Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 421 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Game Cover
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Ghostbusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition will include the game and all four of the DLC Drops from 2023. This is a fun, multiplayer game perfect for all skill levels. Four proton pack wielding Ghostbusters attempt to catch a Ghost haunting unique locations in asymmetrical multiplayer battles online or offline. As players progress, they will unlock cosmetics and upgrades for both Ghostbusters an…

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 421 reviews
story24 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions
  • The game captures the essence of the Ghostbusters franchise with great nostalgia, featuring original voice actors and familiar locations.
  • Gameplay is fun and engaging, allowing players to choose between being a Ghostbuster or a ghost, with a variety of customization options for both.
  • The game offers a solid multiplayer experience with quick matchmaking and the ability to play offline with bots, making it accessible for solo players.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and lag, especially during cutscenes and when first loading.
  • Bots can be frustratingly incompetent, often failing to assist effectively during matches, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The story mode feels short and is intertwined with multiplayer, leading to some players wishing for a more robust single-player experience.
  • story75 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered light and somewhat underdeveloped, primarily serving as a backdrop to the multiplayer experience. While it features engaging cutscenes and voice acting from original cast members, many players feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more substantial missions and content. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable but short, with players expressing a desire for a more expansive storyline to complement the gameplay.

    • “The story is fun, if a bit short.”
    • “The voice work by the actors themselves is great and the story, though short, is lots of fun and well done.”
    • “They do a good job making a believable continuation of the original Ghostbusters story, and the writing is pretty good for a kids' game.”
    • “My main criticism is that the story seems to just carry on in the background whilst you play the standard game modes.”
    • “The single-player story is pretty boring and is over rather quickly, but the multiplayer is a lot of fun.”
    • “My only big criticism is how short the story is.”
  • gameplay60 mentions

    The gameplay is a well-crafted blend of cooperative and asymmetrical mechanics, allowing players to enjoy both ghostbusting and ghost-hunting experiences. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and offers a variety of customization options, some players feel it lacks depth and content, leading to repetitive matches over time. Overall, the game is praised for its fun mechanics, nostalgic elements, and solid balance, though there are calls for more diverse gameplay features and improvements to certain mechanics.

    • “The gameplay itself has been refined to a point now where I think it's pretty perfect for what it is.”
    • “The gameplay loop seems solid.”
    • “Gameplay loop is fun, matches don't feel like they overstay their welcome and both ghosts and ghostbusters have plenty of mechanics and options to allow for creative plays for either team.”
    • “Horribly watered down game mechanics.”
    • “The game lacks content and more gameplay mechanics to always spice it up.”
    • “The initial mission where you're by yourself is fine, but then when you take on another mission, the AI of the other folks is annoying, and gameplay-wise it feels far more complex than Ghostbusters: The Video Game.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stylized, cartoonish aesthetic that aligns well with the Ghostbusters franchise, enhancing its charm and immersion. While some users noted issues with optimization and performance on lower-end PCs, the overall visual presentation is considered impressive and fitting for the game's theme. Despite a few criticisms regarding realism and occasional graphical quirks, the majority of players found the graphics to be solid and enjoyable.

    • “The stunning graphics, intuitive gameplay, and clever incorporation of classic elements like the ecto goggles create an immersive experience.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the cast did amazing.”
    • “The stylized graphics enhance the charm of the game; it would not work if it was realistic at all.”
    • “The cartoon graphics of the characters are ugly and not realistic.”
    • “High-end PCs can hardly run mid-range graphics.”
    • “The game also feels poorly optimized for PC in many cases, with noticeable stuttering in cutscenes and when a lot of effects are going on screen at the same time, unless put on the lowest graphical settings.”
  • optimization30 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly during initial play sessions due to shader compilation. While some users noted that performance improves after playing for a while, others criticized the overall optimization as poor, especially on PC, citing Unreal Engine 4's limitations. Despite these issues, some players found the game enjoyable and expressed hope for future patches to enhance performance.

    • “As a ghostbuster, you have many tools at your disposal. The proton pack, the neutrona wand, the PKE meter, and the ghost trap are back and upgradable with several different upgrades that improve performance, like a grip for the particle thrower or a longer cable for the ghost trap.”
    • “It's well optimized, and the offline bots are actually competent and do what they're supposed to.”
    • “However, since I've been playing this since its release on Epic, I can say that the devs are very on top of bug stomping and performance quality, and it will only get better from here.”
    • “The game also feels poorly optimized for PC in many cases, with noticeable stuttering in cutscenes and when a lot of effects are going on screen at the same time, unless put on the lowest graphical settings.”
    • “This game is really unoptimized, like really bad, despite having a PC capable of running it.”
    • “To start off, this is an extremely unoptimized game for PC due to Illfonic incorrectly utilizing the Unreal 4 engine.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic appeal, featuring the iconic Ghostbusters theme and tracks from the movies that enhance the overall experience. While some players find certain music loops repetitive, the soundtrack is generally considered fitting and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's charm and atmosphere. Overall, fans appreciate the blend of classic tunes and new compositions that resonate with the franchise's legacy.

