Together Retro: Alone in the Dark & Ghosts N Goblins

[J T]

The NES Ghosts n' Goblins is a pretty accurate port of the arcade. The graphics are bigger and more detailed on the arcade. Sound is a little different, though musical compositions are the same. I'm partial to the NES music arrangements, but I'm sure that's tinted by nostalgia. Controls feel just a little more solid on the arcade, but the NES plays just fine. The level design is the same and gameplay feels almost identical, other than the NES being a little faster and looser.

Every level is hard earned in this game, but yes, by the time you are at Level 5... shit is bananas. You suddenly are faced with every annoying creature from prior levels, only you can't push through and gain ground anymore because of all the slow ladder climbing required. Instead, you have to fight and kill almost everything. It's such a hard game. The last level is also a boss rush. Ugh.

[J T]

Another helpful tip for GnG is that most levels have a hidden suit of armor part way through the level. Hidden armor is activated by jumping in the secret spot. The locations are usually on some unnecessary platform, or a side pocket of a wall. If you ever find any, make sure you memorize where it is because you may come to rely on using it to pass a level.

[J T]

Level 3:
The brown cavern is pretty easy. If you have lost your throwing daggers, you can often get them again here by killing zombies until they show up again.

The blue caves is where things start to get rough. Kill ghouls as soon as you see them emerge, otherwise you'll likely get stabbed by a flying spear. The real trick is getting past the red Firebrand demons. You can jump backwards while attacking forwards some of the time, but he will dive bomb you and you might get pounced. If you are patient and don't shoot, he will stop flying and go to ground level. Wait a second and he will fold his arms and do a little funky shuffle walk. If you immediately start throwing daggers once he starts this, he can be killed quickly in 4-5 hits. I usually combine these two strategies here. It's harder to use the shuffle walk technique with all of the stairs in this level.

If you survive the firebrands, you will reach a part of the caves with branching paths. Make your way to the top. Once you get to the top, there will be more blue gremlins, and a downward stair pattern to the right. If you jump down the stairs quickly, you can avoid a lot of tricky battles and push forward. There is one more Firebrand before the boss. It's best to kill him first, so he doesn't interfere with the boss battle.

The boss is a flying dragon. You want to keep jumping because he will rush you, and if you're on the ground when he does, you will get hit. You can take out pieces of his tail, but its the head you should be gunning for. Keep your distance and wail, and you should be able to eventually take him out.

[J T]

Level 4:
The eyeball platforms are weird. You can often jump to platforms that higher than you should be able to reach with your short jump. It doesn't seem to work everytime, but it can be necessary. Your best strategy is to get as high up as possible. You may have to be patient and wait for a few left/right cycles to jump from one eyeball platform to the next, since they don't cycle on the same time frame.

When you reach the lava room bridge, just haul ass. The faster you can push through this the better. You may have to stop to fight some Firebrands, but otherwise just gain ground.

The end boss is another dragon. Use the same tactics you used to defeat the last dragon.

[J T]

Level 5:
I hate this level. Goblins are everywhere and they throw fireballs now. Ghouls are always flying through walls where they are unreachable, yet still able to launch a spear in your head. The muscle men are back, but you often don't have enough space to dispatch them before they hit you. And then you meet your first Satan.

You should be terrified of any goblin carrying a basket because that may have the fire torch weapon. Whatever you do, don't pick that up. If it is at the base of a ladder you need to climb, kill yourself and start over. It's that bad. Stick with the daggers or cross shield only.

Though the cross shield weapon does suck, it has an advantage on this level because it can stop projectiles. It will just make killing the tatooed muscley ogres harder because you'll have less space to take them out with the cross shield's close range. You might want to use the eyeball platforms to help give you a safe escape plan, but be careful because the muscle men will stick out far from the ledge waiting for your return.

Satan will shield himself from your attacks. You will want to jump a lot to trick him into swooping in on you at a higher level, so you can duck when he eventually swoops in. Mind the projectiles.

[J T]

Level 6:

Boss rush! Use everything you have learned to defeat all the bosses again.

There is a hidden suit of armour on a midscreen platform near the dragon battle. If you managed to survive this far without losing armor, remember this spot because it is worth going back for later if you need it.

Mind the Firebrand demons, especially when fighting the muscle men. If you don't disturb them with a shot or by getting too close, they will sit still. Don't pick unnecessary fights. Count your shots when kiling the muscle men so you don't send a stray dagger at a Firebrand and piss him off.

There are two satans this time, try not to advance too far and you will only have to fight them one at a time. Both at once is a nightmare.

[TSTR]

this is an amazing guide

[J T]

this is an amazing guide

Thanks!

It was fun revisiting this game of my childhood. It still gives me difficulty, but its like riding a bicycle, and it all came back to me. I figured someone out there might benefit from my tormented childhood experience.

[ExedExes]

I started AITN last night. Graphics, dated yes. Commands in a separate menu instead of using various keys, a little antiquated way of doing it yes. But good so far? Absolutely. Thank goodness you can *run* is all I have to say. It's one I'll continue to get into. GOG version also has the bonus "Jack in The Dark" game and I even have 2 & 3. Nice.

As far as GNG, I've played the game competitively to death in the past few years. I guess I'll get my save game on the GBA version back and running. I'm on the 2nd loop there with that crazy bracelet.

[Betagam7]

I'm interested in getting hold of the Wonderswan Makaimura game for this. I forgot to bid on one today so missed out on what have been a fairly reasonable price for it.

I'm also keen to chalk off the interesting Alone in the Dark GBC game.

Both titles should be much easier to play on my backlit/frontlit systems.