Ghostbusters (June 2024) Activision Playthrough NES FCEUX 2.2.2
1Ghostbusters (June 2024) Activision Playthrough NES FCEUX 2.2.2
Ghostbusters (June 2024) Activision Playthrough NES FCEUX 2.2.2 Emulator Dell Latitude 3190
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*****
Game Title: Ghostbusters
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Release Date: October 1988
Developer: Activision
Publisher: Activision
Review:Ghostbusters for the NES is a video game adaptation of the beloved 1984 movie of the same name. Unfortunately, while the film is an iconic piece of pop culture, this game fails to capture the magic and excitement of busting ghosts, instead delivering a tedious and confusing experience that leaves much to be desired.
Graphics:
The graphics in Ghostbusters are one of the game’s few redeeming qualities. For an NES title, the visuals are relatively clean, with recognizable sprites for the Ghostbusters and their iconic Ecto-1 vehicle. The game attempts to recreate familiar elements from the movie, such as the Ghostbusters logo and various ghosts, but the limited color palette and simplistic designs make everything feel flat and uninspired. The city map, which you spend a lot of time on, is especially dull, consisting mostly of basic, featureless buildings and roads.
Gameplay:
The gameplay in Ghostbusters is where the game truly falters. The objective is to navigate a map of New York City, responding to ghost alerts by driving the Ecto-1 to various locations, capturing ghosts, and eventually confronting the evil Gozer. In theory, this sounds exciting, but in practice, it’s a convoluted and frustrating experience.
The game is divided into several segments: driving the Ecto-1 to ghost-infested buildings, purchasing equipment, catching ghosts, and managing your funds. Each of these segments is plagued by poor design and execution. The driving sections are sluggish and difficult to control, with obstacles that are nearly impossible to avoid due to the clunky mechanics. Once you reach your destination, the ghost-catching mini-game is repetitive and lacks any real challenge or excitement—simply drop a trap and guide the ghosts into it, over and over again.
The game also includes a bizarre and confusing economic system. You need to earn money by catching ghosts to buy equipment and gas, but the game does a poor job of explaining what items are necessary, leaving you to guess and potentially waste money on useless gear. Managing your resources is more tedious than fun, and running out of money or gas can result in a game over, forcing you to start from the beginning.
Sound:
The sound design in Ghostbusters is another low point. The game features a repetitive and grating rendition of the Ghostbusters theme song that plays endlessly throughout most of the game. While the original theme is a classic, hearing a simplified, looping version of it for hours on end becomes unbearable. The sound effects are minimal and lack any impact, with ghost-catching and driving sounds feeling weak and uninspired.
Difficulty:
Ghostbusters is frustratingly difficult, but not in a way that feels rewarding. The game’s unclear objectives, poor controls, and the arbitrary nature of its economic system create an experience that’s more annoying than challenging. Figuring out what you’re supposed to do and how to do it can feel like an exercise in trial and error, and the frequent game overs due to running out of resources add to the frustration.
Replayability:
There is little incentive to replay Ghostbusters once you’ve beaten it, assuming you even have the patience to do so. The game’s repetitive nature, coupled with its frustrating design, means that most players will likely want to move on after just one playthrough. There are no extra modes, hidden secrets, or significant variations to make replaying the game worthwhile.
Conclusion:
Ghostbusters for the NES is a prime example of a licensed game that fails to live up to the potential of its source material. While it attempts to incorporate elements of the film into the gameplay, the execution is severely lacking, resulting in a confusing, frustrating, and ultimately unenjoyable experience. The poor controls, repetitive gameplay, and annoying sound design make it difficult to recommend this game, even to die-hard fans of the movie.
If you’re a fan of the Ghostbusters franchise, there are much better ways to enjoy the world of ghost-catching than by playing this NES adaptation. Unfortunately, this game is more likely to leave you feeling like you’ve been slimed than satisfied.
Score: 3/10