The Films
In case you’ve unfamiliar with the franchise, here’s what you
can expect from the films. There have been three in total so
far.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd),
and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) start a paranormal
investigation business after losing their jobs at Columbia
University. Their latest venture gains traction thanks to an
unusual amount of spirit activity, forcing them to hire an
additional employee named Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).
They’re eventually contacted by Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver),
a New York City musician who believes her home may be haunted.
It turns out that her whole apartment building is the focus for
a demonic ritual meant to summon forth a Sumerian god of
destruction.
Ghostbusters II (1989)
The Ghostbusters have went their separate ways, being banned
by the city following the events of the first film. However,
when the spirit of a 16th century tyrant wants to possess Dana’s
infant son, the boys once again don their jumpsuits and proton
packs.
Ghostbusters (2016)
Meant as a reboot for the franchise, this film includes an
all-female cast of Ghostbusters such as Kristen Wiig and Melissa
McCarthy. The premise once again involves saving New York City
from malevolent spirits, and a number of the original cast are
expected to make cameos.
Ghostbusters Slots
This five-reel game has 40 paylines that pay from left to
right. High rollers should be more than pleased with the
wagering opportunities, as up to $250 can be risked on a spin.
In addition to featuring the catchy theme song, the game
includes clips from the first film and a number of audio clips
from actors such as Bill Murray.
Paytable
The paytable is as follows.
- Wild
Comes in two forms: the adorable Slimer and the
frightening librarian from the beginning of the first film. Five
pays 500, four pays 200, and three pays 40.
- Dr. Peter
The lovably flippant scientist portrayed by Bill
Murray pays 200 for five, 50 for four, and 20 for three.
- Dr. Ray Stantz
Dan Aykroyd’s on-screen persona pays 250 for five, 75
for four, and 25 for three.
- Dr. Egon Spengler
The quirky scientist portrayed by the late Harold
Ramis pays 250 for five, 75 for four, and 25 for three.
- Winston Zeddemore
A later addition to the Ghostbusters team, Ernie
Hudson’s character pays 200 for five, 50 for four, and 20 for
three.
- Louis Tully
Played by Rick Moranis, this bumbling host for the demonic
Vinz Clortho pays 150 for five, 30 for four, and 10 for three.
- Ghost Trap
Used to hold ghosts until they can be put in the central
holding unit. Pays 125 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.
- Ectomobile
This converted ambulance serves as the primary vehicle for the
Ghostbusters. Pays 125 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.
- Proton Pack
Generates a beam of energy that can be used to capture ghosts
(but don’t cross the streams). Pays 125 for five, 25 for four,
and 5 for three.
- PKE Meter
Used to track ghosts and deliver Psycho Kinetic Energy readings.
Pays 100 for five, 20 for four, and 5 for three.
- Ecto Goggles
Allows the wearer to see invisible ghosts. Pays 100
for five, 20 for four, and 5 for three.
Mystery Features
There are four mystery features that can be triggered after
any base reel outcome (with the exception of outcomes that
trigger a bonus round). These include the following:
- Multiplier
A 2x to 5x multiplier applies to all wins on the current spin.
- Wild Reels
Watch as one to three reels get slimed and turn into wild
symbols.
- Cash Awards
A random cash prize is awarded that can be from 50 to 1000
times your coin value.
- Extra Wilds
One to four reel positions are turned wild. Any position on
the reels that shares a corner or edge with one of these
transformed symbols may also get turned into a wild.
Bonus Rounds
There are two bonus features in the Ghostbusters slot
machine, and both are listed below:
- Ballroom Busters Bonus
Activated when you get two ghost bonus symbols
and a Slimer bonus symbol. Six ghosts are hiding behind
highlighted objects in the ballroom, and you get five proton
shot to try and uncover them. If you select an area with a
ghost, you’ll win an award. This prize may also receive a bonus
multiplier ranging from 2x to 5x. Once all proton shots have
been expended, the round ends.
