Ghouls'n Ghosts

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

One of the first titles I owned for my Genesis, and one that nearly broke me. EGM crowned it 1989’s Game of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. It’s gorgeous, its soundtrack is legendary, and the box art alone deserves a museum wing.

But make no mistake, this is gaming’s punishment for our gaming sins. Its difficulty can drain your soul, leaving you an empty husk of a person. Beating it feels like going fifteen rounds with Ivan Drago. This was Dark Souls before Dark Souls ever entered Hidetaka Miyazaki’s mind.

You thought Frodo had it rough carrying the One Ring to Mount Doom? Try earning the true ending of Ghouls’n Ghosts.

Years ago, little Crix had no idea you had to beat it twice in one sitting to see the real ending. My heart sank when the game told me to go back to the start and do it all over again. Thinking about it now… I don’t think I ever truly recovered.

It’s time to open old wounds, get a new check to my therapist ready and revisit one of childhood’s cruelest rites of passage.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Ghouls'n Ghosts is a side-scrolling action platformer and sequel to Ghosts’n Goblins, where you guide Arthur through five gothic stages filled with undead horrors. The genre is pure arcade action, designed to test reflexes and pattern recognition.

You run left to right, jump over obstacles, and fire an arsenal of weapons at zombies, demons, skeletons, and creatures that emerge from the ground at the worst possible moments.

I wouldn’t say the controls are sluggish, but this isn’t the game where you just jump around and shoot things at will. You cannot change direction mid-leap, forcing careful planning for every movement. This alone will kill you many times.

The game does introduce a major improvement over the original, Arthur can now fire directly upward and downward while airborne, giving him crucial defensive options against flying enemies and threats above.

Weapons spawn from treasure chests that erupt from the ground when you jump in specific locations. Fire your weapon at these chests to reveal power-ups, which range from helpful to catastrophic. You might find a powerful lance that pierces through enemies, or you could unleash an evil magician who transforms you into a helpless duck or elderly man.

The five stages take you through varied environments, each with distinct visual themes and enemy types. Each area introduces new hazards and enemy combinations designed to overwhelm.

The difficulty is legendary. Enemies spawn constantly, often appearing directly on top of Arthur with little warning. You will die frequently, learning enemy placements through repetition. As said in the intro, the game requires you to complete it twice to see the true ending, a design choice that feels cruel even by 1989 standards. Continues are unlimited, and checkpoints appear, softening the blow somewhat.

Graphics on the Genesis are remarkable for 1989. Parallax scrolling backgrounds create depth, detailed sprites animate smoothly, and the gothic atmosphere comes through in every frame. Colors pop despite the dark theme, with vibrant enemy designs standing out against moody backdrops. It really is a beautiful game and one of the reasons I keep going back to it.

And the music! The music perfectly captures the eerie tone, with memorable themes for each stage that manage to be both unsettling and catchy. Play the first level and you’ll be humming it for days.

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WHERE TO PLAY

• Nintendo Switch Online (Genesis app), Sega Genesis Mini, Capcom Arcade Stadium (PC, PSN, Xbox, Switch)

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD for the US version)

  • Loose: $25

  • Complete: $70

  • New/Sealed: $330

GAME INFORMATION

Cover Art

RETRO NEWS

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest retro gaming news we’ve dug up.

• Analogue Reassures Fans Its FPGA N64 Console Is Still Coming
  Despite months of silence, Analogue insists its upcoming FPGA-based N64 system remains on track for release.
  Read more at Time Extension

• Luigi’s Mansion Joins Switch Online Library
  Nintendo adds the GameCube classic to its Switch Online lineup, bringing haunted hijinks to a new generation of players.
  Read more at Retro News

• DOSBox Pure Breaks Free From RetroArch
  The popular DOS emulator is now available as a standalone app, making it easier than ever to revisit your favorite PC classics.
  Read more at Time Extension

PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS

What's your favorite console from the 5th generation?

• 3DO - 16.67%

• Sega Saturn - 16.67%

• Sony Playstation - 33.33%

• Nintendo 64 - 33.33%

• Atari Jaguar - 0%

Reader comments from the poll:

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

If you appreciate gaming history, this represents a pivotal moment when console ports finally matched arcade quality. The gameplay, while punishing, has a rhythm that clicks once you accept its rules.

Stages are short, usually completable in minutes once you know the layouts. This makes it perfect for quick sessions, attempting to push just a bit further each time. The visuals hold up beautifully, making it pleasant to look at even when frustration sets in. 

This game was designed to eat quarters in arcades. That DNA remains in every enemy placement and cheap death in the console version. Modern sensibilities about game design and player respect don't apply here. But if you want to understand where the current obsession with difficult games began, or if you simply enjoy testing your skills against something unforgiving, Ghouls'n Ghosts delivers. Just remember, when Arthur loses his armor and you're running around in boxers, the game is laughing with you, not at you. Probably.

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