Ghost Squad Review

By Kristan Reed Published 17 January, 2008

Dispiriting.

Version tested: Wii

"Ghoooost Squaard" intones the intro to AM2's light-gun shooter, like some quirky old Norfolk boy, inviting us to shoot members of the dismal Norwich City team for its failure to beat League One lightweights Bury in the FA Cup. Still, there's always mid-table mediocrity to play for, eh lads?

Moving onto more serious (and, ahem, relevant) matters, Ghost Squad is one of those delightfully old-fashioned first-person on-rails arcade shooters that has belatedly been fashioned into a Wii Zapper-compatible home version. Having realised what a perfect platform the Wii is for all these old point-and-shoot titles, SEGA is busily porting several of them to celebrate that fact. And as well it might, because in terms of precision and accuracy, light-gun-style games on the Wii feel absolutely spot on, as we found out recently with Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles - with or without the plastic housing of the Wii Zapper.

Ghost Squad hinges around the premise of a United States platoon of specialised soldiers which "leave no trace". Uhuh. What, apart from the dozens of dead bodies and the smashed up furniture they leave in their wake? Who would ever know?

Shootspeedkilllight

So off you go, rescuing hostages, disarming bombs and mines, gunning down helicopters and speedboats, embarking on the occasional sniping foray and generally killing extraordinary numbers of generic leaping perps with a magical firearm that never runs out of ammo (yet requires you to reload by shooting off-screen, as ever). AM2 evidently took the view that it didn't want you worrying about taking cover (like Time Crisis, say), so your entire range of movement and viewpoint is fully taken care of in true old-school style.

'Ghost Squad' Screenshot 1

Except those hundreds of bodies, you mean?

What it does throw into the mix is the ability to flick between different types of shot (single, burst, automatic) depending on which type of firearm you've chosen and the type of ammo you've picked up along the way. With 25 weapons (pistols, shotguns, machine-guns, etc) to unlock as you play through multiple multiple multiple times, there's fair bit of variety on that score, if you can really be bothered to run through the game's three short (as in under ten-minute) levels over and over again.

On top of that the game adds little melee interludes where you have to quickly react to nasty men trying to punch or knife you in the face (how rude). Time slows down briefly, allowing you a brief window of opportunity to strike back by pressing the action button and pointing to the appropriate place. It all adds a pleasant degree of variety.

Also helping the case for its defence, Ghost Squad offers a handful of branching paths throughout each level (save the hostages or disarm the bomb, for example), making it initially fun to replay to check out what happens elsewhere. In fact, more paths unlock the more you play it, and to really see all there is to do in the game you're most likely going to have to play it an obscene number of times (each level has 16 difficulty levels to wade through), by which time, of course, you'll be thoroughly bored with it. But can you blame it? AM2 designed it to be a quick-fire arcade blaster, and that's exactly what it still is. If that's what you're after, you'll be happy: the controls are slick, the gameplay's tight and fun, but those after a more weighty (and far better looking) light-gun challenge had better jog on and seek out Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles instead.

Charmyclunky

Technically, of course, Ghost Squad looks horribly dated, but actually in a kitsch, charming, polished fashion typical of SEGA arcade games. Arcade know-alls will realise, of course, that the original was actually running on Chihiro hardware, which was effectively an Xbox - so, like it or not, this 2008 Wii game is actually an Xbox port by extension. Even back then, though, stiff character models and fairly uninspired environments wouldn't exactly have wowed anyone, and now the whole thing looks more like a first-generation Dreamcast game (which, again, isn't such a bad thing, given how good they were). Its stylish clunkiness, if that makes any sense whatsoever, and comes complete with standard issue bad voice-acting and men being blown up by rockets, then dusting themselves down for more gunplay. We love it really.

'Ghost Squad' Screenshot 2

Ever wondered what became of The Village People?

What the Wii version does offer over and above the old arcade version is the ability to support four players (which is, err, quite confusing in reality), as well as, shock, online high-score leaderboards, which you have the option to upload to at the end of the game.

