Ghostbusters (MD, 1990)
Graphics-7 Sound-7 Control-7/7.5* Challenge-8* Story-5
Level Design-7 Frustration-8* Fun-7* Originality-6
Overall Score-7
*Egon
+
Shop system (plenty of interesting gadgets - shields, x-ray glasses, healing, three way shot, smart bombs etc.)
Choose your own path (between the four initial levels)
Pretty fast paced
Expressive/comical characters
Choose between three different characters with different stats (Winston is missing...)
Difficulty options
Level maps (no item/enemy/door details)
Good boss variation
The shopkeep (somewhat similar to Cranky in DKC)
Decent dialogue
5-way targeting (though you can only stand still or jump while shooting diagonally)
Respawn on the spot until game over (warps you to the beginning of the level)
+/-
Invincibility when on ladders
Explorative levels
Respawning enemies
Doesn't follow the movie's events all that well
Can't shoot while moving unless firing forwards
Need to beat bosses in each level in a set order (mini-bosses first, leads to backtracking)
Boss gauntlet in the final stage (includes previous stage boss)
Limited continues (7 default, gain up to 10?)
Repeats bosses in the final stage
You can farm for money by opening a safe and re-entering the level in the Home Sweet Home (easy) and High Rise Building (mildly challenging but there are two safes in the same spot) levels
-
Can't turn around while crouching (you'll instead move backwards; would've been better to instead have an aim lock toggle for all movement)
Poor jump height control
Can't change your aim while in mid-air
Can't jump onto/off ladders
Some trial & error (boss patterns, can't look up/down leading to blind jumps)
Cheap hits (some bosses have really fast or screen covering attacks)
Fifth level is a lot tougher than the previous four
Some annoying sfx/primitive FM sound design
No password/save?
Pretty tedious final boss (unless you save up on your energy)
Lame ending
Some one-way doors (disappear when you pass through them - leads to backtracking)
Level Design-7 Frustration-8* Fun-7* Originality-6
Overall Score-7
*Egon
+
Shop system (plenty of interesting gadgets - shields, x-ray glasses, healing, three way shot, smart bombs etc.)
Choose your own path (between the four initial levels)
Pretty fast paced
Expressive/comical characters
Choose between three different characters with different stats (Winston is missing...)
Difficulty options
Level maps (no item/enemy/door details)
Good boss variation
The shopkeep (somewhat similar to Cranky in DKC)
Decent dialogue
5-way targeting (though you can only stand still or jump while shooting diagonally)
Respawn on the spot until game over (warps you to the beginning of the level)
+/-
Invincibility when on ladders
Explorative levels
Respawning enemies
Doesn't follow the movie's events all that well
Can't shoot while moving unless firing forwards
Need to beat bosses in each level in a set order (mini-bosses first, leads to backtracking)
Boss gauntlet in the final stage (includes previous stage boss)
Limited continues (7 default, gain up to 10?)
Repeats bosses in the final stage
You can farm for money by opening a safe and re-entering the level in the Home Sweet Home (easy) and High Rise Building (mildly challenging but there are two safes in the same spot) levels
-
Can't turn around while crouching (you'll instead move backwards; would've been better to instead have an aim lock toggle for all movement)
Poor jump height control
Can't change your aim while in mid-air
Can't jump onto/off ladders
Some trial & error (boss patterns, can't look up/down leading to blind jumps)
Cheap hits (some bosses have really fast or screen covering attacks)
Fifth level is a lot tougher than the previous four
Some annoying sfx/primitive FM sound design
No password/save?
Pretty tedious final boss (unless you save up on your energy)
Lame ending
Some one-way doors (disappear when you pass through them - leads to backtracking)