Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection
A 2D platformer celebrating the series' 35th anniversary.
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is a 2D side-scrolling platform and run-and-gun game from Capcom. It is the eighth entry in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series and launched on the Nintendo Switch on February 25, 2021, marking the franchise's 35th anniversary. Versions for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One followed on June 1, 2021. Critics gave the game mixed reviews at launch.
Players once again control knight Arthur as he fights through the Demon Realm to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from the demon lord Astaroth. Enemies include zombies, skeleton murderers, demons, and Pigmen. After beating Astaroth and his superior Lucifer on any difficulty except Page, players unlock Shadow versions of each stage, which rearrange enemy placements and spawn points, add new environmental hazards, and end with a final boss fight against Hades, the supreme ruler of the Demon Realm.
Arthur can wield eight weapons, including his signature throwing lance and a hammer that creates a shockwave on impact. Collecting umbral bees unlocks and upgrades magical and combat skills through a tech tree. Depending on the difficulty setting, Arthur may lose his armor piece by piece or all at once when hit.
Four difficulty levels are available: Legend (hardest), Knight (second hardest), Squire (second easiest), and Page (easiest). After dying, players respawn at a checkpoint—or on the spot on Page. Difficulty cannot be changed permanently during a playthrough, but after several consecutive deaths the game offers to lower it for the rest of the current level. A local two-player cooperative mode lets a second player control one of three ancestral spirits—Barry, Kerry, or Archie, known as the "Three Wise Guys"—each with unique abilities to assist Arthur.
The game was developed to celebrate the series' 35th anniversary, with a resurgence of interest in similar gameplay also motivating Capcom. Series creator Tokuro Fujiwara designed and directed it. The visual style, built on Capcom's RE Engine, initially drew mixed reactions from fans. Fujiwara described it as an "animated scroll" or "picture book" look, chosen to match stages inspired by horror theme parks. On difficulty, he said the team wanted players to feel accomplishment after overcoming obstacles, but unlike the original game's notorious challenge, they added multiple difficulty levels early in development to accommodate less skilled players.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection
- Developer
- Capcom
- Director
- Tokuro Fujiwara
- Producer
- Yoshiaki Hirabayashi · Peter Fabiano · Naoki Sone
- Programmer
- Yasutaka Hori
- Artist
- Uichirou Murata
- Composer
- Kento Hasegawa · Masato Kouda · Ryuta Hida
- Series
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- Engine
- RE Engine
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One
- Released
- Nintendo Switch · February 25, 2021 · PS4, Windows, Xbox One · June 1, 2021
- Genre
- Platform · Run and gun
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection once again features knight Arthur, who must navigate the Demon Realm and battle enemies such as zombies, skeleton murderers, demons, and Pigmen to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from demon lord Astaroth. After defeating Astaroth and his superior, Lucifer, and finishing the game on any difficulty level except Page, players can complete Shadow versions of each stage, which rearrange enemy placement and spawn points, introduce additional environmental challenges, and add a final boss fight with Hades, the supreme ruler of the Demon Realm. The player can fight with eight different weapons, including Arthur's iconic lance and a hammer that induces a shockwave. Collecting umbral bees unlocks and upgrades Arthur's magical and combat skills through a tech tree. Depending on the difficulty level, Arthur may lose his armor in pieces or all at once when hit.
Reader's Guide
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection was designed and directed by series creator Tokuro Fujiwara. The game adopted a new visual style built on Capcom's proprietary RE Engine, which was initially met with a mixed reaction from fans. Fujiwara explained that the team adopted an 'animated scroll' or 'picture book' art style because they felt it aligned better with the aesthetics of the stages, which were inspired by horror theme parks. Regarding difficulty, Fujiwara stated the game was designed so that players would feel a sense of accomplishment after overcoming obstacles, but unlike the first game, the team decided early to add multiple difficulty levels to cater to less skilled or experienced players. The game features four difficulty levels: Legend (most difficult), Knight (second-most difficult), Squire (second-easiest), and Page (easiest). Players respawn at a checkpoint on most difficulties, or on the spot on Page. Difficulty cannot be changed permanently, but after several consecutive deaths players are given an option to lower the difficulty for the remainder of the level. A local two-player cooperative multiplayer mode allows a second player to play as one of three ancestral spirits—Barry, Kerry, or Archie (the 'Three Wise Guys')—each with their own abilities. The game was officially announced at The Game Awards 2020.
Did You Know?
- The game was released to celebrate the franchise's 35th anniversary.
- It features four difficulty levels: Legend, Knight, Squire, and Page.
- The game uses Capcom's proprietary RE Engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection?
It is a 2D side-scrolling platformer and run-and-gun title developed and published by Capcom, serving as the eighth installment in the Ghosts 'n Goblins franchise. The project was built as a 35th-anniversary celebration of the series.
Who do you play as and what is your role in Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection?
You control knight Arthur, whose mission is to push through the Demon Realm and free Princess Prin-Prin from the demon lord Astaroth. Along the way he battles waves of zombies, skeleton murderers, various demons, and Pigmen.
How does the story of Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection end?
Arthur ultimately defeats the demon lord Astaroth, completing his quest to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from the Demon Realm.
Why is Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection important to the franchise?
As a 35th-anniversary milestone, it reinvigorated interest in the classic 2D side-scrolling formula that defined the series' earliest entries. It also brought the Ghosts 'n Goblins name back to a new generation of players on modern hardware.
What platforms and release dates does Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection cover?
The Nintendo Switch version launched on February 25, 2021, with PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One editions arriving on June 1, 2021. All versions were handled by Capcom as both developer and publisher.
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