Priced out

Probably the greatest question mark over Ghost Squad is whether it's really worth the inflated price tag. Billed as a full-price release in Europe, you will, of course, be able to shop around and get it far cheaper than the SRP of GBP 34.99, but given the paucity of playing time attached to it and considering how old the game is now, we'd have though it was prime mid-price fodder that would have encouraged plenty of impulse purchases from light-gun fanatics. SEGA appears to have shot itself in the foot with its own light-gun on this one.

As things stand, not only does Ghost Squad feel completely archaic on a number of levels, it offers very poor value for money. Over time that won't be an issue as it finds its merry way into the bargain bins, but the fact remains that there are better games of this type already available for the Wii. Ghost Squad falls firmly into the 'one for hardcore fans of the genre' category, and should only be approached on that basis.

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wonk #1 4 years ago

    As my avatar shows, this review is mean and I take it personally.

  • Cloudane #2 4 years ago

    Regardless, it is a bloody great week for Wii owners with the likes of Ghost Squard - disappointing and over-priced or not - Zack & Wiki, NiGHTs, Geometry Wars and the simple but sweet Wii Chess.

    I think I'll be buying them all in due time.

  • systems #3 4 years ago

    This game is $30 in the US. Why is it £30 over here?

  • PEANUTXXI #4 4 years ago

    Hmmm, think I'll still pick this up as I've got an old phone to trade. Anyone know when House of the Dead collection is supposed to be out? Loving the light-gun antics on the Wii.

  • krudster #5 4 years ago

    That is a very good point...Anyone at SEGA care to offer an answer?

  • kangarootoo #6 4 years ago

    Man o man, every time I see a poor Wii shooter (to paraphrase Jackie from The Darkness) it makes me want to kick a f*cking dog (of course it doesn't, I love animals, even ones that have on rare occasion tried to bite me).

    Its a great platform, with bags of potential, and some good games have shown that potential can be realised, but then there is still a markedly high degree of cheaply made bobbins.

    I know 6/10 isn't terminal, but its still a bit annoying.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #7 4 years ago

    Wasn't Ghost Squad the game that let you calibrate the Wiimote so you could use it like a real lightgun? So is this still in and does it work?

  • Redeye #8 4 years ago

    Loved the coin-op, and been looking forward to this since its announcement...thirty-five notes is a bit much, though.

    *scouts about for a bargain*

  • Kryon #9 4 years ago

    WiiLOL

  • Pac #10 4 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    I agree.

    I've been trying my best to enjoy RE Umbrella Chronicles (which is not too bad overall) but due to it's chronically inaccurate targeting system I've finally given up :-(

    Why can't someone nail the light gun genre on the Wii?

  • Waffleaber #11 4 years ago

    One for the bargain bins then. Surprised there's no mention of the unlockable character models which, according to today's gamecentral, turn you into giant panda's shooting ninjas.

  • viper_h #12 4 years ago

    "Pull the action button to skip"?

    Hey baby, what's a nice action button like you doing in a game like this?

  • krudster #13 4 years ago

    To be fair, the amount of repetition and replay to get those unlockables would drive most people insane. It's not much of an incentive.

  • PEANUTXXI #14 4 years ago

    Didn't light guns work off the glass reflections on TV's? I may be totally wrong but I thought that's why they didn't really work on LCD/Plasma screens? Anyone know the answer to that one as I've always wondered.

  • JackyB #15 4 years ago

    Anyone got any good Zappers? I heard the official one wasn't all that. Eurogamer reviewed one in its xmas accessories round up, but then removed it from the article, and now i cant remember what one it was.

    Advice would be greatfully received
    Edited by 1 at 17/01/08 @ 12:22

  • BradlayLaw #16 4 years ago

    @PEANUTXXI

    [link url=http://en.wiki pedia.org/wiki/Light_gun
    ]http://en.wiki pedia.org/wiki/Light_gun
    [/link]

    Old lightguns used cathode ray timing

  • MoGamer2006 #17 4 years ago

    £35!?!?!?!?! Got this from the US for $17... at that price, it's a great buy and I love it, but £35.... shame on you, Sega Europe!

