The Real Ghostbusters Remastered (GB1, NES)

[nesrocks]

I should now reveal what I've been working on. It is a hack that gives a serious facial uplift to the original game. Without further ado, here are some images (nothing final):

click to enlarge (title screen credits go to Macbee)


It is mostly original graphics, but slimer and the heroes are adapted from the "new ghostbusters 2" game from HAL lab.

The title screen says "os caça-fantasmas" but that will be on the brazilian portuguese version only. As with the super pitfall hack, I will release this in both US-EN and PT-BR.

As usual Macbee has been looking closely at the progress and making nice suggestions (his idea to use the new gb 2 graphics). Also, he did the graphics for the new title screen and made it pre-stretched to compensate for the nes aspect ratio on the tv (things I never even noticed, but cannot be unseen!).

I didn't pick this game because of this, but it is another badly ported/adapted david crane game.

I don't think the game design can be saved on this one, so I just want to work on graphics mostly. I was thinking a few tweeks here and there, but nothing complicated. Oh, and I've fixed the stairs controls. Now you just press LEFT or RIGHT to move LEFT or RIGHT. Like a videogame!

Also, on the boss scene I've made it so you can move freely and the screen won't switch (that was super annoying on the original game). Now you press B if you want to go to the staypuft marshmellow man screen (press B again to return). Also! I've made it so you always shoot up.

I also noticed these errors with the original game:


This one is weird, they made the graphics but inserted the wrong numbers for the sprites. Original game on the left, restored graphics on the right:


This is all I have so far. To do are the other 3 variations of the background on the ghost hunting scene, the staircase scene, the final scene (both screens), the shop and a few details, like the gas station, the GBHQ, running out of fuel, etc.

[Da_GPer]

If the work you did on Super Pitfall has anything to do about how good you are, then I have very high hopes for this game. Ill be keeping a very close eye on your progress. Also, if you need a beta tester, feel free to ask.

[niuus]

Superb work, mate. Makes me wanna play it again after all these years

[irvgotti452]

Hard to believe it is the same game! 

Excellent work, I love seeing projects like this. So many NES games could use the facelift and "under the hood" work.

[nesrocks]

Thanks guys!

A few more unused graphics (rearranged, I picked the colors). I wonder what that rally x "S flag" is doing there?


Also, I switched the disclaimer on the title screen to this. I want to start the music as soon as the game is powered on instead of when pressing start, so it can go along with this screen. I know it should look better but this is how I could cram the lyrics in there, there wasn't any extra space remaining.


@irvgotti452 I agree there are many games that have so much room for improvement, those are the best to hack.

I have a question, maybe someone here knows the answer: the ROM has this on it "YOU'VE RUN OUT OF MONEY" but I couldn't for the life of me get this message to appear in game. Anyone know how or is it unused?

[Googie]

This is so freaking cool, Nesrocks. I really like the graphics, it looks like a Sunsoft game. 

[Jorpho]

I would have thought the SMS had the best port of this one.

[nesrocks]

I would have thought the SMS had the best port of this one.

Well my nickname isn't SMSrocks! Pacnsacdave has a hack of this game that brings its graphics closer to the sms version, but I wanted to do a full-on NES style rework.

@Googie thanks! Anything sunsoft is awesome. 

edit: update! I just finished the shop. This one was hell to edit, it seems to have continued mostly an empty screen but there wasn't much to work with.
click to enlarge.

[Da_GPer]

Wow! That Ecto 1 looks amazing! I would suggest though with not changing the disclaimer at the beginning as it gives the original creators there proper credits and all.

[nesrocks]

Wow! That Ecto 1 looks amazing! I would suggest though with not changing the disclaimer at the beginning as it gives the original creators there proper credits and all.

Thanks! Here it is without those slots on top (just a freebie) (edit: now I see some details are different in this version, whatever).


You know what, I've actually been giving a lot of thought to that disclaimer thing. On one hand having the lyrics is a lot more fun, but having the credits feel more like a complete version of the game that could have been released in 1986 (but it is boring  ). Not sure yet.

[Vanya]

Nice, dude!!
That looks fantastic.
I actually feel like playing this now.
You are the guru of making b-tier games playable.

[Asaki]

Ghosts love birthday cake.

[Fredde]

This looks great!

How 'bout an alternative patch with the new lady Ghostbusters?

[NES Boy]

You know what, I've actually been giving a lot of thought to that disclaimer thing. On one hand having the lyrics is a lot more fun, but having the credits feel more like a complete version of the game that could have been released in 1986 (but it is boring  ). Not sure yet.

Well, here's something to consider: the Sesame Street compilation games for NES, "Sesame Street ABC" and "Sesame Street 123 & ABC" featured the show's lyrics scrolling by in the game selection screen. Here's a video of it in action. Perhaps you could program in something similar?

[Teeporage777]

really nice work man.

[Da_GPer]

Well, here's something to consider: the Sesame Street compilation games for NES, "Sesame Street ABC" and "Sesame Street 123 & ABC" featured the show's lyrics scrolling by in the game selection screen. Here's a video of it in action. Perhaps you could program in something similar?

Or the Commodore 64 version of Ghostbusters. It does something similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz5VvMItHmM

[magus]

Fantastic work as usual nesrocks!

Now it actually looks like a NES Game and not Atari 2600. I only played this Game on SMS but i may try this version out once its released. Do you plan on putting Street Lines on the City Overview? I remember this Game not being that enjoyable at all, it wouldn't hurt if you could adjust the Gameplay a little bit to make it more interesting to play by maybe adding new stuff because the Gameplay really felt like a C64 Game.

[nesrocks]

Thank you so much guys!

Yeah, Macbee pointed me to a video of David Crane being interviewed about the C64 game in which he boasted how the game had the lyrics appearing for a sing-along feature. It would be cool to have it in this game, but I can't promise anything. First I need to finish what the game is, then I see what areas are unused and what can be improved from there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jAf_W_VRU
This interview made me think the game was originally about firefighters. I mean, he says the game was halfway done before the movie existed, but he hesitated to say what it was about. "You drive around in the city and go do things on buildings". The ghosts can easily be replaced with flames and the streams with water. I think it makes sense.

@Asaki: Yeah, in the 4th episode of the cartoon slimer gets in trouble because of this FACT

@Fredde: Well, yuck! I would have fun doing that if the new movie didn't exist.

[Da_GPer]

Thank you so much guys!

Yeah, Macbee pointed me to a video of David Crane being interviewed about the C64 game in which he boasted how the game had the lyrics appearing for a sing-along feature. It would be cool to have it in this game, but I can't promise anything. First I need to finish what the game is, then I see what areas are unused and what can be improved from there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jAf_W_VRU
This interview made me think the game was originally about firefighters. I mean, he says the game was halfway done before the movie existed, but he hesitated to say what it was about. "You drive around in the city and go do things on buildings". The ghosts can easily be replaced with flames and the streams with water. I think it makes sense.

@Asaki: Yeah, in the 4th episode of the cartoon slimer gets in trouble because of this FACT

@Fredde: Well, yuck! I would have fun doing that if the new movie didn't exist.

If what you said could be true, what I think is that the ghost and the trap, along with other stuff on the map like the ghosts going to Zuul and Stay Puff were added in after the license was gained. My guess would be that the houses had flames in the windows or other areas and you sprayed them with the water to save the building. Sounds like it be a more simple game to play then Ghostbusters ended up becoming as Im not sure what they can do to the map other then going from point A to point B.

[Midna]

Well, the Ghostbusters basically are firefighters, except instead of putting out fires they capture ghosts. They even operate out of an old firehouse.