Stepping into a game completely unaware is one of the most rewarding experiences for any gamer. Like discovering a hidden gem in a vast digital library, these blind playthroughs can lead to unexpected favorites. For me, Shovel Knight was one such revelation, a game I knew nothing about prior to reviewing, yet it quickly became a beloved title of its generation. Horizon Chase Turbo followed suit, captivating me with its Out Run-esque charm and solidifying itself as a top single-player racer. Then came Ghost Song Ghost. Assigned seemingly at random during the Halloween season, this 2013 Kickstarter project, of which I had zero prior knowledge, instantly charmed me. Drawing clear inspiration from Super Metroid and the Souls series, and echoing the brilliance of Hollow Knight, another surprise hit for me, Ghost Song Ghost carved out its own unique and captivating space in my gaming library.
In Ghost Song Ghost, you embody Deadsuit, an enigmatic, armored figure who awakens on an uncharted planet. The narrative quickly unfolds as Deadsuit encounters a group of human crash survivors in need of assistance. Adding to the mystery, Deadsuit itself is unsure of its own origins – robot, human, or even spaceship? This existential uncertainty, however, takes a backseat to the immediate task: aiding the stranded humans. The mission is clear: traverse five distinct locations across this alien world to retrieve essential replacement parts for the humans’ vessel, the Gambler. This quest plunges Deadsuit into treacherous subterranean environments teeming with hostile creatures, setting the stage for a compelling Metroidvania adventure in Ghost Song Ghost.
The game world of Ghost Song Ghost is a loving nod to Super Metroid, instantly recognizable in its design. Color-coded sectors delineate different areas, encouraging exploration and hinting at interconnected pathways. Hidden passages abound, often concealed behind destructible walls, rewarding curious players who venture off the beaten path. Scattered throughout the map are colossal, dormant robots. These serve a dual purpose: acting as fast-travel hubs to expedite traversal across the sprawling world and functioning as upgrade stations, allowing for character progression. While save points are reasonably frequent, they aren’t overly abundant. This design choice means that death in Ghost Song Ghost carries a weight, often necessitating a trek back through previously explored areas, adding a layer of tension to each encounter. Combat in Ghost Song Ghost revolves around Deadsuit’s arm cannon, reminiscent of Samus Aran’s iconic weapon. However, Ghost Song Ghost introduces a twist: the cannon can overheat with sustained fire, temporarily weakening its shots. This is where the melee combat system comes into play. A heated cannon translates to a fully charged melee attack, encouraging players to dynamically switch between ranged and close-quarters combat, adding depth to the moment-to-moment gameplay of Ghost Song Ghost. Exploration is further incentivized by the discovery of new melee weapons. From spears to devastating short-range punches, and my personal favorite, the Painwheel – a boomerang-like spiked shield dealing massive damage when fully charged – these weapons diversify combat options and encourage experimentation within the world of Ghost Song Ghost.
Beyond melee enhancements, Deadsuit also uncovers various sub-weapons for the arm cannon, such as missiles and charge shots. These offer tactical advantages and encourage players to adapt their arsenal to different enemy types and situations within Ghost Song Ghost. Modules, functionally similar to Charms in Hollow Knight, add another layer of customization. Each sub-weapon and Module requires a specific energy allotment to equip, and Deadsuit’s energy pool is level-dependent. This system encourages players to carefully consider their loadout, finding synergistic combinations that complement their preferred playstyle in Ghost Song Ghost. I personally gravitated towards prioritizing Modules over multiple sub-weapons, focusing on passive buffs and enhancements. Defeating enemies in Ghost Song Ghost yields “NanoGel,” the game’s currency. NanoGel serves multiple purposes. It can be spent at the Gambler’s trading post or a hidden shop to acquire items, but its primary function is to level up Deadsuit at the aforementioned fast-travel points. Leveling up allows players to enhance three core traits: HP, attack power, stamina, and energy capacity, directly influencing Deadsuit’s base stats and overall effectiveness in Ghost Song Ghost. The catch is that the cost of leveling increases with each subsequent level, creating a resource management element to character progression.
Ghost Song Ghost, like many modern games, integrates elements inspired by the Souls series, contributing to its challenging yet rewarding nature. Combat is demanding, requiring precision and careful observation. Most enemies hit hard, and my initial hours with Ghost Song Ghost involved cautiously studying each new creature’s attack patterns and vulnerabilities. Healing items, crucial for survival, can be activated at any time and are replenished at save points. Mastering their strategic use is essential for navigating the dangers of Ghost Song Ghost. Death, a frequent occurrence, carries a penalty: a portion of your accumulated NanoGel is dropped upon defeat. Retrieving it necessitates a potentially perilous journey back to the point of demise, adding a risk-reward element to exploration and combat in Ghost Song Ghost. Unlike Hollow Knight, Ghost Song Ghost lacks a “bank” system for safeguarding NanoGel. This absence can heighten the tension, especially when facing challenging sections of the game, as accumulating a large reserve of currency becomes a riskier endeavor.
