The Real Ghostbusters (1987 video game)

The Real Ghostbusters is a shoot 'em up game loosely based on the animated series of the same name. It features 10 levels, each viewed from an angled overhead perspective. The player controls a member of the Ghostbusters team who must defend against various monsters and ghosts while completing each level on a time limit. Monsters are killed if the player shoots at them, and the player can earn bonus points by trapping each monster's soul, which is done by using a proton beam to suck in the ghost.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Bonus items that can aid the player are hidden throughout the game in objects such as oil drums and wheelbarrows. Bonus items include weapon upgrades, or a Slimer ghost who protects the player by killing enemies who get too close. The end of each level features a boss enemy ghost who must be defeated, leaving behind a key that allows the player to access the next level.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The arcade version includes a multiplayer option for up to three players,[1] while the computer versions feature only a two-player option for multiplayer mode.[4][7][8]

Meikyuu Hunter G features eight levels, similar to The Real Ghostbusters but with different layouts. It features less weaponry than The Real Ghostbusters and the multiplayer mode supports only two players instead of three.[1]

Data East developed Meikyuu Hunter G as a non-Ghostbusters arcade game and released it in Japan in 1987. The arcade game was released in the United States during the same year as The Real Ghostbusters. The U.S. version features some modifications from the Japanese version. Most of the enemies were redrawn for the Real Ghostbusters version, which also features Ray Parker Jr.'s song "Ghostbusters."[1] A small number of Real Ghostbusters arcade units were shipped to the United Kingdom.[9][3][8]

In 1989, Activision published conversions of The Real Ghostbusters for various computer platforms in Europe,[1] including Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 (C64), and ZX Spectrum.[3][10] In the United Kingdom in 1991, The Hit Squad published The Real Ghostbusters as a budget re-release for CPC and C64.[11][12][13]

Chris Jenkins of ACE called the arcade version "enormous fun" and believed it would become a hit,[9] while John Cook of Computer and Video Games (CVG) later wrote that the arcade version "didn't do astonishingly well". Cook considered the arcade version and its computer conversions to be mediocre, and believed that the game would primarily appeal to Ghostbusters fans and "undemanding gamers".[3] Some reviewers criticized the computer versions for their graphics,[2][7][8][15][6] character sprites,[17][18][12][15] and scrolling.[4][11][15][5] Critics had differing opinions as to whether The Real Ghostbusters was a superior game to Activision's original Ghostbusters game.[2][4][14][18]

Andy Smith of ACE reviewed the Atari ST and ZX Spectrum versions and considered them to be an accurate reproduction of the arcade game, but he criticized the graphics, the collision detection, the gameplay, and the "confusing" perspective.[2] Zzap!64 criticized the graphics and sound of the C64 and Amiga versions, while also criticizing the latter version for poor collision detection.[7][8] The Games Machine considered the color scheme of the Amstrad CPC version unattractive,[10] and stated that the Atari ST version was as "unimpressive" as the Amiga version. The ST version was criticized for its animation, "crude" music and sound, and jerky movements, with the conclusion that it would only appeal to Real Ghostbusters fans.[19]

Mark Patterson of CU Commodore User Amiga-64 considered the playable character to be "tiny, blocky, and poorly animated", and considered the character movements difficult to perform due to the game's perspective.[17] Reviewers for Crash called the game "addictive and highly enjoyable," praising the graphics, music, and gameplay, although one reviewer criticized the two-player mode for issues involving the controls and scrolling.[4]

Stuart C. Russell of Amiga Computing praised the sound and the two-player option, but was critical of the graphics, scrolling, gameplay, and character sprites. Russell mentioned that the arcade version had "very smooth, clear graphics and killer sound".[15] Gordon Hamlett of Your Amiga considered the graphics to be adequate, but criticized the presence of a loading sequence that occurs in order to restart each level whenever the player is killed. Hamlett considered it an average shoot 'em up game stated that the screen does not scroll unless the player is at the edge of it, with the result being that "you are frequently getting shot at, and killed, by creatures that you can't actually see!"[5]

The ZX Spectrum was criticized for attribute clash,[3][14] while The Games Machine criticized the playable character sprites for being outlined "thickly and unattractively in black," but stated that the creatures were well animated.[18] Your Sinclair criticized the graphics, music, difficult controls, and jerky scrolling of the ZX Spectrum version,[6] while Sinclair User criticized the perspective and believed it would only appeal to Ghostbusters fans.[14]

• The Real Ghostbusters at MobyGames