Sega Nerds

Review: Ghost Squad (Wii)

by Graham on March 3rd, 2008

Anyone who has frequented arcades in the last 3 or 4 years should know the name “Ghost Squad,“   it has been one of Sega’s most popular arcade titles, in recent years, with a new version Ghost Squad Evolution being released (in Europe at least) last year.

Ghost Squad is pretty much a typical arcade lightgun game.  You hold a large plastic assault rifle, point at the screen, and squeeze the trigger when gormless enemies popup on screen.  The game sets you as a member of an elite Special Forces unit known as (guess what?) ‘GHOST Squad.’  Basically you are sent into different missions to eliminate terrorist threats and foil hostage situations; you know the typical day job for any crack unit.

Yeah the story behind the game is pretty cliché, and it’s really not much deeper than that paragraph I just used to describe it.  But then again, how many arcade games really have deep involving story lines?  With arcades, it’s all about quick, easy, fun gameplay.

But we aren’t talking about the arcade version of the game, it’s the new Wii version we are speaking about.  Can Sega replicate the hit arcade game for Nintendo’s Wii?

Would prefer the Port or like to try a Cocktail?

Chances are if you have played the arcade version of the game, there won’t be too much new to the format of the game.  But, you will probably be pleasantly surprised by just how much Sega have added to make the Wii version a worth while purchase.

The basic arcade version of the game, just has you (and a friend, if you have any), playing through the 3 Missions the game has to offer, until you either die or complete the game.  But, really it can take an average gamer little more than 20-30 minutes to play through and complete the 3 missions. 

There are a few different routes to take through the missions, but other than that there is little to offer replay for the gamer, other than the joy of shooting bad people, with a large gun.  But, once again, that is standard practice for arcade games.  No one really wants to stand in front of a large arcade screen, holding a weighty weapon for 4 hours.

However, while no one wants to stand for hours in front of an arcade unit, I think gamers will agree that paying (up to) £40/$60 for 30 minutes of gameplay, for a console game, will piss everyone off.  Luckily Sega must have realised this, by releasing the game at a lower price (around £25/$30) and thrown in a whole arsenal of unlockables and hidden goodies.

What you have with the Wii version is a replica of the arcade game - you play through the same 3 missions, going through the same sequence of events, like securing hostages, defusing bombs and generally kicking the baddies asses.  And, yes, just like the arcade game you can complete the game within about 30 minutes, probably less.

However, depending on just how well you do in the main missions, you will earn experience points and unlock new weapons, clothing and special gameplay features for Party Mode (which I will get to soon).  The new weapons and clothing can then be used in the Arcade Mode.

The standard weapon that you use in the Arcade Mode is an assault rifle, with 3 types of shot - single shot, triple shot (3 bullets at a time - like Robocop) and fully automatic (Rambo style).  You start to unlock the basic weapons, like shotguns, magnums and go on to more advanced, powerful and fun weapons, like sniper rifles.  Overall there are some 25 weapons to unlock and fool around with.

As I mentioned, you also unlock new outfits to wear during the missions.  Unlike the weapons, the new clothes don’t really add to the gameplay, they are just for fun.  They range from the normal, camouflage outfit, to the more comical Panda Suit (exactly as it sounds).

Err…. it’s exactly what it looks like.

Now you may be wondering just what the experience points (I mentioned above) are for.  Well when you first start playing the game, you will find that the enemies are piss easy to kill.  In fact you will probably find that you don’t get hit.  But with every play through of the game, and the more experience you earn, the game becomes progressively harder.

Not only do the enemies become more accurate with their shots, they also start to carry new weapons and even riot shields, to block your shots.  This makes the game more of a challenge, as it tries to match your skill level, using the experience points you earn as a guide.  It also really adds to the game’s replayability.

Another feature that adds to the replay value is the use of alternate routes through the levels.  The arcade version of the games also has different routes through the missions, but I think the Wii version may have more, or at least it seems to.  I’ve played the arcade version a fair bit, and just playing through the Wii version a couple of times I was able to access brand new areas which I had not seen before.

Some of the new routes will just take you a slightly different way through part of the level and don’t change the experience all that much, but other routes not only add new areas but also new side missions.

