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==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
{{see|Ghostbusters (franchise)#Technology}}
{{see|Ghostbusters (franchise)#Technology}}
The game is played with an "over-the-shoulder" camera like a [[third-person shooter]]. Instead of using a gun, the player is equipped with various types of weapons built into the player's "[[proton pack]]". The pack is equipped with four different weapons: the Proton Stream, [[Stasis (fiction)|Stasis]] Stream, [[Meson]] Collider, and Slime Blower, each of which has a primary and secondary mode of fire. The Proton Stream is used to weaken ghosts before the player uses the Capture Stream to slam and drag them into a deployed ghost trap. Each weapon is unlocked over the course of the game and upgrades can be purchased with earned in-game cash. Although the proton pack allows for infinite "ammunition", it will heat up as it is used, requiring the player to frequently vent the proton pack to prevent it from [[overheating]]. In each level, the player explores environments alongside three of the other Ghostbuster in order to battle/capture ghosts. Along with the action-oriented gameplay, the player can also use the the PKE meter and [[goggle]]s to track and identify ghosts, find mission-related targets, and locate haunted [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifact]]s. <ref name="IGN-PS3-Review" />
The game is a [[third-person shooter]], in that the camera sits "over-the-shoulder" of the player's rookie Ghostbuster character. However, instead of using a gun, the player is equipped with various types of weapons built into the player's "[[proton pack]]". The player also carries a [[ghost trap]] that can be deployed on a floor to capture ghosts the player has weakened. In each level, the player explores environments alongside three of the other Ghostbuster characters in order to battle and/or capture ghosts. Along with the action-oriented gameplay, the player can also use the the [[PKE meter]] and goggles to track and identify ghosts, find mission-related targets, and locate haunted [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifact]]s.<ref name="IGN-PS3-Review" />


The proton pack is equipped with four different weapons: the Proton Stream, [[Stasis (fiction)|Stasis]] Stream, [[Meson]] Collider, and positively-charged Slime Blower. Each weapon has a primary mode of fire that can be used to weaken ghosts, along with a secondary fire that has more a practical use. The Proton Stream emits a laser stream that is used to weaken ghosts until the player can initiate the weapon's Capture Stream, which allows the player to manipulate the ghost by slamming it into surfaces and dragging it into the player's trap. These weapons are unlocked over the course of the game, while upgrades become available for purchase as the player earns in-game cash from their play. Although the proton pack allows for infinite "ammunition", it will heat up as it is used, requiring the player to frequently vent the proton pack to prevent it from overheating and harming the player.
⚫
The heat level of the pack and the player's health are represented as meters on the proton pack, which also substitutes for a [[HUD (video gaming)|heads-up display]]. If the player's health is depleted, the player will be knocked out and a [[Computer game bot|computer-controlled]] Ghostbuster must revive him. Likewise, the player must revive computer-controlled Ghostbusters that have become knocked out, as well. However, if all Ghostbusters are lying on the ground at the same time, the player will have to restart the level from the last checkpoint. <ref name="IGN-PS3-Review" />

⚫
The heat level of the pack and the player's health are represented as meters on the proton pack, which also substitutes for a [[HUD (video gaming)|heads-up display]]. <ref name="IGN-PS3-Review" /> If the player's health is depleted, the player will be knocked out and a [[Computer game bot|computer-controlled]] Ghostbuster must revive him. Likewise, the player must revive computer-controlled Ghostbusters that have become knocked out, as well. However, if all Ghostbusters are lying on the ground at the same time, the player will have to restart the level from the last checkpoint.