Boss encounters are where Ghost Song Ghost truly tests player skill and patience. Several optional bosses exist, often rewarding successful players with valuable sub-weapons or Modules. However, the mandatory bosses, guarding the essential replacement parts for the Gambler, present formidable challenges. These encounters often devolve into wars of attrition, demanding meticulous pattern recognition and skillful evasion. Offensive opportunities are often fleeting, requiring patience and disciplined gameplay. While this approach can become somewhat repetitive, it mirrors the boss design philosophy found in Hollow Knight, rewarding perseverance and strategic play in Ghost Song Ghost. Experimentation with different loadouts and Modules can certainly alleviate some of the difficulty, but brute force tactics are rarely effective. Victory in Ghost Song Ghost’s boss battles hinges on patience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to learn from each encounter.
The world of Ghost Song Ghost, while undeniably beautiful, feels somewhat underdeveloped in certain areas. Visually, Ghost Song Ghost is stunning. Every frame is meticulously crafted, creating breathtaking and often alien environments. Creature sounds reverberate through cavernous spaces, Deadsuit’s armor realistically reflects the terrain, accumulating slime and fluids as it traverses varied surfaces, and darkness yields to unexpected bursts of color. This attention to detail imbues the planet with a palpable sense of life, making it feel more tangible and immersive than many other game worlds. I particularly appreciated the sparse outdoor areas and the oppressive, industrial atmosphere of the Junk Pit. However, some areas within Ghost Song Ghost feel less purposeful, serving primarily as pathways to designated destinations. The brief underwater section, while visually distinct and tranquil, feels somewhat disconnected, a fleeting tangent that doesn’t meaningfully integrate with the larger game world of Ghost Song Ghost. The musical score primarily leans towards atmospheric and ambient soundscapes. While fitting and well-executed, the few melodic themes are understated and serene. While I personally enjoyed the subtle soundtrack of Ghost Song Ghost, players seeking more traditionally upbeat platformer tunes might find it lacking.
Throughout Ghost Song Ghost, Deadsuit encounters various human and android characters, primarily associated with the Gambler crew. These interactions are consistently engaging, often triggering events in other areas and enriching the game world. The writing is impressive, imbuing each character with a distinct personality and relatable struggles. Themes of identity and purpose permeate these conversations, and while Deadsuit embodies these themes, its silent protagonist nature often creates a sense of emotional distance. Despite occasionally offering brief responses, Deadsuit frequently communicates through ellipses, maintaining an air of mystery but potentially hindering deeper connection with the supporting cast of Ghost Song Ghost.
Despite its occasional difficulty spikes, a few minor shortcomings detract from the overall experience of Ghost Song Ghost. The system for swapping sub-weapons and Modules is cumbersome. Activating the equipment submenu requires holding down on the D-pad to effectively “turn off” Deadsuit. Crucially, the game does not pause during this process. This design choice prevents equipment adjustments during active combat, particularly in demanding boss encounters. While this unpausable submenu is reminiscent of Souls-like games, it feels like an unnecessary inconvenience in Ghost Song Ghost. Discovering that your current loadout is ineffective mid-boss fight often necessitates intentional death and subsequent re-equipping upon respawn.
Platforming on small ledges can also be unexpectedly challenging. Deadsuit frequently slides off seemingly stable surfaces, as if these ledges possess rounded edges. Technically, Ghost Song Ghost occasionally suffers from frame rate drops, even during simple exploration. While these drops, in my experience, never impacted combat encounters, they are noticeable. A recent patch aimed to lock the frame rate at 30fps, but I still encountered occasional dips. Furthermore, loading times when transitioning between color-coded sectors of the map can be noticeably longer than screen transitions within a sector, disrupting the flow of exploration in Ghost Song Ghost.
Despite these minor misgivings, I thoroughly enjoyed Ghost Song Ghost, playing through it with an enthusiasm I typically reserve for new Shantae releases. Challenging boss fights were present, but mirrored my experience with Hollow Knight, evoking a similar sense of accomplishment upon overcoming these obstacles. The satisfaction of finally defeating a particularly tough boss in Ghost Song Ghost is immense, offering a rewarding sense of relief and progress. However, the demanding boss battles might not appeal to all players. Ultimately, if you are a fan of Metroid, Hollow Knight, or the Souls series, Ghost Song Ghost is definitely worth experiencing.
