When does the ghost appear
Before we dive into what to do when the ghost appears, let's explain why it appears in the first place. Most players will encounter the ghost seemingly at random, but there are two main ways for it to appear in your level. Either you break the phantom pot that features her image and a very precious jewel inside, or you linger too long on a stage. Break the pot and grab the jewel and it will start to float towards you from the screen, never stopping. The same will happen if you spend three or more minutes on a single level with the ghost seemingly scaring you and rushing you to the next area. Once it shows up, you don't have much of a choice on what to do.
How to kill the ghost
First of all, we're assuming the ghost works the same as it did in the first game, which is a safe bet given how other parts of the sequel work. Here's the thing, you really shouldn't be trying to kill the ghost in Spelunky 2. It's possible, of course, but only in the “anything is possible” sense of the word “possible”. With potentially 999 horsepower and a touch of instant destruction, pulling this thing off would be a huge undertaking, requiring tons of skill and luck in almost equal measure. To do this, you will need to stay away from its murderous touch while sprinkling it with any possible damage. But the real answer is not to try to kill him. The best method to deal with the ghost in Spelunky 2 is to run away.
How to escape or get away from the ghost
Whenever the ghost appears, your goal should be to leave the area as quickly as possible. You have to find the exit of the level quickly, then the star works your way down and down the level. If you have a compass that can be of great help here, perhaps allow you to grab the gem from the ghost jar without much hassle. Either way, once he's there your only real chance to escape is to make it to the exit and level up.
So this is how to kill or escape the ghost in Spelunky 2. If you ever kill him, be sure to send us a video.
