This is it, lads and lasses. The probably most cursed thing that appears this year besides new variant of Covid 19. It's Capcom's Ghost 'n Goblin Resurrection (2021)!
That's the logo that we know and we love except it get more hairy and that's not good to me. Are they supposed to be hair or root? Besides that hairy thing, the title screen is more elaborate with the scroll where the logo appears. It's nice artistic touch as if the game is either historical story or just fairy tale. Kind of like "Village of Shadows" story from Resident Evil Village. Hey! Did you know that GnG Resurrection using the same engine as the new Resident Evil? Because it is.
The game starts with animated drawing like fairy tale. It's rather unique that only some part of it get colored while the rest not. It starts with Arthur in his boxer sitting around and Princess Prin Prin come and giggle at him. "Me just chillin' here, milady". There's no voice line there although there's bit of sound effect. That just me improvising, by the way.
Then castle yonder engulfs in flames and there's shadow creep all around the scenery while a magic tree become withered and the magic bees fly away. Medic_sf12_badmagic10.wav
Of course that because this is Ghosts 'N Goblins game, Princess Prin Prin get kidnapped by winged demon. Well, at least she's not murdered unlike in Ghouls 'N Ghosts. Arthur tries to reach her but get swooped instead. Then he throws the armor upward and as it falls on him, he dons it. I believe that's not how armor works, Arthur.
After bit of control customization, i go to "New Game" on main menu. From the very start, the game gives me the difficulty setting that i like to go like in Classic Doom or -for more close relation- Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins on Playstation Portable. But there's more than that. There's flame is you choose harder difficulty and there's none if you choose the easiest ones. Needless to say that, the biggest fire effect happens when you choose the hardest difficulty. I say that the scroll sure has some fire resistance property on it. I have to look up in Google Translate what "Page" means, besides -you know- one side of a sheet in book or whatnot. Turns out it means servant, lackey, or janitor. Perhaps it also means peasant but that just my personal interpretation. On "Page" difficulty, you don't lose your life and send back to nearest checkpoint if you die. Instead become the usual pile of bones, you will turns into orb ghost and you can still proceed further from where you die. I think "Knight" is the "medium" difficulty so i choose that.
This is new. I get to choose the first level from these two. If you have experience with the series, you should know that both of the levels are the first game from Ghosts 'N Goblins and Ghouls 'N Ghosts. That means they double the amount of Makaimura music/OST! Graveyard version of it is rocking and bass tune. It's kind of in pixelated chip. Although term pixelated is more appropriate in graphic aspect. I hope you get what i mean. While Execution Grounds version of it is in more soothing tune. Like in Minuet or Opera seria style. I'm sold on this game, already!
Anyway, i choose graveyard first simply because it's on the top of selection. The control is simple, you have directional control on Arthur's move, a button to jump and another button to shoot to where Arthur's facing. Arthur also have ability to shoot up and down (only while he's jumping). As per usual, Arthur's initial weapon is lance that he can throw across the screen. As you can guess what happen in graveyard of Ghosts 'N Goblins world. You will encounter zombies. Lots of them like in another Capcom's game: Resident Evil.
Now, Arthur's downward aim seems simpler and more sensible. Whereas in previous installment, he aims downward he bows all of his body on center and throwing his weapon between his legs. That can't be comfortable. There's the usual Arthur's "health" system. He starts with full set of armor. Once he get hit by anything or anyone, his armor will destroyed and next he only wear his boxer short. After getting hit again while in that rather humor style naked state, he will turns into pile of bones and perishes. That happens in "Legend" difficulty though. While in "Knight" difficulty where i'm playing at, first hit will destroy either upper or lower part of Arthur's armor thus he has 1 more "hit point" before killed.
What also new in this game is umbral bees (which are the magic bees from the intro) that you can see one of them floats jauntily near me. You should prioritize catching them at all cost because they are essential to upgrade Arthur. Think of them like coins in Cuphead but they move in mid-air in usually hard-to-reach place and they will disappear if you don't catch them in time. Sounds fun, right? [Medium Sarcasm]
Then i get killed killed by the crows because i carry firebomb which is the equivalent of torch in previous game. It's considered the worst weapon in there or at least this fire weapon isn't suitable to fight against flying enemies like these crows.
To reach this place, i have to get on falling pillar that i have to destroy to make progress. It requires very tight timing. Once i get there, i can get to the spot where i can trigger a chest to spawn. Its content is most likely those useless statue that only serves as score up item instead of armor. But at least, it's not that demon wizard that will transform me into something ludicrous.
