Ultimate Ghosts N Goblins- Any good?

[evil_ash_xero]

I've read some seriously mixed reviews on this game.

Are these people just the ones who actually have forgotten the true difficulty of the original three, or is this one actually "too hard to be fun"?

s/m

[Frederik]

I played it, and hated every minute of it. I guess it´s right up your alley if you´re into the series, but I guess it´s just not my thing. I gave up at the "hovering ghost platform" section. What a grind.

This, and I still think polygons in 2D platformers look very weird. The ones in this game are shiny and detailed, but somewhat distracting. Just my 2 cents, though, its got some very nice production values at the very least.

[evil_ash_xero]

I played it, and hated every minute of it. I guess it´s right up your alley if you´re into the series, but I guess it´s just not my thing. I gave up at the "hovering ghost platform" section. What a grind.

This, and I still think polygons in 2D platformers look very weird. The ones in this game are shiny and detailed, but somewhat distracting. Just my 2 cents, though, its got some very nice production values at the very least.

Yeah, I was just wondering if one who loved the originals would like this?
Despite their punishing difficulity, the last 2 of the triliogy are two of my favorite platformers.

s/m

[Turrican]

It's awesome, maybe best in the series, but it has its shortcomings, namely ring search during the latter half of the game.

If you want to get rid of backtracking and live a better overall experience, be sure to get the "Kai" version of the game.

[subcons]

I love the series and just couldn't get into it to be honest.

You'll either love it or hate it... but I don't think you can tell which it'll be just based on liking the older games in the series. You just have to play it for yourself.

[BulletMagnet]

If you ask me it depends on whether or not you mind a large percentage of the challenge coming from the fact that you still can't change direction in mid-jump.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, I ordered it, so I hope it's good!

As for the difficulty and jumping...I can handle it. The messed up jumping is what makes GnG what it is.

It certainly looks the part, from the vids i've seen.

s/m

[Mortificator]

I think the original GnG trilogy was awesome, but the review on HG101 makes me unlikely to play the domestic version of the new game. It seems like the Japan-only re-release (Goku Makaimura Kai) was a significant improvement. But I'm just going on heresay. I haven't played either version of the PSP game myself.

[evil_ash_xero]

Is the PSP region free?

s/m

[Battlesmurf]

sure is.


2nd the fact that the us version is BRUTAL (sometimes for the wrong reasons). BUT- if you like GNG at all- it's a great game nonetheless

[Daedalus]

Ghouls N Ghosts (Daimakaimura) is one of my favorite games games of all time. I'd rank this game as just below that in the series.

If you liked the earlier games, I don't think you'll be too disappointed with this.

[Bloodreign]

If you're a fan of the original trilogy (actually not a trilogy, a quadrilogy thanks to Wonderswan), you can't go wrong with the Japanese Kai version. The backtracking made it feel a little less than Ghost N Goblin-y, but Kai fixes that by getting rid of the backtracking, I need to order it sometime as there is one available on Ebay.

[benstylus]

I think the original GnG trilogy was awesome, but the review on HG101 makes me unlikely to play the domestic version of the new game. It seems like the Japan-only re-release (Goku Makaimura Kai) was a significant improvement. But I'm just going on heresay. I haven't played either version of the PSP game myself.

thanks for the tip - a friend of mine was complaining that he loved everything about the game except for the stupid fetch quest stuff. He'll be pleased to know there is an alternative.

[JoshF]

So, they turned GnG into Tomba?

[benstylus]

thanks for the tip - a friend of mine was complaining that he loved everything about the game except for the stupid fetch quest stuff. He'll be pleased to know there is an alternative.

hah - just got a message saying he ordered it from play asia

[boagman]

I bought my PSP specifically for this game, and it's been nothing shy of totally worth it. Those who've complained about the the game (specifically about what they'd call the "broken" jumping mechanic) are, IMHO, a bunch of doily-making momma's boys. It's as if they've never played any of the games in the series before. This game is a masterpiece.

