Ghostbusters: The Video Game

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Paranormal adventure for movie's fans and action lovers.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an action game based on the Ghostbusters movie franchise. In the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game, there is some mild profanity and a good bit of fantasy violence because you spend most of your time fighting the supernatural enemies.

  • As a ghostbuster apprentice, you spend your time zapping away ghosts and other creatures rather than humans. You are trying to restore order to NYC.
  • You play as a hero whose job it is to remove ghosts.
  • The controls are pretty easy to use as you learn to use tools to fight off ghosts.
  • Sci-fi weapons are used to blow away (or suck up) ghosts, ghouls, and demons who are terrorizing New York City. The game does not show blood, gore, or scenes with excessive violence.
  • One of the Ghostbusters quips about missing adult shops and bars.
  • A few potentially inapproproate words can be heard including "damn" and "bitch" in the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game.
  • This is a game based on the popular Ghostbuster movie franchise and helps to promote the movie.

What's it about?

One of the highest-grossing movie franchises from the 1980s is back -- and this time it's interactive. GHOSTBUSTERS: THE VIDEO GAME, from Atari, lets you join the famous ghost-hunting troupe to take on funny and frightening ghouls and other supernatural creatures. You will use an assortment of weapons and gadgets to hunt, fight, and capture baddies responsible for wreaking havoc in New York City. But you don't need to be a fan of the 1984 film as its intense combat, personality-driven storyline and multiple modes hold up on its own merit.


Is it any good?

 

Before you write off this video game as a cheap remix of the classic flick, consider that the original cast members -- including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson (and other celebs) -- have come together for the first time in 20 years to voice their parts. What's more, this all-new adventure was penned by Aykroyd and Ramis, and contains some ideas that never made it into the original films. As a newcomer to the Ghostbusters team, you'll don the proton pack and blast enemies into oblivion or wrangle them into the stasis trap, plus there are many other tools at your disposal including ones that let you scan and analyze potential threats using the PKE Meter and Ghost Light. There's even multiplayer modes that let you be one of the original Ghostbusters and take on challenging missions outside of the single-player campaign. Whether or not you're a fan of the flicks, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a spirited adventure worth the price of admission.

Online interaction: While the online multiplayer mode can be fun, it is playable using open chat via a headset. There is always the possibility of hearing cussing when this option is activated.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how Ghostbusters is a movie-based game done right and what other game developers can learn from the talented team at Terminal Reality (responsible for the "next-generation" versions of this game). How can some developers blow it so bad when others get it right?


This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Parent
November 8, 2009
 
Great game if you're not too young.
This game is a must have for any Ghostbusters fan... however I will address the one concern I have for kids and tweens. I think you should be at least 13 to play this because there are some scenes in the game that are just down right scary. I mean... it's not F.E.A.R scary or Deadspace scary but it's scary. For example you go to the hotel Sedgwick and have to get this ghost of a "Spider Witch". She had been a serial killer from the '20s who murdered men she brought up to her room. That kinda freaked me out as I have a fear of spiders... lol. And there is some frightening (if sometimes humorous) dialogue and scenes in that part. Overall... if you're kid is 13 and likes Ghostbusters (and can say "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost" and mean it... it's for him/her.

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Parent of 19 year old
July 30, 2009
 
great 4 a ghostbusters fan!
Online is amazing! game is overall 9.5!

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Teen, 15 years old
November 19, 2009
 
This Game Is...Fairly Awesome, I Have To Say
Yeah, this game is flipping awesome. The language is a bit iffy, and really the only reason I put "iffy" instead of "on". The violence isn't too excessive, and only two or three sequences can be considered like, terrifying, though none scared me. I will admit to being slightly startled at some parts, but not too many. The controls are a bit hard to get used to (or maybe it's just me), but still, this game rocks my socks off! A+!

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Teen, 14 years old
July 29, 2009
 
GEAT FOR EVERYONE
LOOK!!!!!!!!!!! THE NINTENDO AND PLASTATION 2 GAMES ARE DIFFRENT FROM THE PLASTATION 3 AND XBOX 360 THE XBOX 360 AND PLASTATION 3 SHOULD BE 8+ THE WII AND ALL OF THE OTHER ONES ARE 2+ IF I WERE YOU I WOULD GO WITH THE XBOX 360 ONE!!!!!!!!

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Kid, 12 years old
November 9, 2009
 
Sci-fi game perfect for 10 and up!
I love this game! It is my all-time favorite. I've rented it 17 times in a row once. This game ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

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Kid, 11 years old
July 10, 2010
 
Awesome game!
I have the wii version.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 2, 2009
 
Awesome
It is a must for Ghostbusters fans. It has some good scares like the spider witch but it is really fun no blood at all and minor language.

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Teen, 17 years old
May 15, 2010
 
Awesome game, Depends on Who Plays It
I get easily scared, and scary in this game isn't a concern for me. But the game is kind of jumpy, what with ghosts and some infrequent surprise attacks. And some scenes (involving a woman who was a serial killer who drained her victims of blood) are very eerie and creepy. Anyway, I barely noticed cursing, until it was pointed out. The weapons aren't real, but they're still weapons, so that may raise slight concerns. But that aside, it's a great game with easy controls once you get used to them. And it's pretty fun. Take it from me, a die-hard Ghostbusters fan. <3

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Teen, 14 years old
March 12, 2010
 
Not that much cursing or violent but it is based on a movie. There is killing ghosts but not any other violent's it is easy to play.

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Kid, 13 years old
August 18, 2010
 
It's pretty good. The last level is so dang hard!!! One level is pretty creepy, but I love the rest of the game.

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, PlayStation 2, Windows
Available online?Available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:Atari
Release date:June 16, 2009
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:T for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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