  • LlamaFarmer #18 4 years ago

    Nice review. Seems fun but too expensive for what you get at the moment. Will maybe check it out when the price drops, though that seems to take a while with Wii games :( Actually it sound more like a game to rent.


    (And I'm hating these Geomerty Wars: Galaxies adverts, I don't want to see annoying gurning people "playing the game".)
    Edited by 1 at 17/01/08 @ 12:30

  • krudster #19 4 years ago

    I found using the Zapper to be surprisingly close to the feel of a normal light gun. The idea of just clipping your Wii remote and Nunchuk in a plastic housing sounds a bit crap, but it worked. And it doesn't provoke the kind of arm-ache I was expecting.

  • Putty-Man #20 4 years ago

    "Ghost Squard - disappointing and over-priced or not - Zack & Wiki, NiGHTs, Geometry Wars and the simple but sweet Wii Chess. "

    I somehow find it hard to classify that as a bloody great week, each to their own tho.

  • schachmatt #21 4 years ago

    Does this mean you're shooting exactly where you're aiming or is it just an approximation?

  • kangarootoo #22 4 years ago

    I didn't think the Wiimote could provide exact aiming but could only provide relative movement tracking, which is why many games use an aiming reticle.

  • Lexx87 #23 4 years ago

    I just want mario galaxy...still not bought it yet. Need to finish the 4 360 games i've got first

  • systems #24 4 years ago

    @Der_tolle_Emil: Yes, it has the calibration system so you can line up with the Wiimote exactly.

    It's currently £24 at Blah and £25 at most other online stores. It should have been £17.99 to match $30.

  • JackyB #25 4 years ago

    cheers krudster. Do you recall the alternative reviewed in the pre xmas accessories round up, or have you used a better alternative to the official Zapper as yet?

  • krudster #26 4 years ago

    I've not personally played a 'proper' Wii Light gun yet. I'm not sure why you'd need one. This works great as it is.

  • JackyB #27 4 years ago

    Thanks a million, I 'll get one now then. I have Umbrella Chronicles but have put off playing too much cos Zapper's were sold out, but they are back in stock now. Legend

  • PEANUTXXI #28 4 years ago

    BradleyLaw / Frod - cheers for the clarification. You learn something new everyday! : )

  • MBar #29 4 years ago

    What a nice thread this is. Yay for being civil!

  • miiiguel #30 4 years ago

    wow look, a mediocre Wii game! Wii will sell millions next month, as opposed to cazilions-billions, if it had more than 2 good games!

  • TheDudesRug #31 4 years ago

    Looks piss poor, again.

  • Muddtallica #32 4 years ago

    What a total bloody rip-off.

  • J.C #33 4 years ago

    So the original was running on Xbox innards hmm. and now its been ported to wii. well i think, no wait...gnnn! nope its gone :(

    wiilol

  • Nithron #34 4 years ago

    That's a shame, I rather liked this in the arcades.

    Suppose it just wasn't worth £35 though...

  • lemonfist #35 4 years ago

    I don't think this is a bad review for the most part, but seriously, the "value for money" argument is the most boring, clichéd thing ever, and I didn't expect to see it from one of EG's top writers. Poor show.

  • krudster #36 4 years ago

    Well, that's your opinion. It's a buying guide, and if something's twice the price that it is in the States, it should be mentioned.

  • kangarootoo #37 4 years ago

    @lemonfist

    Price commentary is boring and cliched?

    A review is there to tell us whether we should consider buying a game or not. A game that is great and costs £5 is worth buying, a game that is equally great but costs £100 is likely not. So cost is an important factor in a review, as much as graphics, audio, quality of voice acting or any other element.

    Read any car, hifi, washing machine or holiday review publication and they will factor cost into their appraisal. EG didn't invent the concept, they just (thankfully for everyone but you, it seems) realise its worth and include it so their readers have all the info required.

    bizarre

  • TheDudesRug #38 4 years ago

    Why the hell wouldn't it be mentioned? It bloody stinks. The only saving grace being that the game is so weak that very few people are likely to get fleeced.

  • PEANUTXXI #39 4 years ago

    Give it a couple of months and it'll be in the bargain bins for under 20 quid.

