Ghostbusters Review

Oh Ghostbusters, how we miss you so. Despite numerous reports over the years of a potential reunion film, none has ever come to fruition. In its stead there have been several videogames to fill the void. The most recent of these titles is Beeline Interactive’s freemium Ghostbusters experience. Is this new outing worth firing up the proton pack, or should it have been left in the same dusty closet the IP has been hiding in for the last twenty-plus years?

Players are put in command of a new pack of ghost busting gumshoes learning the ropes of the poltergeist wrangling business. With the help of series regulars like Dr. Venkman, Egon, and Ray, the new team is sent out to put a stop to a rapidly emerging pack of apparitions caught in limbo. Utilizing a basic streamlined squad based action system, the goal is to capture as many of the opaque creatures as possible without getting slimed in the process.

It is hard to argue with the tone that the legendary Ghostbusters theme song establishes right out of the gate. The song almost instantly acts to quell any concern the player might have about the quality of the game. At its most fundamental level the title sounds like the film, looks like the cartoon series, and even has quippy writing reminiscent of the big screen classic. Best of all, it plays like a title with enough depth to occupy quite a bit of the player’s attention, without allowing the mechanics to get too repetitive.

As previously alluded to, this free-to-play experience has plenty of hooks that could cost players if they are not careful. Energy points needed to tackle stages are rebuilt ever hour or so. Only four to five levels will be available before a player must wait for this to recharge. Another area where the pocketbook is vulnerable is when there is a multi-hour wait to power up a piece of equipment. When you can jump right to the payoff by only chipping in a few shekels, it is hard to resist the temptation.

Though it may be hard to believe, Beeline may have found the perfect way to distill the Ghostbusters experience into iOS game form. The fact that it is completely free and fun to boot makes it an even heartier download recommendation. So, who you gonna call? It should definitely be these guys.

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