There’s nary a single true child of the 80s who has not seen the seminal comedy film that is Ghostbusters. Filled with great dialogue, hilarious actors and tons of action-packed sequences, the original Ghostbusters film is one of the most popular ever committed to celluloid, and stands just as loved today as it did back in 1984 when it was released. Therefore, many gamers are approaching the newly released game based on the universe with equal parts giddiness and cautious optimism. Would the game be a great extension of the fantastic franchise or just a sad footnote in its storied history?

Luckily, as a gamer (and huge Ghostbusters fan), I’ve spent a substantial amount of time with the game and I can safely say that it lives up to the loftiest of expectations. The game is extremely true to the Ghostbusters universe, and succeeds in being not only a truly great Ghostbusters game, but also a great experience in its own right. Ghostbusters does a fair amount of fan service, really putting you into the Ghostbusters universe like nothing else has before it, and is an action-packed good time as any gamer would want. Simply put, Ghostbusters rocks.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game works as a spiritual sequel (no pun intended) to the films, taking place in 1991 after the events of the two films. As the Ghostbusters have now received quite a bit of political support from the newly elected mayor, they now have enough money to hire on a new member of the team. As you are said Rookie (your official title is “Experimental Equipment Technician” which means that you have to test all of Egon’s newfangled devices). However, as soon as you’re hired, stuff really hits the fan, as a new influx of ghosts and beasties appear in tandem with a newly opened Gozer exhibit at the Museum of Natural History.

Ghostbusters hits the nail on the head when giving you various weapons and items to aid you in your ghost catching. You’ll have the standard Proton Pack, which allows you to weaken and capture ghostly apparitions (or as Ray puts it, “Zap ‘em, Cap ‘em, and Trap ‘em”), a shotty-like Dark Matter Generator, a Slime Cannon, and a Meson Collider (which basically works as a machine gun). Each weapon has a secondary function, as well, which can aide in bringing down ghosts or solving certain puzzles throughout the campaign. As you earn money, you’ll also be able to upgrade your equipment easily through the menu, making them stronger and more efficient.

Aside from your weaponry, you’ll be able to use your PKE meter to search for special artifacts or clues, as well as scan and learn about the various ghosts that you capture. The game has no Heads Up Display, requiring you to look at your proton pack and PKE meter on your belt in order to determine when you need to vent your pack or pull out your meter and do some investigating.

As team dynamic is an important element of the films, it also is very important in the game. While you don’t play as the four members of the Ghostbusters crew from the film (Egon, Ray, Peter, Winston), you’ll still often be working in tandem with them in both combat and investigation. Their AI is very well done, and they’ll exploit an enemy’s weakness as well as you can, and help you out should you fall in battle (you’ll often have to revive them as well should they need it).

The game’s environments are also very well done. Each level is huge and the game will take you to some familiar areas, including the Sedgewick Hotel and The New York Public Library, as well as some brand new areas, including parallel ghost dimensions. The game’s stages are very long and filled with a bunch of details, and enterprising gamers can even explore certain areas to solve mini-mysteries for achievements.

Still, there are a few nagging problems that keep the experience from true excellence. There are times when moving your character around feels a bit on the clunky side, especially when particularly fast ghosts knock you over, at which point your character gets up very slowly (but I guess you would too if you had a positron glider strapped to your back). Additionally, the load times after you die are very long, disrupting the overall pace.

Graphically, the game is solid, with great looking environments and enemies that stay true to the franchise’s artistic direction. The character models are great representations of their on-screen counterparts, avoiding the “creepy realism” that many games have and looking a little bit cartoony without being too over-the-top. The only real problem with the graphics is the framerates, which generally stay solid, but frequently dip down during action sequences.

Both the sound and the music are spot on. The soundtrack has some new score elements to it, but generally sticks to Elmer Bernstein’s great work on the films. The voice work is done by the majority of the film’s cast, including Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson doing the four main Ghostbusters, and Annie Potts voicing their secretary Janine, and William Atherton as the group’s nemesis, Walter Peck. Alyssa Milano is also on hand, voicing Dr. Illyssa Selwyn, curator of the Gozer exhibit, as well Brian Doyle-Murray as the mayor.

For Ghostbusters fans, this game is a real treat. The action is furious and intense, and the story is great and adds some new elements to the film franchise. If you’re at all a fan of the movies, then you definitely need to try this one out.

Gameplay: 8.5
A solid 10-hour campaign with a great mix of action and exploration keeps the pace very solid throughout, and the ghostbusting mechanic never feels old. While the experience is pretty linear, there’s still plenty of incentive for fans of the movies to hit the campaign a second time. There are some times that the controls feel a little clunky, and the long (and frequent) load times after you die are a drag.

Graphics: 8.5
The game’s art direction is fantastic, recreating the film series’ style and flair and adding a whole new element in the ethereal stages. The character designs are also spot on, but not to the point of being too creepily realistic. The only problem is the framerates, which take hits very often.

Sound: 9.5
The gang’s all here, with only series regulars Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis opting not to return (newcomer Alyssa Milano takes their place). The music features some new score material as well as faithful reproductions of Elmer Bernstein’s timeless soundtrack.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
Featuring some fine writing on behalf of Aykroyd and Ramis, Ghostbusters features a great story and tons of elements that make it a faithful experience while still feeling very fresh.

Multiplayer: 9.0
The game features a great blend of co-op missions that are each variations of survival modes from other titles, and feel great with the game’s mechanics. If only you could do the campaign cooperatively…

Overall: 8.5
While a full-on co-op campaign would’ve been awesome, there’s still plenty to love here for Ghostbusters fans. The game was made with a definite sense of appreciation for the original films, and stands well against any other action game out there, even without its license. Sure, it's got some problems, but it's still everything a true fan could hope for.