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using the Capture Grenade (a la Ghostbusters). Besides
capturing ghosts, it can also tie up an enemy for a while in an energy
field or can be used to snag distant power-ups. Besides the usual
pistol, shotgun, and energy weapon Lazarus will also get his hands on a
sniper rifle, a grenade launcher, and a few other cool guns.
Graphically,
Ghosthunter is one of the best looking games available on the
Playstation 2. From Lazarus’ hair to the dripping water pools that
form on the ground every texture looks really good. Usage of light and
dark contrasts not only impress gamers, they also help establish the
mood (especially when you have to walk around with the flashlight on).
The
sound is minimalistic, but in a good way: the music is background fare
only, you don’t notice the score at all unless you specifically think
to really listen. The voice acting is another bright spot – all of the
characters turn in strong performances despite the somewhat hoky
story-line.
Ghosthunter
isn’t all high points though. To balance out the action sequences a
series of puzzles and stealth sections were added. Inevitably, these are
the weakest sections of the game and will quickly kill any high from
stomping on ghosts… nothing better than a stupid
“find the object” exercise to kill the momentum. Not all of the puzzles involve just
Lazarus. In certain places, he can summon a spectral totem: an ethereal
woman named Astral who can interact with the environment to a degree and
later take over enemy units (at the cost of your spectral energy
reserves). Although she does look really cool and it is sort of neat to
float around an area, the sections where she is used are buzz-kills to
the game. Worse than the puzzle sections are the stealth areas: you have
to navigate areas while not being seen by a creature called a Howler
(serious Slimer from Ghostbusters copyright infringement if you ask me)
so that you can move on. It’s just a part of the game that doesn’t
fit in.
All
in all, Ghosthunter is a linear action game that certainly brings style
in spades, but has a series of flaws that prevent it from being a truly
great game.
-
Tazman
(October
11, 2004)
"So
how I feel when I'm drunk is right? I am important?"
"Yes,
however, the Dave Matthews Band does not rock."
-
Fry and Niblonian (Futurama)
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