Ghostlop (1970). Play online

Summary

Ghostlop is a lost arcade‑style puzzle title that mixes the aim‑and‑shoot feel of Puzzle Bobble with the wall‑bouncing action of Breakout. You toggle between a red and a blue ball, slicing through ghosts that match its color and ricocheting off the opposite ones – a mechanic that makes chain reactions feel almost musical. The game’s quick‑paced play, cheeky characters and rock‑abilly soundtrack give it a charm missing from later Neo Geo puzzlers.

I was surprised to learn that a near‑finished MVS prototype surfaced in 2003 when collector Billy Pitt rescued a cartridge from an Ohio arcade, and a full ROM was later released by homebrew developer Neobitz. Directed by Koji Jinbo, the project used the same Data East team that brought us Spinmaster and Magical Drop, and its assets eventually resurfaced in Magical Drop V after G‑Mode acquired the rights.

Storyline

In Ghostlop, you step into the shoes of Bruce and McCoy, two seasoned ghost hunters from the Data Ghost agency. Their mission is to evict mischievous spirits that have taken over a series of haunted locations. As they clear each area, they also confront the minions of the Great King of Terror, whose looming threat endangers the entire world. By capturing and eliminating these spectral foes, Bruce and McCoy work to dismantle the terror king’s army and prevent his dark plans from coming to fruition. The game blends fast‑paced ghost‑busting action with a race against a looming supernatural menace.