In our review of Ghostrunner 2, you'll find out if the challenging gameplay is just unbearable or if the developers at One More Level have found the perfect balance!
After we destroyed the Keymaster and the tyrant "The Architect" in Ghostrunner 1, we fell into a deep slumber after the battle. Because without the Cybervoid, we cannot exist in Ghostrunner 2... or can we?
The resistance group "Climbers," with Zoe among them, finds the demolished Ghostrunner Jack and manages to reactivate him. But after all the chaos surrounding "The Architect," a rampaging AI cult has infiltrated the Bastion.
Since we now have to repay a favor, it's up to us to destroy the AI. But what price must humanity pay to find eternal peace? This is the setup for Ghostrunner 2 , the sequel to One More Level's exciting breakout hit from 2020.
Find out in my review if the game managed to push me to my limits and convince me with its fast-paced hardcore action, or if the lame story and familiar ground ended up making this a letdown.
| Ghostrunner 2: Quick Facts | |
| Release: | October 26, 2023 |
| Price: | $39.99 |
| Platform: | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Developer: | One More Level |
| Publisher: | 505 Games |
| Genre: | Cyberpunk, Action Platformer |
Here you can buy Ghostrunner 2!
Ghostrunner 2 | The Bottom Line
- The game significantly impresses with its gameplay and Synthwave tracks.
- The story is flat at first and only picks up in the second half.
- In open areas, the game struggles with frame drops.
- Motivation remains consistently high, as the battles are challenging but never unfair.
From Dharma Tower And Beyond
With our return to the last bastion of humanity, also known as "Dharma Tower," we enter familiar territory. After being rescued and revived by the "Climbers," we become part of the resistance movement and take on the rough tasks for them. Between each mission, we can chat with the members to learn more about our current situation and get to know them better.
At the beginning, it takes time for the story to pick up and really become interesting. However, once that point is reached and the situation in Dharma Tower escalates, the shallow story also captivates me, and I often found myself wanting to know what happens next. Especially when the second half of the game is reached, and you enter the Wastelands, the story delves deeper into the history and present, revealing a lot about the world, Jack, and the game's antagonists.
Endless Options Against Tough-As-Nails Challenges
After the introductory scene, which only provides a brief flashback, I was immediately thrown into the game. Without the chance to prepare for the upcoming gameplay, I found myself face to face with the first opponent and... died - who would have thought?
After a quick restart, I returned motivated and defeated the opponent with swift, skillful sword strikes, enjoying this first small achievement. I stood there and admired the scenery, listened to the synthwave music, and savored the moment of peace because I knew that things were about to get very hectic - and I wasn't disappointed.
As I progressed further into the story, the enemies became more diverse with various mechanics coming into play, and the puzzles became more challenging. With a steep learning curve and the right knowledge, each mission became manageable, and never felt impossible.
Especially the fact that almost all missions offered multiple solutions was a big surprise for me. Whether I circled the enemies to the left or right, distracted them with my Shadow, and then took them out, used my Shuriken or interacted with the environment, all the different options the game offers are usually viable and equally fun to use.
This variety of options gave me the freedom to decide for myself which abilities I wanted to explore more deeply. Since I personally only managed to counter certain types of enemies, I focused more on the Shuriken and Shadow ability, so I could use them to their full extent.
Each new type of enemy forced me to rethink my general tactics, or rather the numerous deaths prompted me to do so. Even while facing death, endless ideas came to mind on how to adapt my approach and master the next challenge.
However, it was only during the major boss battles that it became apparent whether I had truly internalized the abilities and options Ghostrunner 2 gave me. Everything I learned up is put to the test, and it might take 10, 20, 50, or even 70 deaths to find the rhythm and decipher the combat pattern. However, even during these battles, everything remained on a fair level, and I never felt that the boss was impossible to defeat.
Furthermore, I must also note that every single boss battle was impressive, epic, and special. I would have liked to savor the scenes far more, but sadly I had to run off and save the world, yet again.
