What makes all of this even more interesting is the variety in the ghosts. It's not just the little ghosts, either. I found myself constantly impressed with the different bosses, even if most of them aren't as gigantic as, say, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. But while the bosses are certainly impressive looking, most of them are push-overs. The chances of all of the Busters dying at once are rare, so you'll always have a shot at killing them. I actually found some of the more traditional battles to be a lot more difficult. There was one battle in particular that I had to restart a good half dozen times, yet I don't remember dying even once in a boss fight.
Certainly part of the charm of the game comes from the four main characters and their comic timing. While there have been a number of Ghostbusters games in the last quarter century, this is the first to actually get the humor right. A big reason for this is because of the script, which is written by the same team that gave us the first film (Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis). Not only that, but the two other actors (Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson) reprise their roles. It's great to hear these four actors play these iconic roles once again, even if Bill Murray sounds like he's just phoning the performance in. The script certainly isn't at the same level as the first Ghostbusters, but I definitely found myself laughing more than I did during the dreadful second installment.
The movie's memorable soundtrack is also front and center in this video game sequel. Fans of the movie will no doubt recognize just about every tune found in this game, including Elmer Bernstein's entire score. The problem is, this music was always intended to be the incidental music for a 90 minute long comedy, not a seven hour action game. By the end of the game I was sick and tired of almost every song in the game, even though if it made the game feel even more authentic.
On a more positive note, the game's graphics are outstanding. Because the levels are so linear, the developers have been able to add an incredible amount of detail to every inch of the game. Better yet, the game gives you a number of great set-pieces to fight in. Some of the backgrounds just get the job done, but there are a few that are truly remarkable. I want to highlight the Civil War battle you have to wage during the museum level, it manages to combine the intensity of a Ghostbusters fight with the old world technology of the 1800s. Not only is this a great looking sequence full of displays and statues getting blown to smithereens, but it also sets up the guys to make a lot of really funny jokes.
On the other hand, the game's cinemas are not as consistent. The cut-scenes seem to come in two types: Amazing looking and really ugly. When the game goes into the pre-rendered visuals, it looks exactly like a computer-generated Ghostbusters movie should look. But you'll also be subjected to the in-game cinemas, which look like trash in comparison. A big reason I'm down on the in-game cinemas is because of the crummy direction. Whoever directed these scenes doesn't have the eye for what makes a movie visually interesting, and you will immediately see the difference between the game and the movies.
Beyond the game's seven hour adventure, you will also find a surprisingly robust set of Xbox Live multiplayer modes. While you can't play through the single-player game with friends (bummer), you are able to play a bunch of cooperative online games. Some of them have you fighting as many ghosts as you can before time runs out (or you die). Another has you defending PKE disruptors. And in one mode you will even be able to destroy as many relics as you possibly can. All six modes (called "jobs") are a lot of fun and will keep you entertained for weeks, especially if you have friends who own the game. Because the gameplay is so good, you'll find that the online works a lot better than the usual throwaway multiplayer modes that come with licensed action games.
There's no question that Ghostbusters: The Video Game has some problems, the battles can be a little frustrating and the story never gels as much as the other movies. But those gripes are easy to overlook when the product is this much fun. With a new movie in pre-production as we speak, it feels like the Ghostbusters are finally back. If this doesn't spur a couple of even better sequels, then there's no justice in this world. If you're a fan of the original movie, then this is the Ghostbusters game you've been waiting a quarter century to play.
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Atari B+
Even if you're too young to remember the original Ghostbusters movie, there's enough action, comedy and drama in this spectacular 3D adventure to warrant a look. And who knew that the Ghostbusters would make for such a fun multiplayer experience? Ghostbusters: The Video Game is definitely worth a call!
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