Grabbed by the Ghoulies

"A great game that gives creeps up your spine..."

Back in the Fall of 2003, a game came out by Rare. It surpassed as a good game for kids to pick up, and have tons of hours of playing it. Bashing skeletons, and ghouls, with any weapon you can pick up…or find. This game is called “Grabbed by the Ghoulies”. A game in which players have the chance to go through several challenges to get to another room. When you begin…you start out in a main lobby, and then your adventure begins. You start going from room to room, fighting enemies to rescue your girlfriend. Your girlfriend in the beginning was captured by “ghoulies”, and taken into the castle by the owner. He is a creepy little man, with a cane. Anyways, as you progress through each room, you may come back to the same room, but there'll be a different challenge. For instance, you may have to bash 50 skeletons up before the time runs out.

There is symbols to represent each challenge, like there'll be an “X” on a bat, and then a vampire will be blank. This means you must kill the vampires, and not the bats. These challenges make this game really unique. Some funny things are in some rooms. I found an XBOX in one room, which made me crack up, and also realize that Rare doesn't make fun of Microsoft, as they do to THQ… The game features yet another Rare legacy: collecting something of some sort. In each room, there is a Rare book hidden. I really thought it differentiates in each room. Sometimes I had extreme trouble finding the book, but in some rooms I spotted it right away.

Rare really does have a sense of humor! One room had skeletons and bats, and “ghoulies” dancing around in a dance-floor. They had a DJ scratching the disc, and putting a headphone on his ear while playing. And guess what the DJ was? A mummy. I thought that was hilarious seeing little people dancing…some with no bones…some with wrapping, it's just plain fun. Though, this is just part of the gameplay. This game is all about getting to one room and then another…which may seem irritating, but it really makes it a fun game. The game is separated into 5 chapters. Each chapter has about 40 rooms in it, which makes it a pretty decent length. Though, chapters 4 and 5 are just about getting out of the castle.

How they got into the castle may seem a little delirious, but it's true: here I go. A boy, Cooper, and his girlfriend, Amber, are finding a place where they need to go. They are skipping freely when they stumble across a terrifying castle…they make a wrong turn from their map, and enter the gate, and “ghoulies” take Amber away. Cooper decides to save her, so he walks in to save her. Then the obvious happens…he walks in and then the door shuts immediately. Through the game, the owner's butler helps you through, giving you tips on each room, and also getting an eye on Cooper's girlfriend. In the story, it takes a few twists and turns, tat make you gasp, but all in all, it end out a happy ending.

The graphics in this game are all a comic. As you progress, and go into another room, it'll turn a page, and then it'll show a box of Cooper walking. Cut-scenes are going by box to box, which is really unique. Every aspect of the game is like a comic, whom I like, but these days'…comic graphics are becoming more common. Great environments in the game but seem a little too small. Like each room is like a living room…but still, it must take the developers a long time to make each room…especially when there is about 100 rooms. Good graphics.

The sound in the game is really well. Rare's composer, who's been with them for countless years, put this game in the works. I really felt scared with the spooky music in it. It'll make like your game time much more pleasant and enjoyable. For instance, you'll be walking very quiet, the music will be like “Tick-Tock-Boom-Boom-Boom-Tick-Tock-Boom-Boom-BOOM!” This game is a game well done in the sound and music department. Though, that's just the music, the sound is awesome. The screams in this game are really realistic. Cooper screams like a boy…not a girl. It really makes you think that this is real.

One cool thing is, is that when you are in a certain place, a hand may pop out, and grabs you. In this sequence, you must press the buttons given in a certain amount of time, in the certain order. Like “A, X, Y, A, A, A, Y”. As you progress, your heart rate pumps more and more, making the controller rumble, making the player get more nervous, then just get so caught up in the game. It really has a cool way of this.

The playtime in this game is really decent, about 15+ hours. I played this nonstop and I had a fun time with it. Going through awesome, and detailed environments makes the game more fun. However, the worst part about this game is, is that the replay value could've been better. You can go back and get all of the rare books, or try to beat a record. Because, when you beat the game, it tells you your stats. Like how many enemies you defeated in the game, during your playtime. Those are really the only things that make this game a little replay value.

Positives
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* Awesome environments; very detailed
* Great campaign, with a decent length
* Unique style of gameplay
* Realistic sounds, and scary music to go along with the game
* Great game for anybody to get into

Negatives
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* Little replay value
* May get repetitive

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/03/05, Updated 03/17/05