Ghostbusters (Video Game Review)

Activision has released Ghostbusters for PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Ghostbusters is the new action RPG from Activision Publishing and Sony Pictures that takes place after the events of the new Ghostbusters film. The new game puts players into the shoes of a rookie squad who has been tasked with cleaning up New York City from ghastly spirits.

The new release has the feel of a dungeon crawler with an overhead camera view of your team in third-person. Your main objectives are to move through each stage while defeating all of the enemies and collecting power-ups and collectibles along the way. As you near the end of each stage, players must defeat challenging bosses to proceed through the game. You can choose from four heroes with varying abilities and personalities. As you make your way through the stages, you will have the option to upgrade your gear and abilities.

Ghostbusters can be played solo or with friends via local co-op. If you choose to play alone, the rest of your team will be populated with AI. However, the best way to play the team-based game is with others since it creates a more fulfilling and fun gameplay experience.

While the premise for the game is solid, the presentation and gameplay just don't feel Ghostbusters enough for us die-hard fans. The twin-stick shooter plays like any other generic shooter and doesn't have quite the atmosphere that it needs to feel unique and inspirational. It also doesn't help that the characters are almost completely nameless and you can't form the connection with them that you would with most characters.

The levels last around thirty minutes or so, but the poorly design environments makes them seem like they drag on forever. The game levels are designed almost like an ever-looping maze where every room looks so similar to the last that it gets hard to tell if you are really even progressing. The gameplay and combat in Ghostbusters ultimately becomes tedious and boring only after a few hours of playing through the repetitive levels. The game doesn't do anything inspiring or innovative to make Ghostbusters worthwhile.

In the end, Ghostbusters is a subpar title that just doesn't have what it takes to be a fun gameplay experience. However, playing the game with friends, does create a little more immersion and interactivity within the game's monotonous levels. If you don't mind some of the game's downfalls, then the Ghostbusters Ultimate Bundle might be something you would consider, since it comes with extra DLC, a digital copy of the film and two dashboard themes. Fans of twin-stick shooters might enjoy Ghostbusters with a few of their friends as long as they realize that the game isn't going to blow your pants off with its fun factor.

Ghostbusters is now available on PS4, Xbox One and PC for $49.99. It is rated E10+ by the ESRB. The Ghostbusters Ultimate Bundle – containing the base game, DLC including four classic outfits and a bonus trap, a digital copy of the new film when it arrives on home video, and two dashboard themes – is also available for $64.99 on the PS4 and Xbox One. To learn more, visit the official Ghostbusters website.


Score: 4 out of 10
Reviewed for PS4
Code provided by Activision