Ghostbusters II on NES likes to change the rules on you. One scene wants careful side-scrolling movement. The next wants lane changes and jumps in the Ectomobile. Then the Statue of Liberty shows up and asks you to manage a swarm from both sides.
This page is here to flatten that confusion a little. If you want the practical reference sheet for controls, logos, medallions, torches, and book bombs, this is the page to keep open.
One rule before all the others
Your lives carry across the whole game. You do not get a fresh set at the next scene. That is why every extra life, every logo, and every avoidable hit matters more than it first seems.
On-foot scene controls
These are the controls for the sewer, courthouse, subway, museum, and most of the Vigo endgame rhythm:
- Up: aim higher
- Down: aim lower
- Left: move forward
- Right: back up
- A: fire slime blower
- B: jump
- Start: place trap
The strange left/right movement can throw you off at first, so it helps to think of these scenes less like a platformer and more like a moving firing line.
Driving scene controls
These are the controls for the Tenements and Central Park Ectomobile scenes:
- Up: move up a lane
- Down: move down a lane
- Right: speed up
- Left: slow down
- A: fire weapon
- B: jump
The big mental shift here is that slowing down is often the smart move. Speed without control gets expensive fast.
Statue of Liberty controls
Scenes 6 and 7 hand you a whole different problem:
- Left: walk left
- Right: walk right
- Up: aim torch to the right after collecting a torch
- Down: aim torch to the left after collecting a torch
- A: fire torch
- B: use the book bomb
Ghostbusters II logos
Logos are your extra-life economy. Collect 20 and you earn another life.
You should not throw away lives chasing every single one, but you also should not ignore them. Over a full run, steady logo collection does real work.
Driving-stage power-ups
The glowing green globs in the car scenes can drop medallions. Touch the medallion to get the reward.
- Shield: temporary slime protection
- Weapon upgrade: stronger shots, with higher levels until you get slimed
- Bomb: a one-time screen clear
Torches and the book bomb
In the Statue of Liberty scenes, the torch is what gives you real air control. Grab one whenever you can so you can aim left and right instead of only firing straight up.
The book bomb clears the screen. This is one of those tools players hoard until it is too late. If Libby is getting mobbed, use it.
Traps
On-foot scenes let you place traps with Start. They are especially useful against the lower threats that are awkward to jump or slime cleanly.
If a low enemy keeps ruining your rhythm, a trap is usually the clean answer.
Continues and survival
The game gives you continues, but the better goal is to arrive at the later scenes with enough lives left that you are not depending on them.
- Take logos seriously.
- Do not waste hits in scenes you already understand.
- Use the tools the game gives you instead of trying to style your way through everything.