The game also has a variety of multiplayer modes - the Redfly version has optional offline multiplayer for the entirety of the main game whereas the Terminal Reality version (except for the PC release) includes [[Internet|online]] multiplayer content separate from the main story.<ref name="WiiCoOp">{{cite web|title=Ghostbusters Developer's Blog: The More the Merrier|publisher=IGN|last=Mills|first=Jeff|url=http://blogs.ign.com/Atari_Ghostbusters/2009/04/02/116597/|date=2009-04-02|accessdate=2009-05-16}}</ref><ref name="360PS3CoOp">{{cite web|url=http://www.co-optimus.com/article/1477/First_Ghostbusters_Co-Op_Footage_-_More_Info_on_Co-Op_Modes.html|title=First Ghostbusters Co-Op Footage - More Info on Co-Op Modes|last=Puleo|first=Nicholas|publisher=Co-Optimus|accessdate=2009-05-16|date=2009-03-16}}</ref><ref name="PCCoOp">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174832|title=Developer Comments On Ghostbusters PC's Lack Of Multiplayer|last=Bailey|first=Kat|accessdate=2009-06-19|date=2009-06-17}}</ref>
The game also has a variety of multiplayer modes - the Redfly version has optional offline multiplayer for the entirety of the main game whereas the Terminal Reality version (except for the PC release) includes [[Internet|online]] multiplayer content separate from the main story.<ref name="WiiCoOp">{{cite web|title=Ghostbusters Developer's Blog: The More the Merrier|publisher=IGN|last=Mills|first=Jeff|url=http://blogs.ign.com/Atari_Ghostbusters/2009/04/02/116597/|date=2009-04-02|accessdate=2009-05-16}}</ref><ref name="360PS3CoOp">{{cite web|url=http://www.co-optimus.com/article/1477/First_Ghostbusters_Co-Op_Footage_-_More_Info_on_Co-Op_Modes.html|title=First Ghostbusters Co-Op Footage - More Info on Co-Op Modes|last=Puleo|first=Nicholas|publisher=Co-Optimus|accessdate=2009-05-16|date=2009-03-16}}</ref><ref name="PCCoOp">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174832|title=Developer Comments On Ghostbusters PC's Lack Of Multiplayer|last=Bailey|first=Kat|accessdate=2009-06-19|date=2009-06-17}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:23, 29 June 2009

Ghostbusters: The Video Game
PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 box art
Developer(s)PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Terminal Reality (single player), Threewave Software (multi player)[3]
PS2, Wii, PSP[4]
Red Fly Studio
Nintendo DS
Zen Studios
Publisher(s)Atari,[5] Sony Computer Entertainment (Europe only, PS2 and PS3 versions)[2]
SeriesGhostbusters
EngineInfernal Engine (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable,[4] PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Genre(s)Action game, Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is an action computer and video game released in 2009. Terminal Reality developed the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 versions, while Red Fly Studio developed the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii versions, and Zen Studios developed the Nintendo DS version.[4][8] In North America, all versions of the game were published by Atari,[5][9] while publishing in Europe for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 versions was handled by Sony Computer Entertainment.[2] The game was released amidst several delays in development and multiple publisher changes. [10]

The game, based on the Ghostbusters film franchise, follows the player's character as a new recruit in the Ghostbusters, a team of parapsychologists who pursue and capture ghosts. The game is modeled after a third-person shooter, but instead of using a traditional gun, players are equipped with a "proton pack", a laser beam-like weapon, and a ghost trap to fight and capture ghosts. [11]

Many of the principal cast members from the films were involved in the game's production. Each of the actors who portrayed the Ghostbusters in the films, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson, lent their voices and likenesses to the in-game characters. [12] Aykroyd and Ramis, who wrote the films, also aided in minor script doctoring for the game.[13] Other film cast members, such as William Atherton, Brian Doyle-Murray, and Annie Potts lent their voices and likenesses to the game's characters. Ghostbusters: The Video Game also contains the soundtrack from the original Ghostbusters film, along with various characters, locations, and props featured in the films. [12] Ghostbusters creator Dan Aykroyd has said that "this is essentially the third movie."[14]

