Same game, standard NES version. The Capcom arcade conversion with everything that built its reputation: punishing difficulty, double loop, gothic atmosphere. Essential classic despite the suffering.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Action platformer in which Sir Arthur battles demons to save the princess, American version. Published by Capcom, released in the USA in 1986. Arthur losing his armor on the first hit, cemetery levels and legendary difficulty. American version of Capcom's Ghosts'n Goblins classic on NES.
Ghosts'n Goblins review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Iconic above all, the main theme of Ghosts'n Goblins became an instant classic, a heroic, rousing melody recognisable from the first note. Each nightmarish level pulses with a nervy energy that charges the game's fearsome difficulty. This sonic signature stays etched in the memory of a whole generation.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
Haunted graveyards, zombies bursting from the ground and titanic bosses: the Famicom version of this action classic keeps all the arcade's harshness. A single suit of armor for protection, tightly timed jumps and a course to clear twice put patience to the test. Hard but never cheap, it remains a cornerstone of the genre, as feared as it is revered.
The American version of Capcom's port belongs to the foundation of early NES titles, from a time when the firm was establishing itself as a major supplier for the console. Its punishing reputation made it a lastingly cited classic, sustaining steady demand. A plentiful run and wide distribution keep the cartridge affordable, with interest shifting toward complete boxes bearing the oval seal of quality from the earliest batches.
Memorable bosses
A nightmare of difficulty turned legendary, the trek through the demon realm pits you against merciless guardians: a dragon guarding a bridge, cyclopean giants and the dreaded Astaroth at the end of the ordeal. The winged red devil, appearing without warning, remains a terror all its own. Stripped of his armor at the first hit, the knight must read every attack to the letter, making victory all the more glorious.
Is Ghosts'n Goblins still worth playing in 2026?
A port of Capcom's arcade classic, Ghosts'n Goblins sends the knight Arthur against hordes of undead to save the princess, in an action platformer of legendary difficulty. Losing the armour in two hits, the relentless enemy waves and the mandatory double playthrough made it a symbol of punishing challenge. The NES conversion pares down the arcade but keeps the brutal demand. For a fan of tough retro action or someone curious about the genre's pillars, the title keeps a historical character and a fearsome intensity.
