Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection

This feels like a return to the original title, which was a rite of passage thanks to its easy-to-pick-up play but insane difficulty that tested all but the most hard-core of gamers. Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection, which serves as a reboot of the franchise, honors that legacy by keeping all the core features that made the original so addictive. Visually, it keeps the original designs, but with more detail and a style that looks like a storybook brought to life. The game blends elements from both Ghosts 'n Goblins and its sequel, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, with returning enemies, worlds, weapons, and more, but it's also more than just a standard remake with a new coat of paint. New magic abilities and skills boost Arthur's arsenal against evil, and an expandable inventory lets players keep and switch out weapons on the fly. But the biggest addition is drop-in/drop-out support for a second player. Rather than adding another knight to the action, the second player controls "The Three Wise Guys," guardian spirits that can cast unique spells to aid Arthur in his quest while shooting projectiles at oncoming foes.

Players now have four different difficulty levels to choose from. The lowest Page setting lets players make progress, benefiting from fewer enemies and the ability to revive right from where they're defeated. On the other end of the spectrum, Legend is a brutal fight for survival requiring fast reflexes and timing that will challenge even the most expert gamer. Players can lower the difficulty as needed, but at no point should they expect a cakewalk. In fact, the game's biggest draw is also its biggest weakness, as many gamers are likely to get flustered as they die over and over and over again. What's even worse is when an accidental menu choice after the player's death resets your progress all the way back to the beginning of the current area. Even so, as difficult as the game may be, it's never boring, and every stage completed feels like a hard-fought, well-earned victory.