Ghostbusters The Video Game Preview

In a time when the video-gaming industry has been trying to revitalize old film licenses with mixed results, the prospect of a new game based on the classic comedy film franchise Ghostbusters had many fans cautiously optimistic. However, when it was announced that not only would a hefty chunk of the films’ cast would be returning (including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) to provide voice work, and that the storyline was being handled by Aykroyd and Ramis themselves (they also wrote the two films in the franchise), insofar as considering the game to be the heir-apparent to the films and counting it as the third movie, fans began to get very excited at the prospect.

Unfortunately, some problems have arisen from the game’s development, in that the game is currently without a publisher after the Activision/Vivendi merger (some titles have been dropped from Vivendi’s lineup), putting the game in a state of limbo. However, if the game’s promising demo is any indication, it should have no trouble finding another publisher. While short, the demo showcased the game’s great physics, frightening gameplay, and faithfulness to the characters and the original film, making it a title that fans of the films will definitely want to get their hands on.

The preview build of the game took us through one of the earlier missions in the game, returning us to the familiar scene at the New York Public Library with the infamous librarian. However, this time, the team shows up prepared, armed with Proton Packs and PKE Meters and ready to take down some ghosts. While the story details are pretty slim so far, you’ll take the reins of a rookie Ghostbuster as the four team members from the films show you the ropes. While Peter Venkman (Bill Murray’s character) was absent from the demo, the other three team members were in tow, each voiced by their film actor counterparts.

At times, the game played like Rainbow Six: Vegas, requiring you to cooperate with your fellow teammates, reviving them when they get knocked down by enemies, and working together in order to take out large ghosts, and so on. The demo also showcased a few of the game’s weapons and items, like the PKE Meter, which will put you in a first-person perspective when you activate it with the Y Button, helping you to find areas of interest or follow trails left by ghosts. Also, the proton pack (a fixture for the titular characters and their ghost-nabbing tactics) has several cool functions to it, including bursts of energy (called Bozon Darts) to help take down ghosts and a capture stream that allows you to slam the ghost into the walls and ceiling in order to wear them out before you capture them in the containment trap.

All in all, the demo did a great job of replicating the overall feel of the film franchise, showcasing the humor and some of the chills and thrills of the beloved movies. While the game is in a bit of a publisher-less limbo, it would be a shame for this one not to see the light of day.