Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)

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Ghostbusters
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code

Ghostbusters (ゴーストバスターズ) is a Sega Mega Drive game developed jointly by Compile (though they are not credited and do not credit themselves on their website, some of the names in the Production Credits are Compile employees) and Sega and released in 1990 by Sega. It is a Mega Drive exclusive — a completely different title from the Master System game with the same name despite both being developed by Compile. It is a platformer which stars the Ghostbusters Peter, Ray and Egon, though for some reason omits Winston.

Gameplay

The gameplay is perhaps most comparable to Contra and Mega Man, although with plenty of quirks and oddities. The player would start by choosing either Peter, Ray, or Egon. Each of the three characters has different health and power attributes. They would remain with this character through their whole gameplay 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.

Production Credits

  • Planner: Okaru.
  • Programmer: Ryu Ohmori, Healthy Oyama, 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

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
81 №36
82 №106
90
82 №9, p107
82 №1
80
84
64 №3, p19
Sega Mega Drive
81
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[1]
ACE (UK)
82
[2]
Ação Games (BR)
92
[3]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[4]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
79
[5]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
82
[6]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
82
[7]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
82
[8]
Console XS (UK) PAL
58
[9]
Cool Gamer (RU)
40
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[11]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
73
[12]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
63
[13]
The Games Machine (UK)
78
[14]
Joystick (FR)
82
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
48
[16]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[17]
Mega (UK) PAL
62
[18]
Mega (UK) PAL
62
[19]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
83
[20]
MegaTech (UK)
82
[21]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
70
[22]
Mean Machines (UK)
80
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[24]
Megazone (AU)
83
[25]
Player One (FR)
84
[26]
Raze (UK) PAL
72
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
70
[28]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[29]
Sega Pro (UK)
64
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
28
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
57
[32]
Tilt (FR)
75
[33]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
28
[34]
User (GR)
90
[35]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)
80
[36]
Sega Mega Drive
69
Based on
36 reviews

Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive, US
Ghostbusters md us cover.jpg
Cover
Ghostbusters md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Ghostbusters md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Ghostbusters md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Ghostbusters md jp cover.jpg
Cover
Ghostbusters md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, BR

Mega Drive, KR

  1. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 87
  2. ACE, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-03), page 56
  3. Ação Games, "Junho 1991" (BR; 1991-06-19), page 12
  4. Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1990" (JP; 1990-06-08), page 16
  5. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  6. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume III" (UK; 1990-08-xx), page 76
  7. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 30
  8. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 47
  9. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
  10. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 92
  11. Computer & Video Games, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-16), page 92
  12. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 50
  13. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-0x-xx), page 1
  14. The Games Machine, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-xx), page 62
  15. Joystick, "Octobre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 107
  16. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  17. Mega Drive Fan, "October 1990" (JP; 1990-09-08), page 79
  18. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20
  19. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 87
  20. Mega Play, "November/December 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 29
  21. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 78
  22. MegaTech, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-20), page 112
  23. Mean Machines, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 64
  24. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  25. Megazone, "June/July 1991" (AU; 1991-0x-xx), page 25
  26. Player One, "Janvier 1991" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 53
  27. Raze, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-02-28), page 54
  28. Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 24
  29. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  30. Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 19
  31. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  32. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  33. Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 85
  34. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 80
  35. User, "Fevrouários 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
  36. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "June 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 56