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The Real GhostBusters

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The Real Ghost Busters was produced by Data East in 1987. Adapted from the animated cartoon of the same name. Up to three players, each controlling a Ghostbuster, must run around a top-down universal scrolling terrain, shoot creatures and then try to suck up ghosts with their plasma guns. Play...

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Developer
Data East

Released on
1987

Size
1–3 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Activision

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

The Real Ghost Busters was produced by Data East in 1987.

Adapted from the animated cartoon of the same name. Up to three players, each controlling a Ghostbuster, must run around a top-down universal scrolling terrain, shoot creatures and then try to suck up ghosts with their plasma guns. Players can shoot and then collect various power-ups, including a protective Aura, shot and beam boosters, and a “Green Ghost” Slimer shield satellite. Has interesting screen transition effects and a well-orchestrated version of the movie’s popular theme song.

The Real GhostBusters

Overview & History

Released in arcades by Data East in 1987, The Real GhostBusters is a top-down run-and-gun shooter loosely tied to the immensely popular animated television series rather than the original 1984 feature film. The game captures the quirky, vibrant aesthetic of the cartoon, replacing the live-action actors with stylized sprites of Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston. While Data East handled the arcade release, various home computer ports were published by Ocean Software, though the coin-op original remains celebrated for its frantic pacing, catchy Chiptune renditions of Ray Parker Jr.’s iconic theme, and chaotic cooperative gameplay that allowed up to three players to bust ghouls simultaneously across ten distinct stages, ranging from haunted houses to icy mountains and ancient temples.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Players navigate a vertical-scrolling and multi-directional grid, blasting an endless horde of colorful poltergeists, goblins, and classic movie phantoms like Slimer. The core gameplay loop revolves around collecting power-ups to upgrade standard proton streams into bouncing rings, explosive fireballs, or wide-spread lasers. Characters can also temporarily hop into vehicles like the Ectomobile or deploy traps to clear the screen of lesser spirits. Defeating mid-bosses and level guardians requires strategic dodging of projectile hell while maintaining continuous fire. Unlike traditional arcade shooters, falling into pits or touching environmental hazards costs lives, making precise positioning paramount to survival.