Gameplay

Further information: Ghostbusters (franchise) § Technology

The game is a third-person shooter, in that the camera sits "over-the-shoulder" of the player's rookie Ghostbuster character. However, instead of using a gun, the player is equipped with various types of weapons built into the player's "proton pack". The player also carries a ghost trap that can be deployed on a floor to capture ghosts the player has weakened. In each level, the player explores environments alongside three of the other Ghostbuster characters in order to battle and/or capture ghosts. Along with the action-oriented gameplay, the player can also use the the PKE meter and goggles to track and identify ghosts, find mission-related targets, and locate haunted artifacts.[12]

The proton pack is equipped with four different weapons: the Proton Stream, Stasis Stream, Meson Collider, and positively-charged Slime Blower. Each weapon has a primary mode of fire that can be used to weaken ghosts, along with a secondary fire that has more a practical use. The Proton Stream emits a laser stream that is used to weaken ghosts until the player can initiate the weapon's Capture Stream, which allows the player to manipulate the ghost by slamming it into surfaces and dragging it into the player's trap. These weapons are unlocked over the course of the game, while upgrades become available for purchase as the player earns in-game cash from their play. Although the proton pack allows for infinite "ammunition", it will heat up as it is used, requiring the player to frequently vent the proton pack to prevent it from overheating and harming the player.

The heat level of the pack and the player's health are represented as meters on the proton pack, which also substitutes for a heads-up display. [12] If the player's health is depleted, the player will be knocked out and a computer-controlled Ghostbuster must revive him. Likewise, the player must revive computer-controlled Ghostbusters that have become knocked out, as well. However, if all Ghostbusters are lying on the ground at the same time, the player will have to restart the level from the last checkpoint.

The game also has a variety of multiplayer modes - the Redfly version has optional offline multiplayer for the entirety of the main game whereas the Terminal Reality version (except for the PC release) includes online multiplayer content separate from the main story.[15][16][17]

The DS version developed by Zen Studios is completely different from the other versions and has been compared to Activision's old Ghostbusters computer game. Making use of the DS's touch screen, this version features isometric action, as well as driving sequences and elements of resource management.[18]

Plot

The events of the game occur during Thanksgiving 1991, two years after the events in Ghostbusters II. Dr. Egon Spengler and Dr. Ray Stantz hire a new recruit to test experimental equipment. When Slimer escapes from Ghostbuster custody, they pursue him at his first haunt, the Sedgewick Hotel. The Ghostbusters catch him and several other ghosts, only to encounter the return of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. They find that the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man is pursuing Dr. Ilyssa Selwyn, one of the heads of the City Museum’s new Gozer exhibit. After destroying Stay-Puft, and taking Ilyssa back to their base, the Ghostbusters encounter Walter Peck, former EPA official, and now head of the Paranormal Contract Oversight Committee (P-COC), the organization formed by Mayor Jaques Mulligan to keep the Ghostbusters in check.

At first, the Ghostbusters decide to investigate the Gozer exhibit, but are called to investigate a haunting of the New York Public Library. They find the source of the haunting to be Eleanor Twitty, the Grey Lady, and the first ghost encountered in the first movie. They eventually catch Twitty and are transported into the Ghostworld where they defeat “The Collector”, the being responsible for the librarian's death, and discover the Gozerian Codex, a major book on the ways of Gozerianism. They then find a mysterious symbol on the library walls.

During a major gala at the Gozer exhibit, the Ghostbusters investigate just as a group of ghosts attack. The leader of the attack is the former Museum Chairman, later revealed to be a follower of Ivo Shandor, the architect who designed Dana Barrett’s apartment building in hopes of summoning Gozer. While fighting to rescue Ilyssa from the Chairman, the Ghostbusters discover a massive series of tunnels underneath the museum. They also learn the symbol was a mandala, revealing that the tunnels fuel energy from four nodes built by Shandor to summon another Great Destructor like Gozer. These nodes are the Library, the Museum, the Sedgewick Hotel, and a spot in the middle of the Hudson River.