Intuitive & Fun Gameplay, With One Annoying Issue
The playtime in Ghostrunner 2 ranges between 25 and 30 hours , taking exploration, trying out various tactics, and the, we can't emphasize it enough, endless deaths into account. The controls are direct, intuitive, and smooth. I experienced smooth gameplay with both controller and mouse/keyboard. However, I personally felt much more comfortable with the mouse and keyboard, as I could execute rapid camera movements much more precisely that way.
Considering that the game constantly pulled me from one action setpiece to the next, it's kind of surprising that I never felt overwhelmed. The goal is always clearly indicated by a target marker on the minimap and in the environment. The minimap also shows where collectible items are located, such as memory and motherboard shards, as well as artifacts or audiologs for more in-depth storytelling and some background lore about the world in which Ghostrunner 2 is set.
Speaking of abilities, the talent tree is extensive, but only let you activate four ability sets. Therefore, it's worth taking a closer look at the abilities beforehand.
In order to move around in the Wasteland far more quickly, the game eventually gives you a motorcycle. Personally, I'm not a big fan of experiencing bike or car rides from the first-person perspective, and the first few minutes with the motorcycle made it really clear why I cannot stand it.
During a chase, I had to enter a completely closed off tunnel. In order to avoid any obstacles, quick directional changes and upside-down sections quickly induced motion sickness, and the controls with the mouse and keyboard felt very imprecise.
Using a controller was a more comfortable option. But after the initial difficulties, the bike proved to be a reliable companion, allowing for numerous exciting stunts that added even more speed and action to the game.
The only time I truly felt overwhelmed was when I reached the Wastelands and encountered a very large area with numerous obstacles and impassable walls. It was easy to lose track, and I wished the devs granted me access to a map in this part of the game.
Graphically Impressive, But Not A Masterpiece - That Music Though...
The graphical presentation of Ghostrunner 2 could generally be described as very stylised and bordering on cel-shading style. It generally looks timeless and beautiful, but doesn't really convince in every part of the game.
However, the environments in the missions and the backgrounds really shine in this style. I often found myself just admiring the world and enjoying the numerous panoramic views.
The expectable Synthwave and techno music convinced me in every aspect, though. Whether it was the calm and slow tracks or the faster, hard-hitting beats, the music always sets the rhythm perfectly, and I often found myself tapping my foot in front of the PC because the music really just drew me in. Especially in the heated situations of various missions or boss fights, the music provided additional motivation - excellent work!
Not A Technical Marvel, But With High Replay Value
The technical performance of Ghostrunner 2 has its ups and downs. When missions were in closed spaces, the game ran smoothly with no slowdowns. But when the action expanded to vertical levels or bigger, more detailed missions, the game suffered from some frame drops. This sometimes led to one or two accidental deaths, but it didn't reduce the fun of the game at all. Besides that, I didn't come across any bugs or glitches throughout the entire game, nor did I have to deal with annoying game crashes.
Although it's not perfect from a technical standpoint, Ghostrunner 2 offers a lot of replay value, even after you've finished the story. You can replay levels, collect remaining upgrades and items, master the simulation, or perfect each mission to aim for a top spot on the leaderboards. With its challenges and high replay value, Ghostrunner 2 is worth exploring for fans of fast-paced, cyberpunk action.
Verdict
After playing many story-heavy games this year, Ghostrunner 2 came as a pleasant surprise to me. Even though the story takes a backseat and only really picks up in the second half of the game, I was impressed by the fast-paced gameplay right from the first few minutes. Playing as a cyberninja and taking out enemies in this quick and challenging game was incredibly enjoyable.
Ghostrunner 2 is undeniably tough since one hit can end your character, but it remains consistently fair. The boss battles and the panoramic views of the game world are visually appealing, and the catchy synthwave music adds to the experience. My motivation to play remained high, and frustration was rare. As long as you can overlook occasional frame rate issues, this is a fantastic sequel that builds upon the strengths of the first game and introduces new elements
Rating: 87/100
Here you can buy Ghostrunner 2!