Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Description

Capcom release another slice of retro gaming in the form of Super Ghouls & Ghosts on the GBA. Anyone who spent too many hours in seaside arcades will find fond memories are stirred by this Ghosts & Goblins revamp. Everything's here: the music, the sound effects and the graphics all seem identical to those on the money-eating machines of many a misspent youth and on the later SNES incarnation.

The main problem--or bonus, depending on the way you look at more modern video games--is that it's so frustrating and difficult. Gameplay is simple: Super Ghouls & Ghosts is a 2-D platformer in which Arthur (a proud knight who's out to fight evil undead hordes in his quest to reach and rescue Princess Prin Prin) jumps around, dodging shuffling zombies and shooting them. He uses little spears to start with and better weapons as he progresses.

It sounds simple enough, but it's as hard as nails. The jumping has to be precise each time, as Arthur can not be controlled once in the air. Chucking the various weapons is straightforward enough but there are unrelenting hordes of undead enemies out for Arthur's blood. This latest version also includes an arrange-mode in which, on completion of certain game modes, you can decide which levels to play next. A cartridge-save feature is included but has to be unlocked by completing the first section of the game--very frustrating.

The game retains one of the more humorous elements seen in video games: instead of having some funky health meter, Arthur's state of dress indicates his state of being. If he gets grabbed by a zombie, Arthur will lose his armour and end up running round in a nice pair of little red shorts. If he runs into a zombie in this near-naked state, it's curtains for Arthur.

Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts is a great reworking of a classic title, but bloomin' difficult. Buy this for any 10-year-old video-game whizz kid, and they'll have a real challenge on their hands--it's possibly better left to the more mature (and patient) gamer. --Laurent S Hall