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Ghostbusters: The Videogame
Xbox 360
If there’s a new game, in your neighbourhood – who you gonna call? HM! Ok, not quite as good as the actual theme tune to Ghostbusters, nor does that sentence make much sense, but I’m here to review it whether you like it or not (bad jokes included)!
The game is based on the 1984 hit film, which follows a team of men dressed in grey jumpsuits, each with a large mechanical backpack on their backs filled with top-notch ghost-busting gear, through a paranormal infestation that has hit New York.
The story is penned by the same writers who wrote the film, so the style of the plot follows what you would expect with a movie tie-in. It features the voices of the original cast, although the characters do sound a tad older now…25 years between movie and game would make you sound a bit older… Of course the most noticeable voice acting comes from Bill Murray, in all his fine glory.
In the game, you are the new recruit (you pretty much remain nameless throughout the story, being referred to as “rookie” or “the new kid”) and basically their test dummy for the new ghost-busting gear that has been developed. This works in well with the tutorial level, as it introduces you to the basic concepts and characters of the game – very much like your first day at work! Just unlike most first days at work, you aren’t expected to chase after Slimer, who escaped from his containment facility (for those who don’t know, he is the famous green, gluttonous ghost that causes havoc through the Ghostbusters film – sort of like their own mascot).
The story progresses that a large hotel has become haunted again and you are required to clear it out from the ghosts and entities within. This re-haunting is just the first of many occurrences in New York City that will follow this mission. Funnily enough, the increased paranormal activity coincides with a large Gozer exhibition featured in the Natural History Museum. (A small bit of background to save confusion – Gozer is a secretive God worshipped by early civilisations. It is the main antagonist in the films, possibly in the most recognisable “destructor form” of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man).
The game focuses around the rise of Gozer and you even face his destructor form quite early on. Along the way you face a whole range of weird paranormal entities, from dead librarians to candlesticks that jump up and act like spiders. It also engages some puzzle-type challenges which make you think of a way to progress.
The weaponry and equipment you get to use is good fun and, if I may say so myself, pretty awesome. Proton beams (“DON’T CROSS THE BEAMS” – as apparently it’s a bad idea), stasis fields, meson cannons and the slime projector all come in handy, each having unique properties to advance you through the game. You earn money for busting ghosts, which then can be used to buy upgrades for this equipment.
Graphically, the game looks well presented and quite tidy. Not the greatest in the realism department, opting for a more cartoony approach. It’s rather colourful and this matches the style of the game. The game manages to display a huge amount of action and NPCs onscreen at once and it doesn’t drop the quality. Top marks!
The audio is great too. As stated earlier, it is all voice acted and lots of talky-bits provide light relief through the manic sections (mainly due to Bill Murray cracking jokes every two minutes). The sounds of the beams and monsters are exactly how you would imagine them. The best bit about the audio is probably the most expected – the theme tune! This comes on at the beginning of the game and also any time you die. It’s so tempting to die just to hear the tune kick in!
Controls are fairly simple. It operates as though it is a third-person shooter, so if you’ve played any of these type of games, you’ll slide straight into Ghostbusters. If you haven’t played this kind of game before, you will easily pick up the controls. Unfortunately you do tend to get stuck on scenery or between people occasionally. Sometimes it is difficult to aim as the ghosts tend to fly around pretty quickly. However, these small problems never seem to ruin the experience of the game.
Overall, the game is well presented, with great visuals and an awesome soundtrack. Even if the game seems a little short and the controls seem a bit tricky at times, Ghostbusters is definitely a game to have in your collection. If you are not quite sure if you would like it, try renting it and make your mind up from there.
87%
Xbox 360
If there’s a new game, in your neighbourhood – who you gonna call? HM! Ok, not quite as good as the actual theme tune to Ghostbusters, nor does that sentence make much sense, but I’m here to review it whether you like it or not (bad jokes included)!
