REVIEW: Ghostbusters

REVIEW: Ghostbusters

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Ghostbusters is a cherished franchise and while it’s made its mark in cinema, all of its titles haven’t really been stellar experiences in the gaming realm. The list of failed Ghostbusters games spans decades now. The issue is that the titles don’t adhere to the quality gamers expect from the franchise and experience. They are uninspired games which either feature lackluster gameplay or atrocious voice acting where it seems like the cast was just forced to do it. The problem with this new Ghostbusters game is the same. It’s just uninspired and feel like a cash grab instead of a truly riveting experience from Activision. Additionally, it seems like Activision has a history when it comes to these problems.

Don’t get me wrong, Ghostbusters is fun. It’s an enjoyable game when it comes to the upgrade system and going through vast levels eliminating or capturing ghosts and other creatures. That’s about it. It’s a casual title which would be more suited to mobile devices. It does nothing to advance it genre whatsoever. You basically go around shooting ghosts and upgrading your character by increasing damage output and health. Many of the levels also feel similar because of repeating textures and layouts.

Had the voice acting and story been more coherent, Ghostbusters would’ve garnered more praise but, despite its technical polish, it fails to create the charm of the films. The developers were clearly disinterested or weren’t provided with enough resources when making this title. Why a rich franchise like Ghostbusters was diluted down to a simple top-down shooter is beyond me. Surely there were other directions to consider.

You can play as one of four characters throughout the campaign which takes place through a handful of different areas. Surprisingly, the game can be completed in a few hours. There’s also co-op mode. The classes are similar to what you find in other role-playing games like your standard tank class and agile individuals. Nothing really stands out here. We’ve all played titles like this before. There are no twists or surprises in store.

While I might come across as quite negative in this review, I have to say that if you detach the Ghostbusters label from the game, it is fun. I would play it in between those heavy hitters because it is somewhat addictive. Unfortunately, the price is absolutely insane. It costs $50 in the United States. How is this acceptable at all? This game should be priced at around $15 to $20 at most. Games like Full Mojo Rampage offer a much deeper experience with the same mechanics and have double the charm. Why would anyone at Activision make the decision to ask $50 for a small game like this? Is this really what the gaming industry has come down to? Cheating customers for a quick profit? Is it worth ruining your reputation? I’m not a businessman but I find such sort of price gouging absolutely disgusting and shameful.

I don’t really blame the now-bankrupt developers for Ghostbusters. They made a good top-down shooter which, if priced correctly, would’ve appealed to many because Xbox One owners enjoy casual experiences from time to time. Unfortunately, the decisions regarding pricing and support made by the publisher bring this title down. Just based on the enjoyment you get, it’s easily a seven out of ten stars game. When you take into account everything though—especially the price—that score isn’t justified.

Summary

I would advise companies like Activision to consider how they come across to gamers. Demanding $50 for Ghostbusters which is clearly designed as a much smaller title is unforgivable and honestly, approaching fraud. People expected this to be an expansive experience but you end up with a download which is the exact opposite of what the trailers and interviews publicized. The best course of action to take would be to immediately lower the price of the game and offer gamers who purchased it at least a partial refund. Don’t cheat people like this.

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