Ghostbusters

 

 

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Don't be put off by people saying this game is samey. It is a ghost catching game, so yes, every mission is going to be about catching ghosts in the same way that every Driver mission is going to involve driving a car and every Modern Warfare game is going to be about shooting the opposition. The missions themselves are varied in story, backdrop and content and I wouldn't call it samey at all.

The voice is acting is great and they throw in a lot of one liners and tongue-in-cheek humour which keeps you chuckling. The graphics are fine - they're not spectacular but they're not shoddy either; I'd rate them as good.

Downsides? The game takes maybe 20 seconds to reload every time you die and you are then put back to the last save point which is usually just before a section of movie content, which can be frustrating if you get to a hard bit.

Also, having played the demo, I felt confident enough to play it straight through on the maximum difficulty setting and I still managed to complete it over one weekend. That's not to say it's a short game, it's not, the game was a lot longer than I initially gave it credit for and there are a ton of trophies for people who like such things.

I've not yet done the online play so I cannot give an opinion on that (I'll be trying it out tonight).

Summary: Good game worth replaying (I will be).

If you're a child of the 80s or 90s, or simply just a child at heart, you'll be hard pressed not to get goose bumps when the Ghostbusters theme tune finally kicks in. Terminal Reality, the game's developer, has undertaken the mammoth task of making a video game adaptation of one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. And given the gaming industry's long and glorious history of making movie tie-ins into stunning turds, you could forgive consumers for being a tad sceptical.

We need not have worried. Ghostbusters delivers on almost every front. The story, penned by Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis, is unsurprisingly faithful to the films and contains some genuinely funny gags. The typically idiosyncratic characterisation is as strong as ever too. It's hard believe that it has been twenty years since Bill Murray slipped on that famous jumpsuit - his performance seems so fresh. All four Ghostbusters make a return, the only notable absentees being Moranis and Weaver, but the script contains enough pep and vigour to keep this from being a huge issue.

Your character, the rookie, is introduced as an experimental equipment technician and never speaks throughout the game. Perfect! Sometimes this ploy works and sometimes it doesn't. In Ghostbusters it couldn't be more appropriate as the feeling of interloping in the Ghostbusters universe is far more immersive as a faceless entity. I don't want to be Venkman, I want to be me, and this is the closest I will get - good move Terminal Reality!

Gameplay is simple and satisfying. Catching ghosts involves wearing them down with a prolonged proton stream, knocking them into walls and furniture until they are suitably knackered and then holding them above the trap until they finally succumb. It's a genuinely tactile control system and there is a fine sense of achievement when you finally land that illusive free-roaming vapour. Less satisfying are the waves of inanimate objects that need to be despatched without a trap. It seems unnecessary to me and smacks of over-development.

In the game's quieter moments the PKE meter is an essential device and allows you to see ectoplasmic residue left by ghosts. It can produce some genuinely scary moments and is a welcome break from the pressures of busting. You can capture a ghost's signature and save the information to your own personal spirit guide. There's even a section where you can openly explore Ghostbusters headquarters. Keep an eye out for the painting of Vigo and the dancing toaster - nice little nods to the source material.

Having briefly played the multiplayer on release day, I have to admit that I am not convinced that it is anything more than a satisfactory addition. Play it with friends and you'll probably have a laugh, but I found myself getting a tad bored of wave after wave of ghosts and little in way of subtlety. Ghostbusters is a story driven game and it would have been nice to play the story levels with buddies. As it is it's a tad predictable. However, if you are yearning to suit up as Winston then this is the only place you are going to do it.

One more thing...apparently if this game is bought by enough people then they may make a new movie. You know what to do. Who ya gonna call?

In my opinion this is one of the best movie games ever, precisely because it wasn't a movie tie-in game. There was no new film to cash in on yet. They made it because they actually wanted to, and as such, they (mostly) did a great job. It's playable, it's fun, the mechanics work (and are pretty novel in games, and it looks and sounds awesome. It has some definite balance and pacing issues (the pro reviews are right,) but bottom line? It's fun, it doesn't suck, and it's true to the material, all in all its brilliant 5 out of 5

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1.0 out of 5 stars Could of been fun
This game looked to be so much fun and it really is. BUT and its a big but... if you eject the disc to do something else, then put the disc back in and try to continue the career... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Smally

4.0 out of 5 stars Good game, good story.
Bought this to play with my girlfriend as we're both fans of the film. The game follows on from the films with the same characters reappearing and being voiced by the same actors... Read more

Published 8 months ago by James Carroll

3.0 out of 5 stars Prettty Average
I'm not going to lie, the game isn't great. Would be more suited from ages 8 - 16. Think its a big too easy and repetitive, same tricks and same ghosts.

Published 11 months ago by Rab "Rabbit" MacGregor

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghostbusters Game for PS3
Purchased as a gift, I only hope it's easier than the DS version. The recipient thoroughly enjoyed it I am pleased to say.

Published 14 months ago by pixiestix

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Game!
Very detailed graphics perfect for any Ghostbuster fans, awesome story line and you really feel that you are apart of the Ghostbusting crew with the brilliant original voices of... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Ashley Richards

2.0 out of 5 stars GHOSTBUSTERS: The Video Game on PS3
GHOSTBUSTERS: THE VIDEO GAME
PS3
Published by SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
Developed by TERMINAL REALITY

The game starts with an introduction to a guy... Read more

Published 17 months ago by John Thorpe

3.0 out of 5 stars Ghostbusters Review
This review is split into two parts, my initial review (having played my way through 3/4 of the single story mode), and then a supplementary review of the game having played... Read more

Published 19 months ago by J. OConnor

5.0 out of 5 stars Hate It Or Love It
Ghostbusters (PS3)

Played the game for 2 hours last night and its one of the best ive seen, it has comedy included and the graphics and cutscenes are top notch... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Paul Tanner

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Children

If, like me, you are looking for games that will entertain and keep your child's attention but not be too violent, or have innappropriate behaviour or language, this is the... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Idgy

1.0 out of 5 stars Save game issue
When I first received this game in the post I played it for about 3 hours non stop as it was a very good game to play, however, disaster struck when I tried to play it again the... Read more

Published 22 months ago by NJ

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