Play The Real Ghostbusters (US 2 Players, revision 2) Online

I remember first loading up The Real Ghostbusters on MAME, the arcade emulator, and seeing that 1987 Data East logo pop up. It felt like stepping right into a dimly lit arcade, the kind of game you'd find wedged between the beat 'em ups and shooters of that era. It wasn't trying to be the most complex game on the block; it was straightforward, colorful, and built for quick sessions with a friend.

You control one of the four Ghostbusters, moving from screen to screen to clear out all the spooks. Your main tool is the proton pack, which you use to blast ghosts with a stream of energy, weakening them before you can attempt to wrangle them into a trap. The real challenge comes from managing the trap itself; you have to deploy it at the right moment and then keep the ghost positioned over its pull while avoiding other enemies. The pacing is relentless, with new waves of ghosts constantly spawning, and the difficulty spikes quickly if you fall behind. It feels like a chaotic, cooperative scramble where a single mistake can turn a clean capture into a total disaster.