Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Well here it is kids and kiddies, my review of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
For those not in the know, the game storyline was Ackroyd's original idea for a third movie if he was to ever make one. So now we get to play through the "movie" as the new recruit. The story takes place approximately 2 years after the 2nd movie. You have a cut scene at the beginning that sets up the plot nicely. There are lots of nods to the movies for the watchful eye and listening ear. For those who haven't played it yet I won't divulge too much here, as a matter of fact I won't give away anything really because it would truly ruin your experience.
The story and play in all versions of the game are basically the same. For the PS2, DS and Wii versions it was simplified (both in graphics and playable storyline) from the PC, XBox360, and PS3 versions, however it was not backwards engineered for those platforms. They were intelligent and created the game specifically for those platforms so you have a totally different experience from the nextgen consoles and PC versions. That being said we managed to get both the Wii and PC versions to play (seeing as we do not own an XBox or PS3).
The Wii version has really cute caricature graphics of the characters, very stylized. Because the Wii does not have the graphics engine of the nextgen consoles there is not as much roaming space for you to look around and explore. Your stats are displayed in a HUD on the screen. The levels are shorter but have reasonable replay value as you try to collect every scan and art page on the level. Fortunately you can replay a single level after you have played through it and catch the stuff that you missed the first time. All of the items that you got on the first time show as though you had already collected them so you can spend your time doing more damage or looking for those things you missed. You are given the option to play as either a male or female character. Cut scenes are cute and entertaining and not too long. They give you just enough information and then get you back to the game. With all of the original actors back to do voices it is worthwhile to not skip these at least the first time through, even though it does give you the option. Besides you would miss the funniest parts of the game dialogue if you did. The controls are easy to learn and make wise use of the motion sensors in the Wii-mote and nunchuk. Of course one of the best things in this version of the game is mutliplayer. It does it in a top/bottom split-screen. Once you get used to looking at only one screen and that it is yours it is real easy. It makes for scanning the ghosts easier plus you do not have to wait for the AI to recognize when you need help to revive you. It works as co-op and a little bit of competition as at the end of each level your total damage is accumulated and rankings are given out as to how you did in that level. All in all .... fun!
The PC version is just like the nextgen consoles in looks and gameplay. Beware that you will need a videocard with at least 512mb memory to play this on your PC. Yeah, it was upgrade time for me. The graphics are more realistic in this version, the levels larger, and the cutscenes more indepth. There are enough variations between these versions of the game to make it worthwhile to own both or at least find a friend who will let you borrow a copy to play. Again in the PC version the controls are easy to learn. You do have a shorter training level in this version though. Your stats here are displayed on your character as part of the pack. So you do need to pay particular attention to your character while playing. Your character is also male no matter what, no option here for that. What was disappointing for many gamers was the lack of multiplayer capability in the PC version and only online for the XBox360. So for many people GB will be a single player only game. Now aside from that the graphics are very pretty and the levels do become challenging. I would recommend for the experienced gamer to go ahead and set it on the hardest (or Gozerean) setting. Any lower and you will breeze through this game in no time flat. Playing it straight through would take only about 5-7 hours max. What expands the playability of this game are the unlockables and (for those playing on the XBox360) the achievements.
Most of all though this game is just pure fun with a great script and a chance to be the Ghostbuster that you always wanted to be ever since you saw your first spook, specter, or ghost. So, strap on your own unlicensed nuclear accelerator and go out and bust some ghosts!

Well with only 13 days left to go, at the time of this writing, geek fans everywhere are excited about the new Ghostbusters video game that is coming out on multiple platforms. I can't even think of the last time a game was so anxiously anticipated by so many. Well Gary and I are on the bandwagon too. We got invited to go to a Gamestop in Asheville, NC for their midnight release party in our full Ghostbuster gear for pictures and to add to the already palatable excitement of the game release. Well until I get the game and post a review here is a nifty widget to help you countdown until the release.

New Year

Well it is a new year and with every new year there is always a plethora of lists made. Top 10 games of the year, top 10 things to look forward to this year, top 15 this, top 5 that, they are all over the place. This top list though shines to me like a ray of hope that someone with just a tad bit of sense and marketing know-how for the companies out there will listen to it. It is a list of 15 reasons PC gaming beats all.
I love my console games. Mostly because many of these games you cannot get for a PC, not because of capability but mostly because of rights and creative decision making. However my PC will always be my gaming home. There is nothing that has come out that can't be made to work on a PC. As Matt Peckham says a console is a pc basically. So despite all that Microsoft and Sony do, in the end, the PC will always be here and will always play games.