Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)

For the identically-named Sega Master System game, see Ghostbusters (Master System).

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J
Ghostbusters
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Compile, Sega R&D 2
Licensor: Columbia Pictures
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1990-06-30 ¥6,0006,000 G-4030 US 1990-08 $49.9549.95 EU 1990-12 PT 1990 MDJ1007 UK 1990-12 £34.9934.99 AU 199x CA 199x BR 1991-06 KR 199x GM4062JG AS 199x

---

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

---

Ghostbusters (ゴーストバスターズ) is a Sega Mega Drive action platform game co-developed by Compile and Sega R&D 2 and published by Sega. Loosely based on the 1984 supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters, it was first released in Japan in June 1990, and is generally considered one of the higher-quality games derived from the popular franchise.

Gameplay

The player starts by choosing either Peter, Ray, or Egon. Each of the three characters has different health and power attributes. They remain with this character through their whole gameplay session until either game over or game clear.

The plot starts with the Ghostbusters seeking a profit from their business, and then the world map appears. The player can access four of the levels or a shop from which to buy items. The player starts with little money to buy items, though; one must clear levels to get money. Each level has its own pre-set monetary reward, which also reflects their difficulty level; the lowest-rewarding stage is easy, while the highest-rewarding stage is hard.

Once the player selects a level, a dialog appears where the resident explains the haunting conditions. Afterwards, gameplay begins. The player platforms left and right, shooting at enemies, dodging obstacles, and occasionally looking for secrets. In many instances, items from the shop provide helpful functions, such as freezing flames, spread shots, or temporary invincibility.

In many rooms, the player will encounter sub-boss characters, who, once defeated, will turn into ectoplasm and try to escape. In this sequence the player aims his Proton Pack diagonally to try to zap the ghost and suck it into the Ghost Trap which appears on the screen. Succeeding in this task will reap major bonuses for the player.

Bosses are huge monsters that take up large portions of the screen, and have small weak-points like in shmup games. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, for example, has his weak point be at his eyes. After defeating each boss, the player receives a Stone Tablet which is used to advance the plot.

After the first four levels are cleared, a new plot revelation happens and the final level is unlocked, upon clearing it the player reaches the end.

Development

During development, the game was known under the working title Ghostbusters II.

Production credits

• Planner: Okaru.
• Programmer: Ryu Ohmori, Healthy Toyama, Mizutan, Tantan, Jemini Hirono, Kawauso, Com Blue, K.K., K.Koba
• Designer: Doro Pi, Locky P, Sakatsu Rimo
• Sound: Nav.
• Special Thanks: Arishi, Levin, Idaten, Onion
• Presented by: Sega 1990

Magazine articles

Main article: Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-04: "April 1990" (1990-03-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-06: "June 1990" (1990-05-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-07: "July 1990" (1990-06-08)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 30 ACE (UK) 82 Ação Games (BR) 92 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 65 Buzz! Computers (UK) 79 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 82 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 82 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) 82 Console XS (UK) PAL 58 Cool Gamer (RU) 40 Computer & Video Games (UK) 82 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 73 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 63 The Games Machine (UK) 78 Joystick (FR) 82 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 48 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 69 Mega (UK) PAL 62 Mega (UK) PAL 62 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 83 MegaTech (UK) 82 MegaTech (UK) PAL 70 Mean Machines (UK) 80 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 82 Megazone (AU) 83 Player One (FR) 84 Raze (UK) PAL 72 Sega Power (UK) PAL 70 Sega Power (UK) PAL 50 Sega Pro (UK) 64 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 28 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 57 Tilt (FR) 75 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 28 User (GR) 90 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) 80

	69
Based on 36 reviews

Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BR (Cardboard)
Cover

Mega Drive, KR
Cover

Mega Drive, AS†
Cart

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 792df93b MD5 d73f3b9feac4734e9a391aa211a88159 SHA-1 6fceffee406679c0c8221a8b6cfad447695e99fb	512kB	1990-05	Cartridge	v01
✔	CRC32 00419da3 MD5 270637399377cfe1b926ec5f664471f0 SHA-1 2a1589781fc4aca2c1ba97ec9ecf1acf563b7bfb	512kB	1990-04	Cartridge	v00
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1990-05-01					Page