OVERALL RATING		4.0
Presentation		4.5
Control		4.0
Gameplay		4.0
Fun factor		5.0
User Rating		4.0

One of the true classics in both arcade and console, Ghosts ‘n Goblins has always been one of my favorite games because of its platform style and out-of-this-world challenge.  Endless nights have I spent trying to rescue the fair princess as Sir Arthur, so when I got the chance to play it on a phone, I just couldn’t pass it up.

In Ghosts ‘n Goblins, a kingdom has come under attack from creatures of the night and Sir Arthur has bravely fought them back.  One day, while on a picnic with his beloved, the demons struck by surprise and captured her.  The gallant knight had no course but to go after the demons and rescue the fair maiden.  He must now trek through haunted lands infested with ghosts, goblins, demons and undead fiends to save her and find peace.

Sir Arthur will have weapons to use like a sword, fire and daggers.  These will be thrown at enemies but only one type can be carried at a time and will deal different amounts of damage.  (I’ve always preferred the daggers myself.)   He will run, jump and climb ladders through three horizontal or vertical scrolling levels (divided into six total areas) to rescue his sweetheart.  At the end of each level, he will also face a Boss demon.

If you’ve ever played Ghost ‘n Goblins, you will notice that this mobile version is a near-flawless recreation of the home console game, with a few exclusions.  Obviously, the game isn’t as long and a few enemies have been removed, like the sorcerer who turned Arthur into a frog.  Nevertheless, most of the memorable enemies and dangers make their appearance.  The unforgettable music is also present through each of the levels, though sound effects have been left out.

The game maintains a sizeable amount of difficulty from the original, which is also probably magnified because of the handset controls.  Remember that you’re no longer playing with a joystick or controller, so the keypad will do little to help your quest.  However, the controls do react very well and give you a choice of two schemes to at least make it slightly more comfortable.

Ghost ‘n Goblins is an excellent reproduction of the adventure game that belongs on the A-list of classic-to-mobile titles.  Being such a fan of the original, I was afraid my expectations would set me up for disappointment, but I’m so glad that wasn’t the case.  It’s understandably shorter, and not as difficult, but this in no way detracts from a mobile game that begs to be played.