Who you gonna call? Your mate, and ask to borrow his copy of Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Ghostbusters: The Video Game (PS3))

Member Name: MattyBoosh

Product:	Ghostbusters: The Video Game (PS3)
Date:	25/09/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very appealing game for fans, original story which is faithful the the films

Disadvantages: Gears of War 'Lite' style gameplay, low replay value, repetitive

INTRODUCTION

Ghostbusters played a massive part in my childhood. The cartoon series was the highlight of my post-school afternoons, the films were (in my child-like mind) the epitome of cinematic achievement, and the toys and action figures my most prized possessions.

Suffice to say, being such a huge fan of the Ghostbusters as a child means I am still equally as much of a fan in adulthood. Somewhere in my mothers loft the toys still reside. The hazy VHS tapes of the films have been replaced with DVD's. And while most people would raise an eyebrow at the thought of a grown man playing with action figures, its perfectly acceptable if he is playing a game. Which I did, with mixed feelings.

STORY

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is essentially 'number 3' in the Ghostbusters franchise. It is a continuation of the Ghostbusters story written by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis themselves. You take on the role of a new recruit who is responsible for testing all the new equipment that is chucked your way, as the Ghostbusters battle with an increasing number of paranormal events in New York city. These include the return of some famous spooks, such as Slimer, the librarian and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The game also brings back a good majority of the cast to reprise their roles in digital form, which gives the game a genuine air of authenticity. The plot of the game ties in nicely with the previous two films, and the attention to detail makes it feel like you are playing the third film. It isn't a standalone Ghostbusters game, which is a really novel aspect and will greatly appeal to fans. The script is well written and when combined with the return of most of the original cast, it really immerses you into this new Ghostbusters story.

GAMEPLAY

My first impressions of the game was that it played like a watered down version of Gears of War. It is, in essence, a third person shooter and plays as such, utilising the same tried and tested control methods. However, the sprint function does feel a little redundant and doesn't serve much of a purpose. Your weapon of choice is the iconic proton back, which you will use throughout the game for busting ghosts. As the new recruit for testing experimental equipment, there are different add on's for the proton pack that you can earn by busting ghosts, finding hidden cursed artefacts and for successfully scanning ghosts using your PKE meter. These are easily selectable using the D-pad, and you will be required to use different weapon types for specific ghosts, which gives the game a slight tactical aspect that differentiates it from a bog standard 'run and gun'. The PKE meter is a tool familiar to any Ghostbusters fan that is used to track hidden ghosts and any other paranormal phenomena. The game switches to a first person view when using the PKE and this can produce some fairly tense set pieces, as ghosts will suddenly pop out of their hiding places in an attempt to scare you. The PKE is also used to find cursed artefacts, which are basically 'hidden packages' scattered throughout each level. Finding these gives you a money boost, which in turn can be used to upgrade your equipment. While it has some purpose, I find hidden package elements in games to be rather annoying, but at least this game gives you some incentive for hunting them down. Each level involves the same basic premise, get to the end while busting ghosts and defeat the boss. While the controls are solid and catching ghosts is easy to get the hang of, the frantic action can soon get a little repetitive. It would have been nice to see some variation in the gameplay, perhaps some driving sections in which you get to control ECTO-1. For the most part, the game is quite fun, if not overly original. Sadly, the game is not overly long and can be completed with just over a days play. The game consists of around 7 chapters, each of which can be completed in about an hour, so the longevity of the game really isn't great. This is a terrible shame (especially as I forked out around £30 for the game!) and leaves you wondering what your money has actually paid for. The game is quite easy, and even on the hardest difficulty setting, will not pose much of a challenge for a seasoned gamer.

GRAPHICS, PHYSICS AND DESIGN

The graphics of the game are of a high standard and realistically portray each environment. Everything looks exactly as it should and the motion capture of the actors faces is excellent. As I mentioned earlier, it really is like playing the film and the graphics really enhance this fact. The proton streams that you and the other ghostbusters fire look just as they do in the film and the lighting effects are excellent. The ghosts themselves are brilliantly animated and the scenes where Stay Puft wanders around New York City are wonderful pieces of eye-candy. The designers have gone to great lengths to recreate many of the original film locations, such as the Sedgwick Hotel and the New York Library, which further adds to the games 'realism'. The game makes use of a competent physics engine, with objects reacting realistically to the players actions. Tables and chairs will split asunder if hit with the proton stream, books will be sent flying and glass displays will smash, all in a realistic fashion.

VOICE ACTING, MUSIC AND SOUND

With the return of many of the original cast, the voice acting is of a good quality, but surprisingly, is not the best I've heard in a game. At times, the characters sound a bit wooden, and with games like Metal Gear Solid pushing the boundaries on voice acting, I am bit miffed as to why the likes of Bill Murray et al were unable to raise the bar further. Still, it doesn't act as a detriment to the game, and when backed up with the original musical score, makes for an absorbing experience. The sound effects are also very good, and the sound of the proton streams, traps and the moans of the ghosts are all very well done.

MULTIPLAYER

I have not had the chance to play this game online. A friend of mine has played it online and he did mention it seemed poorly executed and was not overly appealing. Unfortunately, I cannot comment further on this.

CONCLUSION

I have to look at Ghostbusters: The Video Game in two ways. Number one is that of a fan, and from this perspective, I would say the game is excellent. Its original story, original cast and original score all lend the game an excellent authenticity and fans of the films will be hard pressed to find a more faithful movie tie in. But when looking at the game as a gamer, I have to say it falls short of the mark. The gameplay can get rather repetitive and the length of the game is a total disappointment, bordering on a rip off. With the difficulty levels not posing much of a challenge, and with the multiplayer appearing not to offer much in the way of entertainment, the game has little replay value. It is from this perspective that I must rate the game, and as such, only receives 3 stars.

Summary: Fan of the films? Then buy this cheap, or borrow it off of a mate