The Ghostbusters return to the Sedgewick, despite being banned from there and destroy the ghost guarding its node, the Spiderwitch. They then investigate the spot in the Hudson on their boat, the Ecto-8. There, they find Shandor Island, the island where Shandor built a mansion and which sank years ago rising before them. On the island, they learn that Ilyssa is of Shandor bloodline, and is being used to re-activate the nodes. After destroying the guardian, a juvenile Slor, and escaping the island, the Ghostbusters find that Ilyssa was captured and the containment vault shut down, which released the ghosts (again).

After seeing a news report of a massive mausoleum rising from the ground in Central Park, the Ghostbusters head over to investigate. There, they find Ilyssa and Walter Peck, the later being initially suspected of the plot, chained to the walls. They then find the true mastermind, Ivo Shandor, who had possessed Mayor Mulligan in his scheme to become a Destructor being greater than Gozer. The Ghostbusters then quickly exorcise Shandor from Mulligan, and try to defeat him, only to be sucked into the Ghostworld, where they have a showdown with Shandor’s Destructor form, a massive flaming demon. After a long battle, the Ghostbusters destroy Shandor once and for all by crossing the streams.

During the credits, an exchange is heard where the Ghostbusters discuss the fate of the Rookie. Coming to the conclusion that Shandor's defeat will likely mean a decrease in the work load and that 5 Ghostbusters is "one too many", but that the Rookie has proven himself worthy of remaining a Ghostbuster, the team offer him a position at a yet-to-open franchise branch in either Chicago, Los Angeles or Cincinnati.

Development

In 2006, game developer Zootfly started work on a Ghostbusters game before having secured the rights to develop the game from Sony. The company subsequently released videos of an early version of the game onto the Internet. However, the company was unable to secure the rights to develop the game as a Ghostbusters game. Zootfly then continued development of the game as a non-Ghostbusters themed game renamed TimeO.[10]

Coincidentally, in the Spring of 2007, Sierra Entertainment and developer Terminal Reality met with Sony to discuss the possibility of developing their own Ghostbusters video game.[19] The positive reaction that Zootfly’s videos garnered helped sell the concept of such a game to Sony.[10] After a successful pitch, Terminal Reality started developing the game, eventually stating that the PS3 was the lead development platform. [20]

Development of the game stopped when Vivendi merged with Activision to form Activision Blizzard. On July 28, 2008 Activision Blizzard (the publisher of Vivendi's and Sierra's titles) announced that only five franchises would be released through Activision. Ghostbusters was not one of them and was put in developmental limbo following the announcement. The Sierra PR team later confirmed that the game was not and would not be cancelled.[21]

Ending months of speculation, Infogrames announced on November 7, 2008 that Atari would be releasing the game in June 2009[22] to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first film's theatrical release. At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, Sony confirmed that the game would be released on June 16 in North America and June 19 in Europe, alongside Blu-Ray releases of the Ghostbusters films.[1] Sony later announced that they would be publishing the PS2 and PS3 versions in Europe granting the Sony consoles a timed exclusive release, while Atari would publish the game for other consoles later in the year. Atari would remain the sole publisher for the games in North America.[2] Despite Namco's purchase of Atari's European operations, this release schedule remained intact.[23] The Xbox 360 version of the game is not region locked, allowing gamers in European markets to import and play the North American Xbox 360 release. [24] [25]

Early tech demos of the Infernal Engine demonstrated unique crowd scattering AI and described a level to take place during the Thanksgiving Day parade. However, this level (and the crowd AI) seemingly never made it into the final release of the game. Early storyboards and other miscellaneous artwork referring to the parade level are unlockable on completion of the game.

