Back in the mid to late '80s, North American gamers were hooked on Nintendo, and prior to the launch of the Genesis / Mega Drive, Sega was very much locked out when it came to getting all of the juicy third-party titles.
However, there were a handful of games which made it over to Sega's 8-bit Master System console — the rival to the dominant NES — and Ghostbusters was one of them. An upgraded port of David Crane's iconic Atari 2600 title, the Sega version is arguably the best of the lot, despite the fact that it came a year before the Nintendo edition.
The NES port is infamously bad, with primitive graphics and harder gameplay, as well as a new ending with some hilarious spelling errors.
Given this information, it might seem pretty straightforward which is the best version, but we'll allow our friends over at The Sega Channel to spell it out a little more effectively.
Comments 30
I played this on C64 all the time, I was scared of the Marshmallow Man for some reason. Probably because he usually killed me.
The Atari version always looked much better to me though!
I wish they'd made the recent game more like this crossed with GTA3
I have both. The SMS one was better, but both really sucked. The Genesis game was the first good Ghostbusters game. Ghostbusters for the Xbox360/PS3 was fun despite a few issues, and I rather enjoyed the play through. Sanctum of Slime was a nice budget titles, especially playing multiplayer.
It was Activision that did the NES port xD must be the same guys who work on COD today.
I remember I used to rent this and Psycho Fox from the video shop.Great game at the time.Watching the video brought back a lot of memories ,like going into Dixons every single day after school to play the demo unit or stare at the back of game boxes till closing time.haha.There used to be a shop in my town called the SEGA swap shop that I used to go to after Dixons or the arcade.Fantastic little place with every wall packed with games none of the main stores had..He always had all the latest Japanese games and would let you trade in your old games for a few quid or even borrow you for a couple of nights.He was always open till late too.Spent a lot of my early teen years in there haha.Great times
Commodore 64 version was the best.
We did own the Sega Megadrive version also.
Wow, I had no idea the MS version so superior. But yeah, I had the Mega Drive one and thought it was awesome. It even was really scary for me as a kid. Can't imagine that anymore.
I prefer the Commodore 64 version
I grew up playing the Sega Genesis version…wow great times which is probably why i love Luigi's Mansion so much! I still rememer Bazooza i think the final boss name was ridiculously hard but being able to buy and upgrade ur weapons was awesome!!!
C64 is the only way to go...
C64 hands down.
I think that same version that is on the C64 is better on some variety of Amstrad. (Played it on both never owned either system).
@arrjayjee Yeah that's pretty cool. We didn't have internet back then to look up hints or guides for games. We just had to go by whatever we heard through rumors or other gamers.
@PvtOttobot Actually I think it was ported by a Japanese studio, Activision just published it.
Yes, the NES version was by Bits and/or Tokuma Shoten.
As bad as the ending was on the NES, it didn't even work on the Japanese version.
Best GB game: Sega Genesis.
@Deadstanley I would play it for hours and then easily pass him unharmed but the game would kill me anyway!
Neither, C64 was the best version of that game. The Marshmallow Man was scary in the city stage as you had to quickly bust the key for the bait to stop him. Getting two of only three (poor Winston, my only gripe about the game) past the jumping Marshmallow Man was so hard. The consoles added the getting up the tower stage which was nearly impossible. Also, the version of Ghostbusters I had played a version of Space Invaders while the game loaded.
Though, in terms of the question, the Master System version destroys the NES version. The Master System version was basically the HD remake we get today however, they over complicated it. The NES was worse than the C64 version.
Funny that even back then in the 80's Activision treated Nintendo owners as third class citizens. Nothing has changed 35years on.
as far is i care, the best ghostbusters games are in tis order best to worst:
#1 the 2009 ghostbusters game
#2 the sega genesis ghostbusters
#3 new ghostbusters 2/ ghostbusters 2 gameboy
#4 american ghostbusters 2
#5 ghostbusters SOS
#6 the old activison game
@xj0462 #7 Ghostbusters for iOS/Android
I liked the Atari 2600 GhostBusters game and then the arcade version
@Trikeboy i made the list purely on what i played, i havent played the iOS ghostbusters
What about the awesome Game Boy version, which I think is also on the Famicom, developed by I believe Hal freaking Laboratories? Now there's a Ghostbusters game.
That SEGA one was definitely awesome.
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6415
Here is a remake of the C64 game that someone made.
Commodore 64 version, all the way!!
Ghostbusters gives Nintendo a mention, and Sega comes out with the only good Ghostbusters games, including the one for the Genesis...
Please understand?
@Damo
"An upgraded port of David Crane's iconic Atari 2600 title"
I'd think you'll find that the game originally came out for the Commodore64 and the Atari 8-Bit; the 2600 version being one of the later ports.
As to the debate, the Master System version wins hands-down in my books, it controlled better in general then the NES version, didn't have you going to the gas station every few minutes to refill your tank and the tower climb and subsequent battle with Gozer was actually possible to do without cheating.
I had and hated the NES version of this game. Had no idea that the Master System's wasn't just the same thing.
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