Ghosts ‘n Goblins

Ghosts 'n Goblins

Overview & History

Ported from Capcom's coin-op arcade original by T&E Soft, the 1986 NES release of Ghosts 'n Goblins brought punishing gothic platforming into living rooms worldwide. Created by Tokuro Fujiwara, the game drops players into the cursed shoes of Sir Arthur, a valiant knight tasked with rescuing Princess Prin-Prin from the demon lord Astaroth, who has whisked her away during a moonlit rendezvous. Infamous for its staggering difficulty, the NES version retains the arcade's brutal checkpoint system and multi-layered horrors, requiring players to conquer the treacherous kingdom twice to achieve the true ending.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Sir Arthur traverses six perilous stages populated by zombies, flying red arreemers, and towering cyclopses. Armed initially with a standard lance, Arthur can collect randomized weapons from defeated enemies or hidden urns—including throwing daggers, fiery torches, bouncing axes, and a lethal shield. Survival hinges on Arthur's unique armor mechanic: taking a single hit strips him down to his polka-dot boxer shorts, leaving him vulnerable to instant death on the second hit unless a replacement suit of armor is scavenged. The platforming demands absolute precision, as Arthur cannot alter his trajectory mid-jump, transforming every leap into a calculated commitment.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause