Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Note: I played the XBox 360 version. I don't know if there are any differences with the PC or PS3 version. I read that the Wii, PS2, DS, and PSP versions are a completely different experience so read another review to learn about those.

In the last year there were two franchise games that I feel really capture the feeling of being the character. The first is Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. The other is Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Although it's a third person "shooter" it doesn't feel like any other shooter. This feels like Ghostbusters. Whether you're blasting ghosts with the proton pack, sliming possessed people, searching for spirits with the PKE, or just running around you feel like a Ghostbuster.

The gameplay is entertaining in itself. None of the controls are complicated. The enemies are varied enough that you're never getting bored or repetitive. There are several problem-solving puzzles so the whole game isn't always point and shoot. It has its difficult parts without ever feeling impossible. And nothing's quite as fun as slam dunking a ghost into the trap.

The graphics are pretty good looking. The character models look real enough. The ghosts look like the movies where they're almost like a muppet. The environments are well done, it's worth several walks around the firehouse to notice all the details. The graphics aren't boundary pushing but they're still pretty good, just take a look at the Stay Puft level.

The atmosphere is really what makes it feel like Ghostbusters. There are times when it's laugh out loud hilarious. Others when it's edge of your seat scary. For example, in the library level Ray is great to listen to as he desperately hunts down the Library Ghost from the first movie. But there's one part where you approach a table in the corner and turn around to find yourself surrounded by book stacks. It creeps you out but Ray chimes in with some quip, you laugh, and move on. It captured that great Ghostbuster dark humor feeling.

The best part of the game is how authentic the game feels. First, all the actors return to voice their characters again. No Lorenzo Music or cheap sound alikes. This is the real deal. Everyone's back in perfect form, plus some great appearances by Alyssa Milano, Brian Doyle-Murray, and even Max von Sydow. It's a shame that Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis didn't return but the story works well without them. It really sounds like a movie. The environments are detailed enough. The firehouse is exactly like the films as are the hotel and the library.

The story is grand enough to be its own movie. It follows the usual film plot device of a powerful ghost trying to take over the world. However, it's not like Ghostbusters II where it's just the same plot over again. This time they added a mystery aspect. There's a question about just who the villain is and what he is doing, and in every mission you find clues to help solve it. The story itself builds off the first movie with respect towards the second.

My one and only problem with the game is that it is too short. It seems like once the story really got me hooked I was finishing it. It's not that the levels are too short or the story is lacking in any way, though it could have been expanded a bit. I finished the campaign in just three days. But maybe it was so entertaining I couldn't put it down until I was finished, and like the movies I enjoyed it so much I just wanted more. It is entertaining enough to warrant more than one play through.

This is a must for Ghostbusters fan. Whether you've watched everything Ghostbusters a hundred times over, love the first and refuse to acknowledge the second, or simply grew up on the cartoon show(s). It has everything you could want from another Ghostbusters film. Even non-Ghostbusters fans who are gamers of any level should check it out. It may not be the must-have game like Halo, Grand Theft Auto, or Call of Duty but is definitely worth a rent at the very least. Simply put: every gamer should play this game.

first off, i always thought the ghostbusters movies would make a good video game. a few years ago i thought this in my mind, just a passing thought that GB's would be a cool game to play. and low and behold, my little passing fancy became a reality. UN-believable. and let me tell you, its so worth it.

I notice some guys are saying that this game "sucks" if your a hardcore gamer. They couldn't be more wrong. The game has plenty of neat and fun challenges to accomplish, and just from a game point of view, it looks phenomenal, like a movie. But I do have to agree, the ones who really win here are the GB fans. But obviously most people love GB from what I can tell, so who wouldn't enjoy busting ghosts in full HD amazingly detailed environments and gadgets? Sure it is linear to a point, but its just a really fun trip that I have a hard to imagining anyone really getting bored here. Its just fun, and it has some great humor which is sorely missing in many games today.

whenever i see or think of ghostbusters, i get that warm and fuzzy feeling of back when i was a kid and loving to watch the movies, heck even the corny cartoon shows. but i always have fond memories of these movies. now, years later, to play a game and being able to hunt ghosts with the original cast in familiar locations, i mean it just brings back all those feelings i had when i was younger. its probably one of the funnest and funniest games out there right now. i loved both films, and personally i must admit i prefer the 2nd film, but this game seems to take a lot of its story from story elements from the first movie. however i did notice that there was also many references to the 2nd film, moments like going into a sewer where instead of a river of slime, its a "river" of flowing PK energy spirits. even ray mentions "does it feel familiar in here guys?". and of course all the slime and slime blowers are there, as well as vigo's painting in the firehouse that says funny things.

it follows the same formula of the last 2 films: there's disturbances, ghostbusters check them out and bust lots of ghosts, they find out who the big villain is, and they defeat him. its this same formula that has made the GB films so much fun and memorable, and the game follows this tradition. the graphics are STUNNING, i am truly amazed how life like they are able to get these characters nowadays. the gear itself is totally accurate and looks amazing in the game like the ecto goggles, PKE meter, and especially the proton pack, which you see change and alter throughout, with new upgrades that are fantastically wild but yet stay within the reality of the ghostbuster world. busting ghosts was never this fun, i mean its awesome to be able to shoot the proton pack for real in a game! i ALWAYS wanted to use them! all the cast is here, even Walter peck is back. heck, even that Murray brother who was in GB2 is in this one! its really a great treat for all GB fans everywhere and i throughly enjoyed it and plan to enjoy it for a long time. the game definitely has repeat value, I've played it so many times now and let me tell you, busting ghosts NEVER gets old. its so much fun, and the story is surprisingly complex and good. not good enough for a 3rd movie script (seriously, bringing back all the villains from the first movie can only work in a video game) but still a very interesting twist on the first movie's, and to an extent the 2nd movie's, ideas. totally worth all the bucks i paid, all 60 of them!

heres to hoping for a game sequel!

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.

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