Ghosts and Goblins is one of those series that was made entirely difficult at the time because they started on the Arcade, so making the game incredibly tough would have let people spend more coins on it.
Super ghosts and Goblins wasn't designed for arcade, but consoles, so you can imagine maybe Capcom added an option to change the diffcìiculty-NOPE THEY WENT HARDER.
The brutality of this title is insane and it can turn a normal session into a bad time.
THe issue is not the difficulty itself; tons of titles can result completely enjoyable while also rank up the difficulty: DK Country Returns, some of the classic megaman titles... even other games designs for the arcade, like Metal Slug 3, are able to be difficult while also providing a fun experience.
What makes Ghost and Goblins different is, in my opinion, the unfairness: most of its levels designs are full of surprises, in the forms of traps, bottomless pits, dangerous hazards and enemies with bizzarre patterns are everywhere, and even things like mimics hidden as treasure chests, and some upgrades are literally debuffs for Arthur moveset.
Ironically the levels can become so pranked with things that can oneshot you at any time that some of the bosses can feels easier.
I Played this one thanks to the Nintnendo Switch Online.... I grew irritated by some of these designs even with a option to Rewind, I can't imagine how it would have been for people that played it at the time.
The thing that absolutely kills this title for me.... is the fact that finishing the game.... doesn't finish the game! You beat up Astaroth, you rescue the princess and she goes "Thank you my hero, but I think I forgot my holy bracelet or something, PLEASE REDO THE WHOLE GAME with that one. Miss it or change weapon and you gotta go the whole game all over again".
I honestly gave up on the second run. Even with a rewind option I kinda felt like miserable.
I still have some respect for this title: it got some great spritework and atmosphere, and these types of brutal experiences are hard to find nowadays.... but also I am not really a fan of it. Still, it's worth a shot, even if short
Super ghosts and Goblins wasn't designed for arcade, but consoles, so you can imagine maybe Capcom added an option to change the diffcìiculty-NOPE THEY WENT HARDER.
The brutality of this title is insane and it can turn a normal session into a bad time.
THe issue is not the difficulty itself; tons of titles can result completely enjoyable while also rank up the difficulty: DK Country Returns, some of the classic megaman titles... even other games designs for the arcade, like Metal Slug 3, are able to be difficult while also providing a fun experience.
What makes Ghost and Goblins different is, in my opinion, the unfairness: most of its levels designs are full of surprises, in the forms of traps, bottomless pits, dangerous hazards and enemies with bizzarre patterns are everywhere, and even things like mimics hidden as treasure chests, and some upgrades are literally debuffs for Arthur moveset.
Ironically the levels can become so pranked with things that can oneshot you at any time that some of the bosses can feels easier.
I Played this one thanks to the Nintnendo Switch Online.... I grew irritated by some of these designs even with a option to Rewind, I can't imagine how it would have been for people that played it at the time.
The thing that absolutely kills this title for me.... is the fact that finishing the game.... doesn't finish the game! You beat up Astaroth, you rescue the princess and she goes "Thank you my hero, but I think I forgot my holy bracelet or something, PLEASE REDO THE WHOLE GAME with that one. Miss it or change weapon and you gotta go the whole game all over again".
I honestly gave up on the second run. Even with a rewind option I kinda felt like miserable.
I still have some respect for this title: it got some great spritework and atmosphere, and these types of brutal experiences are hard to find nowadays.... but also I am not really a fan of it. Still, it's worth a shot, even if short