Ghostrunner 2 is the latest installment of hack n’ slash first person cyberpunk goodness from One More Level. Set in a futuristic and dystopian cyberpunk world, this game strikes a nice balance of being both challenging and fun.
You play as the ghostrunner Jack, a biomechanical cyber warrior. In layman’s terms, he’s a badass. Jack is a master of the blade, he’s ridiculously fast and has access to a whole bunch of impressive skills, powers and abilities. Tasked with attempting to restore some order to the tower city of Dharma, you must use all of the tools at your disposal to destroy your enemies before they defeat you.
The majority of the enemies you will face can be defeated in a single strike from your weapons but this also extends to the player too. One misstep or missed block can and will result in your demise. The single hit mechanic of the game is both a blessing and a curse. You’ll experience moments of brilliant cinematic destruction. Ducking and weaving across the battlefield, slicing through opponents and deflecting bullets back towards your rivals. That is until a rogue shot or an enemy you just missed strikes you in the back bringing a sudden end to your display of ninja wizardry. Thankfully the game is generous with checkpoints which bring you straight back in for another attempt (or 60) at clearing the room and progressing.
The cyberpunk world you’ve been dropped into is fully realised. Neon signs and towering walls litter the skyline and the city of Dharma is full of gangs and rivals waiting to be cut down. This time around Jack is also sent outside of the city. The new motorbike segments serve to break up the chaos you reap within the city and are a welcome addition. The biking sections are slightly less polished than that of the city environments. However, the occasional clipping through a wreckage or catching the bike on a wobbly ledge were a welcome change from dying repeatedly at the same section.
During missions you’re also sent to a hubworld where, if you choose to, you can converse with your companions. These conversations are great additions to bring more life and character to the futuristic world. Unfortunately the character exploration isn’t as deep as other RPGs, especially when compared to the whirlwind of games released alongside Ghostrunner 2 in 2023.
Similar to the relatively optional hubworld, the game is filled with many secrets and collectables. Again these serve to develop the lore and character of the world. Even the Memory Shards, which you collect to increase your abilities are incredibly generous. This means you can spend more time gunning through the levels as a powerful cyborg ninja without fear of really missing out.
The choice of abilities and tools at your disposal are equally impressive. The ability to customise which skills you want to upgrade as well as the unique changes you can access really help you create a build that leans towards your own personal playstyle. Levels, as well as the game itself are rather short. The game devs definitely went for the approach of quality over quantity, especially with the bosses.
There is a relatively steep learning curve, at least initially within Ghostrunner 2. When you finally find yourself successfully slicing through enemies and leaping across the map- the few seconds of slow motion confirming a checkpoint are incredibly gratifying. The stylish combat combined with the pumping synthwave soundtrack create a super immersive experience. If you’re looking for a kick-ass non-stop action game, then look no further.
