If you’ve ever had nightmares about a giant marshmallow man, or were too scared to open the fridge because it might be the gateway to a demonic realm, this game is for you.
An official sequel to the Ghostbusters movies, the game takes place two years after the events of GB2. The New York Museum of Natural History is hosting (rather unwisely) an exhibition devoted to the god Gozer and – surprise, surprise – this celebration of the deity that spawned the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man causes a massive psychic shockwave to blast through the city, releasing Slimer and a host of other ghosts. Yes, it’s Bustin’ time again.
Luckily the team has hired an Experimental Equipment Technician – you. Playing the fifth Ghostbuster and the guinea pig for Egon’s “pimped” proton pack, you embark on an adventure to save New York from damnation.
The game is an extremely playable third-person shooter, with controls that feel right and impressive good looks. The levels are varied and detailed and most objects are fully destructible and have physical properties – so you can slam ghosts through tables, smash cars and annihilate almost anything you’d want to fire a proton accelerator at.
The script is witty and utterly authentic – visits to scenes from the films and plenty of in-jokes will keep die-hard fans happy. Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis have done a sterling job of keeping the characters at the forefront. In fact, they never shut up, and there are a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments. The actors successfully revisit their youthful past and it’s a kick to hear Ray’s enthusiastic para-babble, Egon’s dry observations and some great Venkman lines, even if Bill Murray sounds a little croaky at times.
All sound effects are lifted from the films, including the great “BADOoooim” of the Proton Packs powering up or the satisfying electrical fuzz of the “streams”. So is the music, and my only gripe would be the constant re-use of the movie themes, which quickly become repetitive; was there no budget to score some new music?
The last third of the game doesn’t feel quite as polished as the earlier levels, which offer perfect pacing and scene after scene of impressive set pieces and freakily enjoyable scripted sequences.
Multiplayer, while good fun, seems to have missed the point. The four-player campaign I’d have hoped for is, unfortunately, missing; instead there is a tacked on co-op ghosthunt through three back-to-back multiplayer levels.
Ultimately, this is a worthy sequel to the movies, with a cracking script and bags of character. The lack of flair in the later levels, plus the glaring omission of four-player co-op mentioned above, brings the score down, but a winning mix of spooky atmosphere, engaging action and hilarious comedy makes this a blast to play.
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