Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Licensed video games have always been a hit or miss affair for me, from this beloved franchise to me there have only been two that were really good the Genesis game and the Arcade game from Data East. This game is number three on that list and I'm proud to say this is my favorite one.

The graphics are excellent, I really love the detail to New York as well as some of the dark enviorments which I find really creepy, the one that sticks out is the Lovecraftian castle structure. But most importantly the character models which are great, the Ghostbuters look just like the actors when they were that age in the 80's. However most impressive are the ghosts whom are all unique, memorable, and creepy. and each have different abilities, as well as a few of the bosses. Music was also great from the old tracks we know well along with a few new ones.

The story is excellent, it is well written and feels like this is the third and final sequel that never came to the silver screen; I love that the story adds more to the mythos of both the first and second films as well as has a bit more of a Lovecraftian feel.

The voice acting is spot on, I really love that most of the cast members from the first and second film got to do this and the dialog they deliver is excellent, there are actually a few jokes that are memorable and made me crack up. Though there are also a few new people like actor Max Von Zetow one of my favorite actors got to play the voice of Viego whom was the villain from the second film. I thought he voice fit like a glove for this role it was as creepy and menacing as ever and I love the fact in this story this villain is having a second go in his plight; Viego is a sorcerer after all, who is to say he didn't have a back up plan.

But most importantly the game play is excellent, it really made you feel like a Ghostbuster which is part of what a good licensed game should do. I really like that you get to use some of the famous gadgets that the Busters got to use like the PKE Meter, Googles, you name it. And the control is excellent along with the combat, really like that you get to fight against the Marshmellow Man that was a gratifying feel.

You have a variety of weapons from the regular streams, happy slime, blue beams, etc. Each of those weapons are effective against certain specific ghosts so prioritize. Also the weapons have a catch as you pack can overheat or charge is low depending on how long you fight or what is lacking in your pack, and you have to wait a certain amount of time before their on the right level again, so pick your shots carefully.

There is even RPG elements as each of the ghosts you capture you gain money and you can buy things to upgrade you weapons and strength of you character. But part of what makes the game stand out is in it's teamwork element, you really have to watch you buddies backs just as they watch yours. Like with the parties in RPG games, if one guy is down then you have to do your best to revive him, it's really important because the number of teammates functional are the only way the overwhelming outcome can be overcome.

The only bad thing about the game is that it was kinda short by my standards, I beat the game in about three days and personally wouldn't of minded if it was a bit longer, like in one level or two dealing with Sam Hein and his forces. But then again same could be said about a lot of other video games out there, the ride is short but a sweet ride.

Ghostbusters the Video Game is a busting good time.

Rating: 4 stars

In the heart of Manhattan, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Peter Venkman (Billy Murray) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are scientists who careers are all falling as parapsychologists. After an idea that seems silly, this team creates their own company. Their idea involves a company stopping the ghosts of New York City and they are a team who eventually who's has to save the world. This is the movie Ghostbusters.

What first could be said about this 1984 film is that it definitely relies on the characters. Peter Venkman is the person in the group that could be called the James Belushi of the group. He's the type of guy who basically "slacked" his way to being a scientist and who spends most of his time trying to get at Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) who's apartment was the first place Zuul, a creature wanting to take over the world was found. Egon is the smart guy who is not be messed with and it is his way or the highway. Ray is likely the most likable person of the group who seems to like everyone. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) joins the ghostbusters group midway through their success but he's the least developed character of them all. Now retired actor Rick Moranis plays Louis Tully who's the nerdy neighbor of Dana who also trying to get Dana's interest and who eventually has his own encounter with Zuul. This is a cast that works so well together and are equally funny and energetic.

The movie takes this original idea of people fighting and eliminating ghosts and gives it quite a bit of depth. The movie is filled with great special effects that are ahead of it's time and the movie also has a cool 80's New York vibe. The plot is more convoluted then it needs to be at times this is the type of story that would only come around in the 80's but is filled with so many highlights that the flaws seem insignificant.

