The PSP's Killer App

[Renzatic Gear]

Screw GTA, watch this...and tremble. Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins is coming! (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2428)

First off, I can't believe this is a PSP game. It looks like something I'd be impressed with on the PS2.

Secondly, it looks evil...and I like that. I still have dents in my forehead from beating my SNES controller against my face while playing Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, and it looks like the sequel is gonna continue that trend.

Thirdly, woot. Just woot. It looks to be spectacular.

Check it out, drool over the animations, lighting effects, and great art direction, then buy it when it comes out. If it's anywhere near as good as it's predecessors, it's gonna be a must-have title.

[Superjoint Ritual]

Screw GTA, watch this...and tremble. Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins is coming! (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2428)

First off, I can't believe this is a PSP game. It looks like something I'd be impressed with on the PS2.

Secondly, it looks evil...and I like that. I still have dents in my forehead from beating my SNES controller against my face while playing Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, and it looks like the sequel is gonna continue that trend.

Thirdly, woot. Just woot. It looks to be spectacular.

Check it out, drool over the animations, lighting effects, and great art direction, then buy it when it comes out. If it's anywhere near as good as it's predecessors, it's gonna be a must-have title. Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts was easy compared to Ghost and Goblins on the Nes or arcade. F***, that game made me mad. But I remeber renting it and my older cousin would listen to Slayer and Metallica while playing it which seemed to add to the " evilness " of the game. You fight Lucifer at the end after all. I saw my cousin throw his controller across the room two times, once when Faxanadu ( sp? ) didn't remeber his password, and the other when playing Ghost and Goblins.

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts was extremely hard as well, but it was really fun too. The level where you go inside the monsters guts was insanely hard, mainly because you had to ride a platform. The best thing about these games, though, is the boss encounters at the end of each level.

If the PsP version continues the tradition, I will be buying the game day one. :cool:

[Renzatic Gear]

And considering that I'm once again the proud owner of a PSP (a really, really good deal happened across my way), I'll be able to grab it when it comes out later this summer.

First this, then Landstalker. Wootime.

[Glockstar]

IGN writes...

We first reported on Ghosts 'n Goblins when Capcom introduced it at TGS 2005, when it was actually titled Extreme Ghouls and Ghosts. But Capcom finally let us play for an extended period of time at its recent press event in Las Vegas. During our time we learned a bunch of new details, most of which will please fans of the series. Some hardcore fans, though, may find it a little distressing.

We're of course referring to the game's level of difficulty. Every game in the series is notoriously hard, and that's something Capcom decided to change with this installment. Now, before certain readers start writing hate mail, just know that the first PSP title in the series is by no means easy. In fact, it's damn harder than most games on the system. Still, there are a few new additions that make it considerably less frustrating than previous efforts.

To start, developers have implemented all-new checkpoint and save systems. Players can manually save their game, for instance, and dying doesn't mean King Arthur (the game's hero) gets hurled back to the beginning of the stage. Instead, whenever we died, we simply materialized exactly where we perished. How's that for convenience? So, in this regard, the games is less frustrating, but spend two minutes with it and it's apparent the game still packs serious challenge.

http://psp.ign.com/articles/689/689222p1.html

And now... I'm interested.

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/689/689222/extreme-ghouls-n-ghosts-20060216062311098.jpg

No, check that... very interested.

[Renzatic Gear]

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, Glock. One of the main draws to the G&G series is the absolutely evil challenge, and this might cheapen it a bit.

But on a good note, at least I know I won't break my PSP over my knee while playing it. :P

[Glockstar]

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, Glock. One of the main draws to the G&G series is the absolutely evil challenge, and this might cheapen it a bit.

But on a good note, at least I know I won't break my PSP over my knee while playing it. :P

Yeah, I know. But if it were going to be that difficult (again) I wouldn't even look at it. I'm not going to plop $40 on a game that I can't even get by the first level on.

That said, I'm sympathetic to your "distress". I think it's wrong for game makers to kowtow to the general public, or to dumb a game down for the casual gamer. Especially if the franchise earned it's place by being something different, or something special - or by being really difficult. If they wrecked the game for guys like you on account of guys like me... well, I will feel bad. Seriously. And I'll lose a lot of respect for Capcom. I wouldn't want anybody doing that to a game I love(d). (Like what the NHL has done to hockey; or like what the NFL is doing to football. :mad: )

I'm hoping that by "we simply materialized exactly where we perished", they mean that we restart from our last savepoint. If they're going to allow you to save anytime-anywhere (a feature in games, I LOVE btw) then the onus should be on the gamer as to where - and how - they restart after they die. Just simply having you respawn at the exact place and time of your death could really kill the game. Especially if they start you out anew with full meters and full everything and whatnot.

And I'll tell you something else, even with hearing that the game is made easier I'm still not sold on it. I have to find out what the control scheme is before I buy into it. If they're going to put heavy usage on the left trigger then I'm out. That button is totally dead to me - the ergonomics are awful and I can't use it. So, here again, why change the game for someone like me - someone who might not even get it - you know?

Here's hoping that they didn't change (or wreck) it too much. For your sake.

[Renzatic Gear]

I've read up on it a bit, and it seems like you might cycle through the new magic system using the L&R buttons. So you'll be using them, but they won't be critical or anything. The rest of it should be set up like it was for Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts for the SNES..square and X should be jump and shoot, and that's really all you need.

Reappearing where you die won't exactly kill the game, it can still be plenty difficult without having to restart at the beginning or middle of the level...but I don't know how they're gonna work in the new checkpoint system alongside that. If you reappear whereever you die, then what's the point of having the checkpoints? I guess it might have something to do with the more freeform levels.

None of this really ruins the game for me, I'm still almost completely head over heels for it...but it has caused me to give it a few sideways glances from time to time.

Edit: I just watched the video again...if they've made it easier, then they haven't made it much easier. It still looks to have all the split second jumping and shooting the previous games had, so that I'm not too worried about. I just hope that Capcom includes a classics mode that restarts you at the checkpoints whenever you die for the purists, but if it doesn't I won't fret too much.

Oh, and have you played any of the previous GnG games?

[Glockstar]

Oh, and have you played any of the previous GnG games?

Not me. Too scared.

[Renzatic Gear]

Whoa hell. Go and grab an SNES emulator and download a copy of Super GnG...you'll be glad you did.

[Glockstar]

Whoa hell. Go and grab an SNES emulator and download a copy of Super GnG...you'll be glad you did.

Be glad for getting my azz kicked? I don't know about that.

What do you know about the GBA game?

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=914326

If it's the exact same game, then I think that'd be the way I'd go.

Or heck, maybe I'll just try and find the original SNES game cartridge - I still have my SNES.

[Renzatic Gear]

It's the exact same game as the SNES version...save for a remix mode that has levels from Ghost 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts mixed in with the originals.

Or instead of the SNES version, you could get the Capcom Classics Collection for the PS2. It has all 3 versions packed in it.

[Glockstar]

I think I'd rather just keep it real; get the original SNES version.

I don't trust emulators. And that includes these compilation disks and re-makes.

[Renzatic Gear]

Eh, all the games I've played on the Capcom compilation are arcade perfect. No glitches, sound artifacts, or anything funky like that. I'd recommend getting the disc before tracking down the SNES cartridge anyday..specially since it has all 3 games on it.