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Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Console
Wii
Publisher
Sierra
Genre
Action
Developer
Red Fly Studios
Release Date
June 2009
8
ESRB Rating
Not Rated
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Posted by:
David Oxford
Senior News Editor
NEWS
Ghostbusters: Bustin' Makes Wii Feel Good
February 18, 2009 | 4:14 PM PST

When the 2009 New York Comic Con came to town, our own Joey Davidson slid down the fire pole into his garage, hit the siren in his white custom Hearse, and took off for the convention center to play himself some Ghostbusters.

And play he did; you can read his hands-on with the game here, and his interview with the game's Senior Artist here. But unfortunately, he only got half the Ghostbusters story.

As we all know, there are two main versions of the game coming out: The PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 one, for which Joey began throwing down traps near anyone who got in his way, and the Wii version. And as I've made no secret of, the Wii version is the bustin' that I think will make me feel good.

Fortunately, I seem to have a kindred spirit in Derrick Sanskrit of 61 Frames per Second, who understood the joys of controlling the streams with a Wii Remote Neutrona Wand and chucking a Ghost Trap with the Nunchuk. Even more fortunate is that he too was at the show, and opted to write up his alternative Ghostbusting experience for all to see.

One of the most noteworthy things discovered from programmer and designer James Clarendon of Red Fly Studios is that Atari is still keeping a firm grip on this version's in-game footage, noting that the floor build is from December, and looks "totally different" from the more recent one he last saw two days ago.

While the Wii version features the same story as its bulked-up siblings, it also features more puzzle elements and a more cartoon-like aesthetic, which is just fine for Real Ghostbusters fans like myself, though it unfortunately does not use those designs. Atari is focusing on this version in particular, so as to make sure it appeals to all sorts of gamers, including those who don't know the classic films.

"The Wii has a great install base and people are hungry for these games and we desire to make them that way too. We want to release some games that average people can enjoy and that are going to get some depth out of it rather than a mini-game compilation." -- James Clarendon, to 61 Frames Per Second


Multiplayer has been a mum topic for the 360/PS3 versions, Red Fly has confirmed co-op for the Wii version's story mode, and a competitive mode which will be detailed sometime in the future.

While playing the game, using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to capture ghosts is reported to look natural and intuitive, though James was "noticably upset" when he realized that the build he was playing lacked rumble and speaker support, "a fact he'd clearly forgotten from time spent with a significantly newer build in his office."

Some of the fun with Ghostbusting tools shown involved use of the PKE Meter (likened visually to a monochromatic early 90's PDA) and spectral goggles that reveal ghostly platforms.

Of course, we all know that the dialog is one of the game's biggest selling points, as they went to the effort of reunited (most of) the cast for this follow-up to the motion pictures. But can the Wii version match its big brothers in that regard?

You've got just as much voice and in fact probably a little bit more on the Wii. We've got custom lines recorded just for the Wii version that are in here. Storage capacity, we've still got a DVD just like the 360 does so we've got just as much room on there, we're doing some interesting streaming techniques, a wonderful audio tool called Wwise and our audio guys are going nuts! It's really awesome. If you liked the audio in Mushroom Men, you are going to be blown away with Ghostbusters. Out guys at Gleek, the sound crew, have done an amazing job. -- James Clarendon, to 61 Frames Per Second


61FPS closes with the note that "If high-def uncanny-valley graphics really matter to you thank much, PS3/360 have got you covered, but from what I've seen, Red Fly's Wii version looks to be the best all-around Ghostbusters game of the bunch."

A lot of people are quick to complain that the Wii gets the short end of the stick when it comes to game development, especially for titles which are set to be multiplatform. But it looks as though Ghostbusters will be one title which does what more people have been wanting to see: Playing to the console's strengths, and delivering what people want.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the Wii is due in June; in the meantime, you can click over to 61 Frames Per Second and read up a little more on some of the finer points of the Wii title.
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February 8, 2010
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