Ghostbusters: The Video Game | Xbox 360 | Action-Adventure | June 16th, 2009

If you were to ask me if I was a god, I’d have to say Yes! Ghostbusters: The Video Game is finally here, and after being dropped by Activision almost a year ago, some of us thought this game would never see the light of day again. Thanks to Atari seeing the potential in it, we now have our hands on the most anticipated video game of the summer and it’s not even attached to a movie release. With writers and actors Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis back to reprise their characters and pen the script, it’s a Ghostbusters experience for everyone. The game holds itself up as being the spiritual third movie in the Ghostbusters franchise especially considering the way that the Ghostbusters team has grown up over the years, though talk of a 3rd Ghostbusters is having rumors fly around the internet. However, we are here to talk about the return of the Ghostbusters and you must be wondering, is it fun to bust those ghosts?

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a simple game to take in. It doesn’t take much too easily grasp the controls and take hold of the game and story as soon as it begins. The opening cinematic drops you right in the face of the Ghostbusters as something has gone completely wrong in the paranormal world and has risen itself to New York City yet again. The Ghostbusters are called to the scene, and you are a faceless new recruit who is refused a name by the team because they don’t want to get too attached to you in case you accidentally kick the bucket. Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis all return to reprise their roles as the original team.

 

You star as the fifth Ghostbuster on the team, commonly referred to as “The Rookie” or “The Recruit”. This of course is only a few of many nicknames you’ll hear in the game given to you by Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). It’s unfortunate that you aren’t given an identity and are turned into the weapons expert testing out all the new gadgets that Egon comes up with. It would’ve been nice to have some personality and attachment to the team. However, with the Ghostbusters themselves bickering and conversing back and forth on their own, I’m pretty sure fans and diehards wouldn’t have it any other way. The story itself is authentic and a little too stretched, but in the long run it still feels like that third Ghostbusters “movie” we’ve always wanted. The game itself will last you around 8 hours to complete and does a fairly good job of taking you from one scripted event to the next.

The Ghostbusters experience is all laid out in front of you. You move on from job to job eradicating and capturing all the ghosts along the way. What’s interesting about the game is that it’s able to traverse between the two worlds smoothly. One minute you’ll be walking down a normal hotel hallway and the next it’s suddenly filling with water and haunted by a fisherman ghost. Later in the game you’re transported to the spirit world where floating objects and book shaped monsters are the norm. With variety in check, you shouldn’t get too tired of your ghost hunting. The game manages to give you the big surprises out of the way first, for instance, having an epic battle with Mr. Stay Puft leaving smores all over the streets within an hour’s time.  Other boss fights don’t quite manage to be as consistent. You’ll battle everything you can imagine from the spirit world from the un-ordinary to the down right frustrating. While even as a diehard there will be some dull moments though the game tries to eliminate that by sending off to the next scripted event with little time wasted. The game tries its best to keep you attentive. When you’re not battling it out with the Library ghost, you’re picking up your team mates that have fallen from battle or scanning for new routes. There will be times when you’ll hit a wall and end up putting the game down for a while. This is where the online multiplayer hopes to pick up the slack.

 

The much hidden secret of the game, it's multiplayer, merely boils down to competitive ghost capturing. The different game types that are present are merely just different ways of capturing ghosts against co-operatively with other players. Though with Slime Dunk mode you are playing competitively against your fellow Ghostbusters and trying to be the first to capture the most Slimers within the time limit. You’ll earn bonus points for stopping the attempts of your fellow gamers in each match.

The game will be over before you know it. At times you’ll feel like you’re flying your way through each linear scripted event through the story. Other times you’ll find yourself frustrated to the point of taking a break from the game. If there’s one thing Terminal Reality managed to pin point is your Proton Pack. It’s expertly detailed down to every nook and cranny sees you carrying a very expensive piece of equipment. The wild feedback you see in the movie is presented as such in the game and flawlessly. No matter if you’re struggling to wrangle that ghost or blasting away at an eerily apparition. The Proton blasting just feels authentic. However, you will find a few new additions that will scratch your head a bit. You have things like the Slime Blower which works as advertised in the cartoon. You’ll fire a hose of slime against ghosts, “watering” them down you could say. With alternate firing modes for most of your gadgets, the Slime Blower acts like a rope helping you solve puzzles and connect objects together to move forward.

 

The second addition to the Ghostbusters arsenal is the infamous PKE meter. You’ll more then likely be spending most of your time in here scanning everything you’re eyes can see. It’s pretty evident that Terminal Reality went to great lengths to make the PKE as accessible and realistic as possible.  When you’re close to paranormal activity the arms lift up and your controller vibrates. It contributes to the great Ghostbusters experience and it works.

Ghostbusters offers about as close to authenticity as you’re going to get. It may not stand up to the likes of Bioshock or other higher quality titles, but for the sake of capturing the films atmosphere and style it’s perfect. The character models evoke the wacky and silly expressions we’ve come to known out of the foursome. With the expertly detailed Proton Pack on your back, it’s surprising that the game itself isn’t falling apart. Ghostbusters takes seriously every bit of attention to detail, even the firehouse, and the office of the Ghostbusters. However, if you’re like me….you’ll eventually get tired of hearing the Ghostbusters theme song after a few loading scenes.

 

With the original cast returning to reprise their rolls, there’s no drop in quality here. As mentioned earlier; Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis all return to provide the wacky humor we’ve come to love out of the team. While you’re character doesn’t get any sort of voice work at all, you will be the one providing all the grunts as you make you’re way through the story listening in on the Ghostbusters. The Ghostbusters theme song is shining throughout the game in all its glory. So, don’t be surprised if you’re tired of it after listening to it over and over through every loading scene.

Ghostbusters biggest draw is its nostalgia, given the fact that it’s been years since the two original films. With the original cast returning to voice their respective roles, it’s an even bigger treat for fans of the original movies. The atmosphere and attention to detail put into the game makes it feel like you’re watching that “spiritual third movie” everyone has been hoping for. The multiplayer does add to the replay value of the game, however, it doesn’t quite stack up to the single-player experience considering its lacking a bit of originality on its end.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a treat for both old and new fans alike. If you’re like me, you won’t get over the attention to detail and atmosphere presented throughout the game. While, the game may stop and start during its progression, and become a trek in the long run; it’s all worth it once you reach the end credits. It’ll take a bit of work to get there, but don’t give up. It’s all about busting ghosts and enjoying the team work with you and the rest of the Ghostbusters team. Ghostbusters: The Video Game is one you could live without but don’t want to miss.