| "The
way Spike moves is irritating, you can't seem to be able to run and
jump. I guess there will always be ONE Mario."
- J.H. |
 
|
| Music: |
"Room
1, Corridor" |
 |
By:
Scott Marshall |
| Platform: |
NES
|
|
Developer(s):
|
Imagineering
Inc. |
| Publisher(s): |
Electro
Brain |
| Designer(s):
|
| Garry
Kitchen |
Producer |
| Scott
Marshall |
Story/Program/Music |
| Jesse
Kapili |
Graphics |
| Alex
Demeo |
Additional
Programming |
| Garry
Kitchen |
Additional
Programming |
| Bill
Wentworth |
Additional
Graphics |
|
| Release
Date(s):
|
  |
February
1991 |
|
| Mode(s): |
1 Player |
| Genre:
|
Action/platformer |
| Saving Option: |
N/A |
![]()
|
Well this game sure has
quite the plot: "a boy boy must save his school and his girl friend
from monsters". I like it, but did anybody rent or buy this game
back in '91? Probably not. And does anybody know who Electro Brain
is? Any relation to Culture Brain? Let me fill you in on
what I know...
|
|
|
 Storyline:
3/5 |
|
One day Spike O' Hara,
a student from the high school of Cool School High (wicked name) found a
glowing skull in some cemetery, a discovery that would prove to be a
disaster (I'd say). Spike brought the skull to his teacher on the day of
Halloween (of course) and it is from here
that our ghostly tale unfolds... the skull ended up being a beacon, a
homing device for all the spirits and monsters from the realm of the
dead. He has to save a cheerleader (perhaps girl friend?) Samantha
Pompom and save the school from and army of ghosts and monsters!
|
|
|
Graphics:
3/5 |
|
I thought the graphics
were half decent but probably should've been better for a game in 1991.
The "hellish" high school image on the title screen was
probably the greatest thing done graphical-wise on the game. The way the
high school looked was nice, but could've been done al little better.
The monsters looked "pasted" on and generally have the one
color like the Cyclops is just a reddish pink with white for the eye and
that's it. Animation didn't flow good, Spike looked like a colored version
of Bart
Simpson... almost like a moving cardboard character.
|
|
|
Audio:
2/5
|
|
The music was pretty
upbeat, I enjoyed it. Maybe it could've been more spooky since your all alone in a high
school that's infested with creatures from beyond the grave. Guess not.
The music you hear as
soon as you read this review is the room you start off in, which is the
corridor. You can see or hear that it does have a nice beat to it but it
doesn't have you on the edge of your seat or anything.
|
|
|
Gameplay:
2/5
|
|
This is a weird
platformer (no time limits) set in a high school. You have a box life bar and
get damaged from touching enemies. He can jump and use a number of
weapons (I think there's nine). You go through the school
finding different footwear and weapons (including a variety of ray
guns). For example the springs make you
jump higher and suction cups let you hang and walk upside down. These
are necessary to reach new areas of the game.
Being set in a high school,
the main areas you venture around are the hallways. Other parts include
classrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, an auto shop, basements, and air
ducts. You can also hide in the lockers which is kind of neat.
| Here's
all the nine weapons: |
|
| Baseball
Bat: |
Spike
begins the game with this weapon. |
| Towel: |
Extra
reach with the bat. |
| Deweytron: |
First
of three anti-ghoulie guns. |
| Digestaray: |
Gun
that packs a harder punch. Useful against floor bound enemies. |
| Sickle: |
Acquired
from the Grim Reaper. |
| Spinal
Zap: |
One
of the most powerful weapons. Sparks up a ghoul's future. |
| Sandwich: |
Great
throwing weapon for foodfights! |
| Embalming
Fluid: |
Very
powerful chemical against the living dead. |
| Gamma
Gun: |
Third
and most powerful gun. |
| Sneakers: |
Spike
begins game with these. |
| Spring
Shoes: |
Help
to reach high places or make dangerous jumps. |
| Suction
Cup Shoes: |
Gives
the ability to walk on the ceiling. |
| Here's
the three shoes: |
|
| Sneakers: |
Spike
begins game with these. |
| Spring
Shoes: |
Help
to reach high places or make dangerous jumps. |
| Suction
Cup Shoes: |
Gives
the ability to walk on the ceiling. |
|
|
|
Control:
2.5/5
|
|
This game uses common
controls; B to use weapon, A to jump, and start for the menu... stuff
like that. I just wished that the jump was higher, but I guess it suits
the lazy teenage character he portrays!
|
|
|
Fun
Factor: 3/5 |
|
The game can be fun in a
"where the hell am I going" kind of way. Its a good game to
explore, the music is good in its own way, and to come to think of it,
doesn't the way Spike moves kinda resemble Link in Zelda
2? Well, if Link had one leg maybe... actually, Scott Marshall
(creator of the game) says this himself in this interview,
"The Zelda NES games were really big then, so I took
the game play model from Zelda 2 and adapted it to a Ghostbusters
storyline.". Wait... Ghostbusters! No
wonder the game is so flawed.
One last bit of fun...
I guess you could get the Gamma Gun (strongest gun) run through the
halls and blast the monsters away.
|
|
|
Frustration:
3/5
|
|
Like I said earlier,
his jump sucks plus there's this Medusa head that kills you in one
hit... that can't be good! I just hope Konami doesn't get any horrible
ideas from this! Also the beginning weapon doesn't extend that far, so
your attack range sucks and you keep on hitting every monster you see.
The way Spike moves is
irritating, you can't seem to be able to run and jump. I guess there
will always be ONE Mario.
|
|
|
Overall:
2.5/5 |
|
Ghoul School is a game
that puts you almost in a "what if" scenario. You know, have you
ever wondered if you were the one to save your sweetheart as well as
your school... would you do it? Well, this game pulls that off... not in
the best way, but it pulls it off none the less.
|
|
Related
Content:
|
|
|
  
- Juggalo/Hulkamaniac
|