The game is based on the 1984 hit film, which follows a team of men dressed in grey jumpsuits, each with a large mechanical backpack on their backs filled with top-notch ghost-busting gear, through a paranormal infestation that has hit New York.
The story is penned by the same writers who wrote the film, so the style of the plot follows what you would expect with a movie tie-in. It features the voices of the original cast, although the characters do sound a tad older now…25 years between movie and game would make you sound a bit older… Of course the most noticeable voice acting comes from Bill Murray, in all his fine glory.
In the game, you are the new recruit (you pretty much remain nameless throughout the story, being referred to as “rookie” or “the new kid”) and basically their test dummy for the new ghost-busting gear that has been developed. This works in well with the tutorial level, as it introduces you to the basic concepts and characters of the game – very much like your first day at work! Just unlike most first days at work, you aren’t expected to chase after Slimer, who escaped from his containment facility (for those who don’t know, he is the famous green, gluttonous ghost that causes havoc through the Ghostbusters film – sort of like their own mascot).
The story progresses that a large hotel has become haunted again and you are required to clear it out from the ghosts and entities within. This re-haunting is just the first of many occurrences in New York City that will follow this mission. Funnily enough, the increased paranormal activity coincides with a large Gozer exhibition featured in the Natural History Museum. (A small bit of background to save confusion – Gozer is a secretive God worshipped by early civilisations. It is the main antagonist in the films, possibly in the most recognisable “destructor form” of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man).
The game focuses around the rise of Gozer and you even face his destructor form quite early on. Along the way you face a whole range of weird paranormal entities, from dead librarians to candlesticks that jump up and act like spiders. It also engages some puzzle-type challenges which make you think of a way to progress.
The weaponry and equipment you get to use is good fun and, if I may say so myself, pretty awesome. Proton beams (“DON’T CROSS THE BEAMS” – as apparently it’s a bad idea), stasis fields, meson cannons and the slime projector all come in handy, each having unique properties to advance you through the game. You earn money for busting ghosts, which then can be used to buy upgrades for this equipment.
Graphically, the game looks well presented and quite tidy. Not the greatest in the realism department, opting for a more cartoony approach. It’s rather colourful and this matches the style of the game. The game manages to display a huge amount of action and NPCs onscreen at once and it doesn’t drop the quality. Top marks!
The audio is great too. As stated earlier, it is all voice acted and lots of talky-bits provide light relief through the manic sections (mainly due to Bill Murray cracking jokes every two minutes). The sounds of the beams and monsters are exactly how you would imagine them. The best bit about the audio is probably the most expected – the theme tune! This comes on at the beginning of the game and also any time you die. It’s so tempting to die just to hear the tune kick in!
Controls are fairly simple. It operates as though it is a third-person shooter, so if you’ve played any of these type of games, you’ll slide straight into Ghostbusters. If you haven’t played this kind of game before, you will easily pick up the controls. Unfortunately you do tend to get stuck on scenery or between people occasionally. Sometimes it is difficult to aim as the ghosts tend to fly around pretty quickly. However, these small problems never seem to ruin the experience of the game.
Overall, the game is well presented, with great visuals and an awesome soundtrack. Even if the game seems a little short and the controls seem a bit tricky at times, Ghostbusters is definitely a game to have in your collection. If you are not quite sure if you would like it, try renting it and make your mind up from there.
87%
Cheers for that pb, never managed to get online due to a dodgy connection problem :S Would have loved it as well!
Must actually watch that film and post a review. Although two Ghostbusters products in one week for a paranormal investigator wishing to investigate and not bust is a bit much, don't you think?
Must actually watch that film and post a review. Although two Ghostbusters products in one week for a paranormal investigator wishing to investigate and not bust is a bit much, don't you think?
Good review, agree with the score too.
Only point I'd add is that the game follows the gang after the events of the second film and is intended as a sequel for the 2 movies. (I also seem to be the only one who loves Ghostbusters II almost as much as the first, bring on the Blu-ray!)
