Ghostbusters - Who You Gonna Call?

Ghostbusters

This teen rated video game is based on the movie of the same name is slated for release in June of 2009 for the PC.  The game will be released later in the year for the other three cross platform console games.  The game takes place in New York City and it is the job of four main characters to fight against the minions of ghosts haunting the city.

Some of the favorites from the film make an appearance such as the Marshmallow Man and the four ghostbusters, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddmore and Egon Spengler.  Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and the other stars of the film got on board for the voice overs in the game.

A third person shooter is the best way to describe this game of ghoul hunting.  The characters embark to various destinations in New York City to hunt, shoot and capture ghosts any way they can.  The game graphics need some work at this point.  There are some very pretty scenes but there is a discrepancy between the graphics during actual game play and the graphics during the cut scenes.  The inconsistency with the graphics makes the game seem choppy.  Hopefully the graphics will be improved on by the release of this game.  With the technology available there is really not an excuse for substandard graphics.

The gunplay is a little less than accurate and is quickly frustrating when trying to play this game.  If you remember that the beams from the ghost buster’s guns were squiggly lines and not straight lasers.  This seems to have presented a challenge to the programmers.  To add to the frustration of gun play, the character cannot seem to turn around very quickly.  This is important when ghosts are flying all around you are trying to lock on to any one ghost that you can find.

Although the stars of the film got onboard for the voice overs; they may have been charging by the word.  Throughout the demo of the games, their lines were repetitious and quickly annoying.  There are only so many times that you can hear the same instruction over and over again.

At this time, there is not the option for cooperative play.  If there was ever a game that was screaming for cooperative game play, Ghostbusters is it.  Why this was not a gimmie, we might never know, but every gamer will feel cheated without it.  As one player, it is easy to become annoyed with other computer players.  They have a tendency to run off without reason and it is easy to become separated from the rest of your party.  There is not an option for an overview map to checkpoints.  Every game pulls in different player levels, so some players should have the option to turn an overview map on and the map can remain off for those who truly enjoy the adventure at a higher skill level.

Ghostbusters is a highly anticipated game by its fan base.  Hopefully the programmers can work out some these rough edges that are still plaguing the game.

Tags: ghostbusters, slimer