Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Review (Switch) – Answer the Call of the Busting Fun

Get Your Proton Packs Ready for Multiplayer Ghost Busting on Nintendo Switch

If you’re part of the generation that grew up dreaming of strapping on a Proton Pack to fight spectral menaces, you’ve likely longed for a Ghostbusters game that truly captures the essence of the franchise. While Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ecto Edition might not be perfect, it offers a surprisingly enjoyable multiplayer experience that caters to fans’ nostalgia.

Switch owners now have the chance to enter the iconic firehouse with the Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed ‘Ecto Edition.’ This edition includes all the DLC content from the main game, offering extra stories, cosmetics, ghost types, and maps. The game follows a 4v1 asymmetric format, with four player-controlled Ghostbusters attempting to thwart a malevolent ghost from fully haunting the location.

The game follows a familiar premise commonly seen in film tie-ins. You assume the role of a rookie Ghostbusters recruit, sent on missions to ensure the lights stay on in the firehouse office. Alongside two of the original Ghostbusters crew, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson, reprising their roles as Ray and Winston, you embark on ghost-hunting escapades. Spirits are stirring throughout NYC, and you’re the city’s last hope. The plot doesn’t offer many unexpected twists.

The Ghostbusters play as expected,

With four players in first-person mode navigating the map, attempting to capture the ghost using their Proton Pack and then ensnaring it in a trap, reminiscent of scenes from the movies. Along the way, they can collect items on the map and calm frightened civilians to prevent them from fleeing the area. Teamwork is crucial, as setting traps and keeping the ghost tethered is a challenging task.

The particle shooters are reasonably easy to control using the Joy-Con, but we found ourselves inadvertently tilting the controller to enhance our aim, although the game lacks gyro support. Despite the cartoony art style, meticulous attention was given to recreating the film’s visuals, including the recoil and the way the particle beams scorch into walls as you chase ghosts around the map. Even the process of emptying a trap into the containment unit at the firehouse office was a nod to the films.

On the other hand, the Ghost,

Played in third-person perspective, focuses on increasing the haunting level of the map by terrifying civilians, haunting objects, and safeguarding Ghost Rifts used for respawning when trapped. Ghosts can attack players by sliming them or summoning minions, but their main objective is to outsmart the Ghostbusters. We found the Ghost role slightly easier to play, but both sides offer enjoyable experiences.

Spectres bring variety to the game, with nine different ghost types to unlock, each offering a slightly different experience. While Ghostbusters earn new cosmetics and equipment upgrades as they level up, these enhancements didn’t significantly change our gameplay experience.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed may not introduce groundbreaking gameplay, but it remains enjoyable. The option to play alone as either a Ghost or a Ghostbuster, with AI handling the other roles, is a plus, especially since online crossplay didn’t work for us. While developer Illfonic has promised crossplay availability, it appears to be inactive at the moment.

Despite the absence of crossplay, we rarely encountered long wait times for matchmaking. The five player rotation, with players taking turns as the Ghost or Ghostbusters, operates smoothly. Players can drop out, and AI or new human players take their place. This system ensures smooth gameplay, allowing you to continue playing without interruption, venturing to the firehouse to advance the story or upgrade equipment.

Performance-wise, we didn’t experience any frame rate issues during gameplay on the Switch. While Spirits Unleashed isn’t without its flaws, such as jittery character models and rare bugs, its appeal is undeniable. It successfully combines the 4v1 format with nostalgia and is an entertaining, fast-paced game.

Conclusion:

Although not the best game in the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ecto Edition is a highly enjoyable game that immerses players in the thrill of multi player ghost busting. It offers a nostalgic nod to fans with meticulous attention to detail, even if it doesn’t stray from a predictable plot. If you’ve ever dreamed of ghost busting, this game will make you feel good.