Once you die, you're given option to respawn at either the Banner of Rebirth (red flag) or Progress Pennon (blue flag). Banner of Rebirth is smaller checkpoint that exist on more spot in the level than the Progress Pennon. But it's only exist in "Knight" difficulty or lower. While in "Legend" difficulty, you only rely on Progress Pennon. Add that to enemies with larger quantity and faster move speed. Plus, you only get 2 hits before dies (like in classic). Then you can imagine how difficult the "Legend" difficulty is.
There's giant zombie that takes lots of lance before going down. That is if you hit him not in his head. It only takes 1 lance if you aim for his head. This is brilliant feature. I never saw headshot critical damage in any platformer game before. Sniper_taunts13.wav
The weather changes! I like the visual effect on soil background on the left that slowly becomes wet when rain is falling. I don't know what's the deal with big house on the back. It may resembles something but i can't put it. About the big plant below. It starts to grow and block my way to progress. You may think that by using these floating rock, i can get past it. I don't try to do that. Instead i do the general method of killing the plant to gain access further. Its head is the weakness, by the way.
In this particular moment, it looks like Arthur's pile of bone is being thrown up by those cheering zombies. While in fact, i get killed by that evil plant and the zombies try to catch me on my way down as if i do stage diving. Either way, this moment looks entertaining.
When suddenly, a church bell falls near me. Who could be possibly do this?
It's none other than my frenemy or "bro" in the Ghosts 'N Goblins series: Red Arremer or as known as Firebrand! Engineer_meleedare03.wav
I see that he's rocking 8-pack muscle (minus his genital, thanks God and Capcom for that) now. This can be very hard fight.
As per usual, Red Arremer/Firebrand is hard to hit but even more in this version. In previous game, you can defeat him by blind luck or with the virtue of persistence even though in very rare occasion. Not in here. He will deny every attack against him while he's floating. You can't even get a free hit while he sits waiting for you to make move! The only way to harm him is, you jump over him while doing shoulder ram like in this moment and shoot downward. But the thing is: his ram is fast like very fast. You can't even finish saying "That goddamn Firebrand" without getting swooped first. Also, he do that in 3 elevation: High, Middle, or Low. You can only jump the low ones! Sometime he decides to do his usual teasing dance on the ground. If he do shoulder ram after that, you most likely can jump over him. He can also spit fireball only to make you feel more irritated.
Once i pass the church, there's this slippery slope that you aren't allowed to go back. I happen to trigger dark chest to spawn. There must be demon wizard inside of it. There's chest completion status besides umbral bees. Maybe if i destroy all of the chest on the level including this foul ones, i will get some kind of reward. But i won't take risk now. Falling into that water is instant death for Arthur. So you have to rely on that floating log. You expected it to move left and right constantly, right? Sadly, that's not the case. First it moves from right side and go only to halfway and then return to the right side. Then it decides to move all the way to left side. But after that it move to halfway again and so forth. It moves in delayed manner, is intentional. If you manage to slip past Red Arremer/Firebrand without defeating him then you get hurry to go to log only to drown most of the time because whether you make mistake on your jump or Red Arremer/Firebrand pushes you. You can go to log or get off the log while in halfway but it requires very perfect timing and spot to do so.
Why, yes. The burrito ghosts are back and they're still making annoying noise. I have no idea what's that glowing necklace for. Probably just another score up item like those bloody statues. I wish it's screen-clearing bomb item but that's very off brand of Ghosts 'N Goblins. Also the flying shielded knights are back. And now they are working with long purple cape. Soldier_sf12_goodmagic02.wav
I want to say that the platforming section of this game is lackluster. You see that overlapping branches? Arthur can't just simply jump down to the bottom part by holding down and pressing jump button unlike Cuphead. I have to go the left branch first and then i'm allowed to descend along the branch. But i will trigger 2 giant piranha plants to spawn, to catch me off guard. This is Ghosts 'N Goblins, folks!
Eventually, i reach the first boss and i die. This Cyclops is larger and more difficult to deal from the original. Back then he just jauntily jog back and forth. Now he's more aggressive. He jump and stomp really fast. Actually, the solution is pretty simple: stand still on safe spot and throw everything you got at him swiftly. No need to move unnecessarily and panic.
But that just his 1st phase. On his 2nd phase, he jumps into background grab wood as impromptu club. Sometime he throws it upward and it will fall on your plane. There's rustle above that indicate where it will falls. Such a good detail on environment. You can shoot at his head or arm once they're highlighted. There's a chance when you hit his eye, he will be incapacitated for awhile. He has the 3rd and final phase which i'm not sure what he's doing. I think he repeats the first phase but faster. I give him damage big time swiftly. So fast that he doesn't have a chance to do anything.
