Every so often, a retro project turns up that makes you stop and say: hang on, that machine can do that? That’s exactly the case with a brand new, fan-made arcade-style version of Ghosts ’n Goblins for the Commodore Plus/4.
Yes, the Plus/4. The often-forgotten sibling in Commodore’s 8-bit family. And yet, here it is running something that looks and feels far closer to Capcom’s brutal 1985 arcade classic than it should
From butchered port to proper arcade feel
Back in the 1980s, home computer versions of Ghosts ’n Goblins were… variable. Some were decent, some were rough, and the Plus/4 version in particular was heavily cut back. Fewer levels, no music, and lots of compromises thanks to tiny memory limits.
This is how it looked:
Now, compare that with the Commodore 64 version, which was doing some pretty heavy lifting itself:
This new release throws that history in the bin.
Built by modern retro developers pushing old hardware to its limits, this version aims to recreate the arcade experience as closely as possible on Plus/4 hardware. That means:
- Side-scrolling action across seven stages
- Proper enemy variety and level structure
- Music and sound effects during play
- Much smoother animation than earlier attempts
All of this on a machine with just 64KB of RAM! Here’s how it looks:
It actually looks like Ghosts ’n Goblins
The biggest shock is visual. This doesn’t look like a “well, you can sort of tell what it is” port. Arthur is recognisable. Enemies animate cleanly, the backgrounds have colour and detail, and most importantly, it feels like Ghosts ’n Goblins, rather than a vague clone.
Performance is strong too. There’s none of the constant chugging you might expect from such an ambitious project on limited hardware.
The developers have added difficulty options, with the option of an easier mode if you just want to see the levels and enjoy the spectacle, or a cranked up “die, retry, die again” arcade-realistic punishment.
It still feels tough, though. Arthur is still fragile, enemies still swarm you, and losing your armour is still as humiliating as ever.
Another belated Plus/4 hit
For Plus/4 fans, this is huge. The system doesn’t get the same love as the C64 or Spectrum, so seeing a headline-grabbing release like this puts it firmly back in the spotlight. Today’s retro coders have the time, tools, and deep knowledge of these machines to create amazing new versions like this.
And for Ghosts ’n Goblins fans, it’s another fascinating way to experience one of the most infamous arcade games ever made — this time on a machine that was never supposed to handle it this well. About a year ago, I was impressed with a version of Stunt Car Racer for the Plus/4, and Ghosts ‘n Goblins really pushes the notion that Commodore’s forgotten 8-bit really was overlooked.
You can download Ghosts ‘n Goblins for the Plus/4 at Plus4World.com.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
