Preview of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed: The Ghosts Are Coming!

This is an article from our content partner "PC Games". Here you can find the original article by author Simon Hoffmann and PC Games editorial director Lukas Schmid.

At the end of 2021, we reported on the "announcement" of a new Ghostbusters game. Not much was known about the title. Illfonic was traded as the developer studio, an asymmetrical multiplayer game was suspected. Now there is finally first video footage, statements from the studio and a name: Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. In our preview, we'll tell you what to expect!

How does the game work?

Illfonic's project is said to be a true project of the heart. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is an asymmetrical arcade shooter. By Ghostbusters fans, for Ghostbusters fans. We compete as one of four ghostbusters in different levels against a ghost, or as a ghost against four ghostbusters. The ghost hunt takes place from the first-person view. With different gadgets like the "PKE-Meter", "Particle-Thrower" or the "Proton Pack" you have to catch the ghost. In addition, you should protect the civilian population that runs through the levels from the ghost and calm them down under certain circumstances. The environment must also be protected from the literal spook.

The ghost, which is played in a third-person perspective compared to Ghostbusters, has a very clear goal: terrorize the level! Taking over objects, scattering slime, cursing objects, scaring people, sending little helpers; the ghost has numerous options at his disposal. The cat-and-mouse game between the ghost and the hunters lasts 7-10 minutes per round, according to Illfonic. Good balancing should also be ensured by the fact that the ghost is not directly defeated once it has been caught.

Three so-called rifts are available to the ghost. These practically serve as resurrection. Once all three are used up, the next catch ends the round. But be careful, these rifts can also be destroyed separately by the Ghostbusters, should you decide to hide them in the levels.

(K)one witty single player

If you're not able to round up three other fans of the series, Illfonic says you can rely on a good AI. This can take on the role of both the hunter and the ghost.

Besides the AI, Illfonic is also proud of the destructible environment. However, the more you break while chasing the ghost, the smaller your bonus will be at the end of the level. You can still complete the match as a would-be Rambo. To what extent this will prove to be true can't be said at the moment.

Of course, Spirits Unleashed will focus on multiplayer, including in-game voice chat. But Illfonic has already announced a story mode, for which Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson, actors from the first movie, were brought on board. This is to be set after the latest film Ghostbusters: Afterlife and was written in cooperation with author Jason Gill. We already reported on the originally positive reviews for Ghostbusters: Afterlife in October 2021.

According to Illfonic, you can freely design your own ghost hunter. The equipment can be improved and adapted over time. The same applies to the ghost, by the way. The associated business model is still unknown. Spirits Unleashed is not supposed to be a Free-2-Play title, but such elements combined with hints of "daily challenges" smell of possible microtransactions. Whether this fear will prove true remains to be seen, of course.

When is the new Ghostbusters game coming?

Illfonic is currently aiming for a "Teen Rating", comparable to a release from 12 to 16 years in Germany. The game should therefore be much less violent than past titles from the studio. In addition, the game is aimed at a casual target group. In the end, everyone should be able to play Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. Accordingly, the game is planned for PC, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One and supports crossplay.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q4 2022. Illfonic has mostly drawn attention with multiplayer arcade shooters so far. In addition to their own Arcadegeddon brand, they have also tried their hand at two movie adaptations: Predator: Hunting Grounds and Friday the 13th: The Game.

Both movie spin-offs received rather mediocre feedback. So it's quite questionable how much better the arcade shooter with a Ghostbusters setting can be.

Solid trailer, disturbing omens (Author Simon Hoffmann on the new game)

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed looks solid, has a solid concept and is based on a solid brand. Currently, the only thing that worries me is the vague indication of the game's financial model. The game isn't supposed to be a Free-2-Play game, but does that also mean we won't see any questionable microtransactions? Currently, it's hard to say. Potential with daily challenges and cosmetic upgrades for the characters is definitely there. I can only hope that Illfonic will resist such a terrible decision and launch a good Ghostbusters game with asymmetrical multiplayer at the end of the year.

How do you like the first information and pictures of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed? If you want to read about even more scary games, then read our review of the remake of Ghostbusters: The Video Game. If you're fed up with endless remakes of old brands, we can recommend our column on this topic.