Once he's defeated, he's disintegrated and his purple soul flies away. Because i played Castlevania few time, i instinctively try to grab it. But it flies to fast and soon turns into key which unlock the usual big gate at the end of level. Funny thing is: while the gate is open there's music plays that i believe the former part of it, resembles victory tune of Final Fantasy. Medic_sf12_badmagic05.wav
Once you get into level selection, you can view Umbral Tree which is -let's be honest- skill tree in this game with literally tree. My complaint about it is there's no theme or consistency on the branches. Left branches contains The Thunderstorm magic, Doppelganger magic, magic that make Arthur fast temporarily, auto-revive ability, and the strangest of all the ability that makes Arthur's 1st attack deal thrice damage once he's down to only his boxer shirt. While right branch contains magic that conjure flame on left and right, and various big magic that effects entire screen including secret chest reveal. They're pretty unique and such but there's no double jump to be found! Scout_jeers04.wav
I can go to 2nd level but i choose playing another 1st level Execution Ground because of Makaimura tune and these adorable Skeleton Murderers. Somehow the vulture screams like a cat instead of -you know- vulture. Anyway, i find this new weapon: spiked ball. It rolls along the ground. I notice that it does less damage than the lance. It's not the sharpest tool in the drawer but you can have 3 of them at the time instead of 2 like in lance. In honor of Deception's mega rock , i like to call this weapon kilo rock
The guillotines and bulb plant spit 3 projectiles are present but i get caught off guard by this flame pit. One skeleton murderer climbs on foreground, how adorable.
The wind area filled with Kamaitachi also is here. They put more detail on the weasel yōkai. They stop spinning like small tornado when they exhausted indicated with sweat sprays and their tongue sticking out. So cute.
Alas the tentacles (that only vulnerable to exposed part of them) also here! They all come at once and i can't do well against them at the time. Once in a while, there's loud mysterious sound followed by purple miasma around the border of the screen. That phenomenon indicates you will get surrounded immediately in that place by plenty of enemies of one type like here for example. It's like "Pandemonium" event in Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded.
The demonic pigs are getting smarter as they install this cage that can entrap me for awhile. They can proceed to stab me with the fork and nothing that i can do except crouch which some time works and sometime not.
Then i get killed by rolling pigs down the slope. Spy_jeers04.wav
After the race with the pigs on the slope, i stumble upon this waterfall area which is horrible. Every edge of the platform grow with the bulb plant that can makes you fall to the water and there's bigger version of the tentacle that reach much farther than the lesser version of them. To make things worse, i have the kilo rock weapon which is pretty unsuitable to deal with those large tentacles. Although the spiked ball can jump a bit over gap, it doesn't do much here. I get cornered pretty often in this part. Oh, duh! I forget i have the Thunderstorm magic.
Then i get caged (again) and murdered by the chief of the demonic pig. I can't kill him fast enough with the spiked rock. I need more suitable weapon. Something sharper. I have to repeat this entire section dozen time, no kidding. I wish i have ability to double jump for that waterfall area.
Here's the demonstration of Thunderstorm magic. Now it also hits downward but i can't use it to open that chest below me. Demoman_sf12_badmagic11.wav
Like in Ghouls 'N Ghosts, you have to hold the attack button for awhile and then release it, to cast magic. There's small white lines surround Arthur if you initiate the magic casting. But unlike in previous game, you also have to mind about cooldown time of the magic whenever you cast one. Casting and cooldown time make the magic less reliable but it's still worthy to have, i tell you.
Several step later, i encounter Shielder! But now he wields axe. Should be his name "Axer" or sort like that? Also you no longer detach your head like in original, you miserable bum?
Oh, of course you will. Remember when i said i can get many free hits upward if he lift his head in highest elevation in Ghouls 'N Ghosts? Now, he can aim his head downward. Scout_sf12_badmagic03.wav
On 3rd phase, he pass his head to another statue that turn into living monster behinds me. So now, he shoot fireballs from left side while his body slowly walks toward me. Thus i can't rely on keeping my distance anymore. Just focus on attacking his head while dodging his fireballs and you will come in triumph
Ok. Let's move on to 2nd level. If this is supposed to be based on 2nd level in Ghosts 'n Goblin? I remember the boss is 2 Cyclopes. But now way that happens here because for today's standard that is way too uncreative. Maybe this time the boss is that Ice Demon in 5th stage of Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts? I'm really curious. Note: Try to say "Snow Soggoth's Square" many times. It could be fun.
