Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ghouls ’N Ghosts builds on the relentless platforming action of its predecessor, Ghosts ’N Goblins, while introducing new mechanics that broaden Arthur’s offensive options. Players now have the ability to fire vertically, opening up strategic avenues for dispatching aerial or high-climbing foes. The weapon variety is more robust, with lances, daggers, fireballs, and even magical tomes available from hidden treasure chests scattered throughout each stage.

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The level design is a masterclass in escalating challenge. You’ll traverse the graveyard and marsh territories familiar from the first game, then ascend into a haunted tower, navigate a labyrinthine catacomb of animated skeletons, and finally storm the fortress of the Great Demon King Lucifer. Each stage culminates in a memorable boss encounter, demanding mastery of weapon reach and timing to exploit enemy patterns.

Treasure chests add a layer of exploration and risk. Hidden in well-timed jumps or revealed by breaking scenery, chests can yield new weaponry, golden armor, or a mischievous wizard who temporarily transforms Arthur into a powerless old man or a duck. The golden armor, in particular, grants a chargeable “super” attack—ranging from lightning bolts that slice vertically and horizontally across the screen to mirror clones that double your offensive output.

While the game’s difficulty remains punishing—Arthur dies in a single hit when unarmored and must recover or replace his suit—this unforgiving nature is balanced by tight controls and clear feedback. Precise jumps, well-timed weapon throws, and knowledge of hidden pickups become your greatest allies. The result is a deeply rewarding learning curve: each new area feels conquered rather than merely survived.

Graphics

For an early 1990s arcade and console title, Ghouls ’N Ghosts delivers vivid, high-contrast sprites that stand out against richly detailed backgrounds. The palette shifts appropriately from the misty greens of the graveyard to the fiery reds of the castle’s lava pits, ensuring each environment feels distinct and foreboding. Arthur’s helmet, armor, and even his underwear—when de-armored—are rendered with surprising clarity.

Enemy design is equally striking, featuring skeletal warriors, fire-breathing gargoyles, ghostly apparitions, and oversized demon lords. Animations are smooth for the era, with attack telegraphs that allow skilled players to anticipate and evade strikes. Special effects—such as the lightning bolt from a charged weapon or the flash when a treasure chest erupts—add dramatic flair without overwhelming the screen.

The parallax scrolling backgrounds create a sense of depth in levels like the haunted tower, while subtle environmental hazards—dripping water, shifting platforms, rising lava—are communicated clearly through animation cues. Even on older hardware, the game maintains stable frame rates, ensuring that split-second decisions never feel compromised by performance dips.

Story

Three years after Arthur’s triumphant rescue of Princess Prin-Prin, the hero returns to find his beloved under attack by the forces of the new Great Demon King, Lucifer. A sudden laser beam strikes the princess, scattering her soul and plunging the human realm back into chaos. This direct continuation from Ghosts ’N Goblins sets the stakes immediately, giving Arthur not just revenge but the promise of resurrection.

While in-game storytelling is minimal—limited to brief intros and occasional cutscene stills—the narrative context enriches the relentless action. Players feel a genuine urgency in Arthur’s quest: every monster slain is a step toward restoring the princess and cleansing the Ghoul Realm of Lucifer’s reign. The teetering balance between grim atmosphere and classic fairy-tale heroism ties the levels together thematically.

The simplicity of the plot works to the game’s advantage, allowing the action to remain front and center. Yet small touches—the castle in flames, the princess’s vulnerable silhouette, the skeletal remains strewn across each stage—imbue the rescue mission with emotional weight. You’re not just fighting for points; you’re fighting for hope.

Overall Experience

Ghouls ’N Ghosts is a quintessential example of arcade-style difficulty and design philosophy. The challenge is steep, but the payoff is equally satisfying. Each run through the five stages feels like an accomplishment, especially once you’ve mapped out enemy patterns, located hidden chests, and mastered the golden armor’s super attacks.

Replay value is high: arcade veterans will take pleasure in perfecting their runs, while newcomers can tackle the game in shorter bursts, learning one tough section at a time. The blend of exploration—searching for secret chests—and precision platforming ensures that no two playthroughs feel identical, and overcoming a previously insurmountable boss is a genuine thrill.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its unyielding difficulty, Ghouls ’N Ghosts remains a beloved classic among retro gamers and platformer enthusiasts. It offers retro charm, crisp audiovisual presentation, and a gauntlet of fiendish challenges that demand skill, perseverance, and a bit of daring. If you’re seeking a game that marries tight controls with monstrous adversaries and a sense of old-school accomplishment, Arthur’s darkest adventure is well worth the journey.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10