Twenty five years ago, Ray Jay Parker Jr. asked us a simple question, and gave us the answer: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters, who else? If any title is up against the critical eye of rabid nostalgic fans at this year’s E3, it’s Atari’s Ghostbusters for the ps3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. I got the chance to check out the PS3 version at Sony’s E3 booth and despite the great graphics, well implemented gameplay, and clever interface, it’s the character element of Ghostbusters that makes this game work.
As the silent protagonist “rookie” Ghostbuster, your job is to help the classic film cast track and catch spirits, destroy clients’ property, and test dangerous new ghostbusting equipment. Sound fun? It is, but it’s not great on it’s own. Despite all of the quality traditional elements that make up the game itself, it’s the Ghostbusters themselves that make this a ghostubsters game. All four of the actors who portrayed the original characters came back, and they brought their chemistry with them.
As Ray(Dan Akroyd) and Peter(Bill Murray) lead the player though the first level, you’ll overhear them talk among themselves, and with Egon(Harold Ramis) over the radio. For the most part, this dialogue feels fluid and natural, the player really gets the feeling that these guys have been working together for years, and have an intimate friendship.
As the level progresses, Ray coaches the player – telling him how to use the equipment, encouraging him to success. The entire experience feels natural and friendly, and helps build a feeling of comradery between the player and the characters. Why is this important? Because Ghostbusters is a single player game – but ghostbusting is a team effort. The dialogue helps give the player a real feel for who the Ghostbusters are, and their constant chatter brings them to life – when the time comes to bust some ghosts, you’ll really feel like a member of the team.
Okay, so the game “feels right” to a long-time Ghostbuster’s fan – how does the rest of the game stand up? Pretty well – like many games for the Xbox and PS3, the visuals are outstanding – the title has a great realistic look, and recreates our 1980′s heroes just as we remember them. The levels and costumes are detailed, and player status data such as health and ammunition has been relocated to the side of the proton pack, eliminating the traditional screen-overlay HUD.
The gameplay is varied between the proton pack and other Ghostbusting gear. The player has access to a PKE meter that will help them hunt and track ghosts, collect samples, or find “cursed items.” Using these items also ads to the atmosphere, requiring the player to use their tools to seek out the infestation, just like in the movie. When you do find that ghost you can lasso them with your proton pack, weaken them by smashing them against the floor, ceiling, and walls, and finally position them over the trap for capture.
From a fan’s perspective, the game is a rush – if you’ve seen the films before you’ll understand what this game is about right away – but a non-fan might feel a little lost. Although not inaccessible to gamers unfamiliar with the franchise, non-fans will miss the significance of early locations in the game, character behavior, and a lot of light jokes peppered throughout the dialogue. If you aren’t familiar with the franchise and want to play this one, make sure to pick up the films alongside the game. Already a fan? Don’t worry about it – this is good one – don’t expect game of the year, but sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. It took you 25 years, but you’re a ghostbuster now. Enjoy it.
