As a Ghostbusters fan, video games based on the property have been hit or miss over the years. 2009’s Ghostbusters: The Video Game sits at the top of the list of games that have been released over the years. And now Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed joins it there. For the many gamers who loved the multiplayer mode of Ghostbusters: The Video Game and were disappointed that it wasn’t brought back with the remastered version of the game a few years back, this game can more than fill that void. It is Ghostbusters multiplayer mode with a story and more things you can do than ever before.
Before I get started, a short disclosure statement: I was given early access codes to the game from Illfonic to play the game prior to release. I got one code for my Xbox, and one for the PC. However, I must also make it clear that I also pre-ordered the Collector’s Edition of the game several months ago, as well as the digital version of the game. I did not cancel either pre-order. Unfortunately the digital pre-order was pretty much a moot point once I had the code, though it did originally give me a problem redeeming it, since I already had purchased the game, so Microsoft wouldn’t let me put the code in. So I used it on my wife’s account to play for a while, and then magically my account worked the next day, rather than say “this game has not been released yet. All of that to say, while I was granted free copies of the game, I also paid for the game, twice over.
What I love about Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed
There is a lot to love about this game already. I’ve long said that I would love a sequel to Ghostbusters: The Video Game that contained unending missions to catch ghosts. Moreover, I wanted a game that allowed you to go on missions to specifically catch a particular single ghost. With the gameplay of Ghostbusters: The Video Game being level-based, with lots of ghosts haunting the area, I wasn’t really sure how that could play out. This game solves that.
Where it starts, with the opening of the game being a game-rendered version of the end of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is perfect.
Each round is specifically focused on one ghost, either A.I. or player controlled, whose soul ghoul (lol) is to haunt the entire level before being caught by the four Ghostbusters. This is amazing because it continues the journey we started with Ghostbusters: The Video Game. While that game was the first time a GB game made you really feel like a Ghostbuster, this game gives you the feel of being a Ghostbuster in the movies and cartoons, where they often only had to track down a single ghost, and that makes it pure joy to play.
The rounds can be short, if you’re good and the ghost is not, or longer if the ghost is good too. And there’s enough of a variety of things to do in the levels whether you’re a ghostbuster or a ghost, from helping to calm people down, to collecting spores, molds, and fungus, as well as newspaper clippings. As a ghost, you can haunt objects and run around as them. My favorite things to possess are the teddy bears and the starfish. Those are fantastic and fun to see running around the level. You can also slime people and ghostbusters, sabotage proton packs, steal traps, and fly through portals in certain walls.
There are five level areas in the game, most of which are reminiscent of famous Ghostbusters locations, like the hotel, the jail, etc. This is an area where I hope we see expansions that include levels of locations and places right out of The Real Ghostbusters, like Mrs. Rogers’ haunted house (the one at 1313 Thirteenth Street).
I also love the customizability of the Ghostbusters and the ghosts. You can customize your character’s look to an incredible level, with loads of clothing options, and body size options where just about anyone can create almost whatever look they want for a Ghostbuster.
I also really enjoyed the storyline from the beginning of the game. It turned out to be mostly about training you before getting you into the fun of the constant missions and leveling up everything, but it was cool meeting the new office manager, Catt, and the new equipment guy Eddy.
Playing with your friends is especially fun, as you sneak up on them to either slime them or bust them.
I also like the side-hustle missions and research contracts that you can use to get a ton of extra XP or unlock other upgrades to customizations and equipment like the RTV Ghost Trap from Ghostbusters: Afterlife. These things add more variety to the game, as do the daily and weekly challenges.
Are there bugs in the game?
Yes… and some truly bizarre ones. However, Illfonic is listening and they are actively fixing bugs. Early on, matching up into games with your friends was problematic. That has since been corrected, and I’ve not had the same trouble as I did the first couple of nights. They’ve also fixed the offline mode to work. The other day, I jumped into a game as Slimer, and for some reason, I was out of phase with the level. Not like clipping or anything, but I constantly escaped from the capture streams of the four Ghostbusters who were hunting me. And they were all really good, and constantly holding me in the same room. I eventually escaped and kept going, eventually winning the round. But to be fair, they should have won. I’m good at this game, but not that good. Unfortunately, my mic didn’t work at the time or I would have told them to stop trying to bust me for a minute so I can see if I can phase back into the level. The fact that they didn’t let up on me for more than 20 seconds at any time didn’t help their chances. This was a bug that someone else I was playing with had happen, but we let him try a few things with Slimer and he was able to re-appear in the game. Believe me, it’s not fun to win that way. There were also two times when I got stuck, and was unable to move, as a Ghostbuster. However, I’ve submitted those to Illfonic, and they’re looking into it. I will not mark them down for bugs like these. They can be corrected and the game works smoothly 99% of the time or greater.
How do you rate Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed?
I give this game an A overall. Get it. Especially if you’re a fan of Ghostbusters, you won’t be disappointed.
How can Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed be improved?
These aren’t slams against the game, more of a wishlist of things I would love to see.
Additional stories to play through – Let’s get more stories in this game’s universe that we can play through.
Team play against famous Ghostbusters ghosts from the movies and cartoons – We’ve done it before, somewhat, but with the style of play found in this game, hunting down Slimer in the Sedgewick Hotel would be pure bliss. Also, let us interact with the tables in the ballroom to pull the tablecloths off of the tables. Taking down Slimer, the Scoleri Bros, Muncher, etc., would be really fun. Also give us the Sandman, Boogyman, Samhain, and more from the animated series for these busts. It would be fun to be able to opt-in to do these or have them randomly occur if you’re playing a series of 4v1 missions and you don’t have a person as a ghost.
More locations – Which I’ve now heard are coming over the next year, with a handful of free levels.
More varieties of Proton Pack modes – like in Ghostbusters The Video Game. Or… rather than adding a Slime Blower to the Proton Pack, give us a Slime Blower that just does that.
More gameplay modes – Similar to the multi-player modes from Ghostbusters: The Video Game, there can be more ways to play the game than just chasing down the ghost.
More equipment options – Let us use the Proton Pack designs from The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters, and the traps. And the proton streams from the pack could look like they do in the cartoon. That would be epic. Another idea would be to have a pack based on the old Kenner toy Proton Pack, including the foam proton stream, but have it reach as far as it should in the game.
Be the first to comment