Ghostbusters: The Video Game (PS3, Xbox 360) Preview
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 05.08.2008
Vitals
Genre
Action Adventure
System
PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, DS
Release Date
Q0 0000
First Look: We feast our eyes on an early build of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
Though it was announced a few months ago, it wasn't until recently that we finally got to see Ghostbusters with our very own eyes. At Sierra's press event we got our first look at Ghostbusters for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
We were told from the get go that what we were looking at was a very early build and served more as a tech demo that anything. One of the first things we noticed was that there was absolutely no HUD on the screen. The producer informed us that the Proton Pack would actually work as the in-game HUD with various lights and meters representing health, power etc. The tech demo that was shown took us to the New York City Library where books and chairs as well as tables were being thrown around the room with the beam from the Proton Pack. Everything was rendered exceptionally well and we were shown how breaking down chairs and tables resulted in random destruction – meaning that if you destroy three tables, they will all break apart differently so it becomes very life-like. At one point, extra cars, books and other items were dropped in from the ceiling to show us that the Infernal Engine could handle everything without hiccups. There were no dips in frame rate and the action remained smooth. A slime tether was used to fling cars and bodies around the room while also demonstrating how you could tether various items at once. I must say that this portion of the demo was pretty impressive and graphically, it looked very good.
Towards the end of the tech demo, a monster was created using hundreds of books in the library's basement and you have to use the Proton Pack to break him down piece by piece. After defeating the monster, we were taken outside of the library to the New York City streets. The game showed over 1500 people all at once on the screen, each with their own individual A.I. As people walked down the street, they all had different movements, never bumping into each other but reacting to everyone around them. The producer simulated some action on the screen that caused the crowd to panic. Some of the people ran away while others moved away, giving you room to do your dirty work.
After the tech demo, we were finally shown some real gameplay from various portions of the game. The Stay-Puft Marshmallow was shown roaming the streets while the Ghostbusters blasted away at his arms and chest. Just like a marshmallow, Stay-Puft burned and roasted wherever he was being attacked – cool stuff. We were then shown a demonstration for catching ghosts. The PK emitter will detect ghosts which is when you Proton Pack gets put to good use which includes features like the Dark Energy, Freeze Beam, Shot Blast, Neutron Generator and the Slime Tether. Of course before you can capture ghosts, you have to beat them down and wear them out while making sure they don't take over certain objects which give them powers. In the PS3 version, you can get a hold of a ghost and shake the Sixxaxis controller to shake them about and slam them against the ground or walls.
You can play with three other A.I. members or you can get some multiplayer going with online co-op which includes specific missions as well as mini-games. Whether with A.I. teammates or real life friends, the other Ghostbusters can help you out by throwing down ghost packs or adding their beams to yours – sometimes necessary to catch certain ghosts.
The game will also feature all of the voices from the original cast though I'm sorry to say that ECTO 1 will not be drivable in the game.
Though the demo was brief, what we got to see from such an early build looked very good and appears to be headed in the right direction. The producers tell us that they're aiming for a Halloween 08 release. We'll have further impressions of the game when we get some hands-on time with it.
Sounds awesome.
I had previously thought that a Ghostbusters game wouldn't stand a chance at
being quality, but this sounds like something I would buy even if it weren't
based on a medium that I enjoy so much.
Posted By: Jalex (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 12:23 AM
360?! Are you kidding me? If I wanted to play a game that looks like that, I
would have
bought myself a psp instead... Or worse yet, a Wii!
Posted By: Arnold (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 02:03 AM
Arnold, are you blind? did you not see the nice big line that says "early
build." or even better, the one that says "served more as a tech
demo that anything." damn people are stupid. do you really expect them
to completely polish the game this early?
Posted By: legion (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I wish I was blind! And I do hope you are right!!! becauz the only thing that
keeps us ahead of that stupid remote is the grafix and if they start
publishing crap-looking games for my 360, then we are in big trouble! I am not
too optimistic though, cause it also said in anicer, bigger line
"graphically, it looked very good." but i dont get it!?!
Posted By: Arnold (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 11:43 AM
no ECTO 1 driving? i was hoping it would be an evolved version of the classic
NES game. still looks good though, i'll but it
Posted By: Ray Parker Jr (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Despite what it may look like in the screenshots, the game looked very good in
person. It certainly pumps out some really excellent graphics Arnold.
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on May 08, 2008 at 01:08 PM
@Arnold (Guest)
If i wanted a from a shit i woudl go take one !! Your mother liked playing
with it "ALOT" and she liek the game too !!
Posted By: WTF (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 01:45 PM
"The game will also feature all of the voices from the original
cast..." That sold me, right there. And hopefully, they don't do ANYTHING
like the original NES/Master System game. Maybe a nod here or there, but that
game was a good idea, with poor execution.
Posted By: LatinoMeat (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 01:48 PM
I think this game will be pretty good. I'm not sure I'd buy a new system just to
play it though.
If anyone is wondering about the old NES/Master game everyone else is talking
about, it was released as a fan made remake for the PC a while back. See this
page: http://www.auld-games.co.uk/auldbl0g/?p=44
The old Ghostbusters game, which was released for a slew of computers in
addition to some consoles wasn't that bad. It was a little repetitious, but it
looks like it offers more freedom than this new game does.
I think the new game will be better than the old Mega Drive/Genesis game. Even
super deformed versions with likenesses of Murry, Ramis and Akroyd couldn't
make up for the superhard difficulty.
Posted By: JT (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 07:00 PM
I am so extremely excited about this game! I am a HUGE Ghostbusters fanatic.
Have been for pretty much my whole life. (Actually, my registered name on
411mania is even DrPeterVenkman, but I started commenting entries as
RavenEffect before that so I decided to just use my login name in the forums.)
I have been excited for this game since November 2007 when the news first
broke. So far, from everything I have seen, it looks like it will be good. I
cannot wait! Still just over five months to go!
Posted By: RavenEffect (Guest) on May 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM
We were told from the get go that what we were looking at was a very early build and served more as a tech demo that anything. One of the first things we noticed was that there was absolutely no HUD on the screen. The producer informed us that the Proton Pack would actually work as the in-game HUD with various lights and meters representing health, power etc. The tech demo that was shown took us to the New York City Library where books and chairs as well as tables were being thrown around the room with the beam from the Proton Pack. Everything was rendered exceptionally well and we were shown how breaking down chairs and tables resulted in random destruction – meaning that if you destroy three tables, they will all break apart differently so it becomes very life-like. At one point, extra cars, books and other items were dropped in from the ceiling to show us that the Infernal Engine could handle everything without hiccups. There were no dips in frame rate and the action remained smooth. A slime tether was used to fling cars and bodies around the room while also demonstrating how you could tether various items at once. I must say that this portion of the demo was pretty impressive and graphically, it looked very good.
After the tech demo, we were finally shown some real gameplay from various portions of the game. The Stay-Puft Marshmallow was shown roaming the streets while the Ghostbusters blasted away at his arms and chest. Just like a marshmallow, Stay-Puft burned and roasted wherever he was being attacked – cool stuff. We were then shown a demonstration for catching ghosts. The PK emitter will detect ghosts which is when you Proton Pack gets put to good use which includes features like the Dark Energy, Freeze Beam, Shot Blast, Neutron Generator and the Slime Tether. Of course before you can capture ghosts, you have to beat them down and wear them out while making sure they don't take over certain objects which give them powers. In the PS3 version, you can get a hold of a ghost and shake the Sixxaxis controller to shake them about and slam them against the ground or walls. 
