Blast Annual


Ghostbusters

Author: Alec Foster
Publisher: Activision
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Blast Annual 2020 Volume 2

Ghostbusters

It is one of the greatest movies of all time, and one of the greatest video games of all time. David Crane took Ivan Reitman's action comedy and produced one of the 8-bit generation's most defining tie-ins.

With precious little time to develop something from scratch, Crane re-purposed aspects from Car Wars, a game already in development, adding the business management and ghosttrapping mechanics to the pre-existing driving elements. The end result is a simple yet brilliantly conceived mash-up of business management and arcade gaming genres, with players operating their very own Ghostbusters franchise.

Having equipped your car and stocked up on ghost traps, players must earn as much cash as possible by busting the various spooks and slimers haunting the residences and businesses of New York City, all whilst keeping a watchful eye on the Big Apple's ever-increasing PKE level; let the levels get too high, and you'll be receiving a visit from Gozer the Gozerian before you know it!

Detractors might criticise the game for being repetitive, but there's something oddly compelling about the cycle of zapping ghosts and boosting your bank account. Gameplay sessions typically last between 30 to 45 minutes, and the arrival of the Stay Puft Marshmallow man in the later stages is enough to keep you on your toes. Reach the end of the game, and you'll be rewarded with a pass-code that allows you to carry over earnings to a new game session, leading to a swankier car and better equipment.

Alec Foster

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