The Real Ghostbusters

Platform

Arcade

Release year

1987

Developer

Data East Corporation

Publisher

Data East

Players

2

Category

Shooter, Run 'n' Gun

The Real Ghostbusters” is an arcade shoot ’em up game based on “The Real Ghostbusters” cartoon series. Players control a Ghostbuster, distinguished by jumpsuit color (blue for left, yellow for right, and red for the center player in the three-player version), through 10 overhead-view levels. The objective is to clear each stage of various monsters and ghosts within a time limit. Players are armed with both a gun, which has unlimited ammunition, and a proton beam with a limited charge. Creatures are first shot with either weapon to transform them into harmless ghosts, which can then be captured by zapping them with the proton beam and storing them in the player’s backpack. Successfully defeating the boss(es) at the end of each level yields a key, allowing progression to the next stage.