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After saving New York from being grabbed by the ghoulies, the Ghostbusters were sued for making a hoax! Five years on, the Ghostbusters earn a living appearing on seedy TV shows. Dana Barrett now has a baby son, Oscar, who is nearly killed by mysterious forces...

The game comprises three key scenes from the film. In the first, Ray Stantz is lowered down a sewer air-shaft. At the bottom there's some slime of which he needs a sample. By swinging left and right you must guide Ray down to the bottom, collecting weapons and parts of the slime scoop on the way. Ghosts attack Ray, reducing his courage and ghoulish hands scratch at the cable, weakening and eventually snapping it.

In the second scene, the Statue of Liberty has been bought to life. As it walks down Broadway, you must protect it from ghosts by controlling a shooting fireball. Getting hit by ghosts reduces the Statue's slime - replenished by sending people out to collect the blobs of slime dropped when ghosts die (?!).

The third and final section takes place in the isometric 3-D Museum of Art where, after abseiling in from the roof, you must rescue Oscar and destroy Vigo the Carpathian (the baddie).

Ghostbusters II isn't great, but level one is an attractive, if easy introduction to the game. Level two is an unusual and tough shoot-'em-up which is good fun - especially with someone to control the vital, energy-gathering men.

It's a pity level three is disappointing, but nevertheless there's an oddball feel to all the graphics which match the film well. Sonics are also good, and overall this deserves consideration by fans.

Although sound is okay with two sampled tunes and a nice rendition of Auld Lang Syne, the graphics are mostly only adequate. Each of the sections is playable enough in a simple way, but even with the inter-level sequences they don't really gel into one good game. Perhaps a couple more sections would have made a difference, but as it is this is poor value for money.

Look out for the C64 review in our next issue.

Presentation 73%
Inter-level digitised pictures.

Graphics 75%
Atmosphere although lacking detail in places.

Sound 80%
Good sampled tunes and nice FX.

Hookability 66%
Fairly easy opening level, but disk access can be irritating.

Lastability 55%
Disappointing level three is scant reward for fighting through tough level two.

Overall 60%
16-bit presentation for a very 8-bit game.