Reader Reviews
This week we're on a mini-nostalgia tip, with Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, N64 throwbacks, Marble Madness rip-offs and Midway's latest arcade compilation.
Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts (GBA)
by DDevil
Ask any gamer familiar with Ghouls and Ghosts and they'll tell you it's one of the hardest gaming experiences ever. This port of the SNES version of the game is no different. The levels may be different and there may be different features to the none-super original but it's still as flipping hard. One hit and our hero Arthur's armour falls off leaving him in nothing but boxers, another hit and he's nothing but a pile of bones on the ground. That is exactly what makes this game so hard, the enemies come thick and fast right from the start and all it takes is two lousy hits and you're right the way back to the start of the level. The story is simple: Arthur's love is captured by a flying demon and he sets out to slay the demons and save the damsel in distress. Zombies, snarling wolves, flaming skulls, huge bosses and even the odd wizard are out to get you and to stop you rescuing the woman you love.
Of course Arthur has hit trusty lance, and a few hits is all that is needed to dispatch most of the enemies. It's possible to pick up different weapons like daggers, torches and crossbows, but the lance is enough to see you through the challenges you face if you have to. As long as you can press the attack button fast enough that is.
The super version adds the ability to double jump and different armours coloured from green to gold. These armours give you powerful weapons, some give you magic and in the case of the gold armour, a shield that lets you take one more important hit from the enemies. Believe me, playing this game you are going to learn to cherish the higher level armours as they make all the difference as you launch homing bolts and fire powerful magic at those stupid enough to lumber towards you.
The advance version also adds an arrange mode that lets you chose different levels depending on how well you do, with never seen before levels available if you do well enough. Of course, it's possible that a lot of people may never see past the first graveyard level, it is that hard. Stick with it though and an amazingly frenzied game that requires lightning reflexes and a desire to see the end. It's pure hard fun that requires practice, but is it worth it!