Toying with the gods of arcade hits past is a dangerous business. When in the past the hits of old were revamped and released again, they tended to fall into two categories. Both categories usually involved some major improvements in keeping with the newest technology. Developers just couldn't help themselves. The exceptions tend to come from side-scrolling shooters that just needed to be released with a buff and a shine on the visuals. Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins fits into the category of old games that didn't need more than a new face to be awesome. Nostalgia probably meets its match here since Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins looks very little like its 8-bit cousin. The spirit of the old game is here, much more than the last PlayStation adaption of the franchise. Those who played Maximo know what I mean... The graphics are pure 2D dreaminess. Light trails in weapon effects and textures on everything including enemies make this a real jewel to behold. If this version had come to PS2 nearly this good we would have dropped our collective jaws. Visual touches like the animation of enemies abound and the replay value is high if only to see all the nice design touches.

The sound effects and music are equally amped up. The music is stirring if a bit lacking in variety. Heroic soundtracks were rare in the 8-bit days, although I still think Tron could raise my neck hairs today. Creepiness and chivalry mix nicely in Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins to create the right aural setting for some platforming mayhem. It would have been nice to see more in the way of animated cut scenes or boss intros, so that's my suggestion for the next release.

Fans of the original - are there really any fans of the original likely to play this? - know the adrenaline rush that a nearly impossible platformer can create. In a crowded genre of side-scrolling games, Ghosts 'N Goblins was a standout. The story is your standard "princess kidnapped...must rescue" affair with the twist of some darkness a la Diablo thrown into the typically saccharine old-school platformer. Forget butt-bouncing, Jack. This hero wears thick armor and carries some pointy steel weapons and throws magic fireballs like they're going out of style. From one stage to the next, you face off against more difficult bad guys and have to collect items and powerups to keep the killing field level. Jumping and running, climbing and avoiding an environment that seems to be an enemy in itself... this is an active game to be sure.

What makes Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins engrossing is that there is so much in any single level to do. Simply beating enemies isn't usually enough to carry you through the game. Collecting armor, weapons and magic items lets you improve your offensive capabilities. Other items recharge health or armor and protect you from a ravenous horde of evil minions and bosses. The minions can sometimes seem as bad as the bosses in other games, which speaks to the difficulty of the game. Weapon upgrades and shields or armor help you in most cases, but cursed items keep things interesting. What would have made things even more interesting would have been some multiplayer or online component. Okay, I'm nitpicking. The fans of classic gaming collectively scoff at me, but I say that developers who don't take advantage of the wireless ad hoc or infrastructure in PSP are behind the curve. Even some kind of item collection scheme or medal system that could be reflected in an online winners' board would have made the stakes a bit higher. The idea of a cooperative two-player version through ad hoc is apparently one whose time has not yet come.

True to its roots, Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins is obscenely difficult. To appease the mortals in the room, Capcom offers three difficulty levels. If Novice can be as hard as it is, there are few among us who will master the Ultimate difficulty mode. What makes Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins so difficult is a combination of enemies with "always on attack" A.I. and an environment that is crumbling and moving constantly. Don't even think about relaxing during a level or waiting to time that perfect jump. Whether in Novice mode or beyond, the pace is breakneck. Anyone looking for a cerebral platformer with puzzles and complex bosses will be majorly disappointed, but if you know good button-mashing when you see it, this is your ticket to nouveau-retro Nirvana.

Like any good arcade redux, Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins doesn't stray far from pick-up-and-play mechanics. There is a sort of inventory system that crops up in order to switch shields and magic or warp between levels. This assumes you've actually secured one such item during a level - the warp staff is usually the hardest to find. Where weapons are concerned, there isn't anything required but a well-timed jump to free up some new offensive gadget. Certain items are hidden away and require you to destroy something before they are revealed. Other items are in plain sight, but may be hard to reach. In all cases, collecting items while dodging beasties and not falling into a flaming pit can be a bit...difficult. Using items like magic and shields may not seem important or possible at first, but as you get deeper into the game, the use of props became more and more critical.

The 10+ rating deserves a mention because the update from Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins' 8-bit ancestor made the dark themes much more visceral. Parents who like to read reviews before letting their kiddies buy games would be wise to screen this game as a rental if images of hellish minions gives you any pause. Dark and spooky as the setting may be, there isn't any of the kind of realistic violence depicted in a GTA or a military shooter. Waves of blood and demons are about as bad as it gets. Unless you're afraid of giant spiders and snakes. Yes? Well, happy dreams. Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins is actually a dreamy classic brought back to life and any gamer looking for an arcade experience without big stacks of quarters is advised to grab this off the shelf.