That being said, there are some faults with the difficulty that weren't quite right (and yes, the Ring Quest of Death would certainly qualify, but that wasn't the only thing), but certainly nothing that I couldn't live with. The rewards of progress within the game just continue to push one to play better, and that's the mark of a great game.

Production values are, in a word, superior. So superior, in fact, that I purchased the soundtrack separately for the game to listen to in the car. Fan-freaking-tastic.

In the end, though, getting the Kai version is the best idea, since it has both versions, and it's inexpensive.

Capcom's love letter to its fans was very well-received indeed...by its fans. Not the lilly-livered pansy-boys who pick nits instead of learning how to improve the way they play...no, they'd rather just bitch that the game wasn't designed for them.

No stinking crap, ladies. Grow a pair or get out; the kiddie game's down the hall in the door marked "Special Education".

[Frederik]

Those who've complained about the the game (specifically about what they'd call the "broken" jumping mechanic) are, IMHO, a bunch of doily-making mamma's boys.

Yeah, because that´s what we all love about oldschool-gaming: Wrestling with the controls all the time. This game looks and sounds awesome but plays like it´s still 1985. To me that´s retro in the worst sense. It´s like they were afraid to do jumping right this time because they might enrage fans of the series.

I love challenging games, but not if the difficulty lies in its controls. To me it´s not stimulating at all - it´s just plain infuriating and I don´t see why I should spoil my peace of mind with a game that carries over shitty controls since the first game just because THAT`S HOW IT`S ALWAYS BEEN.

If you can deal with the controls, fine. But don´t throw hysteric shitfits just because some people point out that they think the game controls bad for no other reason than to stay true to the series. Everyone has the right for an own opinion, no reason to insult people kindergarten-style.

[boagman]

Yeah, because that´s what we all love about oldschool-gaming: Wrestling with the controls all the time. This game looks and sounds awesome but plays like it´s still 1985. To me that´s retro in the worst sense. It´s like they were afraid to do jumping right this time because they might enrage fans of the series.

I love challenging games, but not if the difficulty lies in its controls. To me it´s not stimulating at all - it´s just plain infuriating and I don´t see why I should spoil my peace of mind with a game that carries over shitty controls since the first game just because THAT`S HOW IT`S ALWAYS BEEN.

If you can deal with the controls, fine. But don´t throw hysteric shitfits just because some people point out that they think the game controls bad for no other reason than to stay true to the series.

Ladies and gentlemen: the quintessential doily-making momma's boy.

I mean, geez-a-loo, "wrestling with the controls all the time"? "Hysterical shitfits"? The game challenges you to play on *its* terms, *not yours*. If you can't accept that, then I invite you to go down the hall. There's nothing broken about the jumping...it's absolutely consistent. You always know the distance that you'll traverse, and the direction of said jump. The physics of the game are *perfect*, even if nothing else is.

You speak as if there's something wrong with the mechanic to begin with...there isn't, and there never was., just as there never will be. It's a balls-to-the-wall game, designed with a "pleasure-spiked-with-pain/pain-spiked-with-pleasure" credo that many can't understand or accept...unless the system bends to their will.

The game is, if nothing else, uncompromising. For better or worse, that's what the *entire series has been about*. If you don't like that, bully for you! No one's saying that there's anything wrong with feeling just that, but make no mistake: you're not a fan of the series, and, more than likely, you're not a fan of anything that won't cater to your skill set. Want to truly feel like a master? Conquer something that won't compromise.

I mean, for crying out loud...how can you complain about such a thing on a *shmups forum*? If that's your standard, dude: I'm surprised you like shmups at all.

Jiminy.

[JoshF]

Ultimate GnG Number One Fan

[Frederik]

Okay then, whatever.

I mean, for crying out loud...how can you complain about such a thing on a *shmups forum*? If that's your standard, dude: I'm surprised you like shmups at all.

Yeah, me not liking UGnG certainly means I don´t like shmups.

[boagman]

Yeah, me not liking UGnG certainly means I don´t like shmups.

