Who you gonna call (a Wii port)? Ghost Squad!

by Christopher Grant { May 10th 2007 at 2:00PM }

Sega just announced plans to port their arcade light-gun shooter, Ghost Squad, to the Wii -- falling into lockstep with other publishers, like Capcom, eager to dip their toes into Nintendo's swimming pool of cash. Sega isn't just doing a straight-up port of their on-rails shooter though; Ghost Squad for Wii includes the requisite Arcade mode in addition to a Multiplayer mode with support for four players (take that arcade cabinets of yore!).

Tags: GhostSquad, Lightgun, Sega

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 2:06PM

is it one of those non-interactive, "just shot whoever pops on screen" arcade games?

Poor Wii, it's getting milked.

supersocialist @ May 10th 2007 2:13PM

Those arcade-style shooters can be a lot of fun. If they price this right it ought to do well.

billychaos @ May 10th 2007 2:15PM

yeah I wish developers would sit down and develop games for the wii and stop porting them.

Crono @ May 10th 2007 2:16PM

Bout freakin time. I've been waiting for arcade games of this type to get ported.

Give us house of the dead, already!

samfish @ May 10th 2007 2:16PM

"is it one of those non-interactive, "just shot whoever pops on screen" arcade games?

Poor Wii, it's getting milked."

How is that not interactive? That's a lot more interactivity than you get with a standard FPS.

Oh, wait. No, it's for a Nintendo system. I see why you said that now.

Jesus jacking off CHRIST, you could teach Jack a thing or two about trolling Nintendo.

csc @ May 10th 2007 2:17PM

I remember that, it had a nifty lightgun sorta like a non-copywrite-infinging G36. time crisis meets R6.

still pretty cheap for a port, how they do mutliplayer in a lightgun arcade game though......

Theta @ May 10th 2007 2:19PM

Not a big fan of on-rail shooters but supposedly Ghost Squad is a pretty good one for what it is. Could be interesting...

Ken @ May 10th 2007 2:21PM

I love shooter games like this. It's the only reason why I go to arcades!

(That and the chicks!! ... Okay I'm lying about that.)

Oh and my work blocked this site. :( So I'll be on ALOT less than normal. Kinda sucks.

Jonathan Tran @ May 10th 2007 2:21PM

This game is pretty good in the arcade and I think the transition would be smooth, though I would rather see virtua cop 3 or something.

Multi could be fun, obviously coop, but there could be competitive outscore modes, or quickdraws or something...

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 2:29PM

I'd have to actually see some video of the game to make an opinion of it, since I've never played the original. But it might turn out good.

So, how long did it take to get your degree, Kingofwale? Cause beside Jackofalltrades, you're the best damn spin doctor I've ever seen.

sheppy @ May 10th 2007 2:30PM

Okay Sega, here is what I want. A machinegun shell (I'd be willing to spend up to $60 a controller) with the force feedback recoil motor that the remote mounts into. Once you have this game established, license the gun usage to Namco and we can get some Crisis Zone love... all leading up to the Sega shooter I want on any console so desperately... LA Guns. Yes, I want to shoot bank robbers in jetpacks, scuba snipers along a wharf, and I want to completely lay waste to a city street.

Actually, how about an LA Guns 2?

Lucky @ May 10th 2007 2:30PM

If it means, we get awsome SMG weii mote casses (That acculy work), then I might be have to get a Wii. (Were I live there prety easy to find acculy...)

Konny @ May 10th 2007 2:31PM

So, how are they going to work around the small issue that the wiimote isnt a lightgun?

On screen reticle = point and click adventure = playing guitar hero with a std controller

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 2:35PM

why would I need to spin this? Did you not see the picture and read the article? Mr. Grant's intention is pretty clear.

just another port by an developer who dips into the momentum of the Wii.

Interactive? hmmm, do you even get to walk around in your free-will? I do not consider a linear path with enermy popping up at exactly same place 'interactive'.

I mean, if they make this less than 20 dollars, It'd be a great game, but watch them market this for 59.

ConstyXIV @ May 10th 2007 2:36PM

@13 Konny:
how abouts they.. you know... don't show a reticle?

Diskoboy @ May 10th 2007 2:37PM

The Wii controller would've been perfect for House of the Dead 4.

Ghost Squad is pretty bland.

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 2:41PM

Meh. You'll have to excuse me, Kingofwale, I'm a bit irritable today. Don't put it against me.

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 2:44PM

@Fatass of Kickassness

no worries, dude!

it'd be interesting if it works well, although we know Wii pointer isn't the most accurate thing. lol

still, if it's a budget title, it'd be cool and refreshing.

DWells55 @ May 10th 2007 2:45PM

Although the arcade game is fun, it's fun because of the recoil in the stock pad and the awesome selector switch on the receiver. I don't think it'll be much fun on the Wii.

Steven Clarkson @ May 10th 2007 2:48PM

@kingofwale

How many other Wii games have launched for 60? Can you count to zero?

