- System: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
- Publisher: Aksys Games
- Developer: Lentera Nusantara
- Release Date: Oct. 31, 2019
- Pricing:$39.99
- Rating: E10+
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform
- Players: 1
- Official Website: https://ghost-parade.com/
Who it Caters to
Ghost Parade also caters to players who like a story-rich game because it has a fully formed narrative, including a satisfying ending (no matter how predictable it may be). For gamers who have any interest in the supernatural especially, Ghost Parade follows through on the theme without being too dark or scary. It had a good balance of having the supernatural side of ghosts without alienating younger gamers or players who don’t want to play a horror game. The ghosts and even Suri, the main heroine, are quite cute! So Ghost Parade can appeal to a wide age range from younger players through adults.
What to Expect
Beyond offering a challenge alongside creepy-cute ghosts, you can expect great art and clean graphics form Ghost Parade. The character designs are very original, and each ghost has its own unique look. The forest setting is dark and mysterious but undeniably a beautiful place to explore as well. Ghost Parade has a very specific aesthetic that it is going for, and it achieves it well. In addition to the art, Ghost Parade is a story-rich game. It doesn’t sacrifice the narrative just for platforming gameplay, and the message it is trying to say is an important one about protecting the Earth - though in this case, for the sake of the ghosts.
Story
Suri wants to get home, and the ghosts want to save their home. Suri becomes their unexpected ally, and they hers, as they work together to try to save their home. Working with 30 different ghostly companions, each unique in their own way, they all have a “ghost of a chance” of succeeding! It’s up to you to navigate through the beautiful but dark forest to help the ghosts and find your way home.
Gameplay
Thus, a huge part of gameplay in Ghost Parade is the ghost companions that Suri meets along the way. There are 30 different companions to collect, and they all have their own unique abilities to help you on your journey. Which ghosts you use and how you use them are entirely up to you! Using these ghost companions in battles along with typical platforming gameplay, you have to survive the dangers of the forest and stop those who want to destroy it. Ghost Parade takes a tactical mind, problem-solving skills, which reflexes, and arguably a bit of luck to complete! Some of the bosses can pose quite a challenge.
Ghost Parade also fully supports trophies and achievements to share and compare your progress with your friends.
Honey's Gameplay Consensus:
Honey's Pros:
- Ghost Parade knows what its theme and aesthetic are (as we said earlier, creepy-cute) and follows through on it. The game stays true to that theme the whole time, with plenty of small details to add to the atmosphere it’s creating.
- There are 30 unique ghost companions to find and use the abilities of, which is a lot of different characters for you to build your party from. It’s really fun to discover them all!
- The forest levels can be completed in multiple ways, so Ghost Parade is not entirely linear.
- The art in Ghost Parade is all original and unique. Each ghost companion is different and special in their own way, as are the different stages of the forest. Even Suri herself has a memorable look that sets her apart from other game heroines.
- The narrative in Ghost Parade persists through the whole game and isn’t forgotten or overshadowed by gameplay. It motivates you to keep trying even when it’s hard so you can find out what happens next in the story.
Honey's Cons:
- Some platforming sequences are incredibly difficult, making Ghost Parade feel unbalanced. While most of the platforming parts can be completed in a few tries, there are sequences that players may get stuck on for unnaturally long amounts of time, causing unnecessary frustration.
- It’s hard to earn additional lives, even at save points. For players that are not used to the gameplay in Ghost Parade, it may be hard to ever finish the game.
- Ghost Parade isn’t very long for how much it costs to purchase, especially if you don’t get stuck on any levels or bosses and are able to progress through the whole game quickly.
Honey's Final Verdict:
Have you played Ghost Parade yet? What did you think? Do you agree with our review? Are you still thinking about whether or not to get the game yourself? Did we persuade you in either way? Let us know your comments and questions below!