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Posted: Jun 24 2009 07:46 pm

http://blog.icewarm.org/?p=233

I finally got the Ghostbusters video game Thursday afternoon. I was really looking forward to this game and was disappointed when it was temporarily cancelled only a couple months before its release in 2008. Thankfully Atari picked up the publishing rights and we now can enjoy this game.

The game is essentially Ghostbusters 3. The game takes place in 1991, two after Ghostbusters 2. Both Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. This adds a lot to the game as the story and dialogue is totally spot-on and feels like something you’d hear in a Ghostbusters movie. The majority of the primary cast lend their voices and likenesses to the game as well. There are a couple people who declined to be in the game but I didn’t miss them all that much.

You play as a rookie Ghostbuster. This works well in my opinion because you get to observe all the main Ghostbusters from the viewpoint of an outsider or in the case of the movies the audience. This allows you to totally enjoy all the interactions between them and does not limit your point of view by having to play as one of them.

The gameplay is from a third-person perspective. You control the rookie character and follow the Ghostbusters on various mssions. Unfortunately you can’t edit the appearance of this character to make it look like yourself. You are equipped with a proton pack, trap, a PKE meter and ghost goggles, these are linked to the PKE meter. You’ll basically be having to defeat many ghosts during the course of the game, some of them being major iconic ghosts from the movies like Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The controls on defeating and trapping ghosts took a little getting used to but now I can trap a ghost like a pro. You start off by having to weaken the ghost with your proton stream and when it is weak enough you can initiate a capture stream which will constrain the ghost. After that you deploy a trap and you have to then lure the ghost over it and keep the ghost in the trap’s cone until the ghost gets sucked in. You can also use your PKE meter on ghosts to find their weaknesses and get tips on how to defeat them.

The PKE meter also aids as a navigational device at times. You get this hot/cold like meter and in some cases it will point you in the right direction of where you should go next. It can also be used to find hidden artifacts that you can trade in for various equipment upgrades.

The game is somewhat squad based and if you get knocked down the other Ghostbusters can revive you and vice versa. If you all get knocked out the game is over or f you are alone and get knocked down it is game over also. There are several parts where you’ll be required to split up. Sometimes you’ll be with another Ghostbuster but sometimes you’ll be on your own. Having the game end for being knocked out when you are alone is kind of annoying. Maybe they should have added something to compensate for this when you are on your own.

The graphics are pretty well done. The various weapon effects looks very nice and the ghosts are all very well done. My only complaint about the graphics are that the characters have this sort of plastic/rubbery look to their faces. This is a minor complaint though.

The game also features play over Xbox Live. This is a lot of fun. There are various modes to choose from and they can be played with 2-4 players. These are very team based games that require a good amount of cooperation to complete. However a major problem is the lack of story co-op. This game would have been perfect for 4 player story co-op. Maybe since the team splits up on occasion this might not have worked but it would still be incredibly awesome if they included it.

Overall this is what a game based on a movie should be. It is very fun, has classic elements from the movies and then goes beyond the movies, Xbox Live support, great voice acting and a very funny well written story. There are a few minor issues but overall the game is great.

Pros:

* Voice acting from the majority of the cast
* Written by Both Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
* Xbox Live support that is fun and does not feel like a cheap tack-on

Cons:

* No Co-Op in the story mode
* No character customization
* When separated from the others if you get knocked out the game is over

Overall Score: * * * *

(All scores are out of 5 stars)

Posted: Jun 24 2009 07:55 pm

I picked up the Wii version of Ghostbusters today, along with Guitar Hero Smash Hits and New Play Control: Mario Power Tennis, because I had a Target coupon for $10 off an Electronics purchase of $100 or more that expires in a few days.

The Wii version of Ghostbusters is only 39.99, which a second-tier price for that system, while the PS3 and XBox versions are 59.99, which is a top-tier price. Being as I am a huge fan of the GB movies, I will be picking up the 360 version at some point as well. Most likely in 6-12 months when it hits Platinum status and drops to the $19.99 - $29.99 range.

Posted: Jun 24 2009 07:58 pm

I wonder if the PS2 version plays in a similar way...

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:06 pm

The PS2 version is based on the Wii version, IIRC.

Also, boo to the developers for not getting David Margulies to reprise his role as Mayor Lenny from the movies. They also should have got Casey Kasem and/or Larry King.

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:07 pm

I'm still going to buy this. I love the cartoon-style of the Wii and PS2 versions and I'd really like to play a new Ghostbusters game (The Genesis game was pretty fun, but I haven't played that in a long time).

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:15 pm

I used to LOVE the Atari 2600 Ghostbusters game, even though I later found out it was just a simplified, blockier version of the C64 version.

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:22 pm

This seems like fun as well. Did the guy who play Winston lend his voice to this game?

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:27 pm

Yes, Ernie Hudson. All four original Ghostbusters return, as does Janine. A part was written for Rick Moranis, but he refused to reprise his role as Louis Tully. Sigourney Weaver was asked to reprise her role as Dana Barrett, but by the time she decided that she was interested, they had already replaced her character with a new one and signed Alyssa Milano to do the voice.

Posted: Jun 24 2009 08:34 pm

That's a shame. It's still good that they managed to get the original Ghostbusters though. Have you noticed on the commercial for the game it sounds like Ray is asking a question half the time he's talking?

Posted: Jun 25 2009 01:46 am

I was hoping that a bonus feature would allow you to play as Walter "This Man Has No Dick" Peck. Oh, well. I'm probably going to pick this up on the 360, as I hear the PC version has horrible load times.

Posted: Jun 25 2009 12:43 pm

What was Rick Moranis busy doing that he refused to lend his voice to the game?

I generally like him (Dark Helmet, Seymore Krelborn, Coach O'Shea), but if he had some BS reason for not wanting to do it, what a douche.

Posted: Jun 25 2009 01:14 pm

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

What was Rick Moranis busy doing that he refused to lend his voice to the game?

I generally like him (Dark Helmet, Seymore Krelborn, Coach O'Shea), but if he had some BS reason for not wanting to do it, what a douche.

He's not in the game? that is terrible news. All they needed was one line from him, "You will perish in flame!"

Posted: Jun 25 2009 03:34 pm

TopShelf wrote:

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

What was Rick Moranis busy doing that he refused to lend his voice to the game?

I generally like him (Dark Helmet, Seymore Krelborn, Coach O'Shea), but if he had some BS reason for not wanting to do it, what a douche.

He's not in the game? that is terrible news. All they needed was one line from him, "You will perish in flame!"

Or failing that, simply insert "SHIT! I hate it when my schwartz gets twisted!"

Joined: Mar 13 2009 Location: Arlington Posts: 467

Louis Tulley was the best character he ever played.

"Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you! "

Posted: Jun 25 2009 05:07 pm

The game should have just started the game with a scene where all the characters whose actors refused to participate put on Proton Packs and cross their streams.

Posted: Jun 25 2009 05:57 pm

I would've settled for "Who turned out the lights?!". When I was a kind that used to crack me up.