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 2:51PM

@Steven Clarkson

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=24310&mfr=&logon=&langid=EN&sort=3&page=1&list=

and keep in mind, I never said US dollars, and frankly, not everybody lives in US

but... can you count pass 10

Mr. Shen @ May 10th 2007 2:52PM

I just wanted to point out that Ghost Squad is one of the better lightgun games in the arcade right now. From what I remember, you get to select a character which means different weapons (the cowboy has a six shooter, for example) and sets the difficulty bar at different levels for different players.

I'm terribly excited to see this ported. I haven't seen a new lightgun for a console in a while.

Dnice @ May 10th 2007 2:53PM

http://media.cheats.ign.com/media/691/691627/vids_1.html
This game is going to be sweet on the Wii!!!
I can see this becoming a trend for Wii FPS.

Konny @ May 10th 2007 2:57PM

xomg.. i cant believe people still beleive the wiimote is a light gun ... no onscreen reticle? if you knew what you were talking about, you would know how ridiculous that is.

Steven Clarkson @ May 10th 2007 3:00PM

@kingofwale

Nice cover-up attempt, and thanks for the news flash, not everyone lives in america??

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:03PM

wow, 'cover-up attempt'? YOu do realize there are other populations OUTSIDE of US, right?

but, hey, what do I know, not living in US makes me less of a human, right? Steven Clarkson? ;)

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 3:03PM

Sounds like you didn't get the memo, Clarkson. A good amount (almost half) of the viewers of this site are, get this, NOT US CITIZENS! For all you know King of Wale does live outside the US (I'd bet he lives somewhere in Europe, or Australia, based off his NAME). It didn't sound like a cover-up attempt to me.

Steven Clarkson @ May 10th 2007 3:06PM

I was being sarcastic, and he's been trolling nintendo posts for awhile. Thanks for the updates on who views joystiq though! And I really don't care where he lives. He was talking about american dollars, because most next gen games do launch for 60 .00 (US), and he doesn't like that he made a little mistake.

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ May 10th 2007 3:07PM

Dnice: A trend for Wii FPS? You mean, them not being FPS games?

Have you even played Ghost Squad in the arcades? It's not an FPS...it's a light gun shooter.

Anyway, I thought Time Crisis 3 was a much more refined light gun shooter than this game. The only thing this game allows for is difficulty settings, and different loadouts. TC3 gives you 4 different weapons and ammo for each. You can hold them for midbosses and bosses or expend them early. I thought that was a lot more depth.

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 3:08PM

Sounds like you made the mistake Clarkson. He didn't say 'US dollars', he just said dollars. You made the assumption that he was talking about US dollars when he might or might not have, and therefore YOU made a mistake and refuse to acknowledge it.

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 3:09PM

And you don't need to tell me that he's been trolling Nintendo posts, because I'm usually the first person to respond to his shenanigans. Hes gotten better though.

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:11PM

@Fatass of Kickassness

wait. are you defending me? Am I stepping into some kind of parallel universe? ;)

And for the record, why would I talk about next gen game's launch price in US? and for that matter, how would I even know the price in US or care?

BTW, if this game works, you will see probably 20-30 similar games flooding to Wii. lol

Steven Clarkson @ May 10th 2007 3:14PM

Why would a game launch for 20 Canadian or Australian? Greatest hits (20 in America) launch for 30 in Canada and Australia, which would be the correct price point for a discount launch. It's fine that you two agree with each other. I believe what I believe.

samfish @ May 10th 2007 3:14PM

Joystiq needs to do a meta post to find out where everyone lives.

With some hot poll action.

Me? I live in that run down crime-ridden Hell hole known as Cleveland.

Anyway,
"Interactive? hmmm, do you even get to walk around in your free-will? I do not consider a linear path with enermy popping up at exactly same place 'interactive'."

I get WAY more into light gun based games than I do FPS games. You know...because you're actually MOVING, fixed path or not.

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:17PM

>Why would a game launch for 20 Canadian or Australian?

Because this is NOT a new game? nor is it a 'Greatest Hit" title, it's just a port from an Arcade game. are you expecting to get 10 hours of playtime from that?

For that matter, or even 2 hours? For what's worth, I MUCH rather have this game as a downloadable game (if it's not so bloody big) so I can get it for 10-15 bucks

Steven Clarkson @ May 10th 2007 3:21PM

Fine you're Canadian, where a new Wii game is 60.00. Google owns me. And yes, this crow is delicious.

Jonathan Tran @ May 10th 2007 3:25PM

Anyone who says the wiimote isn't accurate has never used one for more than 10 minutes. I just got a Wii this Sunday and it is by far BEYOND my expectations for sensitivity.

My gf and I play Wii Play Shooting all the time and it is just as accurate as any lightgun, not to mention built in rumble, sound, and extra buttons. In fact using the onscreen keyboard I can "type" much faster than I can txt msg anyone, and much much faster than my dad's hunt-n-peck typing!