- Stay Puft Free Spins Bonus
Activated when you get two ghost bonus
symbols and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bonus symbol. The
movie’s four heroes are present in this round, but most of the
other symbols have been changed to meet the Stay Puft theme. The
top reward is the Stay Puft wild symbol, which pays 250 for
five, 100 for four, and 25 for three. The player receives eight
free spins to begin the round, and it’s played on 40 paylines
with the same value that triggered the bonus. Marshmallows can
land on a reel position following a spin, turning them into a
locked wild that stays for the rest of the round. The Win Meter
may also open after a spin, sucking in a marshmallow and giving
the player 50 to 1000 times their triggering value.
Ghostbusters: Who Ya Gonna Call? Slots
Released as a sequel to the game discussed above,
Ghostbusters: Who Ya Gonna Call should have players reminiscing
about the 1980s, tapping their toes to the sounds of Ray Parker
Jr., and winning some extra cash in the process.
The green poltergeist nicknamed “Slimer” has taken over the
reels, and the traditional seven symbols are now covered with a
thick, ectoplasmic resin. The other symbols are a mixture of
iconic images from the game, including the Ectomobile and a
still frame from the bizarre Ghostbusters TV commercial shown in
the first film. The ghost trap icon is especially noteworthy, as
it awards both multipliers and random wilds during the base
game.
Hitting large cash awards also unlocks scenes from the
original movie. One of my favorites involves Ray Stantz (Dan
Aykroyd) running around a corner to discover an immobilized
Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). When Ray asks if he’s okay, Venkman
utters the immortal line, “He slimed me.”
At the beginning of a bonus round, Slimer spins a massive
wheel and awards either a bonus feature or one of several
progressive prize picks. My favorite feature is the Bag ‘Em &
Tag ‘Em Bonus, where you get to choose from four ghost-infested
areas in New York City. By zapping the spirits you find in these
locations, you’ll be able to earn credits and multipliers. The
Firehouse Free Spins Bonus is also worth noting, as extra wilds
and multipliers are awarded on every rotation of the reels.
Ghostbusters: Triple Slime Slot Machines
The most recent installment in this series of IGT slots,
Ghostbusters: Triple Slime features five reels, 720 ways to win,
and a 300-credit maximum wager. If you want to activate all the
reels, you’ll need to risk a minimum of 50 credits.
If you’re accustomed to slots with traditional reels, this
product may take a little getting used to. That’s because the
five reels are set up in a 3x4x5x4x3 configuration, meaning that
some reels display more symbols than others. While this may seem
unusual, it’s the entire reason why the game offers 720
different winning combinations.
In addition to all the sights, sounds, and symbols you would
expect from the Ghostbusters slot, the game also includes a
couple of special features. These include the following:
- Slimer Scatter Feature
Available during the base game, this feature
is triggered by getting three or more scatter symbols. When this
happens, the scatters transform into miniature wheels and begin
spinning. Once the wheels stop, the final value for each is
added together and rewarded to the player.
- Triple Wheel Spin Bonus
In order to unlock this bonus feature, you’ll
need to get at least seven scattered bonus symbols. You’ll then
enter the bonus game and be challenged with trapping ghosts.
Each time you select a poltergeist, you’ll receive pointers on
one of three colored reels, as well as extra credits and
multipliers. Once you’ve banished as many ghosts as possible,
the eligible wheels spin to determine your final cash haul.
Ghostbusters Slots: A Summary
The Ghostbusters franchise first appeared in 1984, but it’s
maintained a place in pop culture ever since. The 2016
all-female reboot is sure to help, and IGT has also done their
part by releasing a series of Ghostbusters slot machines. These
games feature all the original characters, as well as iconic
items such as the Ectomobile and ghost traps. Whether you’re
looking for an online diversion or a new land-based casino
favorite, these licensed products should fit the bill. Just
remember: whatever you do, don’t cross the streams.
