Published by: Atari
Developed by: Terminal Reality
Release Date: June 11, 2009
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable
INTRO: There’s something strange in my neighborhood! Finally, after much ballyhoo, delays and tribulations, Ghostbusters has found a proper distributor and is finally seeing the light of day. Picking up as the third entry in the series, this one actually brings the entire old cast together for an all-new plot, with you assuming the role of a rookie Ghostbuster. Do you really need to know anything else? Oh yeah, that’s why you’re reading this review. Read on, Zeddemore!
Like Riddick’s game, this one takes familiar territory and gives it a new plot so this isn’t a movie tie-in, but a new entry into the Ghostbuster canon. This one is a labor of love and was clearly designed to rekindle past love for this fantastic franchise. And so, before I just wax nostalgic for hours, I must say this. This game feels like you’re right in the middle of a new adventure, and if you dig the movies you’ll be right at home here without a doubt.
GAMEPLAY:
Okay, let’s talk gameplay. The main idea here is that you’re busting ghosts and using different hardware to do it. Some ghosts just disappear because they’re weak, but others you must zap with your capture beam and then drag into the trusty trap. Since you’re the guinea pig for the team (Venkman doesn’t even want to know your name, since you’ll be dead soon), you get to try the new equipment, which is a nice way of saying you get upgrades.
The game is pretty linear, despite seeming a bit more open. When the game lets loose a little bit, you get lost because you’re never really sure where to go. This game really emphasizes teamwork too- in fact, it seems like there are many missions where you are quite simply spending all your time picking up your fallen foes. It gets to be very tedious after awhile, why can’t Egon lift himself up?
Your gun shoots stronger beams, you can freeze ghosts in stasis, cover them in slime with the slime blower and reel ’em in with the slime tether, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s lots of stuff you can do, and the more you destroy, the more money you get to buy stuff. I felt like all these additions didn’t really do a whole lot, but to each their own.
What bothered me the most about this game is the inability to really lock on. It looks like you’re shooting things, but when 4 proton beams cross, it’s hard to see what the hell is going on and you’re just left floating your reticule around and hoping to hit things (having to constantly ‘vent’ your pack gets old too). Also, the loading time is HORRENDOUS, close to a minute each time you die. Bah!
With that being said though, the gameplay is relatively solid and functional. Sure, things get hectic, but I guess that’s just a part of being the Ghostbusters. Also, how could they not have a multiplayer career? For shame!
Gameplay: 7/10
GRAPHICS:
Graphics look great, in my opinion. The texture and details employed when you see the proton beam will make you smile quite widely and the character models look pretty darn good. Ghosts look perfect as well, wait until you start trapping one for the first time- GB fans will be in heaven. Animation isn’t always perfect, but it isn’t awful either. Good stuff here, especially on the 360 version.
Graphics: 8/10
AUDIO:
The sound in this game is fantastic. There’s a ton of voice acting from the original cast, and that in itself really says something considering how weird and lame Bill Murray’s gotten in his dinosaur years. This often makes the game, and although there’s a ton of dialogue, sometimes I wanted them to shut up. The characters never stop talking and sometimes they recycle their lines. Trademark tunes are here too to add to the atmosphere and the ghosts sound great too.
Audio: 9/10
FINAL VERDICT:
I love the Ghostbusters. I loved the cartoon, the movie and even it’s inferior sequel. I am so glad that Aykroyd was and is so passionate about this stuff that he was able to pull this off. With that being said, this game looks like Ghostbusters, sounds like Ghostbusters, has lots of Ghostbusters moments and weapons, but I just didn’t love the gameplay. Did I enjoy playing this one? Absolutely, it was a fun ride. Would I play it again? Probably not. I guess it comes down to personal choice, but something about the gameplay just felt unfinished or something. Although, this could have been way, WAY worse and you definitely should check it out if you’re even kind of into Ghostbusters. It’s a matter of personal preference I suppose (like most games). I just didn’t love the controls, everything else is almost perfect. Get to it!
Final Score: 8/10