If you think a lightgun game would not pwn on the Wii, play wii play for either shooting, tanks, or bubbles, then tell me it won't work.

Will it be deep? Prolly not. Will it be fun? hell yes.

Crono @ May 10th 2007 3:31PM

"xomg.. i cant believe people still beleive the wiimote is a light gun ... no onscreen reticle? if you knew what you were talking about, you would know how ridiculous that is. "

Konny, you are a dipshit. The last light gun game I played in the arcade used the exact same method of "aiming" that the wii pointer does, IR Dots. It didn't have a reticle shown.

I don't remember the name of the game, because everything else about it sucked, but this is how many, if not most, arcade shooters work now.

Showing a reticle is not needed. After 30 seconds of playing the game, you'll get the feel for where you're pointing.

Konny @ May 10th 2007 3:31PM

"If you think a lightgun game would not pwn on the Wii, play wii play for either shooting, tanks, or bubbles, then tell me it won't work."

Thanks, you just proved my point.

People still dont know that the wiimote isnt a light gun.. these are point and click games.. not light gun games.

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:33PM

Steven, no big deal, just don't be way too UScentric, it doesn't matter to me, but some people would FREAK about stuff like that.

@Jonathan

I waited in line for 1 whole day to get the Wii for my gf. and yes, I have more than 10 minutes with it (more like COUNTLESS hours). and frankly, i'm not that impress with it. Try other games sometimes and you will see. (although I do not recommend those games at all), try Spiderman 3, Far Cry, Red Steel and tell me if that thing works well 100% of the time.

yeah, it works ok in some games, but as a PURE shooter that is not a mini game? I don't know, I wouldn't put my money on it.

Jonathan Tran @ May 10th 2007 3:43PM

"try Spiderman 3, Far Cry, Red Steel"

lol, see, the problem is those games sucked because they were designed and coded like garbage, not because the wiimote is inaccurate. Compare how accurate the controls are between Wii Tennis and Wii Boxing, big difference. Just coding.

You could say "LOL dreamcast controls sucked look how good they made Sonic Shuffle and South Park the Game and SLAVE ZERO". Those games (like the ones you mentioned) suck because they sucked, not because the DC control scheme didn't work somehow.

And NO, I don't think it's a light gun, but the difference is?? There's a reticule? (this could be removed) That you don't hold it like a gun? (they could clip on a handle)

JodyAnthony @ May 10th 2007 3:46PM

kingofwales is lying, they don't have the internet in canada. hell, they just got electricity last year.

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:48PM

>lol, see, the problem is those games sucked because they were designed and coded like garbage,

THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.

This isn't going to be first party game, in fact, it's just a port, how would YOU guarantee it wouldn't suck like most other third party games on Wii right now?

it's not even coding, it's the configuration. and frankly, when you talk about configuration, you can NOT talk about Wiimote's ability itself

kingofwale @ May 10th 2007 3:50PM

>they just got electricity last year.

actually Jody, in the summer, when we don't live in igloos, we can take our dog-sled and go to our huts, we have electricity there.

it's only in winter that we don't.

Konny @ May 10th 2007 3:57PM

"And NO, I don't think it's a light gun, but the difference is?? There's a reticule? (this could be removed)"

NEVER MIND ... STAY IN SKOOL, DOOD!

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 4:16PM

People who compare the Wii remote to a light gun... you're freaking morons. Yes, they use the same tech. BUT. The IR LEDS on Arcade games are specifically designed to cater to the screen size of the unit, whereas with the Wii, its more like a mouse ~ no matter how large your TV is, it takes the same amount of movement to move the pointer to each edge of the screen. Which means, if I'm using a 30 inch TV, I could be pointing at my enemy... but it would shoot a bit to the left or right depending on what side ot the TV I'm pointing at.

WizarDru @ May 10th 2007 4:16PM

I'm not sure what the problem here is? A perfectly good rail-shooter from the arcades is being ported to a home machine (a perfect fit for the Wii's capabilities) which some enhancements to make it even better...and I'm supposed to think is bad, Why?

I've played Medal of Honor Vanguard almost all the way through, and the wiimote works just fine for target shooting. In that game, you don't get a reticle, but have to use the sight on the gun you have...and you can easily score head-shots with little difficulty. Rayman Raving Rabbids has a whole series of rail shooter sequences...and they're HELLAFUN and the accuracy is just fine there, too.

Hell, the Umbrella Chronicles gameplay movies show that it works exactly right. What's the issue, again?

Fatass of Kickassness @ May 10th 2007 4:22PM

The issue is that a reticule-free shooter game would rely on the assumption that the Wii remote is a point-and-click thing, which it isn't. Like I said, it would take the same range of motion to get to both sides of the screen when pointing with the Wii remote, no matter what the size of the TV is. Therefore I could move the Wii remote 4 inches and have moved the pointer 20 inches on a 50 inch TV.