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Ghosthunter
Developer(s)	SCE Studio Cambridge
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment (Europe), Namco (United States)
Aspect ratio	16:9 / 4:3
Native resolution	480i (SDTV) 480p (EDTV)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release date(s)	EU December 05, 2003 JP September 02, 2004 NA August 17, 2004
Genre(s)	Survival horror, Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (13+) BBFC: 12 PEGI : 12+ OFLC: M
Media	DVD-ROM

Ghosthunter is a video game based on ghost hunting developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The game was released on the Sony PlayStation 2 in Europe on December 5, 2003, North America on August 17, 2004, and Japan on September 2, 2004.

Plot

Ghosthunter follows the adventures of Detroit police Officer Lazarus Jones (voice by Rob Paulsen) on his first day on the job. He is sent with his partner, Anna Steele, on a routine call to investigate a disturbance in an abandoned school which also was the scene of an unsolved massacre. After the two split up to investigate the building, Jones discovers a paranormal research laboratory along with a digitized version of its creator, Professor Peter Richmond. As Jones investigates the laboratory, he inadvertently releases the ghosts contained within it, including an evil ghost named Lord William Hawksmoor (voiced by Sir Michael Gambon).

Steele is subsequently kidnapped by Hawksmoor and Jones, aided by the digital Richmond and an array of ghosthunting gadgets, is sent to recapture the escaped ghosts and rescue his partner. Early in his adventure, Jones meets and bonds with the ghost of a woman named Kate Heller (Astral). Astral supports Jones by granting him the ability to see dead people as well as use her other abilities to help him on his quest.

Jones embarks on an adventured through multiple locations, capturing ghosts and helping lost souls in his quest to rescue Anna Steele and stop Hawksmoor in his quest to regain a living body.

Style

Ghosthunter is an unusual mix of horror, action, comedy and drama, blending these disparate genres together in a manner some critics have compared to the Ghostbusters films or the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series. While the action and horror aspects predominate throughout, some sections of the game - such as the "Redneck" aspects - are more comedic, while others - such as the later prison plotline - are dramatic and sometimes even rather tragic. Certain sections, such as Mrs. de Montford's mansion, contain highly surreal elements. Ghosthunter is also a relatively rare example of a game including the cinematic convention of the false ending: Lazarus is killed, apparently for good, and the game then brings up the title screen, inviting the player to start over and strongly suggesting that the game is over. But within moments, the action begins again.

Gameplay

Ghosthunter can be classified as an action shooter. Jones is equipped with a range of projectile weapons and may control Astral, a ghost with various abilities. Astral's powers are charged via the capture of the various ghosts in the game.

Critical Reception

Ghosthunter received generally positive reviews, with a composite ranking of 69% on Metacritic.^[1] General praise was given for its high quality graphics, level design and EDTV support. It was criticized for some camera and control issues as well as occasionally repetitive gameplay.

Trivia

• In early screenshots Lazarus had a patch on his jacket which resembled the Ghostbusters logo.
• During the prison level, Lazarus Jones makes his way through an underground maze featuring steam-pipes that fire hot steam jets and giant spinning cogs. After completing the maze he emerges in a shower-room surrounded from above by gun-wielding ghost guards. This is very similar to the underwater Navy SEAL incursion sequence from the 1996 action film The Rock.
• It's one of the few games that Greek language can be chosen.
• The cyborg form that Digital Richmond becomes following Lazarus' death is a clear homage to the RoboCop films - his chaingun and rocket-launcher are both based on RoboCop 2's weaponry and the mechanical noises of his legs and arms are all sampled from the films.
• The Pulse gun that Lazarus uses throughout the game strongly resembles the Calico M960A rifle, complete with a helical magazine design.

References

External links

• Ghosthunter at MobyGames
• Ghosthunter Official Site