A good example of one new route would be on the first mission, where you need to infiltrate a large cabin and rescue hostages.  Normally you will enter the cabin quite early on and go out to explore the grounds.  But one route makes it so you are the backup for the rest of your squad, and rather than infiltrate the building you go up on the roof and stop the terrorists from entering the building, chasing after your squad.

Multiplayer madness.

Like most lightgun games, Ghost Squad in the arcade is a game for two players - or one player who likes his John Woo films (dual wielding).  But the Wii version adds on to this, with the 4 player, “Party Mode.”

The arcade mode is still only for two players (which is fine), but the party mode is a little different than playing the game normally.  Not only does it allow for up to 4 players, but when you play through the arcade mode, you can unlock new features and modes for the party mode - like Ninja Mode, where you throw ninja stars at enemies instead of using guns.  The party modes mix up the gameplay and make the game more fun for all the players involved.

Are my glasses getting dirty?

When Ghost Squad was released in the arcades, the visuals were top notch.  It’s been a few years since it was released and the graphics still look pretty darn good.  But what about the Wii version?

Naturally many would be worried by the Wii’s underpowered technology, especially when it comes to visuals.  But this is Sega we are talking about here, they are one of the few developers who have actually managed to show off what the Wii can do properly (other than Nintendo, of course) - with games like Monkey Ball, NiGHTS etc… Which have shown that the Wii is capable of smooth detailed graphics and some decent lighting effects.

Ghost Squad on the Wii does look pretty good, however when you compare the graphics directly to the arcade version, you can clearly see that the visuals are a lot duller on the Wii.  The arcade shows off smooth and shiny visuals, but everything does look a lot drabber on the Wii.

Still, as I say, the graphics are far from terrible, and there are plenty of objects on screen to shoot at and admire.  Also when it comes down to it, lightgun games are among the few games where graphics really don’t matter at all - Virtua Cop is still just as fun as ever, even if the graphics look terrible these days, it’s still a blast to play.

Sounds like an angel?

One thing I really do like about the game is the use of voices.  Now really there is nothing overally special about this, but I like it.

The enemies shout at you, and there is constant communication between your team mates.  Even though you don’t have any direct control over the talk, the fact that they use full speech in the game just adds to the experience.  Sure it’s not uncommon these days to have full speech in games, but not all arcade games require the use to speech and it is just nice to see it, and the game does make pretty good use of it, and it’s so much better than hearing a simple pixilated death-cry or moan of pain.

Watch out fot the pervert by the window

But please don’t go expecting world class acting or incredibly brilliant and witty dialogue.  Ghost Squad offers as much  effort for an Oscar nomination as Paris Hilton’s acting did for the movie industry.  The dialogue is very cliche and very cheesey, like so many other arcade games, but I like it.

However, while I like the sounds, the music isn’t too brilliant.  It is ok just not as good as a lot of other Sega arcade titles, and while you might hum along as you are playing (though that still isn’t too likely) I highly doubt many people will actually remember the songs once the game has been switched off.

But while it’s playing the music does serve its purpose and is much better than nothing.  The other sound effects - like bullets, guns and explosions - are used well, but a bit like the music, I doubt anyone can say they are outstanding.  They just do the job, which is fair enough.

Sniping is always a blast

Summary:

While the Wii version does have some clear disadvantages over the arcade, namely in the graphics department, and also the distinct lack of a cool full sized lightgun to take enemies down with, it does also have some areas which surpass the arcade version.

The multiplayer experience overall is so much more fun - especially the 4-player modes.  But also the single player and 2-player co-op is better, with the use of levelling up, earning experience and unlocking so many different weapons, outfits and extra modes of play.

And with every play through being slightly different each time, with new routes to be found and enemies using new weapons/defences, it makes the experience so much more fun than the arcade.

If you like arcade lightgun titles, then this is the game for you.  Paying full price for a game with this much replayability is definitely worth it, especially over going to the arcade and paying £1/$1 a game.  The only thing missing is a lack of online play.

In yer face!

Final Thought:

One of the best lightgun games, on a console, I have played in many a year.

7/10 - Very Good

 

~G~

Tags: Ghost Squad

Share This

Related Stories

No related posts

POSTED IN: G, News, Nintendo Wii, Review