According to the latest research, one fourth of the European gamers is female. The cause can easily be guessed, since The Sims was the most successful game ever. Even better, it's about the only game presented positively in the media. And those happy Sims keep returning, over and over again. You come across them everywhere, in the newspapers, on television, even on gigantic posters next to the road. I'm sick of them. But it's about to get better. Ghost Master allows you to haunt those ever-happy Sims, chase 'em around, and scare them for life. I -in my most sadistic form yet- started the game with an evil grin on my face.

Ghost Master, initially a pc-game, was the debut of Sick Puppies. The original Ghost-simulation was well received by the press, so Spiral House got working on bringing the game to the consoles. Now, one year later, PS2- and Xbox-owners finally get the chance to try it out. In the game, you become a Ghost Master and are offered a job in the obscure village Gravenville. A nice one it seems, because you get to control an army of spirits and other scum. The goal is simple: frighten the people so badly that they run out of the house screaming. But before you start, they can be of service first. One of your buddies could be locked up in a little crate. Lure one of the inhabitants to it, and smart and curiously as they are, they will open it for you. The whole game revolves about completing such tasks.

Not all missions are dead easy like that, and a considerable amount of tactics is needed to clear them. The game has been classified into several levels, each with its own tale and surroundings. These tales are mostly a reference to well-known ghost movies. For example there is literally a Marshmallow Man in one of the levels (Ghost Busters anyone?). Each level is again parted in several missions, which must be solved one after one. Only at the very last mission you are given the opportunity to deliver your 'enemies' the fright of their lives.

Of course there are several types of ghosts available for you to use. A Chase Ghost can scare people by sounding a loud bang, a Tamper Ghost lets electric sparkles fly around the room and an Attract Ghost lures the inhabitants to a certain spot. More types are found throughout the game. Each person in the game is afraid of a specific type of ghost; so will one person get a stroke by lamps floating in mid-air, while another will run to the smallest room for a flickering light. These types are also important for use in missions. The same ghost that could let that lamp float, can do the same with a map. On that way a person notices it, and uses the piece of paper.

All these small tricks aren't free. To start you'll have to collect Plasma, the energy of your ghosts. It sounds easier than it is, since most of the time you'll be collecting it. If you scare someone you gain one plasma beam, but that same attack costs one plasma beam. The strategy is to gather a group of people in the same room and scaring them all at the same time with one attack. Only that way you can make profit. Even more fun is that some people are needed to complete a mission, and if you scare those away, it's game over. To make it even harder, there are also witches and mediums. These can see, block and attack your ghosts. Fortunately there's still the Limbo, in which your buddies can rest a bit until their health is fully recovered.

As Ghost Master appears on your screen for the first time, you'll immediately understand the comparison with The Sims. I'm pretty sure that Sick Puppies peeked a bit at Maxis. It's not all that detailed, but any better isn't needed in this game. The different effects, like splashing sparkles and ghost flying around, are nicely done. But where this game excels, is with the animations. Soldiers shivering scared in a corner, cops running out the office with a frightened face, or students who dance around a bit, it all looks fantastic.

The sound is less good. There is only one tune in the game, that repeats itself all the game through. You'll get sick of it after awhile for sure. Next to the screaming there aren't really other effects. Almost all persons in the game scream the same, but it stays fun to listen at, how sadistic that may sound. Every task is explained by a narrator, who could easily cast for a role in a Scooby Doo episode. It only proves again the game isn't taking itself seriously at all. Which is good.

If you take a look at the current games offer, you'll notice one after another sequel or spin-off. The most games are infinitely milked (maybe I mentioned an example earlier?) or shamelessly copied. Therefore I am happy that a game like Ghost Master is released. This game alone proves that originality still exists. Sick Puppies succeeded in keeping it all playable and processed a big dose of humour in the game. Respect.