Weeklies

Game: "Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins"
System: PSP
Genre: Action
Published by: Capcom

Reviewer: -RoG-
Posted: 10/6/2009

Review: Why... WHY did this have to come out on the PSP? I'm a huuuuge fan of the Ghosts 'n Goblins / Ghouls 'n Ghosts series, and it's just not right that the latest game is only available on a portable system. I have nothing against the PSP, but a game like this shouldn't be limited to the few people who still own one. A game like this deserves to be on all the home consoles. I had a chance to play Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins for quite a while and it definitely stays true to the series.

First off, the game is hard. Damned hard. Any of you who've played any of the games in the series know the painstaking difficulty that's associated with each installment. Whether it's dodging an annoying flying demon or timing a jump just right, there's always something that will have you cursing the heavens. A game with a high difficulty level these days is something I can really appreciate as I believe many modern ones are a bit too easy. And no, I still haven't beaten it yet... maybe someday if I'm lucky.

Also, the graphics are fantastic as ever. The game is the classic 2D style, but all the elements have been rendered in 3D. As a result, it's easily the nicest looking one in the series, and that's saying a lot. The animations are far more complex than anything in the previous games, huge flowing blood waves, dripping slime, dragons, giant snakes and more all await you if you can make it far enough.

Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins really is an excellent game - incredibly challenging, vivid graphics and another catchy soundtrack. With a game this memorable, let's hope Capcom wises up and decides to release it on some home consoles eventually so more people have a chance to experience it. After all, who wouldn't want to help Arthur fight the legions of evil in his polka-dot underwear one more time?

Overall rating: WholeWholeWholeWholeHalf
(Scored on a 0.5 - 5 pickles rating: 0.5 being the worst and 5 being the best)

Reader Comments

Basement Monkey
Oct 7th, 2009, 04:53 AM
I know how you feel Rog every time I play this I am always wishing I had a controller and it was on a bigger screen.
Turrican't. :(
Oct 7th, 2009, 06:03 AM
I had this game before I sold my PSP. It was technically impressive (understatment of the decade, I know) and I don't regret buying it, but it was the epitome of REALLY F*CKING HARD. I know, "no shit, it's GnG" right? I knew what I was getting into, but while I can somewhat play the old SNES/arcade game, this almost made me break my PSP and had everyone within earshot thinking I had Tourrette's.

I finally sold it and bought Gradius Collection, which was thankfully MUCH easier.
lurking on the walls
Oct 7th, 2009, 08:36 AM
you should check out "Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?"
I own it and I call it the "Damn near impossible game to finish". Mainly since it actually brags about starting you off with 1000 lives. It's too easy to get killed, but it's fun, and nutorious for cheep shots.
the axe and the smasher
Oct 7th, 2009, 03:16 PM
Yeah, Ghosts N Goblins = FUCKING HARD

If it's one of the PSP slim models you can hook it up to a tv, but still... I want it on a regular console too.
You'll thank me later...
Oct 7th, 2009, 04:18 PM
Yeah I've got this thing, I haven't beat it either, close, but you know how these things are, you set it down and you're done with it for at least a month.

On a side note, I don't know why everyone is so down on the PSP, the Disgaea "ports" rock my socks, I like them far more than I did on the PS2, and realistically, that's reason enough to own it.
Add to it things like GnG, The Powerstone collection, the Darkstalkers collection....

In fact I might have to buy the slim so I can hook it up to the TV....
Funky Dynamite
Oct 7th, 2009, 04:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wyldflame View Post
On a side note, I don't know why everyone is so down on the PSP, the Disgaea "ports" rock my socks, I like them far more than I did on the PS2, and realistically, that's reason enough to own it.
Add to it things like GnG, The Powerstone collection, the Darkstalkers collection....
It does have some good games on it, but the system itself is kinda lame. Apart from the battery providing way less game time than the DS's, some of the colors will run when there's motion on the screen (can't remember the official term for this phenomenon), the thumb joystick and D-pad are a bit awkward, and for mine at least, some of the buttons have gotten a little loose. Plus, the entire front of the system is made from some very brittle plastic.

I'd like to have a Slim that can hook up to a TV, but I'd also like some kind of hookup that would let you use a PS2 controller. If Sony could come up with some kind of adapter like that, I might actually try to get my PSP back from Rog some day.
Pickled Patriarch
Oct 7th, 2009, 06:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Boogie View Post
I'd like to have a Slim that can hook up to a TV, but I'd also like some kind of hookup that would let you use a PS2 controller. If Sony could come up with some kind of adapter like that, I might actually try to get my PSP back from Rog some day.
If they do that, I might not give it back.
Member
Oct 7th, 2009, 11:05 PM
Ghosts N' Goblins are one of those games that make history for having such a high level of difficulty that you actually end up cursing your own family for being reduced to a pile of bones after being touched by an enemy that you never even thought would be there.

I never managed to beat the original one on NES and I have to thank the save state function of ZSnes for allowing me to go past the entire SNES version. Otherwise, I think I would be another guy who has never known victory in this turf.
Member
Oct 8th, 2009, 01:19 AM
I absolutely HATE this series and it sucks because I really want to love it. The difficulty is the issue of course. The problem I have with it is it's "fake" difficulty and not true difficulty. Many of the problems with the original GNG were caused by poor programming (monsters showing up at completely random spots, some spots in which it's physically impossibly to dodge them, poor jumping control, poor firing control ect..) and unfortunately they have been carried over all of these years. It reminds me of bionic command in this respect. So while I always enjoyed the characters and visuals of the game I could never really like it. Keep in mind I LOVE hard games so that isn't it, I just don't like the ones where poor gameplay mechanics are what cause the difficulty. I had a blast with Meg Man 9 for example and beat it farily quickly.
Member
Oct 8th, 2009, 01:21 AM
Oh btw... the fact that it's on the crappy psp takes several points off as well. If it must be released on a system it should be the DS seeing has how the DS has actual games and people actually own a DS.
Last of the Time Lords
Oct 8th, 2009, 02:34 AM
The G&G kicked my ass as a child. I still love them.
I hate this hacker crap!
Oct 8th, 2009, 01:15 PM
I'm glad I never played this in an arcade.
lurking on the walls
Oct 8th, 2009, 02:56 PM
Wyld, i'm not bashing Disgaea, i like the series, and I do agree, the psp ports are pretty good.
Prinny is damn near impossible to finish, but that's where the fun is. I like the game, and i really like how the challange gradually increases, but you gotta admit, there is one point where the whole screen where one hit in a screen filled with enemies is like a balloon in a windy room filled with pointy objects.
SKATASTIC
Oct 8th, 2009, 02:58 PM
I felt a lot better once Demon's Quest II came out and you actually get to play as Firebrand. I don't mind as much getting killed by him in Ghosts & Goblins.
Member
Oct 9th, 2009, 12:34 PM
This game looks killer, unfortunately I'm never buying another console again, maybe some years from now. If someone makes a PSP emulator I'm going for it, that two screen Nintendo thing had a badass Contra sequel on it I'd like to play as well. They should just make a system that does oldschool games for fucks sake, new games are all the same.
pickled
Oct 10th, 2009, 07:12 AM
This is without a doubt the hardest game in the series.
An Arizona Horror Company
Oct 11th, 2009, 08:59 PM
Are the soundtracks available anywhere? Some of the most iconic gaming music ev-ar.
Crazed Techno-Biologist
Oct 12th, 2009, 01:57 AM
after they sent me ALLL th way back for the power bracelet i vowed never to play again!

that damned stupid weapon...