Ghost Rider: Hands-On

By Sam Waldron

Ghost Rider is old school. Though it’s a 3D beat-‘em-up, as I begin playing I am quickly reminded of Streets of Rage 2 – probably because that’s the last time I enjoyed a beat-‘em-up this much.

As the straight-to-the-point comic book/part-animated intro sequence (presentation-wise, Ghost Rider definitely marches to its own tune) quickly explains, the main character sold his soul in order to save his father from cancer. Blah blah blah… Now he’s in Hell, not too happy about it, and trying to escape. Along the way, he’ll likely have to stop the Apocalypse. The storyline and delivery are both very cheesy (and the Heaven-and-Hell politics are reminiscent of Constantine), but that’s great. It’s all part of the package.

What is instantly appealing about Ghost Rider (to me, anyway) is its attitude; this is a game of a comic book, and it isn’t ashamed to say so. I’m also a fan of its aesthetic. The graphics are good, and, more importantly, they’ve been put to good use, creating a gloomy, menacing atmosphere. I’m especially impressed with the flame effects on the title character’s head (and you know you’re in for quality gaming when the protagonist has a flaming skull for a head); I’m continually amazed at what the PlayStation 2 is capable of – you’d hardly know you were playing on a last-gen console.

Leave the looks aside, though, it’s the gameplay that makes Ghost Rider what it is. Your time in the game is split between the regular beat-‘em-up stages and motorcycling action reminiscent of yet another classic – Road Rash! But all throughout, simplicity rules. In the beat-'em-up levels, the controls are great, and I find myself feeling far more skilled than I usually do with a PlayStation controller in my hands. And it’s plain action. No fuss about which path to take, or which door to open: Ghost Rider is linear as Hell, and I love it.

The Motorbike stages are also enjoyable, but more for the change of pace. The controls are simplified and very arcade-y, but there are still enough buttons in use to make things frustrating at times. There’s also more “jump this”, “jump that”, “slide under the other thing” than I usually like. The game is pretty forgiving when you screw up, but in the end that just makes the bike levels lean towards pointlessness – and endlessly repeating the same stretch of lava-framed road because you keep pressing the fire button instead of jump at some critical point … well that’s just bloody tedious.

Ghost Rider probably won’t win any major creativity awards. But the formula here is very solid. Two parts beat-‘em-up, one part aggressive motorcycle racing, and just a dash of RPG stats-raising (interestingly, the game’s equivalent of experience points are used to unlock ability increases, new special moves AND bonus features, like Ghost Rider comics). It’s delightfully unpretentious, and – if at times a little obscure in its comic-bookishness – a thoroughly enjoyable game. Even if you don’t plan to buy it, this one is at the least worth renting for some weekend mayhem when it rises from the pit on February 23rd (or Feb 21st for the PSP).

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