Coming on June 16th, the whole family can get a chance to bust spooks, spectres and ghosts from the comfort of their living room with the new Ghostbusters: The Video Game for Nintendo Wii. Acting as the video game sequel to the legendary movies, Ghostbusters reunites Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray as the titular otherworld exterminators who trade insults almost as much as they trap the dead.
But instead of pushing for a photo-realistic portrayal of the famous franchise, developer Red Fly opted to deliver a cartoon experience more in the vein of Disney's Pixar. The end result is an clever animated look at popular characters, like Egon Spengler and his distinctive hairstyle, and exaggerated depictions of the ghouls and ghosts. Coupled with the intuitive controls of the Wii, it's this stylized approach that makes this Ghostbusters version stand on its own besides its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 siblings.
Multiplayer options
Don't confuse "cartoony" for "kids only", though. Ghostbusters is a game aimed to be played by gamers of all ages, boasting the same level of challenge found in those other versions. On the Wii, players will use the Wiimote to blast and wear down ghosts with very simple point, press and swing controls, while trapping them with a satisfying flick of the Wii Nunchuk controller. It's the closest thing to strapping an unlicensed nuclear accelerator to your back and ghostbusting for real!
Best of all, Ghostbusters lets you buddy-up with a friend or loved one via a split-screen multiplayer mode, exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. Red Fly designed a male and female rookie ghostbuster for players to choose from, and you'll play alongside the rest of the ghostbusters gang as you progress through the entire game. What's great about Ghostbusters co-op is that it's true collaborative game play with players rescuing each other whenever they get knocked off their feet or strategizing about taking down some ghosts. Ghosts can be a real pain in the neck and they often do not show up solo, so having another partner blast them or lay down traps is incredibly effective.
Split-screen action
Players will also acquire additional Ghostbuster gear, such as slime blowers or the classic P.K.E. meter, with which to battle the spooks. Having one player able to shoot "good slime", which whittles down a ghost's “bad slime” shield, while the other player zaps 'em with a traditional proton beam is just smart gaming, and keeps either player from fumbling through their equipment. In a similar vein, the P.K.E. meter is used to scan ghosts and discover collectibles, but again, pulling one out when under attack by ghosts is ill-advised. With you blasting away at a ghost as your partner scans them, it'll help you meet those goals without going totally defenseless. You'll also be able to use your proton beam as a pseudo-grapple to move furniture or other equipment out of the way of your partner, allowing you to keep up with fleeing spirits.
From its easy “pick up and play” controls to its stylized animated look, Ghostbusters for the Wii is shaping up to be its own unique offering. The exclusive co-op multiplayer mode is more than icing on the cake though, as it changes the way you play the game, making it a more exciting shared experience. We can't wait to cross the streams with a friend when Ghostbusters finally hits store shelves this month.
Wii: Ghostbusters The Videogame Image Gallery
Posted: 8 Jun 2009
