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Ghosts’ n Goblins: Resurrection is coming soon, giving fans of Capcom’s tough platformer an excuse to get dressed again. This is not a remake of the arcade original, its sequel, or various console ports. Instead, it is a great tribute to these classics, drawing heavily on what made them so memorable while providing a whole new experience. In other words, you get a new experience whether you’re a hardcore fan or someone who is completely new to the show. On the eve of its release, we chatted with series director Tokuro Fujiwara and chief producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi about the original games (and their notorious difficulty), what it was like to revisit the series, and what players can wait for Resurrection.
Many of us remember playing Ghosts’ n Goblins at home on our NES consoles, but it came out a year ago in the arcades. Arcade games could certainly be mastered, but let’s be honest – these cabinets weren’t set up from a charity location. If you could design a game that kept players interested while threading the needle in terms of difficulty, you might have something that would cause players to dig into their pockets after a game ends instead of looking for something else. thing to play. It’s easy to assume that Ghosts’ n Goblins was designed to drain player quarters, especially since it took two full games to see the real ending. Fujiwara says that’s not the case, however.
“While developing the original Ghosts’ n Goblins, I struggled to understand how players could enjoy this game as an arcade title,” he says. “I never wanted to make it intentionally difficult or take a long trip in the form of a second playthrough just to get players to deposit more coins. My goal was to figure out how to deliver the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in playing time from a room. The “difficulty” part was just the end result. Regardless of what generation or what platform it is, I think most people, myself included, think a challenge that leads to a sense of accomplishment is fun and worth the effort. to be relieved.
When Capcom ported the game to the NES, they didn’t hold back either. “I think most people think the arcade and NES versions have the same difficulty, but in reality they are different,” says Fujiwara. “The arcade version had a reputation for being difficult, but there was a demand to make the NES version even more difficult because it was believed that the game would be too easy for those who were already playing it in the arcade. We were like, ‘OK let’s make it a little harder’, but as we made further adjustments it ended up becoming the toughest game in the series. To this day, I don’t even have the confidence to beat the NES version of Ghosts’ n Goblins. But if you get the chance, give it a try and experience the ultimate difficulty. “
Ghosts’ n Goblins: Resurrection posed a different kind of challenge, so to speak. The developers wanted to respect the original games made 35 years ago, but were also keen to give fans something new. This leads to a broader question of what were the defining elements that made a Ghost ‘n Goblins game a Ghost’ n Goblins game.
“First of all, I wanted to introduce the features that have been important throughout the Ghosts’ n Goblins series,” says Fujiwara. “The first is the sense of accomplishment players get when taking on a new challenge and the second is a ‘horror theme park’ aesthetic that has inspired the scenes and visuals of the game. Both of these concepts have always been essential to the series, and we’ve incorporated new ideas to make it happen in Ghosts’ n Goblins Resurrection. I didn’t start by thinking that I should incorporate something new and novel because it’s a new title. Instead, I looked for ways to simultaneously cherish and renew the essence of this intellectual property. “
This meant infusing the platformer with elements that have become more common in contemporary games. Updates include a new magic system, where players can collect umbrella bees around the world and unlock spells that turn enemies into frogs, tear into enemies with lightning, and other powerful abilities. Considering how easily your armor peels off and turns into a pile of skeletal remains, any help is welcome.
The task of updating the franchise was daunting, Hirabayashi says. “To be handed over to an IP that has such a rich and beloved 35-year history was both an honor and intimidating. In order for me to deliver this title, I had to really understand the story and the fans’ love for this series. It made me realize that I had to make sure this title respected the memories fans have of this IP (which made me even more nervous, haha).
The inclusion of magic spells is certainly a flashy change from the older games, but it’s not the most significant. Due to the difficulty of the original games, reaching the true end was quite an achievement. For those who were able to rise to the challenge, it was a testament to their perseverance and competence. And for everyone, it was probably a disappointment and a reminder of their gaming mortality. With Resurrection, the team wanted as many people as possible to fully appreciate their hard work. It meant revisiting the concept of difficulty.
“Fujiwara-san suggested having multiple difficulty modes early on in the development phase, and I immediately accepted that,” Hirabayashi says. “He explained his vision for what it would look like and I got to think about it and see how it would fit into the Ghosts’ n Goblins series. Since the skill level is so different between players and each has their unique relationship with IP, we decided to incorporate multiple difficulty modes so that each person can achieve their own sense of accomplishment.
“Our intention wasn’t just to provide an easier experience of something difficult. Rather, we wanted to deliver an experience that matched each player’s skill level to enable them to achieve that sense of accomplishment that has been at the heart of the Ghosts’ n Goblins series since its inception. It would be our pleasure if you can find the optimal difficulty mode that matches your playstyle. To help you find it, we have provided short messages that appear when selecting between difficulty modes. For die-hard fans and seasoned gamers, we believe Legend or Knight mode will meet your needs. “
Ghosts’ n Goblins: Resurrection releases February 25 for Nintendo Switch. For more information, see our opinion.
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