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Posted on: Jun 16, 2009
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
WORDS BY: Dan Amrich
That’s assuming you don’t blow it to smithereens in the process. Terminal Reality’s Infernal Engine makes destruction beautiful; we loved watching priceless museum artifacts shatter from the force of proton streams, boson darts, and slime cannons. Switching between gear is easy with the D-pad (four bits of equipment, each with an alt-fire) and while there are a few puzzles along the way, most of the gameplay focuses on blasting anything and everything you see in the name of protecting NYC from the spectral world.
Naturally, specters live in the shadows, so we expected the game to be spooky and dark… but not this dark. It’s often tough to see the environment, and your PKE meter and night goggles are as close as you’ll get to a compass. Your fellow ’busters call out directions and advice throughout, but you’ll still get lost. A map or arrows would have been appreciated, as would checkpoint notifications, but Ghostbusters sometimes sacrifices its gameness in its quest to be a playable movie. That’s why characters provide you with both narrative and pathfinding, and why you can’t create your own Ghostbuster — the leading man was already cast. But after the much-publicized delay, not having co-op through the main campaign is still a disappointment. Who doesn’t like buddy movies?
You will find co-op in the multiplayer, in the form of three strung-together sequences, each offering variations on trapping, protecting, destroying, and even stealing ghosts from other players. Think Gears of War 2’s wave-based Horde mode, but with ghosts (and Bill Murray). Wrangling spectres for bragging rights is quite fun; it’s also the only mode in which you can play as the famous characters.
There are other forgivable nitpicks. The VO inevitably repeats, but at least it’s delivered with gusto. We spotted some slowdown during heavy action sequences, but they were brief (and pretty). During the climactic battle, our teammates actually got in the way of our shots and didn’t use their equipment wisely, but they acted pretty smart throughout the rest of the game. The campaign is only about 10 hours, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
But it all comes back to that word: style. Ghostbusters combines a tried-and-true structure with a familiar but fresh license, filling the game with personality and panache — and that’s what really raised our spirits.
PREVOn Xbox 360
- A digital reunion for a fun franchise.
- The trapping mechanic feels fresh and unique.
- No campaign co-op, no created players.
- Activision didn’t think there was a sequel in this? C’mon.
Sat, 10/17/2009 - 21:07
Posted by wickland
I thought this was a great game actually. Ghostbusters turned out being better than what I originally expected.
Sat, 08/01/2009 - 15:36
Posted by Biiiilly
i thought this game was only out on the ps3 at the moment because i havent seen it in any stores.
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 19:33
Posted by Maukrish
I purchased Ghostbusters and found it to be a really fun game but with two problems the first is that the campaign mode is definitely too short having been able to complete it within 5-6 hours and also the numerous cut scenes slow down the enjoyment. Every time I really got into it I found that the game would flip to another cut scene which really took the pace out of the game I would say definitely a rental but not something I would advise buying
Sat, 06/20/2009 - 18:23
Posted by Darth Hobbs
Hi Guys & Gals
When I first heard about the game being made I watched it from then on and I can't wait to play it. I live in the UK so I'm importing the US version so I don't have to wait for another 3 or 4 months till it comes out.
From what I've seen and read the game is everything we wanted out of a Ghostbusters game I'm looking forward to see it for my self.
Great and fair review Dan well done.
From Richard Hobbs
Gtag: Darth Hobbs
PSN ID: Hobbsy 2483
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 01:01
Posted by dallasquake
Considering how HUGE of a fan Dan is, I am optimistically cautious, but I am hearing some rumblings. I would like a second opinion from someone else, other then Dan, here on OXM. I have yet to play the game, and since there are no rentals anywhere near me, my only hope is for an Xbox Demo. So any chance of getting a Demo on Xbox? Also I have heard that your AI partners are quite stupid and get hurt all the time and that you spend most of your time reviving them??? Could someone tell me if this is true?? If so that is a Deal breaker for me!
Thanks
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:42
Posted by Dan OXM
If you cross the streams for a length of time, you get knocked back. It doesn't penalize you for the occasional stray shot, but if you repeatedly cross the streams without being aware of where you're shooting, you'll get knocked down after a voice-over warning.
That's better than a dimensional cross-rip, right?
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 09:30
Posted by ZVanquish5
In one of your guys' previews about Ghostbusters, the developers mentioned they were thinking of crazy ways of what happened if you mixed the beams. So what happens when you mix the beams?
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 06:48
Posted by rk1studley
this game is great so much better than prototype in my mind ghostbusters is fun gameplay meets great story that is what i am look for in game
www.rk1gaming.net
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 18:36
Posted by Spybreak
Hmm it seems like a solid rental, the full original voice cast helps, but maybe the multiplayer might persuade a purchase. Bad timing though, still need to pick up Red Faction and Prototype first lol.
