Ghostbusters
- July 12, 2016
- FireForge Games
Ghostbusters is an unambitious movie tie-in that’s barely connected to any version of the beloved franchise.
Ghostbusters is a Horror Shooter game that offers a thrilling multiplayer experience for 2-4 players in a local co-op campaign. Blast and trap ghosts, including classic characters from the movie, using dynamic weapons. This game features an original story that takes place after the events of the movie, providing ghostbusting fun for the whole family.
Reviews
- Enjoyable as a party/family game with support for 4 local controllers, making it great for couch co-op.
- Authentic Ghostbusters atmosphere with cartoonish scary ghosts and genuinely funny jokes.
- Visually appealing with nice graphical details and a good variety of enemies and bosses.
- The game is too easy, lacking challenge and making it feel repetitive.
- Overpriced for the content and length, with many reviewers suggesting it should be much cheaper.
- Controller issues and AI problems detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for their colorful effects and detailed 2D visuals, contributing to an appealing aesthetic. However, some reviews note a lack of creativity and meaningful design, suggesting that while the graphics are decent, they do not compensate for other shortcomings in gameplay and story. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, but opinions vary on their value relative to the game's overall experience.
“The game is quite the looker with some nice graphical details and colorful effects.”
“The best part about this game are the 2D graphics.”
“The graphics are bright and colorful, the controls are tight, and the levels scroll smoothly.”
“Detailed creepy graphics.”
“The graphics are alright.”
“It's a 'sanctum of slime' updated and renewed versions, new graphics and story, based on the new movie.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story has been criticized for its lack of depth and creativity, with many reviewers noting that it feels minimal and uninspired, primarily conveyed through brief phone calls with static images. While the cutscenes for missions are visually improved, they are seen as lazy compared to previous installments, leading to an overall impression that the narrative is a weak point of the game.
“It's a 'sanctum of slime' updated and renewed versions, new graphics and story, based on the new movie.”
“The cutscenes for new missions look better, but they also feel more lazy this time around.”
“By that I mean that yes, they look nicer, but now between mission cutscenes are phone calls with a single static image.”
“As far as story goes, it really has none.”
“The only hint you get at a plot is in the phone conversations where the main villain interjects for about five seconds then disappears.”
“Completely devoid of creativity, meaningful story, decent graphics, or enjoyable gameplay, this game is a waste of space on my drive and I feel dumber for having played it.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is functional but lacks variety and creativity, primarily revolving around a repetitive capture mechanic that requires spamming a button. Overall, it is criticized for being unengaging and devoid of meaningful content, leading to a disappointing experience.
“There is a capture mechanic where you bash the 'A' button.”
“The gameplay works fine, but there is no variety added.”
“There is a capture mechanic where you just mash the 'A' button.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's music has been criticized for its limited variety, featuring only a few tracks that many players find bland and repetitive. While the inclusion of the Ghostbusters theme is appreciated, its frequent repetition leads to it becoming tiresome. Overall, the soundtrack fails to enhance the gaming experience.
“As far as the soundtrack goes, I swear this game only has three tracks for the levels.”
“The music is very bland.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game captures an authentic Ghostbusters atmosphere, featuring cartoonishly scary ghosts and genuinely funny jokes. However, some writing feels lackluster, with minimal references to iconic characters and questionable humor that may not be suitable for its younger audience.
“The authentic Ghostbusters atmosphere features ghosts that are scary in a cartoonish way, complemented by jokes that are actually funny.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its authentic Ghostbusters vibe, featuring a blend of spooky yet cartoonish ghosts and genuinely humorous jokes that enhance the overall experience.
“The game captures an authentic Ghostbusters atmosphere, featuring ghosts that are both scary and cartoonish, complemented by genuinely funny jokes.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making you feel like you're part of the Ghostbusters universe.”
“The blend of humor and spooky elements creates a unique atmosphere that keeps you engaged and entertained.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is enhanced by the variety of weapons available, encouraging solo players to experiment with different styles and making multiplayer sessions enjoyable as players can team up with friends who have mastered different weapons.
“Each playthrough offers unique challenges and experiences, ensuring that no two games feel the same.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh, encouraging players to return for new adventures.”
“The weapons the busters brandish are different enough to add replay value to the game if you're going solo, and it makes it fun to team up with friends who have mastered a different weapon than yours if multiplayer is your jam.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in. The side quests feel repetitive and don't offer much in terms of new content.”
“While the game has a few different modes, they quickly become stale, and I found myself losing interest after just a few playthroughs.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as a cash grab, capitalizing on the recent release of the mediocre Ghostbusters 2016 movie, which raises concerns about its quality and value to players.
“It's quite obvious that this game is really just a quick cash grab, considering that it's acting as the sequel to the mediocre Ghostbusters 2016 movie that isn't even a month old yet.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with prices that are far too high for the content offered.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
Critic Reviews
Ghostbusters Review
Roger Ebert once famously opined that video games are not art, and Ghostbusters is Exhibit A for his case. This is not art. It barely qualifies as a game. Sure, it's not broken like some games are. It's functional. It works. But there's no risk, no ambition, and not a trace of anything resembling the personality of the Ghostbusters movies or cartoons. This is a game that seems like it was made with the specific purpose of tricking parents who don't know any better into buying it for their kids. Who ya gonna call? The Samaritans, probably.
20%Ghostbusters review
Ghostbusters (2016) is a cynical bit of licensed drivel
20%Ghostbusters Review
Ghostbusters is an unambitious movie tie-in that’s barely connected to any version of the beloved franchise.
44%