Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Preview
Who ya gonna call?
by Marcus Mulkins
previewed on PC
Is it deja vu if we add something new? (cntd)
The player is inserted into the story as a new rookie Ghostbuster. On the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions, the game’s associate producer Ryan French is the model for the character – a Caucasian male with short, shaved brown hair with the name “Rookie” on his name tag. On the Wii, PS2 and DS versions, the character’s hair is blond and longer than in the other versions.
The events of the game occur during Thanksgiving 1991, two years after the events in Ghostbusters II. Players portray a new recruit hired to test Egon Spengler and Ray Stantz’s new equipment, during a recent rise of paranormal activity. Along the way, you battle ghosts from the films, such as Vigo, Slimer, Gozer, and Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Well, it’s like “Rainbow 6”, but using a blunderbuss
There are new hi-tech toys like the PKE meter, neutrona wand, and the indispensable proton pack. The proton pack has two heavy offensive weapons available: the Blast Stream which works pretty much like you remember from the movie. That is, like a blunderbuss that fires a high energy whip over which you have marginal control. The second mode is that it fires Boson Darts, which are like energy grenades that race down along the length of the energy stream.
If you happen to have a ghost or other paranormal entity tangled in your stream, it takes a lot of hit points. If not… Well, hope the owner has everything insured. There is a weaker version of the Blast Stream called the Capture Stream. It doesn’t dish out the damage as much, but it hangs onto the target better. The idea is to snag the target, wear it down like when you have hooked a sailfish, generally by knocking the stuffing out of it by slamming it into the walls. When you get it directly over a containment trap, whoosh, all you need now is the gift wrap.
Though you are playing the role of the New Guy, you are, in fact part of a team. Many of your opponents are heavyweights in their own right, and it takes the combined efforts of the entire firete-, uh, Ghostbuster group to bring them down. (Sorry, Rainbow 6 – Las Vegas flashbacks) Like other squad type games, if a member goes down after dancing cheek-to-cheek with a paranormal entity, you can administer First Aid to get him back into action quicker. And likewise, if you go down, one of the others will most likely render assistance.
But do keep in mind that the ghosties will do everything they can to get you separated from the rest of the team. United we stand; divided we fall. They will also do everything they can to persuade you to do extensive property damage for which the Ghostbusters will be billed. Things like making a tempting target in front of a valuable painting. Given the accuracy of your weapon, expect to make very little on your contracts after the damages are deducted.
