Publisher – Sony Pictures Virtual Reality
Price – US $6.99 / EU €N/A / UK £N/A / AU $N/A
Release date – March 21, 2017
Move Support – Yes
Pro Patch – No
Digital only – Yes
Reviewed on – PS4 Pro
This review has been revised to reflect the release of the 2nd episode ‘Showdown’ released Jan 9, 2018
Do you want to bust ghosts? Have you ever wondered what would be like to actually get slimed? Well keep dreaming because what this game gives you is the tiniest hint of what could be a fun romp through the cartoonish world before it ends with the phrase ‘chapter 2 is now available’.
The start of you very brief adventure
With that said, what’s here isn’t awful. You are replying to a want ad to be the next ghostbuster. It’s worth noting that this takes place in the more recent female-led movie (which I haven’t watched yet) and not in the 80’s classics. Regardless, the vibe here should appeal to fans of both new and old. There is a brief tutorial where you get your bearings and learn the buttons. With both Move controllers in use you teleport from your location and turn on the spot using ‘Triangle’ and ‘Square’, no free movement here. That’s about it really, navigate, interact with objects and watch in game moments that progress the plot.
Visually, this looks decent, not amazing but this manages to capture the look and feel of the movie universe. Lighting effects are good, though the game is a bit dark. Effects are decent enough and it all works. Notes and pictures and other in-jokes are scattered around the level making you feel like you are walking through the fire station and adding a little depth to this experience.
The audio as well is top quality with some decent voice acting and effects that match the action around you. Sound effects, like your proton pack and ghost trap all come to life in this (brief) childhood dream come to life.
Now for the bad. This is a 10-minute experience at most. Right when you think this is going to start, it ends. You get a proton pack and trap, which are sweet but you get to trap 1 ghost, that’s it. Your interactions with the environment are also severely limited, being mostly of the pick up, look at and throw away variety. The singular level consists of an outside tutorial, 2 rooms and little else.
This was definitely the highlight of this game!
If you’re into Ghostbusters than this may be worth a look, provided you get this on sale. This is criminally short and the content is almost just as shallow. Add to that the additional cost of the next chapter (which is only 15 minutes more game) and your paying over $10 for for 25 minutes of shallow, introductory VR content. Bleh.
What would I pay? $1. This is a 10-minute experience that barely starts before it’s over. This is now bundled with episode 2 for $10 which is still at the very least twice what this is worth. Stay away
BE WARNED THE BELOW TRAILER SPOILS ALMOST EVERY MOMENT IN THIS GAME!