No, that's not my point at all. And to be fair, as far as I can tell, you've never claimed to be a fan of the series.

No, my point is that I'm genuinely surprised that you hold this standard against UG&G, and yet shmups, on the whole, are basically *exactly* this. My problem with your argument is not that you don't like it, but that you're blaming the *controls* for that. Your qualms with the 2D sprites in a 3D-rendered world...fine. Again, many things like that are subjective. But the controls aren't broken, nor are they there to be wrestled with.

Imagine if I opined my seething hatred for Battle Garegga by blaming it on "wrestling with the controls". That'd be patently unfair...those controls aren't broken, I simply hate the stipulations that are put upon the player which I feel are actually against the unspoken rules of shmups in general. "Dying strategically in order to live" is not my idea of good shmupping, unless you're talking about a game like Every Extend Extra, which is hardly the same thing. The fact that the aesthetics of the game were thoroughly unimpressive to me also play in to the hatred, yes, but none of these complaints constitute "broken controls I need to wrestle with".

Perhaps we can just agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

[Ed Oscuro]

Honestly, I think games that expect you to twiddle your player back and forth in mid-air are harder to control. With GnG games the "look before you leap" gameplay is kept in mind when the stages are designed.

What I didn't like with SGnG was the shot limit (on the GBA version at least), but I suppose it doesn't make sense to be spamming attacks like mad.

[320x240]

I'm with boagman here, though I haven't actually played the game in question. Not being able to change direction mid-jump is not about broken game mechanics but is simply a design choice. If this choice is a good or a bad one depends on the level layout. Sure, there was a time when every platformer had to have the 'change direction in mid-air' mechanic as well as the 'inertia' one, but that was just a fad brought on by games that took advantage of this mechanic, like SMB. A lot of games that had it didn't need it and felt loose and floaty because of it.

I find it strange that any fan of shmups fail to understand this seeing as the whole genre is built upon such limitations. Of course, the game in question may very well suffer from level design that does not fit the game mechanics. Since they kept the old mechanic they would also need to not stray to far from the old enemy and level design, otherwise the game would feel unbalanced.

[Frederik]

Perhaps we can just agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

Okay then

I actually agree with your "sucide shmup" argument. People can bash each other´s head in for weeks over whether or not intentionally killing yourself in a game can be a valid game mechanic or not.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

I think the jump frustration is largely alleviated in ultimate due to the inclusion of the dragon shield. It lets you fly in any direction you want to go.

[dave4shmups]

I checked this one out from work yesterday, and I really like it. It is pretty punishing, but you do have saves, different kinds of armor and magic you can use, and great new weapons, like the whip.

[evil_ash_xero]

I think the jump frustration is largely alleviated in ultimate due to the inclusion of the dragon shield. It lets you fly in any direction you want to go.

I always liked the goofy jumping in it. Just sorta makes it unique. I just accept there's certain games I can't beat, but I appreciate multiple other things about them.

GNG has always been a favorite series of mine. I can't really get into the first one, but the other two are ace. To this day I can't beat SGNG. I have played that one little section over and over, that is right before the last three Lucifers(or Satans), right before the last guy. It's IMPOSSIBLE with that pissy little weapon you have to use to be able to fight the last dude. I just can't do it. But i've made my peace with it. lol

s/m

[D]

OK, ot, just to get your minds in perspective.
Check out this vid.
Seems there have been online flame wars a while now about which version of Ghouls 'n Ghosts is the best.
Whatever you do, read the description.
Issues?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW52Uboel6g
Enjoy, I lolled

[Mortificator]

To this day I can't beat SGNG. I have played that one little section over and over, that is right before the last three Lucifers(or Satans), right before the last guy. It's IMPOSSIBLE with that pissy little weapon you have to use to be able to fight the last dude. I just can't do it. But i've made my peace with it. lol

Those are Astaroths, actually. Lucifer was in the second game and Satans were in the first. But yeah, that is the toughest part of SGnG, like the aforementioned Satans were the bane of the original.