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Way back in the mid Eighties, Elite were the software company to license coin-ops. It was a time which brought them a great deal of kudos and financial success. In the early days of eight bit conversions everyone had a copy of Commando and Ghouls 'n' Ghosts.
How times have changed. That was five years ago and Elite have long fallen away as a major force in the industry having shown little interest in licensing coin-ops since. It's only belatedly that the 16 bit conversions of their classics have begun to appear.

Worse still Elite have to follow the US Gold conversion of the arcade sequel Ghouls 'n' Ghosts which won them awards after its release last Christmas. Ghouls clearly sets the standard by which this should be measured, with its brilliant sound and all round playability. Sadly the challenge seems to have proven too strong for Elite.

Whilst Ghouls is a superior coin-op with updated graphics and ideas, US Gold were able to convert it without great difficulty. So why does Ghosts 'n' Goblins require a meg? Its sales and appeal are restricted, yet there is little in the game which an Amiga couldn't cope with.

This isn't to say that the conversion is poor, simply that in the face of current competition that it looks a bit lacklustre. It follows the arcade's graphics closely but the sound is dire - although it was hardly a sonic wall of noise when it first appeared.
That said, the challenge posed by the game is undiminished and obviously, most would say, that's the main thing. True, but you'd expect that. Recreating the arcade spirit and finish is what separates real quality releases.

So then, Ghosts 'n' Goblins can be recommended but with deep reservations about its overall style and more significantly about its relevance when set against the current wave of 16 bit original product. Arcade conversions are fine but they need freshness, unless they are cult classics (which it could be claimed with some justification this is) and extremely well produced. Ghosts is simply too little far too late.

Mike Pattenden