Meikyuu Hunter G

About

Meikyuu Hunter G is a twin-stick shooter where two players battle waves of enemies in a top-down world. Originally developed for arcades in Japan in 1987, it lets players navigate mazes, fire in any direction, and collect power-ups to clear stages. The game rewards aggressive movement and precise shooting, with shifting enemy patterns and mid-level respawns keeping the action fast. A third player option and extra stages were added in the US re-release under the title The Real Ghostbusters, tying it to the animated series. The game stands out for its chaotic energy and early localization tweaks. The Japanese version featured two color-coded characters, while the Western adaptation swapped them for Peter Venkman and Ray Stantz, adding Egon Spengler as a third option. Players can capture fallen enemies into a "Ghost Storage" system, earning extra lives after collecting 100 ghosts. Though it predates many modern co-op shooters, its split-screen design and permadeath stage resets created a tense, shared challenge. The real hook? Seeing how Data East’s original design evolved with pop culture branding while keeping the core mechanics intact.