  • krudster #40 4 years ago

    Yes, which is also factored into the review text.

  • Lexx87 #41 4 years ago

    krudster i don't think people actually read the text of these reviews, ever. Bugs me so much.

  • JackyB #42 4 years ago

    Krudster. At what point does it become a good buy/Good value for money?

  • Fyzzu #43 4 years ago

    I had no weird issues with Umbrella Chronicles' targeting. Seemed alright to me, really.

    I was half-looking forward to this, as I have a (mildly ironic) love of rail shooters, but there's no way in hell I'm paying more than about £15 for it. One for the bargain bin, then.

  • krudster #44 4 years ago

    You know what, all Sega had to do was price it the same as the US. That was a good impulse price for something like this.

  • smugla #45 4 years ago

    shoptonet £25
    play.com £25
    hmv £25
    amazon £25
    woolworths £29.99

  • PEANUTXXI #46 4 years ago

    Oops. Sorry, I did actually read the review.

  • kangarootoo #47 4 years ago

    The Hut (whoever that is) and Asda both have this for £23.93 all in.

    Courtesy of the excellent,
    http://www.best-gam e-price.co.uk

  • kangarootoo #48 4 years ago

    And on a happier note, once Okami comes out on the Wii, every owner will be able to sink 60 hours into that baby with no worries.

  • tufty #49 4 years ago

    I just picked this up for 10 bucks, well worth that price! This is the kind of game that anyone can pick up and play, and will probably want another go, and another. However, 35 quid for this amount of content ridiculous... 25 given UK prices is still a bit steep unless you have mates over a lot. Under 20, and the game rates a 7/10 on the Eurogamer scale, IMO.

    And @kangarootoo, yes, Okami and Brawl are the two shining lights on the 2008 calendar for me (and that includes the 360 roster)!

  • secombe #50 4 years ago

    I'm still strangely attracted to this game, am I ok? Seems worth a go when it hits £20, I rarely find any light-gun games particuarly bad. Confidential Mission on the DC is still my current shooter-of-choice that gets a regular play.

    On the point of mentioning price in the review, that's fine if there is some consistency. Endless Ocean got a 6/10 and had no mention of its
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/08 @ 00:09

  • 8bitMofo #51 4 years ago

    Any game which you can 'cunt punch' a woman, is a top-game in my books.

  • lewiep #52 4 years ago

    If it impacts your review score, you can get it for £21.54 delivered

    http://sa vygamer.blogspot.com/2008/01/gh...

  • wa_uk #53 4 years ago

    What a let-down! I thought the wii would be perfect for this game. the link to the explanation of the scoring system is a good idea, but the foorced rhyming of the sub-headings is PAINFUL, guys. "one - bring a gun"? do me a favour!

  • Alastair #54 4 years ago

    I didn't have problems with the aiming in RE:UC, I'm just not very good at it. I do enjoy playing it though.
    £20 would be a reasonable price for me...

  • MoGamer2006 #55 4 years ago

    Bloody hell. As someone said earlier, do people actually read the reviews? The Wii *is* perfect for this sort of game - as Mr Reed says in the first few paras, "in terms of precision and accuracy, light-gun-style games on the Wii feel absolutely spot on". His problems with GS are not to do with the game per se, but the price given its age and arcade shortness.

    FFS thickheads, don't just look at the score; read the copy too!

  • systems #56 4 years ago

    I've bought this (£24). Extremely good fun. Every time you beat a level it unlocks new options so there is a lot of replay and you can also raise the skill level of the game and have the option of playing with the crosshair on or off (more points). Extremely good fun co-op as well.

    The calibration system is very good. You are instructed to stand 10 feet away from the screen and fire a shot at opposite screen corners. After that you can move where you like and the shots will be exactly where you aim. It's far better than the Crossbow training calibration and is quicker.

    Online score boards are good (no messing about with codes) and there are training missions (no sights allowed!).

    I would say buy it if you regularly have mates round for co-op. Otherwise rent it for the evening as and when you need it until the price drops to £17.99 or so.