Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Reviews
Look, I’m not going to present this to you as a definitive judgment on the game, because I haven’t put in the time I’d usually put into a real review. But part of the reason I’m calling it quits is because I have zero compulsion to play any more than I already have, and I think that’s a kind of verdict of its own.
The new title of IllFonic manages to express the best of itself in short sessions spent in the lightheartedness of a game aware of its limits, able to challenge fans of the Ghostbusters brand with its continuous quotes but also to intrigue those who are not accustomed to the saga with an immediate gameplay and easy to master.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Both its asymmetrical multiplayer gameplay and story are so enjoyable and well-constructed that big fans of either will find a lot to enjoy in Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. It's not perfect, but it is an earnest and succesful attempt to bring the spirit of the movie's best qualities into a video game, and it just so happens the game is also strong enough to create some satisfying feedback loops, too.
A noteworthy achievement, this game captures the essence of being a Ghostbuster for any fan. If you’re not too keen on the franchise, you can still enjoy this game, a pseudo-horror first-person shooter based around 4v1 team-play. I hope this game brings success to the developers and the franchise as a whole; that way, we’ll see additional DLC and updates in the future to further improve and expand upon this game. I, for one, am hoping to see more homage to retro cartoons in whatever ways possible. This is the perfect October release to coincide with Halloween but can easily last beyond the season. Consider it a successful effort that’ll bust out of any ecto-containment system.
Easy to learn, intuitive to play, with hours upon hours of new toys to play with, Spirits Unleashed is a real labor of love. For a franchise that’s long struggled with a consistent margin for quality, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed goes above and beyond to answer the call. Now if someone can just convince them to incorporate some ghosts and levels from the IDW comics, then it’ll be darn-near perfect!
Beyond several connection issues, the game really delivers what it promises and remains an entertaining experience to play with friends.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This game never makes the leap from smaller-scale locales to more epic-sized ones, meaning that the notion of laying waste to a city block as Mr. Stay-Puft or some similarly silly, over-the-top paranormal leviathan against the Ghostbusters remains only a fantasy. Like the film that preceded it, Spirits Unleashed is stuck sending us down memory lane at the expense of stepping forward into new terrain. For many, this nostalgia will be enough, but even with updates it seems unlikely that Spirits Unleashed’s core gameplay will sustain it for long.
While not quite the best game in the franchise, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed - Ecto Edition douses its thoroughly serviceable online 4v1 gameplay in positively charged psychomagnotheric nostalgia slime. From small touches in the visuals to snippets of dialogue, the detail and care that has gone into recreating the Ghostbusters' world here made us forgive the occasional visual glitch and basic, predictable plot. If 'busting makes you feel good, you'll have a great time.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed serves up short, sharp shocks of supernatural asymmetrical play. It may prove a bit too simplistic for some, but the game will likely hand out more of a treat and less of a trick for longtime Ghostbusters fans.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed succeeds when it suits you up as a Ghostbuster for the first time. You relish the thrill of capturing your first ghost and learning how to hunt them down. Playing as a ghost is equally fun, learning how to haunt and scare everyone out of the building. Unfortunately, playing this game by yourself will quickly become boring, as the single-player experience grows dull quickly. With friends or other players, the true fun of the game comes out. But even that will be short-lived if played too often, as a lack of variety and objectives to achieve will dull the fun.
With a little love and attention to current bugs and a roadmap for future content (I will absolutely shell out the bucks for a Vigo the Carpathian or Samhain DLC, should that happen), Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed could be a crowd-pleaser for a long time. As it stands right now, it's got enough Halloween spirit to carry you through the spooky season.
Spirits Unleashed is an interesting game for long time Ghostbusters' fans, but it needs a bit more to offer in order to entertain in the long-term.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a well-crafted game that has a lot of polish and a ton of quality content to enjoy.
While Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed can be a decent experience with its brand of chaotic asymmetric multiplayer, significant shortcomings in its design and lack of content variety among others stop it from being as great as it could have been.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is the closest we've yet come to an authentic Ghostbusters experience. Undoubtedly better with friends, it's still a genuine thrill to play alone - especially if you're the ghost.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed stands as Illfonic's best game to date, a respectful addition to the Ghostbusters legacy that, despite a lack of content, is incredibly fun to play.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a fun experience for friends packed with nostalgia in the form of iconic characters and imagery and its fair share of easter eggs, but there is concern that love for the game could flame out faster than if you crossed the streams. If you are a fan of the franchise, though, it brings just enough joy to make it worth the price tag no matter what.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed has its positive points and could be an option for fans of the franchise and those who like asynchronous multiplayer. Other than that, the lack of content, evolution and variation reaffirms a shallow and uninteresting game to dedicate several hours to.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ghostbusters has shown itself to be a solid game with asynchronous multiplayer, but it doesn't have enough content to keep players engaged. It's a shame that the creators didn't prepare at least a more extensive and engaging story.
Review in Slovak | Read full review