Ghostrunner 2 is a perplexing expertise. Its predecessor, which was launched on the tail finish of 2020, supplied us with a fast-paced, fashionable, cyber-ninja-themed motion platformer that managed to rival different video games trying the same factor. Nevertheless, with the sequel, developer One Extra Degree has designed an entry that seemingly manages to offer that very same exhilarating feeling, although at the price of a bevy of efficiency and technical points (at the very least on PS5). In each efficiency and constancy modes, Ghostrunner 2 suffers from a big selection of body drops and, extra annoyingly, an absurd variety of glitches that may simply take away from the fluidity it units out to realize with its traversal-focused gameplay sequences.
The story is a direct continuation of the earlier sport, specializing in a Ghostrunner by the title of Jack. After his reactivation following the climax of his final journey, Jack now seeks to rebuild Dharma Tower, the final identified bastion of humankind. Nevertheless, quickly sufficient, an enormous energy wrestle emerges, and it is as much as you to defeat a military of cybernetically enhanced foes. Ultimately, the sport presents you with the chance to discover the outskirts of Dharma Tower, which supplies additional context for the present state of the skin world.
Whereas this may increasingly look like nothing new for a sport of this style, Ghostrunner 2’s narrative is usually successfully informed via its environmental design and lore-specific collectibles. Then once more, the plot often suffers from poor pacing and difficult-to-understand intricacies which are hardly ever defined to the participant. This may be additional exemplified if you have not performed the unique. Though Ghostrunner 2 provides a fast recap in its menus, it would not successfully encapsulate a number of the key occasions required to totally grasp the story it desires to ship. In consequence, a whole lot of plot factors can usually really feel rushed or underbaked, and finally result in a considerably anticlimactic ending.
Nevertheless, the sport’s important focus lies inside its gameplay and degree design. In the identical approach as its predecessor, Ghostrunner 2 is an action-platformer with similarities to id Software program’s DOOM. Though that will look like a wierd comparability, each require the participant to continuously transfer round ranges, as standing idly by can result in a fast demise. That is the place the comparability ends although, as as an alternative of firing an arsenal of heavy weapons, you are restricted to a sword and some talents. Regardless of having a restricted pool of choices, mastery of Ghostrunner 2’s mechanics is the way you steadily make your approach via the marketing campaign’s phases.
Moreover, there are some extra gameplay components that may offer you a a lot wanted change of surroundings. Boss encounters, as an example, are a breath of contemporary air, as they usually really feel like a big puzzle. As an example, one of many sport’s earlier bosses requires Jack to make use of his grapple to keep away from sure assaults, earlier than gorgeous the boss to whittle down its well being bar. Along with some enjoyable bosses, Ghostrunner 2 additionally boasts a rogue-like mode aptly referred to as RogueRunner.EXE, which sees Jack progressing via a sequence of fight or parkour-focused “nodes” with totally different paths to succeed in the top. Regardless of not having a lot weight on the general narrative, this mode is a enjoyable further to experiment with as soon as the credit roll.
Talking of the degrees themselves, we discovered them to be a blended bag in regard to their high quality. The sooner missions really feel fairly repetitive, because the surroundings does little or no to shake issues up, and you do not have rapid entry to Jack’s talents. That apart, the sport has a pleasant collection of ranges that really feel nice to play via, particularly if you get to check out a newly acquired ability or instrument. As an example, one of many sequel’s new additions is a bike, which dramatically spices issues up via quicker sequences and inventive open-world-like phases. Nevertheless, one factor we seen in our 10 hours of playtime is the sport’s tendency to shortly throw away enjoyable concepts in alternate for a similar carbon copy of a degree you performed a number of hours prior.
Then once more, the vast majority of the degrees have intelligent environmental puzzles you must full so as to progress additional. More often than not, Jack is required to carve his approach via a sequence of enemy encounters to maneuver on together with his mission. Sometimes, a room can have anyplace from a number of to a dozen enemies, with every one having the facility to take you out in a single easy hit. Nevertheless, that is the place a few of Ghostrunner 2’s core points lie, as though the problem of determining an optimum path to victory might be enjoyable, the sport’s severe efficiency points forged a shadow over what its making an attempt to realize right here. For instance, there was one second the place we entered a room and the body price dropped to roughly 10-20 frames-per-second. That is particularly irritating when there’s a whole lot of enemies or obstacles to keep away from, which is one thing we continuously fought in opposition to throughout our playthrough.
One other instance of this being a problem is throughout a number of the sport’s parkour sections, which is the place you will spend most of your time between enemy and boss encounters. Ghostrunner 2 tries to juggle a whole lot of components in its parkour mechanics, resembling grind rails, wall operating, utilizing shurikens to activate switches, and successfully utilizing your abilities to navigate optimally. Nonetheless, there have been many situations of the sport’s mechanics failing to work correctly, as leaping on a grind rail would not have the identical magnetism as what you’d usually count on, and wall operating usually results in Jack climbing on prime of it, resulting in an inexpensive, meaningless demise. We additionally seen a big selection of visible glitches on PS5, and there was even a second the place we merely fell via the ground.
Conclusion
Ghostrunner 2 has some enjoyable moments, although it could usually be tough to see previous a whole lot of the efficiency points and inconsistent degree design. When the sport’s at its finest, slicing via a horde of enemies and leaping round like a ninja, it may be an exhilarating expertise. Nevertheless, it could be price ready for a patch to handle a whole lot of the core points current at launch.