Multiplayer is pretty fun, but a bit limited, with the bonus of being able to play as the main Ghostbusters instead of the rookie.
Only point I'd add is that the game follows the gang after the events of the second film and is intended as a sequel for the 2 movies. (I also seem to be the only one who loves Ghostbusters II almost as much as the first, bring on the Blu-ray!)
Multiplayer is pretty fun, but a bit limited, with the bonus of being able to play as the main Ghostbusters instead of the rookie.
Ghostbusters: The Videogame
Xbox 360
If there’s a new game, in your neighbourhood – who you gonna call? HM! Ok, not quite as good as the actual theme tune to Ghostbusters, nor does that sentence make much sense, but I’m here to review it whether you like it or not (bad jokes included)!
The game is based on the 1984 hit film, which follows a team of men dressed in grey jumpsuits, each with a large mechanical backpack on their backs filled with top-notch ghost-busting gear, through a paranormal infestation that has hit New York.
The story is penned by the same writers who wrote the film, so the style of the plot follows what you would expect with a movie tie-in. It features the voices of the original cast, although the characters do sound a tad older now…25 years between movie and game would make you sound a bit older… Of course the most noticeable voice acting comes from Bill Murray, in all his fine glory.
In the game, you are the new recruit (you pretty much remain nameless throughout the story, being referred to as “rookie” or “the new kid”) and basically their test dummy for the new ghost-busting gear that has been developed. This works in well with the tutorial level, as it introduces you to the basic concepts and characters of the game – very much like your first day at work! Just unlike most first days at work, you aren’t expected to chase after Slimer, who escaped from his containment facility (for those who don’t know, he is the famous green, gluttonous ghost that causes havoc through the Ghostbusters film – sort of like their own mascot).
The story progresses that a large hotel has become haunted again and you are required to clear it out from the ghosts and entities within. This re-haunting is just the first of many occurrences in New York City that will follow this mission. Funnily enough, the increased paranormal activity coincides with a large Gozer exhibition featured in the Natural History Museum. (A small bit of background to save confusion – Gozer is a secretive God worshipped by early civilisations. It is the main antagonist in the films, possibly in the most recognisable “destructor form” of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man).
The game focuses around the rise of Gozer and you even face his destructor form quite early on. Along the way you face a whole range of weird paranormal entities, from dead librarians to candlesticks that jump up and act like spiders. It also engages some puzzle-type challenges which make you think of a way to progress.
The weaponry and equipment you get to use is good fun and, if I may say so myself, pretty awesome. Proton beams (“DON’T CROSS THE BEAMS” – as apparently it’s a bad idea), stasis fields, meson cannons and the slime projector all come in handy, each having unique properties to advance you through the game. You earn money for busting ghosts, which then can be used to buy upgrades for this equipment.
Graphically, the game looks well presented and quite tidy. Not the greatest in the realism department, opting for a more cartoony approach. It’s rather colourful and this matches the style of the game. The game manages to display a huge amount of action and NPCs onscreen at once and it doesn’t drop the quality. Top marks!
The audio is great too. As stated earlier, it is all voice acted and lots of talky-bits provide light relief through the manic sections (mainly due to Bill Murray cracking jokes every two minutes). The sounds of the beams and monsters are exactly how you would imagine them. The best bit about the audio is probably the most expected – the theme tune! This comes on at the beginning of the game and also any time you die. It’s so tempting to die just to hear the tune kick in!
Controls are fairly simple. It operates as though it is a third-person shooter, so if you’ve played any of these type of games, you’ll slide straight into Ghostbusters. If you haven’t played this kind of game before, you will easily pick up the controls. Unfortunately you do tend to get stuck on scenery or between people occasionally. Sometimes it is difficult to aim as the ghosts tend to fly around pretty quickly. However, these small problems never seem to ruin the experience of the game.
