There have been loads of Ghostbusters video games throughout all platforms within the years since Egon, Ray, Winston, and Peter first busted onto screens in 1984, they usually run the gamut from basic licensed cash-in to rigorously constructed homage.
The first Ghostbusters sport Nintendo followers received their palms on was a NES port of the David Crane-designed 1984 dwelling pc sport, however within the many years since there was a wide selection of spooky emissions on Nintendo platforms, a number of of which rank among the many perfect Ghostbusters video games wherever.
Below you will discover a full checklist of each Ghostbusters sport that has come to Nintendo programs — together with the not too long ago launched (on Switch) Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed — as ranked by you, Nintendo Life readers. We’re able to consider you.
Remember: The order under is ruled by every sport’s User Rating in our video games database and is topic to real-time change relying on its rating, at the same time as you learn this! Something bizarre and it do not look good? No must name anybody — merely click on the star score and assign a rating from 1-10 to exert your private affect on the rating. (You’ll must refresh the web page to see any adjustments take impact.)
Before we start, it is value noting that whereas Nintendo platforms have arguably cleaned up the city on the subject of the finest Ghostbusters video games, we even have quite a lot of affection for the 1990 Genesis / Mega Drive Ghostbusters which, sadly, would not seem under because it has by no means been launched on a Nintendo platform. Feel free to tell us within the feedback if there are different video games within the sequence that you’ve got loved elsewhere.
So, let’s strap on a Proton Pack, warmth ’em up, and make our approach by the mass hysteria to try the very best (and worst) Ghostbusters video games ever to grace Nintendo programs…
Publisher: Activision / Developer: Bits Laboratory
Try to think about all life as you understand it stopping instantaneously and each molecule in your physique exploding on the velocity of sunshine. That can be extra pleasant than enjoying Ghostbusters on NES.
This was a deeply unattractive and unsatisfying NES port of David Crane’s Ghostbusters: The Computer Game. With a heavy emphasis on useful resource administration (together with tools, gas, and funds), it sees you driving round New York City cleansing up spook-infested buildings for money to purchase upgrades and, finally, tackle Gozer after an ultra-tedious stair-climbing part which apparently, hilariously, adapts the leap minimize within the film after they’re crawling to the highest of Dana Barrett’s constructing — you understand, the bit the place the Ghostbusters are exhausted by the never-ending staircase. This sport could not make you throw up, however it tries.
Publisher: Light and Shadow Production / Developer: Magic Pockets
Only ever launched in Europe, this GBC sport was primarily based on the 1997 follow-up sequence to The Real Ghostbusters. 2001’s Extreme Ghostbusters is a side-on platformer which has you switching between ‘busters and zapping ghosts as you full missions assigned to you by Egon and Janine. It’s received some respectable character animation, however repetition and turgid controls make this one for GB — be that Ghostbusters or Game Boy — completionists solely.
Publisher: Activision / Developer: Imagineering
Compared to the primary movie’s NES iteration, Activision’s Ghostbusters II is not whole dump, however it’s the very definition of a disappointing licensed sport. Released many months after the movie it was primarily based on, Imagineering’s tie-in is a reasonably fundamental side-scrolling platformer/shooter with visible echoes of David Crane’s unique dwelling pc Ghostbusters. You blast ghosts shooter-style in varied settings; on foot, after all, but additionally whereas driving Ecto-1 (which may ‘leap’ over hurdles and holes) and piloting Lady Liberty herself simply as within the movie, though a NES Advantage stick is not a requirement this time.
Far from the worst 8-bit licensed sport on this planet, it is simply extremely repetitive and exceptionally uninteresting. Definitely the second-best Ghostbusters II sport on NES.
Publisher: Atari / Developer: Zen Studios
A free, cartoon-y adaptation of the sport that appeared on dwelling console platforms, Ghostbusters: The Video Game on DS has extra of an motion RPG flavour and is the one model the place you really play as one of many 4 unique Ghostbusters and never the rookie recruit. Played from a top-down perspective, you command the opposite three ‘busters you are not straight controlling and wander round NYC upgrading the staff and usually doing what makes ‘busters really feel good.
Driving sections have you ever negotiating the foggy streets of Manhattan and supply some selection, however the DS sport begins to grate after some time. It’s satisfactory paranormal fare, however definitely not a patch on its dwelling console brethren.
Publisher: DreamCatcher Interactive / Developer: Magic Pockets
Unlike its GBC predecessor, Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 did get a US launch, the place it misplaced the subtitle. It added Ecto-1 driving sections and the GBA’s further energy meant this run-and-gun platformer regarded loads higher, too. The animation of Eduardo and Kylie (Garrett and Roland have been kidnapped on this one) was fairly good, however it’s nonetheless an inessential entry within the Ghostbusters’ online game canon.
Publisher: Activision / Developer: Kotobuki Systems
A Ghostbusters sport in identify solely, this entry in Kemco’s convoluted Crazy Castle sequence starred Mickey Mouse in Japan and Garfield in Europe, however US gamers received to manage Peter Venkman as he negotiated its puzzle-platforming with one more 8-bit rendition Ghostbusters theme blasting out of the hand-held’s tinny speaker.
So, satirically, this Real Ghostbusters sport is not a actual Ghostbusters sport in any respect. In reality, it is a rip-off of P.P. Hammer and his Pneumatic Weapon for the Amiga and Commodore 64. You can try our function on the Crazy Castle sequence for extra particulars, for those who’re :
Spooked by that rating? Who ya gonna name? Us for a multi-hour dialogue about how Ghostbusters II (the movie) is an underrated, more-than-worthy follow-up to the unique?… Oh, not us. Ghostbusters. Figures.
Let us know under the place your favorite falls, and do not forget that, even now, you’ll be able to affect the rating above by clicking on the celebs and score any of the video games. Happy bustin’!
Gavin loves a little bit of sofa co-op, particularly when he will get to delegate roles, bark directions and provides much-appreciated efficiency suggestions on the finish. He lives in Spain (the plain-y bit the place the rain primarily falls) and his love for Banjo-Kazooie borders on the unhealthy.
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