Sega's Ghostbusters ROM Hack Gets Massive Update With Real Ghostbusters Characters and New Modes

BillyTime!Games has released Ghostbusters: Special Edition 3.0, the third major update to his ROM hack of the 1990 Sega Mega Drive classic. The update arrives just in time for October and introduces substantial new content to the beloved fan project.

The headline addition is the inclusion of animated versions of the four main characters (Winston Zeddemore, Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, and Peter Venkman) based on their depictions in the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters, which aired between 1986 and 1991. According to the developer, "Each character serves some purpose and brings something unique to the table. Expect The Real Ghostbusters to offer a highly different experience to their prime counterparts."

Beyond the cartoon characters, version 3.0 introduces two additional playable characters: Kylie Griffin from Extreme Ghostbusters and Crash Test Dummy, inspired by the toy line and animated series The Incredible Crash Dummies. The update also adds new cheat codes including God Mode, Invisible Buster Shots, 2x Money, and Infinite Traps, along with new costume colours and a fresh mini-game.

Players who complete the game on normal, hard, and nightmare difficulties will unlock new rewards. BillyTime!Games has been cryptic about some of the features, noting that he is "currently working on very large secrets for the game, which necessitates some custom hardware/software due to some limitations of the original hardware." He wants players to discover these surprises organically rather than having them announced in advance.

Due to bank switching required for hidden content, certain features may not function properly on all emulators or flash carts. The developer confirms that Genesis Plus GX, Mega Everdrives Pro, and the Sega Channel Revival MiSTer core will be fully supported. The hack remains playable without these platforms, though extra features will be inaccessible.

The original Ghostbusters for Sega Genesis was released in 1990 as a collaboration between Sega and Compile. Rather than adapting the films released in 1984 and 1989, it presented an original storyline with stylised 'super deformed' character designs. BillyTime!Games first expanded the game years later with Ghostbusters: Special Edition, which notably added Winston Zeddemore to correct the original's omission and later introduced characters like Janine Melnitz and Louis Tully.

The developer has indicated that version 3.0 represents such a significant undertaking that he may take a break from ROM hacking once the project is complete. The update is available for free download on ROM Hack Plaza.