Overall, the game is well presented, with great visuals and an awesome soundtrack. Even if the game seems a little short and the controls seem a bit tricky at times, Ghostbusters is definitely a game to have in your collection. If you are not quite sure if you would like it, try renting it and make your mind up from there.
87%
Xbox 360
If there’s a new game, in your neighbourhood – who you gonna call? HM! Ok, not quite as good as the actual theme tune to Ghostbusters, nor does that sentence make much sense, but I’m here to review it whether you like it or not (bad jokes included)!
The game is based on the 1984 hit film, which follows a team of men dressed in grey jumpsuits, each with a large mechanical backpack on their backs filled with top-notch ghost-busting gear, through a paranormal infestation that has hit New York.
The story is penned by the same writers who wrote the film, so the style of the plot follows what you would expect with a movie tie-in. It features the voices of the original cast, although the characters do sound a tad older now…25 years between movie and game would make you sound a bit older… Of course the most noticeable voice acting comes from Bill Murray, in all his fine glory.
In the game, you are the new recruit (you pretty much remain nameless throughout the story, being referred to as “rookie” or “the new kid”) and basically their test dummy for the new ghost-busting gear that has been developed. This works in well with the tutorial level, as it introduces you to the basic concepts and characters of the game – very much like your first day at work! Just unlike most first days at work, you aren’t expected to chase after Slimer, who escaped from his containment facility (for those who don’t know, he is the famous green, gluttonous ghost that causes havoc through the Ghostbusters film – sort of like their own mascot).
The story progresses that a large hotel has become haunted again and you are required to clear it out from the ghosts and entities within. This re-haunting is just the first of many occurrences in New York City that will follow this mission. Funnily enough, the increased paranormal activity coincides with a large Gozer exhibition featured in the Natural History Museum. (A small bit of background to save confusion – Gozer is a secretive God worshipped by early civilisations. It is the main antagonist in the films, possibly in the most recognisable “destructor form” of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man).
The game focuses around the rise of Gozer and you even face his destructor form quite early on. Along the way you face a whole range of weird paranormal entities, from dead librarians to candlesticks that jump up and act like spiders. It also engages some puzzle-type challenges which make you think of a way to progress.
The weaponry and equipment you get to use is good fun and, if I may say so myself, pretty awesome. Proton beams (“DON’T CROSS THE BEAMS” – as apparently it’s a bad idea), stasis fields, meson cannons and the slime projector all come in handy, each having unique properties to advance you through the game. You earn money for busting ghosts, which then can be used to buy upgrades for this equipment.
Graphically, the game looks well presented and quite tidy. Not the greatest in the realism department, opting for a more cartoony approach. It’s rather colourful and this matches the style of the game. The game manages to display a huge amount of action and NPCs onscreen at once and it doesn’t drop the quality. Top marks!
The audio is great too. As stated earlier, it is all voice acted and lots of talky-bits provide light relief through the manic sections (mainly due to Bill Murray cracking jokes every two minutes). The sounds of the beams and monsters are exactly how you would imagine them. The best bit about the audio is probably the most expected – the theme tune! This comes on at the beginning of the game and also any time you die. It’s so tempting to die just to hear the tune kick in!
Controls are fairly simple. It operates as though it is a third-person shooter, so if you’ve played any of these type of games, you’ll slide straight into Ghostbusters. If you haven’t played this kind of game before, you will easily pick up the controls. Unfortunately you do tend to get stuck on scenery or between people occasionally. Sometimes it is difficult to aim as the ghosts tend to fly around pretty quickly. However, these small problems never seem to ruin the experience of the game.
Overall, the game is well presented, with great visuals and an awesome soundtrack. Even if the game seems a little short and the controls seem a bit tricky at times, Ghostbusters is definitely a game to have in your collection. If you are not quite sure if you would like it, try renting it and make your mind up from there.
87%