In 1987, Milton Bradley released The REAL Ghostbusters Game to cash in on the growing frenzy for Ghostbusters merchandise. What many did not know is that it wasn't a new game at all, but a modified version of one of their UK releases: Ghost Castle (which is itself a redesigned version of 1975's New Haunted House, which is a redesigned version of 1971's Haunted House, which is a modified version of 1970's Which Witch? (have I lost you yet?).
Different versions aside, the games were unique for their 3d game board. The board was separated into four sections or rooms, each with a different theme depending on which version you were playing. Which Witch and Haunted House took place in a witch's lair while New Haunted House was set in a spooky old house, and Ghost Castle was in... you guessed it, a castle. Players tried to navigate the rooms while avoiding cleverly designed traps which were triggered when players had to drop a small skull down the chute in the board's center pillar. Once dropped, it could travel one of four random directions, each landing it in one of the four rooms. This would trigger other pieces on the board to move, trapping players, blocking paths, and knocking them back.
Fast forward to 1987: as Milton Bradley was looking to develop a board game based on The REAL Ghostbusters, they saw Ghost Castle as the perfect vehicle. It was already in production, so new molds would not need to be developed; all they needed was new artwork. The game operated in the same manner as its predecessors and the board is once again split into four sections. Players start in the Ghostbusters firehouse and move through an antique shop, through to a city street, and finally into a museum. All the while, they have to avoid the traps and avoid getting slimed.
The best thing about this game, is its artwork. The locations are beautifully rendered and really set the tone of the game, as in the previous incarnations which came before it. Of particular note is the ghosts. Many of them come from pre-production designs for the toy line and they are very well illustrated and masterfully placed. I remember as a kid being creeped out by sets of eyes peering through the window in the center pillar and by the big blue baddy under the stairs.
The object of the game is to "trap" four ghosts and make your way up the stairs in the museum to the top of the center pillar to close the lid on the giant trap (it was shaped like a coffin as they were reusing Ghost Castle's molds), trapping Baron Bones. Some spaces allowed you to use the game's spinner, which was the primary method of trapping ghosts. You also had the chance of being slimed which prevented you from losing a ghost (I think they got that one backward).
My one wish with this game is that they had stuck with the Ghostbuster playing pieces in the prototype version seen on the box. They fit with the style of the rest of the board really well and I'm disappointed that they chose to use the cartoon versions directly. They don't even have their proton packs! They are the final character design concept art from the series bible. I understand the choice to use them, but the prototype pieces just look so much better - like a cross between the live-action and animated characters.
Overall, the game plays very well; even after 30 years, the game is entertaining and is a great addition to any game night. The box features my favorite piece of Ghostbusters promotional artwork and is gives a good expectation for what you'll find inside. The board and playing pieces are beautifully designed with fantastic artwork. Copies of the game complete can be difficult to find with only a few popping up on eBay every now and again and they can run as high as $50+. Even then, the cardboard walls are usually in less than ideal condition. Even my copy, the one I've had since I was a kid, isn't in the best shape and is missing a couple of the original pieces which I've had to replace. The game is fun to play, even for adults. If you come accross a copy at your local thrift store or garage sale, pick it up!
