Ghostbusters (2016 video game)

Did You Know?

• The game is an isometric 2.5D action game with a top-down camera.
• Each of the four characters has a different proton pack; one resembles a gatling gun, another resembles a pistol.

Plot

The game takes place after the events of the 2016 film, though the film's four protagonists are only mentioned as being called away to Washington to save the President from ghost assassins. The story focuses on four different characters: Chaz, Meadow, Megan, and Bobby, who perform the duties of the absent Ghostbusters. They are called to Aldridge mansion to capture the ghost of Gertrude Aldridge after she returns to her home. Later, they battle and capture the ghost of voodoo gang leader Marie Deveuax at a graveyard. They then receive a call about a run-down asylum haunted by ghosts of past workers and an electrically powered ghost, which turns out to be Sparky from the film; they capture him after a battle. Next, they capture Rampage, a devil ghost from the film, in the sewers. They also capture the ghost of former singer Ruby d'Amore on a cruise ship. Finally, Mayor Bradley informs them that Roman, the film's antagonist, has returned and opened a portal from Limbo. After a lengthy battle, they defeat Roman again. The game ends with a newspaper falsely crediting Mayor Bradley with saving New York, but the Ghostbusters are content knowing they saved the city.

Reception

Ghostbusters received strongly negative reviews, with Metacritic acknowledging it as the worst-reviewed game of 2016, noting that unlike the film, the game was described as a humorless slog. Polygon's Justin McElroy called the PlayStation 4 version the most insipid dual-stick shooter he had reviewed, criticizing its lack of variety, poor characterization, and humor, and deeming it a deplorable, cynical piece of licensed drivel not worth the asking price. GameSpot also criticized the same version for lacking variety in gameplay, environments, and enemy design, though it praised the soundtrack for evoking nostalgia. GameSpot concluded that the game was mostly a bizarre slog through empty, repetitive levels. Three days after release, FireForge Games filed for bankruptcy, ending up approximately $12 million in debt.