Ghosthunter (PS2)

By JON MINIFIE

Herald rating: * * * *

Hot on the sexy heels of Primal, Sony Cambridge Studio have proved once again that they really know how to get the most out of each and every pixel available on the PS2, and this time they have really tried to scare the absolute bejeezus out of you in doing so.

As you might expect from the title, the basic premise is that you, er, hunt ghosts. You play Lazarus Jones, a swarthy chap who, as a rookie Detroit Cop, is assigned to investigate a haunted research facility.

To put it bluntly (is there any other way?), all hell breaks loose and you find yourself suddenly missing a partner, possessed and really mad.

In a slightly bizarre twist you are then recruited by a somewhat camp computer to weaken evil spirits by firing your ghost-gun at them, which scoops them up Ghostbusters-style and stores them in another dimension.

In what seems to be Cambridge Studio's signature game feature you are able also to control your possessor, Astral, which in a nice twist allows you to get to places your less ethereal and far more manly body couldn't reach.

As she catches more ghosts her abilities increase, which is a great thing because some of these baddies have to be seen to be believed. These dudes are mean and oh so dark. Our particular favourite is a small teddy bear which grows to vast proportions and spills its stuffing as you shoot him.

Violence is extreme, to say the least, so if you're looking to buy it for your 12-year-old don't, unless you want to foot the psychiatrist bills. But there is also plenty of humour to balance it. Our only gripe is the lack of camera control but it's a small complaint for a game that offers this much fun.

$119.95

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