My First Time Beating a 'Impossible' Game: The Journey to Conquering Ghosts 'n Goblins

The Legend I Had to Conquer

There's a game that haunted my childhood: Ghosts 'n Goblins.

I first encountered it at a friend's house in the late '80s. We watched his older brother play, dying over and over, sometimes yelling at the TV, occasionally making progress. I was mesmerized. This game looked impossible, but he kept trying.

Years later, I understood why. But getting there was a journey.

The First Attempt (1991)

I finally got my own copy when I was 12. Full of confidence from beating Super Mario Bros and Mega Man 2, I thought I was ready.

I was not ready.

The first few levels seemed doable — challenging but fair. Arthur, the knight in shining armor, controlled precisely. The enemies were numerous but predictable.

Then came the Red Arremer.

That red demon. That swooping, diving, impossible-to-hit red demon.

I died. And died. And died again.

After a week, I gave up. The game was "stupid" and "unfair." I moved on to other games.

The Second Attempt (1995)

Four years later, I tried again. I was older, more patient, and had beaten Castlevania III — surely Ghosts 'n Goblins couldn't be harder?

It was harder.

But this time, something clicked. I started recognizing patterns. The Red Arremer wasn't random — it followed rules. I could predict when it would dive, when it would hover.

I made it to Level 3.

Then school got busy. The game went back on the shelf.

The Discovery (2006)

Fast forward to college. Emulators existed. Save states existed.

"Finally," I thought. "I can beat this thing."

Using save states, I made it through the entire game in an afternoon. Arthur reached the final boss, defeated Satan (yes, the actual Satan), and...

The game restarted. From the beginning. With a message saying I needed to beat it again to get the true ending.

I laughed. Then I cried a little. Then I respected the game even more.

The Real Attempt (2015)

At 36, I decided to do it properly. No save states. No cheats. Just me, the game, and however long it took.

I bought a USB NES controller. Set up my emulator. Started a journal to track my progress.

Week 1: The Fundamentals

I focused on the first two levels. Played them over and over until I could clear them without dying.

Key learnings:

• Always keep a weapon power-up available for tough sections
• The torch is underrated for ground enemies
• Never rush — patience beats speed

Week 2-3: The Middle Grind

Levels 3 and 4 required completely different strategies. Flying enemies demanded different positioning. The platforming got precise.

My death count was in the hundreds. But each death taught something.

Week 4-5: The Final Push

By now, I could reach Level 5 consistently. The end was in sight.

Then I remembered: I had to beat it twice.

Week 6: Victory

It happened on a Tuesday night. 11:47 PM. My wife was asleep. I was running on determination and stubbornness.

First loop: Completed. My hands were shaking.

Second loop: Harder. Enemies faster. Less margin for error.

I reached Satan again. Three lives left. I used one on learning his attack patterns. Then another.

One life remaining.

The fight took maybe three minutes. It felt like an hour.

And then it was over. Arthur saved the princess. The real ending played.

I sat there for ten minutes, not moving. Just feeling.

What It Taught Me

1. Mastery Comes From Repetition

I must have played Level 1 a thousand times. By the end, it was muscle memory. This applies to everything — writing, programming, any skill worth having.

2. "Impossible" Often Means "Not Yet"

Every obstacle in Ghosts 'n Goblins seemed impossible the first time. Every one became manageable with practice.

3. The Journey Is the Point

Beating the game with save states gave me nothing. Beating it properly gave me months of engagement, growth, and genuine accomplishment.

4. Patience Is a Skill

My 12-year-old self didn't have the patience to beat this game. My 36-year-old self did. That patience came from practice.

The Games That Challenge Us

There's a reason we remember the games that challenged us most. Easy victories are forgettable. Earned victories stay with us forever.

I still remember the exact moment I beat Ghosts 'n Goblins. I don't remember any of the games I breezed through that year.

Your Turn

If you've never experienced the satisfying frustration of a truly difficult retro game, I encourage you to try:

• Ghosts 'n Goblins — My nemesis, now conquered
• Battletoads — The speeder bike level alone...
• Contra — Challenging but achievable
• Ninja Gaiden — Fast-paced pain

Start with Contra if you want something accessible. Save Ghosts 'n Goblins for when you're ready to commit.

And when you finally beat that game that's been haunting you? That feeling is worth every death along the way.

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Want to understand why these games feel fair despite their difficulty? Read our analysis on the psychology of difficulty in classic games.