Ghostbusters mobile game’s sexualized women contradict the new film’s female-friendly approach

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Who you gonna call to make a match-3 puzzle game based on your franchise? Capcom!

That gaming developer and publisher is working on just that for the soon-to-be-revitalized Ghostbusters franchise, as IGN originally reported. It’s called Puzzle Fighter, and it’s coming to iOS in June. It’s not the most original idea, but it could help Capcom make a hit in a mobile market that could reach $30 billion, with revenues expected to exceed the console industry’s this year, according to market researcher Newzoo.

It features Ghostbuster characters like Egon and Slimer. It also features an oddly sexualized Janine, a character who was a modestly dressed secretary in the movies. You can see her and a character that looks like Kylie Griffin from the Extreme Ghostbusters cartoon in the pic below, both wearing … revealing Ghostbuster outfits. Seriously, I don’t think shorts can go much higher. Even the previously androgynous Gozer is now sporting a sexy, busty look, as you can see in the picture above.

I don't remember that many bikini tops in Ghostbusters.
I don’t remember that many bikini tops in Ghostbusters.

Puzzle Fighter is similar to other match-3 puzzle games like Candy Crush Saga, but your progress in the puzzle impacts a digital battle, similar to the Puzzle Quest series.

We haven’t had a Ghostbusters film since 1989. However, Sony is currently working on a reboot that will feature an all-female cast, including Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. Somehow, I doubt those girls will have to dress as ridiculously as Janine and Kylie do in this mobile game.