Ghostbusters (XB1) Review

Busting definitely doesn’t make me feel good.

Ghostbusters is a treasured classic when it comes to movies. People loved it and defend it rightly so. The sequel garners constant argumentative discussion on whether it sucks or not. The new movie, maybe even more so, the jury on that is still out there. Yet one thing has been pretty consistent in the gaming world and it’s that most Ghostbusters games are mediocre or terrible. I’ve played most of them and what can I say, I’m not afraid of no ghost, but I am afraid of really repetitive, boring, uninspiring games and Ghostbusters 2016 serves this up a plenty.

Ghostbusted

Ghostbusters tells the story of 4 recruits who are taking over for the ladies of the new movie while they are off on another adventure. It’s a plot device that stems to further reason why the game exists and while there is limited cut scenes that feature a cartoon like quality, this is mostly the game’s best feature. That said, what little is here isn’t worth even getting excited over.

ghostbusters_04

MSRP: $49.99
Price I’d Pay: $1.00
Multiplayer: 1–4 player local co-op
How long to beat: 5+ hours

Gameplay is the equivalent to a twin stick shooter. As players pick one of the four, shooting ghosts and ghouls, racking up points to level up, taking down as many baddies as possible. The base gameplay element here is workable but it’s ever so slow. Leveling up is slow, fighting is slow, and running around is…slow. Instead of getting a fast paced, wave based, ghosts from every angle type scenario, instead it’s just a slow and monotonous mode. There are skills to level up and increase the stats, but after a few points added, I could barely tell a difference. Level after level will have players doing the same thing over and over again, with little to no variation.

If levels were small and sizable in chunks, again this could work, instead some levels take over 20 minutes to finish, which will have people screaming not in terror, but asking themselves “is it over yet?” The game is extremely easy too, as when the player goes down, the other AI players have to revive them. There is no bleed out function from not getting picked up in time, therfor it’s just a waiting game. Granted the AI decided to just fight the ghosts, not doing a very good job at it, and never picking me up and this happened a few times sadly. Framerate also takes a dive when too many enemies or particles are on screen. The list of issues with Ghostbusters goes deeper than 6 feet if catch my drift.

The soundtrack, aside from the classic Ghostbusters theme, is extremely repetitive and just sort of in the background. Nothing is memorable or even catchy. Much like the gameplay itself. Graphically it has the look of a digital release and that’s a bit of a disservice to those digital only games. It’s colorful and appropriate with enemies designs probably being the best element, but otherwise there is much better digital only games and this is a $50 dollar retail game somehow.

ghostbusters_03

Go play Ghostbusters 2009

Simply put, this is a cash in the likes of which I’ve hardly seen. I usually find some redeeming qualities in a movie tie in, even if it’s lacking. Here I’m not seeing much of any redeeming qualities, at all. There was one check mark that Activision most likely needed to ensure when creating this game and that was keeping the franchise license from expiring. If you need to play a Ghostbusters game, check out the Genesis game for a cool side scrolling retro action game. Or how about checking out the 2009 game on Xbox 360, PS3, or PC, featuring the entire main cast of the franchise that actually lets player feel as if they are part of a Ghostbusters 3 movie. Stay away from this game even for a cheap buck. Who ya gonna call? Hopefully the store where this game was purchased from in hopes of asking for a refund.

My favorite moment: The original song being played… Yep that’s it.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • The original song plays
Bad
  • Slow
  • Repetitive
  • Boring
  • AI
2
Insulting
Written by
Justin is a long time passionate fan of games, not gaming drama. He loves anything horror related, archaeology inspired adventures, RPG goodness, Dr Pepper, and of course his family. When it comes to crunch time, he is a beast, yet rabies free we promise.