About a decade ago, I had my first exposure to Ghost Trick via the Nintendo Channel on my Wii. They had several demos you could upload to a Nintendo DS for cool games like Rhythm Heaven, Picross 3D, and, of course, Ghost Trick. I liked checking them out, because after all, what better way to see what the DS had to offer?

Without getting into the story, Ghost Trick is a game that leaves an immediate impression on you. From the highly stylized graphics to Masakazu Sugomori's signature compositions, to the vibrant characters and intriguing storyline, this is not a game you simply "check out."

Having played the game from start to finish multiple times, and even considering playthroughs of it a reoccuring pilgrimage for me (I have 200%'d it on RetroAchievements just because I could, if that's any indication), I can safely attest that it's a timeless masterpiece well worth playing even today. Even tomorrow. Even in another decade!

Alas, due to Capcom's infamously poor marketing campaign for Ghost Trick, it ended up selling poorly, and worse yet, falling under the radar, becoming a so-called hidden gem. For years, I simply couldn't find the game in any store near me. The iOS port existed, but I had no iOS device to play it... not to mention the port eventually became defunct with Apple's decision to remove support for 32-bit apps.

I want to make it clear that I am by no means a "casual" fan of this game. It has shaped the way I look at video games, and I'd liken its existence to that of a very good book. Every aspect of its design, from the moment you start it up, to the moment you're returned to the title screen after beating it, is meticulously crafted in a way that no other game I've played has ever been. It does not need a sequel. It does not need a remake. Anyone who's beaten it knows it is already perfect.

And yet, in my many years of knowing about the game, and indeed, shamelessly having played it in an emulator several times over (reminder: I didn't feel like buying a second phone just for one game), Capcom seemed to simply have forgotten about it.

I poked my head into Capcom's many Twitter accounts on June 19, 2020. That was the 10th anniversary of the game's initial release. I expected them to finally announce, or at least acknowledge, anything related to Ghost Trick.

Not even a single tweet was made to acknowledge its existence. As far as I could tell, the game was, ironically, a ghost.
Its memory lingered in everyone who had played it, but with the only two versions either not being sold anymore, or not running on modern devices, it was as good as dead.

I went on with my life, fully aware that Ghost Trick was never coming back. My hopes and dreams had been crushed by the deafening silence on that fateful day.

Out of nowhere, Capcom announces Ghost Trick. "Yeah, we're bringing Ghost Trick back. It's in HD. Animations run at 60 FPS. We made an arranged soundtrack. It's on every modern platform. It's only $30."

I'd say I was shocked, but truth be told I thought I was being messed with. A quick search led me to the website, and indeed, it was owned by Capcom. This was real. It was finally happening.

I would've settled for a simple port. It would've been fine. Like I said, the game was already perfect. Just put the iOS version on Nintendo Switch and call it a day.

Instead, I got everything I could've ever wanted and more. This remaster truly respects the source material in a way I never expected Capcom to even be capable of.
It fills my soul with joy, having waited over a decade for the opportunity to finally buy this game on a platform of my choice, with all these additions and improvements present. It feels so cathartic to open social media and see people finally being able to play the game that I and so many others had the chance to experience all those years ago!

Saying I'm grateful is an understatement. I'm never asking Capcom for anything ever again*.

Look, if you're still reading this and don't know whether or not this is the game for you, do what I did a decade ago and download the demo. Launch the demo. Play it.

Whether you enjoy it or not, whether you're going to buy the remaster or not, I can guarantee you, it's not an experience you'll ever forget. This game leaves an impression on you. If you're on the fence about it, take your time and maybe someday you'll be ready to give it a chance.

I can't think of a more fitting way to end a review for my favorite game of all time than to repeat my unofficial catchphrase...


*Oh yeah, there is one thing missing from this re-release... I want to buy the soundtrack. It's not on Steam, it's not on Spotify, it's not anywhere. Last I checked, the only release was an obscure CD in 2010.
If Ace Attorney Trilogy can get a Steam soundtrack, so should Ghost Trick, and I won't be truly satisfied until I have all these banging beats and melancholic melodies in crisp FLAC quality, preferably both iterations.
Come on, Capcom. Let me buy the music.

The music has been unleashed. This re-release is now as close to perfect as it could ever get. Thank you.
It can be streamed on Spotify[open.spotify.com] (lossy audio, Japanese track titles) and bought here on Steam with English track titles and FLAC audio quality.

Update 2: They just removed Denuvo[steamdb.info], making the main executable drop from 380 MB to just 54 MB. If you were waiting to buy it when they remuvo Denuvo, now's your time.