Rareware is a household name for many gamers with an array of titles. Golden Eye, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct have earned them the title of one of the most beloved developers of the 1990s. Grabbed by The Ghoulies is a paradox of a title. It is simultaneously the beginning and end of an era. The end of Rare’s Nintendo partnership and the beginning of their rather controversial acquisition by Microsoft. Being released for the original Xbox, this was their first title for the sixth generation of games. Expectations were high, how did it pay off?
The story of Grabbed by the Ghoulies stars our protagonist, Cooper and his girlfriend Amber. While trying to find shelter during a storm, Amber finds an old dark mansion. Cooper suggests they look elsewhere, saying that places like these are “full of creeps”. Unfortunately for them, the resident of the manor, Baron Von Ghoul, overhears. Even more unfortunate is that the Baron is incredibly sensitive and thin-skinned. Believing that a lesson in manners is required, he sends monsters to kidnap Amber. Cooper gives chase and enters the manor, only to find it crawling with Ghoulies.
Grabbed by the Ghoulies is an Action-Adventure Beat-em-up. The player will be pitted against a large variety of creatures with a larger arsenal of weapons. From holy water squirt guns to stale hamburger buns, anything that isn’t nailed to the floor can be utilized. There are various power-ups, one-hit takedowns, unbreakable weapons, or even a little clone of the player. The combat, while functional, is unorthodox. Instead of being mapped to buttons, the combat is instead used with the right analog stick. When I first played this title, I thought nothing of it as I was a newcomer to Beat-em-ups at the time. Being a more seasoned gamer, I now see why this design choice is largely illogical. The combat is a tad repetitive, however the game usually does a serviceable job at keeping gameplay fresh with each level having an array of rules and stipulations. In certain rooms, you might only be able to fight using only weapons or only being able to take down certain enemies. Failure to follow these rules will result in a literal dance with Death itself. With a big scary mansion, one would hope there would be an emphasis on exploration. However, the level design is extremely narrow and linear. While some are more open than others, all of the levels are confined to a single room or location.
The design for this game is Rare at its best. The mansion is a comedically over-the-top love letter to the old dark house tropes of the 1930s and 40s. All the horror cliches are front and center. You will find yourself facing skeletons, zombies, imps, vampires and hunchbacks, standard scare-fare. Rareware, however, takes the absurdity notch all the way up to 11, including enemies such as an exploding worm, ninja imps,vampire chickens and even a haunted door. The soundtrack is one of the best aspects of the game. The music is humorous, creepy, exciting and upbeat. Legendary composer Grant Kirkhope, is to be commended as I’ve yet to play a Rare title that didn’t deliver in this department.
With all that being said, what is the answer? Did this game meet expectations? Short answer, no. Is it a forgotten gem or was it a flop? I would say, both. The game sold poorly at the time of its release, but even then it still had its fans and defenders. With time, Grabbed by the Ghoulies has been reevaluated by some as a flawed-but-fun failed experiment. Even with its linear design, strange control layout and repetitive nature, I personally love this game to death. Anyone who loves Rare, old horror movies and creature features will find something to salvage with this title. Put up your dukes, grab a weapon, and show those ghoulies who’s boss.
Much obliged,
Fil Zahnko
Verdict: 7/10