Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the PS2 is probaly the worst of the ports. It has the same story as it's next-gen counterparts and is basically the Wii version without the motion controls yet it has a lot of flaws that put it on the same level as the DS version. First off, if you haven't heard or read anything about the other versions, this game is basically the third movie in the series. The story is a reworked version of a script that got turned down. Yes, many aspects of the story have been changed since it's first draft but this game very well could have been the third movie and instead of this treat, we could've gotten a horrific movie cash-in. Anyways, you play as a new recruit who tests all the new and possibly dangerous weapons. You have the choice, in this version, to play as either a male or a female Ghostbuster. It doesn't matter too much since even if you pick the girl, they still refer to you as "he", "him, or "guy". The graphics are cool since the developers chose to make it look more like the cartoons than the actual movies. This way, they don't have to try to make the PS3/360/PC versions fit on the PS2/Wii. That path almost always leads to a crappy game. Instead, we have this fun, cartoon-like experience. At first, I thought the gameplay was the same as the other versions but almost everything is different. Although all the enemies, bosses, weapons, and environments are the same, their looks and set-up are different. Even if you have played the other versions, you'll still feel like this is a new game. For example, trapping the ghosts in the next-gen(minus the Wii version) asks you to wear out the ghosts by slamming them against the walls and ground. When they are knocked out, you can guide them into the trap. In this version, it is more of a mini-game, in which there a directions in which you follow to automatically trap a ghost. Even the boss fights involve different paths to beating them. For a Ghostbusters fan, any of these console versions are a must-buy. However, for ****** bucks, you get what you pay for. The are many glitches in the game and the graphics are slightly worse than the Wii version. At times, things look real blocky and there are plenty of slow downs during action scenes. Also, the textures take a dip when there are multiple ghosts in the room. The worst part is the load times and the freezing issues. In between every major checkpoint, there is a load screen that can last up to a minute. May not sound like much but there are a lot of these load screens and every time the game autosaves, it basically pauses the game. This slows down the game a lot and actually takes you out of the gameplay. As soon as you start to emerge yourself in the game, there is a load screen that takes you out of it again. Also, the game freezes a lot. Luckily, it only froze during gameplay. God forbid it freezes while it is saving and you have to start the entire game over again. Also, all the extra modes and unlockables are basically taken away. There is no online multiplayer, no co-op(both online and offline), and there's really no reason to find all the collectibles. In the Wii version, you unlock a cheat for various things such as collecting half the pages, half the scans, or beating the game on the hardest difficulty. All of these unlock different cheats such as no more overheating, invulnerability, etc. The only cheat in this version is no more overheating and in order to get it, you have to do everything. By that time, what is the point of using this cheat. It doesn't help you with anything unless you plan to play it over again for fun. Even then, due to the glitches and freezing, you probaly won't want to. Overall, if you do not have a next-gen console and need your GB fix, sure get the game. At ****** bucks, I'm sure any fan can overlook it's cons.
Overall rating
3/ 5
Gameplay
5/ 5
Graphics
3/ 5
Sound
5/ 5
vaver09
Great Game, but its not worth it
PostedJuly 9, 2009
Being a long time Ghostbusters fan i really looked forward to the game, the fact that its the first game of its kind to come out in a long time. I only own a Ps2 cause its awesome!. So when i found its was out for it, i ran to the store and rented it, cause i didnt know if it was a buy game. Right away i noticed the same actors from the movie in the game which is a big plus one, and your a ghostbuster whats not cool about that! BUT before i even actually started capturing ghost the game froze! good thing the game has autosave other wise alot of people would be mad! then an our later the game froze again, mad about what happened i found that freezing is a big bug that i guess is normal? for the ps2 version of the game.... But the game does good graphics it may not look like the PS3 version but who cares, the story is the best part about the whole game! ive played it for alittle over 3 hours and its not bad, but it kept freezing, and i was getting upset. good thing i rented it and not bought it! so i would recommend people to rent this game and not buy it cause there isnt much replay value after you beat it!
1 of 2 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
3/ 5
Gameplay
4/ 5
Graphics
3/ 5
Sound
4/ 5
Daolon
For Ghostbusters fans who can't afford the new-gen
PostedJune 23, 2009
First off, I've been a ghostbuster fan for the past 18 years, since I was 2. The first thing I ever wanted to be was a ghostbuster. Eventually I had to face reality, but in the back of my mind I always dreamt and always wished. So when I saw the trailer for Ghostbusters, I just barely held back my tears. It was beautiful, shiny, and about the ghostbusters! I was excited... til I learned that was for the PS3 and Xbox 360. But surely the PS2 would still be great, right? It looked cartoony, but was still about the ghostbusters. Nothing could go wrong, until I played the game. The gameplay itself was great. I really did feel like a ghostbuster, with equipment that sounded like equipment a ghostbuster would use. But the gameplay could only go so far. Loading times are horrendous. It's like waiting for GTA:SA to load up at the start, but for every level! Fine, I can wait. 5 minutes after starting the game, Peter Venkman's dialogue froze the game. I couldn't believe it. Those are the main problems with the game: load time and freezing. I need more than 2 hands to count the number of times the game froze on me, and for a PS2 game that is unacceptable. Autosave is nice, but it's the ONLY way to save unless you want to change your gameplay options everytime you want to save. Autosave only happens at the end of each level. It took me 45 minutes to get to the end of "River of Slime" and as the final fight started, the game froze. I was frustrated to no end. By the way, no multiplayer, so don't even bother asking. NOW would be a good time to mention good things. As I've mentioned, gameplay is great. Almost anything not the wall or the floor is destructible. You really do feel like a ghostbuster. Dialogue will take you back to when you first watched the movies and laughed at the one-liners. The environment ranges insanely from a 5-star hotel, to a library, to a museum, to a HAUNTED 5-star hotel (which I thought was the creepiest part of the game), to a paranormal lab on an island, to a graveyard. The puzzles in this game can get pretty tricky, forcing you to utilize all of the weapons given from the Slime Blower to the Stasis Stream. The story was pretty good, but the Peter+Ilyssa relationship seemed pretty pointless, only serving as an excuse for more one-liners in the game. Overall, the gameplay is great, but the load times and freezing will offput all except the more-dedicated ghostbuster fans. For those of us who can't afford new-gen consoles and new-gen games, pack your heat and heat your packs, and let's go mop up those who've kicked the bucket! As for others, PLEASE, at least get the Wii version.
Overall rating
4/ 5
Gameplay
5/ 5
Graphics
4/ 5
Sound
4/ 5
gamebusterrr123
Overall Good Ghostbuster Fan Game
PostedJune 22, 2009
I was deciding whether or not to get this game because of all the talk about crashes and slow load screens and overall disappointment but after i bought it and played it i totally changed my mind and was glad i got it. Im a ghostbuster fan and i enjoyed the game, sure the load screens were a bit long but you can get around that? Go to the bathroom, go grab a snack. The load times arent that bad and isnt a good enough reason to not get it. Ok now with the crashes, i havent beat the game yet but its only crashed about twice? It has autosave which covers you if it does, and its not a big deal. Just restart the system and start playing again. Now with the positive, it has pretty easy controls and catching the ghosts is pretty fun and easy. Just weaken them, wrangle them around and throw the trap. I think the fun part about the game is that you get to smash up everything you can lay your eye on and it adds up the cost of all the damage you made during the level - kind of like points? I think the cutscenes are pretty funny and its all the ghostbuster you can expect? With the cast and old foes. I give this game a thumbs up and you should definitely give it a try.
