Ghostbusters: The Video Game Review — Competent, Funny, and Too Short

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a game built on a simple premise: four college students get pulled into the Ghostbusters universe, and they have to save New York City from a ghost invasion. It is also a game that knows exactly what it wants to be, and mostly succeeds at being it.

Trailer, via Game Master TV.

What Works

The setup is straightforward. Four new recruits join the Ghostbusters team, and they quickly find themselves facing a threat that goes beyond the usual slime-spewing ghosts. The game draws on the films for its tone and its villains, and it leans hard into the idea that the Ghostbusters are a group of scientists who happen to fight monsters. That balance between comedy and action is the game’s biggest strength.

The humor is consistent throughout, delivered through dialogue that lands more often than it misses. The game understands that the Ghostbusters work best when they are treated as a team of professionals who just happen to be funny, not as a group of wisecracking slackers. That distinction matters more than it sounds, because it lets the game switch between jokes and tense moments without losing either.

The Proton Pack

The controls are where the game stumbles. The core shooting mechanic is decent, but the aiming can feel off, especially during fast chases. The proton pack feels heavy and slow to aim, which makes some of the larger battles harder than they should be. Players who have played other games in the genre will likely notice the difference immediately.

The game also includes a charge shot that can clear a room of smaller enemies, and that ability is useful enough that it gets used often. It does not solve the aiming problems, but it does give players a way to break through crowds without relying solely on accuracy.

Optional Missions

The main campaign is short, but it is packed with side missions that add depth to the world. These missions are optional, but they are worth doing. They let players explore the city and see more of the Ghostbusters’ equipment in action. The side content is where the game’s attention to detail shows up most clearly.

Each side mission sends players into a specific location, often a public building or a landmark, and asks them to deal with a particular ghost problem. Some of these missions include:

• Simple fetch quests
• Setting traps
• Solving puzzles

The variety keeps the pacing from dragging, even when the main plot slows down.

The Look and Sound

The graphics are solid for the time. Character models are detailed, and the city itself is dense with life. The game uses its licensed locations well, letting players walk through recognizable streets and landmarks. The lighting is particularly strong, with neon signs and street lamps giving the city a lived-in feel.

The music matches the tone. It is a mix of driving action tracks and quieter, reflective pieces, and it rarely oversteps. The voice acting is uniformly good, with the returning cast delivering lines with the same energy as the films.

The Length Problem

At its core, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a short game. The main story takes about six to eight hours to complete, depending on how quickly a player moves through it. The side missions add another few hours, but the game does not ask for a huge investment of time.

That brevity is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it means the game stays tight and focused. On the other hand, it means there is less content than some players might want. The game is best enjoyed in short sessions rather than as a marathon.

Comparing It to Others

Here is a quick look at how Ghostbusters: The Video Game stacks up against a couple of other games in the same genre:

The game’s strengths are its humor and its world-building. Its weaknesses are its controls and its length. Players who want a quick, funny adventure will find plenty to enjoy. Players who want a deep, sprawling experience will likely come away wanting more.

The game also includes a multiplayer mode, which adds replay value for those who enjoy cooperative play. It is a small addition, but it gives players a reason to return after finishing the campaign.

Final Score

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a competent, enjoyable action game with a great sense of humor and a strong setting. It is not a perfect game, and its technical rough edges keep it from greatness. But it is a game that delivers on what it promises, and it does so with a level of confidence that is rare in licensed titles.

action-adventure · co-op · game review · Ghostbusters · video game