellow. My PSP is just slightly over a month old, and its most strenuous session thus far was when I lost my cool during a siphon filter. Apologies, my friend, but I am not finished yet. I cannot defeat the final demon until I gather all the Gold Rings, and until that moment arrives, the never-ending torment of spirits and relentless ghouls will persist.
Indeed, as you may have heard, this game can be comical, occasionally cruel, challenging, but with sufficient patience (or a small supply of valium), you will persevere, as there is nothing more satisfying than overcoming the seemingly unbeatable. Although, I must confess, there have been moments when my pristine white laptop nearly became a costly addition to my wall or a tasteful victim of my hammer.
Those hoping for a revolutionary change in Capcom’s fourth installment of its popular series will be disappointed. However, retro enthusiasts who reject the concept of 3D (similar to those who once believed the Earth was flat) will find great enjoyment. The brave Sir Arthur has returned, along with his trusty underpants. While the opening scene of the princess being kidnapped by an evil demon is in 3D, the main gameplay remains in 2D. The only modern elements are the haunting orchestral soundtrack (instead of 16-bit beeps) and the subtle use of 3D effects to enhance depth and shadows, similar to games like Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Sonic Rush, and New Super Mario Bros. on the DS.
Upon entering the Evil Forest, your main objective is to guide Sir Arthur through a series of scrolling levels. Each level is filled with platform challenges and numerous enemies who will stop at nothing to prevent you from reaching the demon realm and rescuing a helpless girl. This showcases Capcom’s dedication to staying true to the essence of the franchise, which has resulted in keeping the basic formula intact. However, this unwavering commitment to the retro game has its drawbacks. While it is undoubtedly charming to embark on another thrilling and vibrant Ghosts ‘N Goblins adventure, there are moments when the gameplay becomes more of a routine rather than a source of pure joy. Despite Arthur’s new abilities such as double jumping, jumping, and edge grabbing, he is still quite difficult to control. Jumping, in particular, poses a special challenge as our hero is unable to maneuver in the air. This often leads to multiple frustrating attempts to overcome the challenging levels. The presence of hordes of undead enemies who constantly attack you only adds to the difficulty. Planning a double jump at the right time can be quite tricky, especially when faced with enemies that can fly through walls and platforms. While it is a welcome addition that Arthur can now climb, it is limited to horizontal and diagonal movements are out of the question. This is far from an ideal situation, especially since your attackers do not face the same limitations. It could be argued that the heavy iron protective suit weighing down Arthur’s small frame is to blame for this flaw, but it is unlikely to garner much sympathy from the player.
When it comes to armor, the protagonist of the game begins with a basic metal coating, but as they progress, they can acquire additional layers. However, each defeated enemy will strip away a layer until Arthur, in a nod to previous games, is left with only close-range combat abilities. The game offers three difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard), but only the most dedicated players will be able to conquer the lowest setting, which grants extra lives and halfway respawn points. Even for beginners, Ultimate Ghosts ‘N Goblins remains one of the most challenging games in recent years and is often compared to a 2D version of another Capcom game, Devil May Cry 3.
The storyline is extremely unforgiving and frequently relies on blind trust in unfamiliar areas, only to later require revisiting to prevent constant repetition of the challenging levels on the screen. Additionally, upon reaching the conclusion, there is an unpleasant surprise that compels the use of collected string keys to revisit certain levels (pro tip: grab any large golden rings you come across).