Ghostrunner 2 Review
Ghostrunner, indeed, arrived at a fortunate time during the Cyberpunk frenzy. It greatly benefited from the hype generated by the blockbuster Cyberpunk 2077, allowing this indie game to stand out in the market. However, do not mistake it for a title from CD Projekt Red. Ghostrunner is a truly distinct game, focusing on high-speed first-person action and a punishing one-hit-kill system reserved for hardcore speedrun enthusiasts. It's no surprise that it has achieved resounding success and provided a solid foundation for a sequel. Yes, after three years, Ghostrunner 2 has emerged, and it appears that One More Level knows what they're doing to enhance the captivating, fast-paced experience in this cyberpunk world.
The story of Ghostrunner 2 picks up immediately after the first installment in the series. This time, it seems that the narrative has been given more attention, as the main character, Jack, delves into a secretive organization to help clean up the city. While the storyline of Ghostrunner 2 may not have the epic scope of world-building like the first game, it appears to be more cohesive and less disjointed.
Jack is no longer just a blank slate for players to inhabit without concerning themselves with the plot. In Ghostrunner 2, there will be more depth to explore the darker aspects of his character. What's interesting is that there are those who want to kill him or covet his power, and then there are others who could be considered his allies but also vie for the assistance of this deadly assassin. Jack seems surrounded by a web of both good and bad characters, with the expanded narrative showcasing his growth. He's no longer blindly following orders to kill; now, he thinks and decides what's best.
One drawback I noticed in Ghostrunner 2 relates to the story. The game allows for expanded dialogue choices when Jack completes missions and returns to his base. In theory, this seems to have a slight RPG flavor, and it should help to enrich the game's lore. However, in practice, these dialogues come off as somewhat bland, and it appears that One More Level might not have initially prioritized this aspect but added it towards the end of the game's development, making it feel somewhat lackluster. In the previous version, Jack primarily communicated with Zoe through audio-only conversations, and this method is still rigorously maintained in the second part. However, the interactions with other NPCs feel forced. Most of the storyline will likely still be unveiled through specific gameplay sequences. Perhaps, instead of investing heavily in this aspect, focusing on gameplay and performance would be more beneficial. Overall, for a game that places all its emphasis on gameplay, the story is more of a side dish, so one shouldn't set excessively high expectations for it.
The gameplay of Ghostrunner 2 is fundamentally similar to what you've experienced in the previous installment. It's a first-person perspective with slashing combat, reminiscent of Dishonored, wall-running like Titanfall, and a one-hit-kill mechanic like Superhot. It can be said that the sequel doesn't attempt to reinvent the wheel, and why should it when what's there already works so well? By drawing inspiration from games like the examples mentioned, Ghostrunner 2 continues to provide a high-speed and visually pleasing gameplay experience, although the satisfaction heavily depends on your gaming skills.
One aspect I particularly appreciate in this version is the level design. The levels are no longer as linear as in the first game, where you simply had to go from point A to point Z in a single path. This time, One More Level has diversified the levels by adding new pathways and giving Jack more options to reach point Z, making the experience less linear. This opens up opportunities for speedrunners or players looking for new strategies, as the expanded level design allows for more parkour possibilities.
As a result, while you have to move around and find ways to eliminate enemies, everything now feels more liberating. The quick respawn system after each failure is often a welcome feature, as the game responds promptly and without much downtime. Even better, the checkpoint placement is sensible and more frequent, so dying multiple times at a challenging spot doesn't lead to frustration; the game keeps you engaged.
However, the combat aspect of the game is somewhat conservative. Ghostrunner 2 doesn't bring significant improvements; it's still based on one-hit-kill mechanics where both you and the enemies can die instantly. Jack has a few added abilities like parrying bullets and using throwing shurikens or wind blasts to push objects, but these seem to serve as supplemental features rather than game-changing elements in the basic combat system.
One More Level seems to be aware of these aspects, so they've made some fresh adjustments to enhance the gameplay and challenge. They've introduced a stamina bar to limit Jack's ability to parry or dash continuously, making sure he's not overpowered and has to be more agile to survive. While blocking can save you in certain situations, evading attacks is still crucial, especially since Ghostrunner 2 has a faster pace than the original, and trying to block every attack won't always be effective, not to mention there are unblockable enemy strikes.
Additionally, the game features a skill progression system, which is relatively straightforward and streamlined. You unlock upgrade chips by playing or purchasing them, then choose how to slot them into your motherboard, essentially like installing chips into a character to grant specific abilities or skills since you can't have them all at once.
After all is said and done, the gameplay seems pretty solid, with a touch of novelty and meticulous refinement. However, we often want something that stands out and provides an extra thrill. It seems that the highlight of this game is the motorcycle riding sections.
While these motorcycle sections won't be as abundant as the standard parkour combat levels, they add a whole new layer of excitement. If you've ever seen how cool sci-fi motorcycling can be in legendary anime like Akira, you'll have an idea of what to expect. At a certain point in the story, Jack gets a high-speed motorcycle, and the levels are designed vertically on a highway, extending far beyond the bounds of the Dharma Tower. They are still challenging and demanding, with various traps from enemies to obstacles on the road. These sections require split-second decisions on how to drive, as speed is crucial; otherwise, Jack won't remain intact.
In summary, by incorporating these motorcycle sections, Ghostrunner 2 offers a well-rounded and engaging gameplay experience, elevating the already impressive mobile shadowrunner role-playing experience to new heights.
When it comes to the graphics and sound, I think the game's presentation is done very well. Running on the Unreal Engine, the cyberpunk world of Ghostrunner 2 maintains its urban, glossy appearance like never before. The in-game structures are beautiful, and many levels have vast environments that immerse players in the world. Furthermore, the game's soundtrack is quite impressive, with many EDM tracks accompanying battles and platforming sequences, adding excitement and drama to the overall experience.
One thing I'd like to complain about in this regard is the game's performance on PC, which is subpar. Even with powerful hardware, I couldn't achieve a smooth 60fps experience. I had to resort to enabling DLSS on Ultra Performance mode, significantly reducing the visual quality. However, the stuttering and shuttering issues often associated with the Unreal Engine were still present. I'm not sure if it's due to the high-speed, continuous loading of new levels or if shader loading is causing the problem, but for a fast-paced game that requires smooth performance to handle high-speed gameplay situations, the performance was somewhat disappointing. On the other hand, the console version, which I played on my Xbox Series X, ran smoother. Perhaps for gamers, waiting for PC performance patches would be a more reasonable approach, while console gamers might be in the clear.
VERDICT
After everything, Ghostrunner 2 embodies a well-executed sequel. It doesn't overshadow the achievements of the first game; instead, it strives to improve upon what it had by expanding and enhancing both the narrative and gameplay elements. After 10 hours of gameplay, I believe that Ghostrunner 2 will continue to be on my list of worthwhile cyberpunk games. Not only because it captures the cyberpunk sci-fi atmosphere I enjoy, but also because it's one of the few high-quality 3D platformers released in recent years.
