The Ghostbusters have already had some go-arounds in the gaming world before, between Atari’s impressive Ghostbusters: The Video Game (which recently saw a very effective relaunch), as well as Activision’s multiplayer 2016 opus based on the new movie that, well, seems best left-forgotten.

But now we have the latest slimefest with Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, the latest multiplayer endeavor from Illfonic. Like Friday the 13th and Predator: Hunting Grounds before it, the developer hones in the, ahem, spirit of the franchise and nails it into 4 vs. 1 formula that works reasonably well. Fans will definitely feel at home here, especially when it comes to actually playing as the ghosts. You can also customize features on your character, giving them that personal touch. (Yes, create your own Ghostbuster, kids!)

I do wish more story was included, as what’s here is literally barebones. Also, there’s no sign of crossplay. At least, not yet. But what remains with Spirits Unleashed is more than enough to suit anyone that’s ready to show what their inner Slimer is made of. (We all have one, c’mon.)

I’m Not Afraid (No, Really)

The general structure of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is simple. Four players (or bots) take control of the busters, while one portrays the ghost. As expected, each has their own set of tools and talents for the job, with the ghosts sliming at every turn and everything from the Proton Pack to the ghost tracer helping the ‘Busters with, well, busting.

It’s not rocket science, mind you, as the story doesn’t have the same structure as, for instance, Atari’s game. But it’s still a good enough setup to get into the action, which is satisfying. Playing on either side is a blast, and if you find a good squad to go up with (or against), you’ll find several hours’ worth of slimy goodness.

On top of that, Illfonic pays fine tribute to the Ghostbusters lore, with Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson returning (no Bill Murray, but oh well), as well as awesome effects from each of the tools (right down to their film counterparts) and plenty of maps based around film locations. In fact, all the DLC is included here, without the need to pay extra. Not bad for a $20 package.

The options are plentiful too. If you don’t have friends to play with, Spirits Unleashed gives you the choice of playing with bots. They aren’t the smartest, I admit, but they are serviceable as you get a hang of your roles before deciding to hop online. I do wish crossplay was working, but I think Illfonic is working on it.

Overall, it’s not as in-depth as I’d prefer in terms of story, but Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed takes the multiplayer ball and makes it to the end zone with ease.

Brought To You In Slime-O-Vision

The presentation may not be the best on Nintendo Switch – the game runs a little more smoothly on PC and other formats – but Spirits Unleashed still performs admirably. As I mentioned, the visual effects are very nice (especially the Proton Pack stuff), and the returning characters and locales are easy to spot. It also runs surprisingly well during multiplayer sessions, as we hooked up easily for certain matches. It’s not perfect, though, as it has a few glitches here and there. Nothing game breaking though.

As for the audio, it’s good as well, with authentic sound effects and music bits from the films, as well as decent voice acting here and there. Again, not as deep as what Atari did years ago, but not bad in the least.

Bustin’ Makes Us Feel Good

There’s room for both Ghostbusters: The Video Game and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition in your library. The former brings you story (and Bill Murray, along with the others), as well as some great gameplay. But the latter is also very good, with lots of multiplayer content, single player opportunities and nods to the franchise’s universe. Plus, admittedly, playing as the ghosts is an absolute blast.

Multiplayer may not be your forte, but if you’ve got $20 lying around and you’re looking for a fun little spook fest this holiday season, this one will easily win you over with its spooky goodness.

Oh, and if you snag the physical edition, the cover art glows in the dark. Nice extra.

GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS 

(Thanks to Illfonic for the game code!)