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| [You can enlarge this picture by clicking it] |
I happen to get wrist which
change the game relatively in my favor. I take the liberty of stitching the
screenshot with from 2 other Ghosts 'N
Goblins game in order to compare the bow weapon. The center screenshot is
from Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts. The arrows fly
diagonally up in 2 kind of angle: upper and lower. Back then Capcom seem
not bother with detail of making the bow so it looks like Arthur shoot the
arrows by throwing them with hand which is unreasonable. The right screenshot
is from Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins (exclusive on Sony PSP). This version of the bow
is probably my most favorites ones because it fires 3 arrows in usual reliable
way: one goes straight, the rests go diagonally up and down. Not only Capcom
make the crossbow, but they also make the appropriate posture for Arthur when
firing it. Then we go back to Ghosts 'N
Goblins Resurrection which is the middle ground between the 2 version. If
you look closely, Arthur's pose is the same
like when he use other weapon. Capcom just stick small crossbow on his
wrist. I say it's quite lazy effort of them. The arrow pattern is like the Ultimate GnG's version minus the
straight one.
It's quite useful against this snow pillar. They're like Castlevania's bone pillar but they change their head position and thus change their projectile's elevation as well. The snow spike can be blocked by obstacle or destroyed by your projectile. The icy one can't.
Then i realize what's lacking on Arthur's jump besides the usual unchangeable jump path. He also can't change his jump's height. In other platformer game like in Megaman or Cuphead, your jump is determined by how hard you press the jump button, allowing you access for various jump height. Not in here and also any GnG game, you jump in constant height. It's rarely not problem in previous game. But in this section, it becomes more apparent. What if the snow pillar's shoot pattern is empty in center? Jumping will get you hit by the top spike. Maybe the solution is obvious that you destroy the snow ones. But i always instinctively try to jump through the "gap", even though it's always not working.
There's also another solution: casting magic that gives you some invincibility period, which there's some. Like the Thunderstorm magic (although it's not as reliable as in Ghosts 'n Goblin due to reduced invincibility period and aforementioned cooldown) or magic that turns you into boulder which is amusing.
The ogres are back and they like to patrol a series of Corridor with ladder. Like usual, they can throw projectile downward while you either busy fighting with their comrade or climbing ladder. They clearly don't have sportsmanship. You may think that they're stupid because they wear speedo trunk in snowy level like this. But Arthur is not so clever than them because he wears boxer. I mean sure he initially don armor but still.
Taken by surprise, i get killed by stone version of ogre which is tougher and throw explosive barrel instead of spiked ball like the original ones. In this section there's explosive barrels lie around which explode on contact even to Arthur's bare skin. So you have to destroy them within safe. However, you can also use them to deal hefty damage to the ogres which can save your time and effort when dealing with them. They also take extra damage from headshot and wrist bow can aim at their noggin pretty easy.
Then i get killed by papa ogre here. Soldier_negativevocalization04.wav
This stairs section next to Banner of Rebirth reminds me of that great staircase to Dracula's throne room that you can see in first Castlevania or Castlevania Symphony of The Night. But Dracula is not diabolical enough to make the stairs crumble hoping that Simon or Richter Belmont will fall to their death while they're determined for the final confrontation. Or Dracula has some sportsmanship or honor within him to give the Belmonts a grand passage to his lair. No trick. No trap. Yes. First time i climb this stairs, i fall to my death.
Once you manage to travel via disconnected flying stairs, you will arrive at this tower. Then a dragon smash the base of it.
Then you fight the greater stone ogre. Thankfully, He doesn't have any projectile attack unlike his lesser peers. But he has ability to jump up or down the platform much like the small ones. So my tips is keep your distance from him both vertically and horizontally. But tower become unstable (because of the dragon's attack). It's rocking left and right. Therefore your running speed is affected thus dodging his headbutt ram becomes more challenging. Oh wait! He fell out of edge. So i can bait him to fall instead keep attacking him.
Then the dragon is back and gives me a ride...but not for free. He constantly makes his scale into moving spikes. I can only hit him on his head. Remember when i said the spiked ball is not the sharpest tool in the drawer? Well, it's excellent for this boss fight because it rolls along his body. Demoman_positivevocalization01.wav
If you would kindly ignore the fact that i died here for awhile, i like to say that dragon boss is easy if i equip the spiked ball. I died because i let my guard down as the dragon looks like letting loose a dying scream only to give me swift headbutt. The spiked balls have fairly big chance of hitting his face by rolling along those floating rocks in this boss fight section. I like this motivational gameover screen filled with helpful tips. Unlike in Cuphead where you will get mockery (that sometime funny and contains pun) because you fail the stage. Complete with smug shot of the enemies.
I just realize that the dragon is supposed to be the one in 3rd stage of Ghosts 'n Goblin. Because his body segment will vanish if he takes damage and finally he's just head alone. He now capable of shooting scale, fireball from his mouth, and lightning orb from his tail. Which makes him exponentially more dangerous than the original version of himself. In my defense, he looks like Wyvern in Terraria back then. There's also "Nice Catch" bonus if you manage to get the key while holding "up" direction. Heavy_award07.wav
To be continued...on next part
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