The Real Ghostbusters (Arcade)

Released in arcades in 1987 by Data East, The Real Ghostbusters is a top-down action game for 1-2 players although some versions of the game may allow 3 players. The game is known as "Meikyuu Hunter G" in Japan. The game is loosely based on the 1984 movie "Ghostbusters" and, more specifically, mid-1980s animated series "The Real Ghostbusters". As a Ghostbuster, the player is armed with a plasma gun that fires a beam in front of them, which is used to neutralize enemy monsters. Once enough damage is done, they will turn into a ghost which can no longer harm the player but can then be captured. However, beam energy is limited and when depleted, the player's weapon turns into a single shot gun that can still neutralize monsters but you can no longer capture ghosts. At the end of a stage captured ghosts are stored-every 100 ghosts collected (cumulative) awards an extra life. The player also is equipped with a fire attack, which fires a flaming shot in every direction around the player but can only be used once per stage or life. The player loses a life when touched by a non-neutralized monster, projectile or spike hazard. Each stage also has a 5 minute time limit. The game is over when all lives are lost or if time runs out. Some monsters, ghosts or breakable obstacles will drop items that replenish beam energy, grant an aura (temporary invincibility) or power up your beam weapon but you also have to watch out for items that will take your beam energy down. To proceed the player must find a locked door guarded by a giant stronger monster or monsters and defeat them to get a key to open the door and continue. The game has 10 stages-if all 10 stages are cleared, you complete the game. Given the settings and absence of iconic parts of the movies like the main vehicle and the green ghost Slimer, plus the gameplay seemingly set in ancient times rather than New York City like the movies, it feels more like Ghostbusters in name only. Besides the different titles, the Japan version has a different powerup structure than the US version. The game was released for the Atari ST computer in 1988 and Commodore 64 & Amiga computers in 1989. Those aside, there were no console versions of this game.