Ghosthunter's witty, campy tale is largely counterbalanced by trite gameplay.
Two college-aged security guards are called in to investigate a disturbance at a haunted high school building. When Lazarus, the goofy main character, releases hordes of otherworldly specters from their high-tech prison, the leader of the evil netherworldians takes his lovely partner captive.
Standard "save the girl" action ensues, but Ghosthunter's strength comes in its atmosphere, not originality. The story itself is cliché camp, but the way it is presented makes it interesting to watch. There's nothing to complain about when it comes to the visuals – ghost designs are creative, lighting effects are impressive, and the framerate moves along at an acceptable pace. The voice acting of the main character is obnoxious, but the dialogue as a whole features quite a few humorous lines.
Ghosthunter's combat engine is par the course for the genre. Lazarus locks on to enemies, strafing painfully slow around them. The weapons feel strong for the most part, but most enemies must be worn down and captured in a "ghost trap" of sorts. And while the fighting has its moments of glory, the game's puzzles are totally uninspired. Even the riddles that require you to use Lazarus' spirit powers are terribly obvious and simplistic.
Overall, Ghosthunter is a classic case of style over substance. The production values and storyline are enjoyable enough, but the mediocre combat and fetch-the-item puzzles knock the game down a notch. A rental at best.
-George
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