To find someone who doesn't know what Ghostsbusters is in our society, is hard to come by. This is a type of art that will live on forever and creates new audiences daily. Ghostbusters is truly a revolutionary film that you can't get enough of. It is one of those films you could watch ten times without getting tired of it and there aren't many films you can say that about. This movie is truly remarkable indeed.

Set in 1991, it seems New York's favorite paranormal eliminators known as the Ghostbusters are still catching ghosts since the events of 1989 when they went back in business. A new recruit joins our fellow men as a different kind of evil force is creating chaos from the Sedwick Hotel to all the way to Central park where the boys with the rookie must yet again vanquish the forces of evil.

An outstanding movie based game that proves not all movie tie-in games blow! i love how this game for the Xbox360, PS3 and other systems manages to be a sort of third movie but as a video game until we get the real GB 3 coming next year. The original cast such as Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Dan Ackroyd, Annie Potts, William Atherthorn and Harold Ramis return to reprise their characters as well as 2 new characters voiced by Brian Doyle Murray and Alyssa Milano are introduced, the graphics are surprisingly well done including the settings. The controls are very good especially when your catching ghosts as well as doing new tricks like Boison-Darts to the slime-shooting like in Ghostbusters 2 if you recall.

There is terrific voice acting as well as the script written by Dan and Harold who worked on the first 2 movies scripts is quite good for a game. It's a fairly simple if sometimes hard in a couple of levels kind of game that actually satisfies the Ghostbuster fan including myself and brings back some familiar characters such as Stay-Puft to Slimer, this one introduces the guy who made the Gozar worshipers in the old days and who is the one behind the river of slime from Ghostbusters 2. I also love how it uses the original movie's soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein as well as the famous song everyone knows.

One of the best games i've ever played for it is the best GB game since the Sega Genesis GB game and the Arcade Real GB game, however it is a BIG improvement over those horrible NES GB 1 & 2 games.

I've been a fan of ghost busters since i was a kid. i saw the movies, watched the cartoon, i was even a ghost buster for halloween when i was 8 years old.

well i was looking through game demo's on xbox live and saw that there was a Ghost Busters video game. so i downloaded the demo and played it. at first i wasn't too impressed. catching the ghosts were fun and awesome but i felt the demo showed it as more of a puzzle game. well 2 years past since then and i was in the store looking for a cheap game to entertain me and i saw it on the shelf and it was pretty cheap. so i decided oh well i guess ill get it. it will entertain me for a while.

while playing it i actually got into it. the characters were just as i remembered. especially Bill Murray's character. and i got really excited to fight the Stay Puft marshmallow man lol.

well yea it is sort of a puzzle game and it seems even more ridiculous than the ghost busters movies but you got to remember Ghost Busters is not supposed to be a horror movie or game. its supposed to be a comedy and this team of misfits just gets into this kind of trouble while investigating and catching the paranormal.

Hi, I'm from the 80s and I have played Ghostbusters games before.... none I really enjoyed to be totally honest.

This one I liked. I really didn't want to be "The New Guy" character the saves the day because that always felt a bit Mary Sue for movie based video games. I was sort of hoping to be Winston, at least, since he was the new guy in the first film. Or, switch off between the four.

I got the Mary Sue instead and... a little disappointing. But some of the expressions on his face are pretty priceless. So it was cool that they took the time to convey a sense of humor through facial expressions.

The story is pretty good, and the gameplay, well, don't play it on casual, there is ZERO challenge... and my wife is the gamer of the two of us. So, I figured if she was playing the medium level I should go down to a handicapped level.

And then we both upped it to the maximum difficulty because, the game is a bit too easy otherwise, and you end up just playing out the story.

But, once you find that happy OK this is a bit of a challenge setting (the most difficult one they offer) the game becomes a lot of fun. You really get the feeling that you are a Ghostbuster, and that you are hanging out with them. And really, that is all I wanted out of this.