Due to Sony being a bunch of ass fuckers the release for the 360 version of Ghostbusters, in the UK, has been delayed until October, so being the resourceful chap I am I imported a copy via EBay

After a roughly 9 hour run through the game I thought I would post a few of my impressions and why I think that them making the third film a game was an excellent idea!

Let’s start with the obligatory…

Who you gonna call ?

So the guys are back together, Ray, Egon, Venkman and Winston finally get their asses together for what essentially is Ghostbusters 3. The game is still set in same familiar places and feature the same cast members with only a handful, namely Sigourney Weaver and Rik Moranis, missing which gives the game an excellent sense of authenticity that personally I have never seen before in a game.

You could probably say the kind of experience they are going for is one of a kind. Rather than making a game to emulate a film they have made a game that should have been the film in the first place. Originally penned by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis to be Ghostbusters 3 the original script was apparently put on hold due to technology not being advanced enough to give the effect they desired. With Ghostbusters 2 being the success it was I guess they didn’t want to disappoint with the third entry in the series.

I think generally the game is a HUGE success. Honestly I very rarely finish my games, I think the last game I finished prior to this was Mass Effect. That was well over a year ago and I’ve had plenty of other games since, Fable 2, Prince of Persia, just to name 2 but I do get bored very quickly.

Ghostbusters moves along with a nice pace, through the entire game there was only one point where I got frustrated (fucking flying Cherub things), but generally its an enjoyable romp through an equally enjoyable storyline that needs to be experienced by anyone who is a fan of either of the first two movies.

Other reviews I have read commented on the inconsistency of the cut scenes which I would have to agree on, also on the lip syncing being off on a fair number of the cut scenes. Although if I hadn’t have read other reviews prior to getting the game I would have blamed this on my slowly dying 360 but it never really hampered the enjoyment of the experience.

I have had a brief bit of time with the multi player which was a pleasant surprise. For something that I honestly would have expected to be tacked on, it’s actually a very competent component of the package and has a lot of playtime and adds a lot to the game. With a co-op campaign and and experience system and a good choice of modes there is a lot of time that can be spent just busting ghosts and generally making yourself feel good! Because of course, bustin makes me feel good.

Without going on too much, it’s not one of those impulse purchases I regretted, a very enjoyable game that was well worth the wait and I’m actually fairly interested in playing through it a second time to get a load of the achievements I missed in my first run through.

So if you live in the UK you can either pop online and grab yourself a multi-region NTSC version or wait around for the PAL version in October, your call.

Apparently .. I do ?

I have a strange obsession with trying every single type of energy drink I can, maybe it’s just on the off chance maybe one will turn me into a super-hero. Probably it is down to me constantly wanting to try new things, I think my favourite energy drink so far has still got to be the 24 CTU Energy Drink just for the pure genious of it! Although the target is to try Mana energy potions . Again, marketing gone mad but it sucks me in like a bitch.

Finished Ghostbusters a matter of hours ago,  and can hand on heart say that apart from one frustrating section, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was worth every penny. I look forward to ranting about it when I put something nice together.

Also just ordered the Dungeon expansion for Talisman, looking forward to the extra characters and rules it adds!

Someone had a plan, and that plan was surely to inflict living beings with the ability to be brought to their knees by, of all things, plants.

According to the NHS :

Hayfever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a very common condition that affects two in every 10 people in the UK. It is caused by an allergy to airborne substances such as grass or hay pollen, which affects the upper respiratory passages (nose, sinus, throat and eyes).

Seriously, its like having a fucking pineapple rammed into your nose and then feathers lightly sprinkled down your throat just to make the sensation that slight bit more interesting. Even more frustratingly it’s not actually an affliction that has hampered me my entire life. Thankfully I went through my entire childhood with no-sign of a sniffle, my brother was the only one in the family that actually had the issue.

I must have really done something awful when I hit my 20′s as it struck me and it struck me hard, especially recently. To sum it up I woke up at 4am this morning, my tongue felt like it was twice the size, I was snuffly and the top of my mouth was itching. Have you ever tried scratching the top of your mouth ? Not possible, IT JUST GETS WORSE.

On a brighter note, long weekend, I spent around seven hours playing Ghostbusters on the 360 and am thoroughly enjoying it, just noticed my friend Stu has also imported a copy so might hook him up for some c-op. Nearing the end but the storyline is more than worth it.

Also Bloodbowl came out, finally, everything I hoped it was gonna be. Not sure if the dice rolling is quite as random as it probably should be as it seems to come in spouts of good or bad luck, but the idea is there. Just waiting for some love from patches as they are apparently working on four new teams. The first two already confirmed as the Undead and Dark elves. The Undead I am looking forward to if only for seeing all the different looking zombies and skeletons.

Anyhow, back to work.

I was going to start and say I had a really hectic weekend but that might actually be a lie looking over what I actually did….

Spent Saturday going around shops that were too expensive but fun all the same, literally hours wandering round, surprisingly relaxing but the sun was absolutely roasting! Then went to a big manor house and walked around the gardens. Again relaxing but roasting, was nice to do something out and about for once.

Big week presents for myself this week. Have ordered a copy of the board-game Talisman , a copy of Ghostbusters on the 360 from the States, the Reaper expansion for Talisman and some other little bits and bobs. Lucky I like opening packages or it might be depressing.

Also for the first time in 10 years or so started reading a book! Dot Robot written by Jason Bradbury (of Channel 5′s The Gadget Show) and currently really enjoying it, from the first couple of pages I think it has been written to connect with the geek in me and it’s doing a very good job! Hopefully have some better impressions once I get further through the book.

Blood Bowl pre-orders started on Friday, while I find the £39.99 price a little high for a Digital download I will most likely end up buying it, but I will hear a small cry come from my wallet as I do.