Ghostbusters: The Video Game Review

The Ghostbusters have been out of the video game scene for quite some time now, with the last game being released on the Game Boy in 1993. However, Dan Aykroyd, the creator of the Ghostbusters, had wanted to make a third film for some time and that has now essentially become a reality in the form of Ghostbusters: The Video Game, or as he calls it Ghostbusters III.

Although the script for the game was written from scratch, both Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis did some minor script doctoring and it definitely shows. The game takes place two years after the events of Ghostbusters II and the player takes control of a new recruit to the Ghostbusters, who has been hired by Egon and Ray to test out new experimental equipment.

It doesn't take long for things to get out of control though, and the new recruit is quickly thrust into the thick of things as paranormal occurrences start to happen at the newly opened Gozer exhibit. This essentially makes the Ghostbusters a five man team and although it sounds like things might get over-saturated, the script is often written in a way so that all five are rarely present at the same time. This helps things flow much more easily and gives the player a good chance to experience the finer points of each of the main Ghostbusters.

Due to it being a game about The Ghostbusters, the gameplay is somewhat different to typical third-person shooters. Obviously it relies on shooting enemies, but once ghosts have had their 'health' decreased by a certain amount, they then have to be captured. The first port of call is to place down the trap, and then comes a tug of war with the ghost as it frantically tries to escape. Once it's been worn down, the next objective is to then steer it into the trap, or perform a special capture if the player has enough skill.

Although the stereotypical Ghostbusters weapon is available, there are three others which are unlocked by playing through the main campaign - one of which is the key to solving the mini puzzle elements that appear throughout the game. Usually they're relatively simple, and involve basic physics as the objective is to move a piece of scenery to enable a door to open, or a lever to be pulled. It adds a nice element to the gameplay and keeps things from getting stale. Each of the weapons has a primary and secondary fire and they can be upgraded using money that's acquired via trapping and scanning ghosts, or by finding mysterious artifacts.

The action is often broken up by quieter sections, which involve some great narrative. The PKE monitor plays a big part in these sections, and it's often up to the player to find the next course of action, with some prompting. This really makes for some great story-telling as there are no mission screens, or lengthy cutscenes. It also helps to keep the gameplay from becoming monotonous, although there's plenty to blow-up if this becomes the case.

The game's graphics won't set the world on fire, but they get the job done and recreate the Ghostbusters universe well enough. There's a good level of destruction on offer and it's even possible to see the amount of damage that's been caused throughout the duration of the campaign. Where the game really excels is the voice acting. The majority of the talent from the films have reprised their roles and it makes for some great chemistry on screen. The player never actually speaks, but is still a visible entity in the majority of the cutscenes, which are great. Sometimes in-game scripted voice actings repeat, but the non-recurring voice acting is stellar and really makes the player feel like they actually are in The Ghostbusters.

One of the main disappointments with the game comes with its length. The campaign is on the short side, and given the quality of the narrative, it's a real shame. There is a small amount of incentive to play it again though, as there are collectables and a higher difficulty level on offer. While there is no offline co-op, there are plenty of online modes available, including 4-player online co-op. As well as this, there are also six other game modes which can be played with up to 3 other people. These range from surviving an onslaught of ghosts, to destroying evil relics.