    • “This satisfies the nostalgia with all the right sights and sounds you expect with an exceptional soundtrack.”
    • “Great looking graphics, runs well, has all the music and little easter eggs from the films that fans of the series will recognize.”
    • “Music – some of the music is actually from the movies and it feels appropriate, and more importantly, I don’t find it obnoxious.”
    • “The ghost capture and firehouse music are unbearable, too short to loop endlessly.”
    • “The soundtrack and effects are killer.”
    • “Character customization is really good, to be honest, and it has all the charm of Ghostbusters from the style, comedy, and music.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be quite buggy and prone to glitches, which can disrupt gameplay. However, some users have observed improvements with recent updates and DLCs, suggesting that the developers are actively working to enhance stability. Overall, while the game runs smoothly for some, persistent bugs remain a concern for many players.

    • “It runs great and feels smooth like butter.”
    • “Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
    • “The game is fun, but way too buggy.”
    • “With each DLC release, the game itself gets more buggy and more issues always seem to arise again due to Illfonic focusing on releasing junk DLC instead of properly utilizing the Unreal 4 engine and actually releasing a 'correct' patch.”
    • “The bugs, glitches, and overall performance issues will remain until Illfonic decides to 'properly' fix said issues.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The game features a player-friendly monetization model, offering a one-time purchase of $20 that includes all content, with no battle passes, microtransactions, or premium currency. Players appreciate the absence of any monetization tactics, allowing for a fully enjoyable experience without the pressure of additional costs. All updates are provided for free, enhancing the overall value.

    • “Unlike almost every other game of this type, there are no battle passes or microtransactions; the $20 base game gets you everything.”
    • “You level up quickly and there are tons of customization options with zero microtransactions.”
    • “All the game updates have been completely free, and there is no monetization whatsoever.”
    • “No gambling, FOMO, or stingy monetization.”
    • “Please take note that all of this is without a hint of premium currency or microtransactions in-game.”
    • “All the game's updates have been completely free, and there is no monetization whatsoever.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both enjoyable and tedious, with a strong emphasis on customization that encourages ongoing engagement. However, concerns arise regarding the sustainability of the game once the online player base diminishes, as many competitive multiplayer games lack offline bot options. While grinding is present, it is designed to be manageable through passive unlockables tied to contracts and challenges.

    • “It's fun, but tedious.”
    • “There's a sea of extremely competitive and grindy multiplayer games that already exist, and most of them don't have bots to play offline. So when the online player base dies, so does the entire playability of the game.”
    • “The game can be a little bit grindy as a fair warning, but unlockables are meant to be done passively once you've activated the various contracts/challenges.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game effectively captures the Ghostbusters universe's atmosphere, particularly reminiscent of the original movie and animated series, with well-designed environments and a fun community experience. Players appreciate the balanced character selection and overall enjoyment, highlighting the game's ability to evoke the franchise's iconic feel.

    • “The environs and atmosphere are especially well done.”
    • “An excellent and fun game which captures the Ghostbusters atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Honestly, this is the closest game besides the original movie games to nail the atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe, especially the animated universe.”
    • “Honestly, this is the closest game, besides the original movie games, to capturing the atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe, especially the animated universe in terms of hairstyle.”
    • “The environments and atmosphere are especially well done.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for being easy to appreciate, fun, and genuinely funny, with standout jokes and amusing voice performances that enhance the overall experience.

    • “Easy, fun, and funny too.”
    • “Voices – there aren’t many, but they are so funny!”
    • “I absolutely love the humor!”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game is praised for its wholesome emotional experience, offering a heartfelt journey despite its relatively short playtime of about 9.5 hours. Players appreciate the depth of emotion conveyed, particularly in the unique perspective of winning as a ghost, which adds to its charm.

    • “The game is very wholesome, and while some may say it lacks content, I disagree.”
    • “I won't spoil it, but it's plenty wholesome, albeit a bit short (roughly 9.5 hours, not counting lore from hidden collectibles).”
    • “Winning as a ghost is absolutely wholesome.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users highlight the game's high replayability, noting that its engaging gameplay and value for the price make it a worthwhile purchase. Many find it super fun, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “And for the price and replayability, why wouldn't you get this masterpiece?”
    • “Super fun and lots of replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition

Play time

9hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
5-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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