Grabbed by the Ghoulies
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| Grabbed by the Ghoulies | |
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| Developer(s) | Rare |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Platform(s) | Xbox |
| Release date | October 21, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Media | DVD-ROM |
Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a video game released in October 21, 2003 by Rare for the Xbox gaming console. It is historic in that it was the first Rare game to be released under the Microsoft banner (discounting the Game Boy Advance release Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge) after being bought out from Nintendo (it actually originated on the Nintendo GameCube). It also has the distinction of being the biggest flop in Rare's history. Despite being unsuccessful, it is backward compatible with the Xbox 360.
Ghoulies starred a young teenager named Robbie Chance who set out to rescue his girlfriend, Amber, from Ghoulhaven Hall. This mansion was full of supernatural and otherwise unpleasant creatures, and Robbie would receive help along the way from the many hired hands that worked there. Ghoulies also had a mini-crossover with another Rare franchise, Banjo-Kazooie, via the small cameo appearance by Roysten the goldfish.
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[edit] Development
The game began life as a name before anything else. The developers came up with the name as a title for a game, and then decided to create a game from that title. Most games are created with a concept first, then get a finalised name later in the design process. Early on, before any details of the game were publicised, it was widely considered that "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" would be the subtitle to the next Conker the Squirrel game, after Conker's Bad Fur Day. This game was initially going to be released on the Nintendo GameCube. After the Microsoft buyout, Rare began the task of porting the game over to the Xbox, along with a couple of minor graphical additions such as adding an Xbox package in the Games Room. Grant Kirkhope, the composer for this game, admits to sneaking in a live guitar solo in the soundtrack. It can be heard in the Ballroom Disco track.
Many Banjo cameos appear in this game because the game was developed by the same team. This included the goldfish, an Xbox keep case of Banjo-Tooie, a Banjo-Kazooie case, Captain Blackeye's barnacle remover, and a note on a board that reads: "Collect Ice Key. Collect 4 Eggs. Open secret level." The latter is a reference to Stop 'N' Swop.
The end of the game is left open for a sequel, but due to the game's extremely poor sales at retail,[1] a sequel seems unlikely and the cliffhanger will remain unresolved.
Grabbed by the Ghoulies was nominated for the awards of 'Console Family Game of the Year'[2] and 'Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition'[3] by The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in 2004.
In the more successful game for the Xbox 360, Viva Piñata, a model of the mansion from the game is used as a house for the piñata species 'Crowla'.[4]
[edit] Characters
- Robbie: The hero of the game, Robbie bravely enters Ghoulhaven Hall after his girlfriend Amber is kidnapped by a couple of ghostly gargoyles.
- Amber: Robbie's girlfriend is a headstrong young lady, but that doesn't mean that she won't get kidnapped!
- Crivens: The mild-mannered butler of Ghoulhaven, Crivens offers Robbie his assistance wherever he can, although there may be more to him than it seems...
- Ma Soupswill: An eccentric chef who has left samples of her stews around the mansion.
- Mr. Ribs: The only friendly Ghouly in the mansion, Mr. Ribs is Ma Soupswill's helpful assistant.
- Fiddlesworth Dunfiddlin: The groundskeeper of Ghoulhaven, who's afraid to do his job thanks to the resident Ghoulies!
- Babs Buffbrass: A hard-nosed housekeeper who gets furious at all the mess that she has to clean up throughout the mansion.
- Dr. Krackpot: An insane genius who certainly lives up to his name. He's the Baron's right-hand man and the source of all the Ghoulies.
- Baron von Ghoul: The Baron is partly eccentric, partly evil, and wholly insane! The aristocratic heir to Ghoulhaven, Baron von Ghoul spends his days in his pajamas imagining himself as a pilot.
- The Reaper: An agent of death who roams Ghoulhaven's halls to bring the souls of the undead ghoulies, and anybody who gets in his way, into the afterlife.
- Hunchback: A disfigured ogre of a man who Baron von Ghoul has taken in. He's very protective of his (perceived) handsome face.
- Warlock: An elderly practitioner of black magic who resides in Ghoulhaven and likes to hide in cupboards and other assorted tight spaces.
- The Captain: The leader of the pirate zombies, The Captain was a drunkard who couldn't defend himself in a fight with Robbie and was "done in."
- Roger the Cabin Boy: A tiny imp who was recruited by The Captain to serve in his fleet. He met a violent end when he decided to pester Fiddlesworth.
- Dropper Shocker: A gelatinous blob who drops down from the ceiling to give one of the game's button-mashing Super Scary Shocks.
- Gwenyth: A ghastly green-haired specter who is known to appear outside of windows and frighten passers-by.
- Clive: A giant red serpent who was turned to stone and became part of the decor of Ghoulhaven's walled garden.
- Roysten the Goldfish: This long-suffering goldfish gets a bit of peace and quiet in Ghoulhaven Hall's classroom. (Also in the game Banjo-Kazooie)
[edit] Ghoulies
Throughout the mansion, Robbie must whack his way through an army of hostile Ghoulies.
- Imps: The majority of the Ghouly army consists of these mischievous creatures. Several types of these Imps exist: Demon, Fire, Bat, and Ninja. They are likely to be based on the design of the Jinjos from Banjo-Kazooie.
- Skeletons: Green-eyed bony enemies, the Skeletons will often get in your path.
- Ghosts: These dark entities have been known to possess any objects and power-ups throughout the mansion.
- Zombies: Menacing beings who seek nothing more than to tear you apart.
- Spiders: Pesky eight-legged creatures which are far larger than your average arachnid. They later gain the ability to shoot webs.
- Ancient Mummy: When facing this entombed being, try to prevent yourself from becoming "under wraps".
- Pharaoh: These high priests are rulers of the dead, and are more aggressive than the lesser mummies. They carry ancient tablets that resemble the Rosetta Stone.
- Gorgon: These Greek myths have deadly snakes on their heads. The Medusae use green spotlights from their eyes, which you must avoid, lest you be turned to stone.
- Vampire Chickens: These freakish blood-sucking fowl have a large pair of fangs protruding from their beaks. Use garlic against them before you get drained!
- Pirate Zombies: These undead pirates reside near the Boathouse, under the orders of their Captain.
- Coffin Mama: These beings want nothing more than to pull you into the grave with them.
- Jessie and Clyde: This happy couple have been joined together by means of mutation. Clyde is blue and muscular, and Jessie is slender and green.
- Haunted objects: Objects that are possessed by the dark souls. They attack (and whack) when you near them. These objects include Portraits, Televisions, and even Doors.
- Trophies: Monstrous animal heads found in the Trophy Room of Ghoulhaven Hall. They are known to seemingly come alive for an impossible second. If one looks close enough, they can see the heads of Banjo and Kazooie.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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