Ghostbusters II is a 1989 action video game based on the film of the same name. It was published by Activision for various computer platforms. British studio Foursfield developed a version for Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, which also got ported to the MSX by New Frontier. It features three levels based on scenes from the film. Dynamix developed a separate version for the MS-DOS, also based on the film. The non-DOS versions were praised for the graphics and audio, but criticized for long loading times, disk swapping, and the final level. The MS-DOS, Commodore 64 and Amiga versions were the only versions released in North America.
Plot[]
Ghostbusters II follows the plot of the film, in which the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian intends to enter the Earth world and take it over, by inhabiting the body of Oscar Barrett, the baby son of Dana Barrett. The player controls the Ghostbusters team as they try to stop Vigo.
The MS-DOS version of the game begins with the Ghostbusters battling the ghosts of the Scoleri brothers in a courtroom, as in the film. Subsequently, the player can choose to do various activities, which include hunting for ghosts to earn money. Three ghost-plagued locations can be played: Central Park, Northrones Department Store, and the Docks. In each location, the player blasts ghosts until they become trapped. The player must avoid slimeballs and fireballs thrown by the ghosts. The player can also collect slime samples from an abandoned underground train tunnel, but must avoid Slimer ghosts in the process. The collected slime is then tested with the use of a CD player. The slime is placed in a beaker and the player selects a song from the CD player; nine songs are available to choose from, and the player must select three calming songs to stabilize the slime. If the player chooses incorrectly, the slime explodes out of the beaker and the player must return to the train station to retrieve more slime. If the player loses a ghostbusting job or the slime challenge, then the player's Ghostbuster is sent to the Parkview mental ward. As one of the other Ghostbusters, the player can choose to rescue the institutionalized character from the ward. The player must earn $55,000 to take control of the Statue of Liberty, which is used to reach an art museum, where the Ghostbusters battle Vigo.
The other computer versions – Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and MSX – feature three distinct levels based on scenes from the film. In the first level, Ray Stantz is lowered into a subway tunnel to collect slime, while using three different weapons to deter various spirits. The player swings back and forth while descending the tunnel to collect the slime. The player has a courage meter which depletes if ghosts attack the player character, thereby scaring him. A life is lost if the meter is drained completely. The second level is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up in which the Statue of Liberty walks along Broadway in New York. The player uses the statue's lit torch to shoot fireballs at oncoming ghosts, turning them into slime. The player also controls pedestrians who retrieve the slime in order to keep the torch lit. The third level is viewed from an isometric view, and begins with the Ghostbusters trying to safely slide down a rope to land inside the art museum. The player then alternates between the four Ghostbusters as they rescue Oscar and defeat Vigo.