Upon playing Terminal Reality’s remastered version of Ghostbusters: the Video Game, I found myself in a difficult situation regarding my feelings on the game as certain components were very strong and others did not exactly live up to expectations. The original Ghostbusters game was released in 2009 to predominantly positive reviews as many gamers were happy with how Terminal Reality dealt with the source material and remained faithful to the original storyline (relatively). I am sad to say, however, that Ghostbusters Remastered has fallen into the same pit as many other remastered games in terms of repetition.
The game begins with the player taking on the role of a new recruit working for the Ghostbusters. After a brief tutorial about basic movement and the abilities of the proton pack, the player is thrust into a compelling story filled with many of the same comedic and vile ghouls as the original film. The most noticeable aspect of the remastered game was the graphics. The updated textures and character design made for a much cleaner looking game with sharp lines and detailed backgrounds that really helped the realism of the game while simultaneously giving it increased credibility in a time where gamers demand extreme detail in video game design. Going hand-in-hand with the graphical improvements, I really appreciated the carnage created by the proton pack. Whenever an energy beam would touch the ground or a wall, the environment would be singed and a line of black ash would be left behind. Small details such as these certainly go a long way for this gamer. In addition to the graphics, I was very happy with the movement in the game. The Terminal Reality engine showed its strengths as player movements were incredibly fluid and humanlike, making fights seem all the more realistic. The voice acting is, of course, superb as well due to the original film’s actors agreeing to reprise their roles for the video game.
My love for the film and the original game made it all the more disappointing when I realized that this version of the game fell victim to the same faults as many other remastered games, lack of originality. I understand that the point of remastered games is to allow modern gamers to play nostalgic games on contemporary platforms, however, many remastered games seem like a “desperation play” of sorts by studios trying to pump out familiar material with minor enhancements to reflect the current era. For me, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered was one of these games. Don’t get me wrong, almost every component of the game had been touched up in some way, I just thought that all of the improvements that Terminal Reality made were very minor and seemed to update the game to a level that would be suitable for 2014, but certainly not 2019.
To anyone considering buying Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered, I would say that there are many superior games out right now that would be a better use of your money. This is definitely a good game, it just doesn’t have significant enough changes to make it relevant in this day and age. Tuning the sound, movement, and graphics to be slightly better than the 2009 original just doesn’t cut it today since the nostalgia and camp of the original game holds a certain level of value to many gamers, but mediocrity holds no value at all.
Score: 6.5/10
Check Out the Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered Trailer:
Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.PlayGhostbusters.com.
Xbox One Review
I've been playing video games since I got a Playstation 2 when I was about 5 or 6 years old. The original Star Wars: Battlefront series and the Spyro series initially ignited my interest in gaming, but it wasn't until I got older that I truly appreciated the subtle details that make video games such a unique form of entertainment. My favorite type of video game would have to be any lengthy and plot-driven open world game, with my favorite games of all time being Batman: Arkham City, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Firewatch.
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