Reception

Greg Miller of IGN gave both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions an 8.0 out of 10. Miller describes the game as a "love letter to Ghostbusters fans", saying that it "makes you feel like you are really a Ghostbuster. He lauds the CGI cutscenes as a positive feature, but finds fault with stiff character animation and bad lip sync. Miller gave the Wii version a 7.8 out of 10. Unlike Miller, fellow reviewer Matt Casamassina believed that the aiming system in Ghostbusters was better than the aiming system in Resident Evil 4.[26][12] PSM3 gave the game a score of 85 out of 100, stating that the game was "too short, but packed with quality and imagination."[27] The A.V. Club gave the game a B-, noting that it was the best Ghostbusters game.[28] Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot rated the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game a 7.5 out of 10, listing the ghost-trapping gameplay and multiplayer mode as positives and frustrating spots in the game and repetitive gameplay as negatives. [11]

Ars Technica has reported graphical differences between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. Despite the fact that both versions were developed simultaneously by Terminal Reality, Ars claims that the PS3 version appears to use lower quality textures compared to the Xbox 360 version. [29]

See also

Notes and References

  1. ^ a b Anderson, Luke (January 8, 2009). "Ghostbusters sliming consoles June 16". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ingham, Tim (2009-05-06). "Sony to publish Ghostbusters". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  3. ^ "Threewave Working on Ghostbusters Multiplayer - Games, News, Reviews and more". Digitalbattle.com. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  4. ^ a b c Listed in: PSP (1900-01-01). "It's official: Ghostbusters PSP announced". Qj.net. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  5. ^ a b c "Atari to publish and distribute Ghostbusters: The Video Game". Infrogrames GB. November 7, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  6. ^ http://store.steampowered.com/app/9870/
  7. ^ a b http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/xbox-360-vs-ps3-face-off-round-20
  8. ^ Wooden, Andrew (November 15, 2007). "Terminal Reality and Redfly to develop new Ghostbuster title". Develop Mag. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  9. ^ ""Ghostbustersishiring.com"".
  10. ^ a b c Thompson, Michael (2009-01-19). "The birth, death, and rebirth of the Ghostbusters game". Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  11. ^ a b VanOrd, Kevin (2009-06-16). "Ghostbusters The Video Game Review". Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  12. ^ a b c d e Miller, Greg. "IGN: Ghostbusters: The Video Game Review". IGN. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  13. ^ Schiesel, Seth (2009-05-28). "New Video Game? Who You Gonna Call?". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  14. ^ "The "Real" Ghostbusters." Game Informer, 81. Akroyd:"I've seen work on the video game, I've watched it progress, my rap now to people is 'This is essentially the third movie.'
  15. ^ Mills, Jeff (2009-04-02). "Ghostbusters Developer's Blog: The More the Merrier". IGN. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  16. ^ Puleo, Nicholas (2009-03-16). "First Ghostbusters Co-Op Footage - More Info on Co-Op Modes". Co-Optimus. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  17. ^ Bailey, Kat (2009-06-17). "Developer Comments On Ghostbusters PC's Lack Of Multiplayer". Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  18. ^ Miller, Gref (2009-04-10). "Ghostbusters: The Video Game Progress Report". IGN. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  19. ^ "The "Real" Ghostbusters." Game Informer, December 2007: 76.
  20. ^ "'Ghostbusters' Developer Prefers Working On PS3 First". MTV. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  21. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (July 29, 2008). "Vivendi: "Ghostbusters Is Not Cancelled And Will Not Be"". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  22. ^ Parfitt, Ben (2008-12-02). "Ghostbusters gets release date". The Market for Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  23. ^ Ingham, Tim (2009-05-14). "Goodbye Atari, hello Namco". Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  24. ^ "Xbox 360 version of Ghostbusters not region locked". Destructoid. 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  25. ^ [1]
  26. ^ Miller/Casamassina(Another Take), wii.ign.com http://wii.ign.com/articles/994/994395p2.html, retrieved 2009-06-12(Another Take at 2009-06-13) {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Text "title:IGN: Ghostbusters: The Video Game Review" ignored (help); Unknown parameter |First= ignored (|first= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Ghostbusters Review." PSM3 June 2009: Issue 115
  28. ^ Jones, Scott (2009-06-15). "Reviews: Games: Ghostbusters: The Video Game". A.V. Club. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  29. ^ Kuchera, Ben (2009-06-16). "Ghostbusters: graphically, you'll want to stick with the 360". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
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