Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Rating: T

Score: 8.0/10

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for over two decades, you’ve probably seen, or at the very least heard about, the super-successful series of movies titled “Ghostbusters”. Fans have waited for a Ghostbusters 3 for two decades. Well, here it is. This video game is “essentially the third movie”, says Ghostbusters creator Dan Aykroyd.

Although it shouldn’t need explaining, I’ll explain the premise anyway: the Ghostbusters take out ghosts. Why? Simply because “bustin' makes [them] feel good” as it says in the theme song. Also, someone has to. There’s four Ghostbusters: Winston, Egon, Peter, and Ray. They use some of the most technologically-advanced ghost catching material science can produce. I could try and explain how it works, but it makes little sense. Everyone talks like they’re from Star Trek whenever they talk about the ghost busting materials.

It’s set a couple years after Ghostbusters 2, where the Ghostbusters themselves are planning to advance their company. This means they need more Ghostbusters, and you’re just the person! After a practice round catching Slimer (a sneaky ghost that is friendly but troublesome) in a hotel, they discover Slimer wasn’t the only ghost in that hotel. He’s also not the only classic ghost you’ll be seeing.

You’ll hear the Ghostbusters theme throughout the game. That, along with wielding a Proton Pack (A ghost-zapping device), is truly a great experience. Taking down a ghost is as easy as putting thousands of protons through them with the Proton Pack, then trapping them in a container. Unfortunately, there’s no penalty for crossing the streams (I guess the whole “life stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light” is a little too harsh for a mistake that’s likely to happen when five Ghostbusters are running around a room chasing one agile ghost). It would’ve been a nice touch, though, and I imagine it would be a blast to watch.

Co-Op is where this game shines. You and a buddy running around busting ghosts is way better than the A.I., who actually tries, but isn’t terribly useful. It mostly boils down to you taking down the ghosts and trapping them yourself.

If you’re looking for a mind blowing Ghostbusters game, this might be the game for you. It all depends on how much you love Ghostbusters. It’s a must-buy for fans, and a must-try for people who are unfamiliar with or somewhat new to Ghostbusters.