In Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, there are currently 5 maps. These are the job locations you’ll end up very familiar with. More maps are coming over the next year as DLC, the first of which has just been announced for the first quarter of 2023. The maps in the game all fit the Ghostbusters universe very well, even though none of the maps are directly based on any locations from the movies or cartoons. At least not yet.
Whitestone Museum
This location is kind of like a combination of the New York Public Library from Ghostbusters and the Manhattan Museum of Art from Ghostbusters 2, as well as the museum from Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
From the game: The Whitestone Museum of Nature and Science has become a breeding ground for spectral activity. Art is flying off of the walls, ancient artifacts are teeming with negative energy, and exhibits are coming to life! While you’re there, see if you can find any clues about the source… I have a sneaking suspicion that the “Mysteries of the Occult” exhibit is as harmful as it looks.
Hudson Canyon Lodge
With a name inspired by Winston Zeddemore actor Ernie Hudson, this level is one of my favorite in the game, and feels a bit like a mix between the Sedgewick Hotel from Ghostbusters and the ski lodge in Boy Meets World.
From the game: We’ve been getting a ton of calls about the old lodge up in Hudson Canyon. Last I heard a hotel chain scooped the land up and revamped it into a swanky resort. Run some jobs out there and see what you can uncover!
Rock Island Prison
Prisons tend to be a bit of a rite of passage for most Ghostbusters, as the teams in both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters: Afterlife both wound up in jail cells, whether by choice or because they were arrested. This level, however, seems to be based on the real-life island prison Alcatraz.
From the game: Catch the ferry out to Rock Island Prison. And before you ask, yes, I’ve heard stories about the prison’s heyday. Wouldn’t be surprised if some of the rumors about unsanctioned trials are true; whatever went down caused the state bureau to shutter the place at least five decades ago, and left a lingering stench. Anyway, keep an eye on the rising tide and watch out for barnacles on your boots!
Clock Tower Brewery & Pub
In some ways, this reminds me of the “rust city” sequence in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, where they first encounter Muncher. I would love to know where the inspiration for this level came from. It fits in with the Ghostbusters universe, at least in style, though.
From the game: Some serious stuff is going on at The Clock Tower Brewery. Production’s at a standstill and not just because of the hauntings; apparently the flavor’s gone downhill. Could be a bad batch, but I’m thinking otherwise. See what you can find out.
RMS Artemisia
This ocean liner appears to be inspired by the RMS Queen Mary, which is permanently moored at the port of Long Beach, California. Parts of this level are also reminiscent of scenes in Ghostbusters. The theatre room, for instance, has elements that remind me of the ballroom at the Sedgewick Hotel where the Ghostbusters fought Slimer.
From the game: You don’t need strong sea legs for the RMS Artemisia – that thing’s been docked for years now. Decommissioned after one too many tragic incidents, if I recall, but my exact history’s a little fuzzy. Last I heard, a group of enthusiasts picked it as the site for their paranormal convention, not realizing that there are actual GHOSTS on this ghost ship! Huh, who would’ve thought?!
MOROS Medical Facility
Launched as free DLC on January 31, 2023.
This level has a lot of hospital features and is yet another perfect place for a ghostbusting job to take place. It’s suitably creepy. It doesn’t appear to have any clippings to discover, though, which is a shame.
From the game: Closed for good in the late 1980s, MOROS Medical has been recently purchased by a private investor group who have plans to renovate and reopen the facility. Unfortunately for them, it’s being plagued by ghostly activity, and construction crews refuse to enter this haunted health center.
S.C.Y. County Courthouse
Launched as free DLC on April 20, 2023.
Reminiscent of the courthouse seen in Ghostbusters 2, this level features multiple courtrooms as well. It also gives me a very Night Court vibe. Halls, offices, and courtrooms all connect to form a uniquely entwined gameplay space.
From the game: Strange activity is reported at the “SEBASTIAN C. YARBOROUGH” County Courthouse has made it difficult to conduct legal proceedings. It would seem that decades of dark activity and paranormal contact have made the courthouse a hotbed for ghostly activity.
New Motion Club
Launched as Free DLC on August 1, 2023.
I wonder if this was somewhat inspired by the original movie’s dialog from Casey Kasem, when the Ghostbusters took on “a pretty pesky poltergeist” at dance club The Rose. There is also the sequence in Ghostbusters: Answer the Call where the Ghostbusters take down Mayhem. Perhaps it’s a combination of the two?
From the game: The New Motion Club is a pillar of the New York underground music scene. From Baxter Hills to Trance Ratton, countless now well-known alternative acts have gotten their start here. After a change in ownership, there has been a recent spike in paranormal activity. Are these ghostly parasites drawn to the energy of such a vibrant place, or are they just fans of “the scene” like everyone else?
Petey’s Pirate Cove
Launched as Free DLC on October 19, 2023
Not sure what inspired this one yet, or may have. Going to play it a bit and update this when I have a chance!
From the game: ‘For libations and fun, don’t walk, but run, to Petey’s Pirate Cove!’ Scallywags and buccaneers alike will find games galore, grog by the gallon, and more ghostly apparitions than a sunken shipwreck. Shiver me timbers, indeed!
Galway Station
Launched as Free DLC on October 19, 2023
This must have been inspired by both Ghostbusters 2 and Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, which both used the NYC Subway for some scenes. It also featured sometimes in The Real Ghostbusters animated series as well, in some memorable episodes.
From the game: Subway patrons report sightings of ghostly old-timey train cars, and encounters with tormented apparitions in the underground, particularly around Galway Station.
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