New Ghostbusters II (Europe)

New Ghostbusters II is a unique top-down action game for the NES, based on the movie Ghostbusters II.

The game's standout feature is its two-character control mechanism. Players can choose from the Ghostbusters team members: Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, or even Louis Tully. In single-player mode, you control one Ghostbuster while the computer controls the other. However, New Ghostbusters II truly shines in its two-player cooperative mode, where each player controls one character, creating a seamless collaborative experience.

The primary objective in each stage is to hunt down and capture ghostly entities. One player uses the proton pack to weaken the ghost, causing it to turn blue. Once the ghost is sufficiently weakened, the other player (or AI partner) deploys a ghost trap to capture it. This process requires coordination and precise timing, especially when dealing with multiple enemies simultaneously or powerful attacking ghosts.

The game takes players through various familiar locations from the movie, including the Museum of Art, the subway system, the library, and other haunted spots in New York City. Each stage features different types of ghosts and culminates in a challenging boss battle. Enemies will attempt to attack you in various ways, and you need to dodge their attacks as well as the slime they leave behind.

Throughout the game, players can collect power-ups such as health boosts or trap upgrades, making captures easier. New Ghostbusters II is widely considered superior to the Ghostbusters II version released in North America due to its direct action gameplay, unique cooperative mechanics, and better graphics and sound, delivering an authentic and enjoyable ghost-hunting experience.