Computer Gamer


Ghost Chaser

Publisher: U. S. Gold
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Computer Gamer #7

Ghost Chaser

Given the vogue for platform games and 3D arcade adventures, I suppose it was inevitable that someone would try combining the two. In Ghost Chaser, you play the part of Harry, exploring the haunted Fairport Manor.

On entering the house, you will find many ghosts materialising in front of you. Whilst you can neutralise these temporarily (or which more later), the only way that you can permanently dispose of the menace in sheets is to collect eight keys that are scattered throughout the mansion and so make your way to the treasure room.

There are sixteen rooms to be explored but most of these are inaccessible to you until you collect some of the keys. You can move round the various rooms by running, jumping and ducking, climbing up and down stairs and crawling along rails.

To hinder your progress as you move round the rooms, as well as the aforementioned ghosts, are assorted places for you to fall off is you mistime your jumps. You do have some defence against the spooks though, in the form of ectoplasm blobs. You start off with three of these, but there are many more to be collected and you can hold up to five at any one time. Hitting a ghost with one of these blobs will cause it to dematerialise.

My overall feeling when playing this game was one of disappointment. The graphics are indistinct, the colours drab and some of the jumps difficult to determine due to the 3D nature. Also, only sixteen rooms would seem to represent poor value for money when compared with some of the multi-roomed arcade adventures available today. I can't help thinking that a player will "solve" Ghost Chaser quite quickly and then never go back to it again.