Ghost Squad is a conversion of a Sega arcade rail-shooter, in which the player controls an elite member of an anti-terrorist team fighting armed groups across a variety of scenarios — from a plane hijacking, through reconnaissance of a secret jungle base, to rescuing hostages aboard a ship or at an airport. The character moves along a predetermined path, and the player only aims and shoots at enemies, ducks behind cover with a button press, and occasionally resolves quick-time events, exactly as has been typical for this arcade subgenre since the nineties. On Wii the game supported both the Wii Zapper and the plain Wii Remote held like a pistol, bringing it closer to the original light-gun controls from arcades, and it also offered a two-player mode for tackling missions together.
Both graphically and sonically it's a typically fast, action-packed arcade title — short, intense levels, dramatic music, and a commanding officer's radio chatter that continually comments on mission progress and warns of approaching danger. The Wii port was praised mainly for the precision of pointer aiming, which came close to the original light-gun experience from arcade cabinets, but was also criticized for the limited campaign length and the repetitiveness of individual missions — traits it shared, however, with most rail shooters of the era, including major competing brands like House of the Dead. Completing missions was rewarded with unlockable modes and bonus sections that extended the game's lifespan, at least for players hungry for a better score.
Today Ghost Squad serves as a reminder of a time when the Wii functioned as a fairly faithful home conversion of arcade shooters for a wide audience, and for fans of arcade action it remains an entertaining, if short, affair for a few evenings, best enjoyed in the company of another player.
Game 86 of 140 for Nintendo Wii
