The films and series became cult in the 80s. So far, the ghost hunters have not made much of a name for themselves on consoles and PC. With the 4-on-1 multiplayer game "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" that should change.
There are still a few days left until Halloween, with "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" you can already drive away ghosts or cause a lot of practical jokes. The 4 vs. 1 multiplayer game with a first-person shooter perspective from Illfonic lets fans of the films and series reminisce and, above all, provides a lot of fun with its decent gameplay and cool design. "Trick or treat" - the question does not really arise in the latest Ghostbusters offshoot.
"Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" mainly focuses on the online mode. You accept quests around town to capture and eliminate demons, ghosts, and slimers controlled by another player. With up to three friends you can go on a ghost hunt in five different levels. If not all ghost hunters are taken over by players, the computer steps in.
If you play as Ghostbuster, you have to track down the ghost in lovingly designed areas such as the brewery, a museum, a prison, a ski lodge or on a cruise ship and capture it through teamwork. With a proton beam, PKE knife and ghost trap, things get down to business.
In the level, sphere tears are hidden behind some objects, which serve as entry points for demons and spirits. Each time a ghost is successfully captured, one of these columns is used to respawn the ghost player. When all cracks are destroyed or the ghost is trapped three times, the final round begins. If the Ghostbusters can catch the slimy haunts again, the game is won.
However, the Ghosts have some aces up their sleeves. Anyone who slips into the skin of the paranormal phenomenon is mainly guided by the spook display. If this reaches 100 percent, the ghost hunters only have a few minutes to capture the ghost - otherwise the entire place has been haunted successfully. Haunting can be done in many ways. You can haunt objects, scare civilians and of course slime Ghostbusters. You can hide and seek, of course, but the more active the ghost, the faster the haunted meter will fill up. Haunting objects such as garbage bags, vacuum cleaners, chairs and other objects and moving them through the levels always makes for a chuckle.
Along with good gameplay, there's also a ton of nostalgia. Because the design of the game is based on the animated series from the 80s. Combined with Ernie Hudson and Dan Akroyd, who slip into their roles as Winston Zeddemore and Ray Stantz, the game skillfully captivates fans in particular. It also helps that the fire station, which served as a base in films and series, was hit very well. Of course, the "Ecto-1" is also in the garage. In addition, further allusions to films and series can be found in many corners.
Even though Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed only has five levels, it never gets boring because they are designed with such great detail. All have a unique theme, unique color elements and convey a special atmosphere.
The cosmetic and game-related customization options should also provide variety. You can design your own Ghostbuster avatar however you like. Face shape, body type, accessories and even the voices are all customizable. PKE meters, the ghost trap and the proton emitter can also be adjusted. Heat insulation extends the continuous fire, the range of the ghost sensor can be increased, with the VAD there is even a kind of grappling hook that you can use to bridge floors faster.
This keeps online and solo play entertaining for a long time. Only the ghost trap lacks the suction power that you are used to from the Ghostbusters franchise. Smaller bugs also crept in during the test, but they mainly occurred with the AI players. All things that can be patched away quickly. "Ghostbusters: Spritis Unleashed" offers a well-rounded package for fans of multiplayer action and a sweet nostalgia trip for fans.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will be available on October 18th for Playstation 5|4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
