Zzap


Ghostbusters II
By Activision
Commodore 64

 
Published in Zzap #58

Ghostbusters II

Seen the Ghostbusters II movie yet? Well, the plot's about the triumphant return from enforced retirement of the fabulous ghostbusters quartet, complete with Sigourney Weaver whose baby has attracted the attention of some diabolical forces.

In the first section of the game, Ray Stantz is winched down a sewer airshaft. Armed with a plasma gun and force wall he must try to reach the bottom of the sewer, avoiding ghosts and collecting parts of a special scoop along the way.

Level two has the Statue Of Liberty striding down a ghost-infested Broadway. You control a fireball which shoots out bullets. Shot ghosts drop energy slime which can be collected by your men on the ground.

Ghostbusters II

The final level is an isometric 3D section. You must rescue Sigourney's baby and blast the evil Vigo The Carpathian.

Stu

Last month's assessment of '16-bit presentation for an 8-bit game' turns out to be mistaken. The limited sub-games are all quite different with some nice twists, but they're completely lacking the gameplay needed for a good game. Ghostbusters II is based upon some visually impressive film scenes which fail to come together as much of a game.

Robin

I desperately hope the film is better than this! The incredibly bland-looking first level offers zero challenge. Level two is playable but lacks any depth or holding power. And as for the third, final and very anti-climatic section of the game... well, let's just say that it's hideously bad to look at and play. A very bad value for money package.

Verdict

Ghostbusters II

Presentation 59%
Free badge and balloon can't compensate for yukky intro screens and painful multi-load.

Graphics 56%
Some nice detail, but bland colour.

Sound 54%
Okay main theme with some nice spot FX.

Ghostbusters II

Hookability 50%
Levels one and two provide an initially tough, if limited, challenge.

Lastability 36%
Robin's already virtually completed

Overall 39%
A hotch-potch of sub-games which fail to get into a good game.