Ghostrunner 2 is fast, precise, and deadly
1 year ago - Diego Lourenço
Liked by 0 people
Developed by the One More Level studio and published by 505 Games, Ghostrunner 2 will be released worldwide on October 26 for PC, Xbox Series S|X, and PlayStation 5, carrying the heavy burden of pleasing and surprising those who were amazed by the frenetic action of the first title, while at the same time having the opportunity to correct and adjust some of the problems of yesteryear.
No time, brother
Just like the first title, Ghostrunner 2's plot gets straight to the point, without too much ado. Set one year after the events involving the entity known as the Master of Keys in the Dharma Tower, our character, cyberninja Jack is back, now to confront a violent and bizarre sect of artificial intelligence that has cunning plans to shape the future of humanity. Spoiler: it certainly won't be a peaceful coexistence.
Once again we have our friends the Climbers to help us on this arduous mission, but in addition to them, other tools are part of our arsenal, such as the use of shurikens, the ability to slow down time, the inseparable and deadly katana, a grappling hook, as well as an incredible motorcycle and the main course: lots of speed and precision.
I'm not going to say outright that it's highly recommended to play the first title to delve deeper into the story because it is still shallow and without much explanation, which is a shame because the plot of the first one gives off an image of conspiracy theory, intrigue and so on. But at no point did it deliver what it could in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk universe. And let's face it, in the Ghostrruner franchise, what matters is the quality of the gameplay, leaving the story just a backdrop.
Because I love futuristic universes, artificial intelligence, post-modern punk, etc., I hoped that Ghostrunner 2 would deliver a more in-depth and concise story, but its potential is still being wasted.
Pure adrenaline
When I say that you don't necessarily have to have played the first title in the franchise to be familiar with the story of Ghostrunner 2, the same doesn't apply to the gameplay. If you've already played the previous game, things will be much easier here and you'll have a better idea of what to expect.
Ghostrunner 2 is still fast, precise, and deadly, but this time Jack has some new additions to his arsenal, which, although they don't seem to be a big deal, make a difference when it comes to defeating enemies before being caught by surprise. The shuriken, for example, is perfect for using to blow up flammable barrels that are now scattered around the scene, considerably increasing your range of options for succeeding in an onslaught against a larger number of enemies.
Thinking about which is the best option to defeat the adversities encountered with just one blow to each opponent is fascinating, even if death is present at various times, this is part of the classic trial and error, because the more you become familiar with what is happening, the greater the chances of success.
Ghostrunner 2 offers much-improved exploration, far beyond the world around Dharma Tower, which makes us more curious to see if the holes in the urban streets can offer any kind of advantage, such as finding a metal tube to slide down or walls to climb to avoid being spotted by enemies.
Think fast, but not too fast
The Ghostrunner titles are a very strategic franchise, in which you have to think quickly before making any decisions since just as you detonate your opponents with one blow, all it takes is one enemy hit for the game to restart at the point you reached. This is part of the experience, but it can be frustrating because the window in which you can make a decision is so small. But that changes in Ghostrunner 2.
At first, this didn't catch my attention, but as the game went on I began to notice this phenomenon, which makes our lives much easier. Not only that, but at various times the enemies are at a considerable distance and don't have x-ray vision to see beyond range, which was common in the first game.
Is the game less punishing? Absolutely, but it's still enjoyable, fast, and frantic, but it does present a wider window of accessibility so that more people can try it out and get to know it in a more user-friendly way. Still, on the subject of accessibility, the subtitles (PT-BR) are more visible, which was barely visible in the previous title.
A motorized cyberninja
One of the great new features of Ghostrunner 2 is that some levels are played with an incredible futuristic motorcycle, which, as in the solo gameplay, is also very fast and precise.
The aim is to complete certain courses in the shortest time possible since you are "guided" by a radio signal, and if you miss it, it's game over. You have to dodge obstacles, and lasers, pass through narrow tunnels, and other types of obstacles. It sounds a bit obvious, but it's a real race against time.
Undoubtedly, the use of the motorcycle in some stages brings a certain relief after so much tension, adrenaline, and difficulty to overcome, always in more linear vertical scenarios. Not that the action diminishes with the vehicle, but it drastically reduces how repetitive the same stages become.
New enemies, new abilities
Ghostrunner 2 also features a greater variety of enemies, in addition to the familiar ones, but they all have unique reactions depending on the approach chosen to defeat them, so memorizing a pattern isn't exactly the best idea for doing well in boss battles.
In addition to the weapons already mentioned, we have a type of breath that can blow the enemy away and increase the window of time to think of a way to defeat him. Not only that, but a series of skills that can be unlocked throughout the adventure are also very useful and bring a lot of dynamism and offer new ways of offensive approaches. In Ghostrunner 2 it's not enough to eliminate your targets, but to do it with great style and elegance.
Once you master the skills and understand the style of play, Ghostrunner 2 becomes incredible and addictive, especially as it offers such simple and easily accessible controls. Nothing is more beautiful in a game than when the strategy you've devised works as planned.
Electronic party
Once again, Ghostrunner 2's soundtrack is impeccable, dictating the rhythm of each movement executed with mastery, as well as the sound of the sword making clean, precise cuts. There's no doubt that the soundtrack once again deserves an album on the streaming platforms.
The game's graphics have improved considerably from what was quite generic in the first game, failing to take advantage of the colorful, urban atmosphere and post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world. The highlight is the motorcycle stages, in which you feel like you're on a journey of colors and lights, all very well set.
Ghostrunner 2 is a title that, despite being the second in the series, is undoubtedly more accessible than the first because the action window is wider. But that doesn't mean it's now an easy task to overcome obstacles, not at all. But there's no denying that it's a more attractive game for those who want to experience all that adrenaline.
Ghostrunner 2 was analyzed on a laptop (via Steam), kindly provided by 505 Games.
Just like the first title, Ghostrunner 2's plot gets straight to the point, without too much ado. Set one year after the events involving the entity known as the Master of Keys in the Dharma Tower, our character, cyberninja Jack is back, now to confront a violent and bizarre sect of artificial intelligence that has cunning plans to shape the future of humanity. Spoiler: it certainly won't be a peaceful coexistence.
Once again we have our friends the Climbers to help us on this arduous mission, but in addition to them, other tools are part of our arsenal, such as the use of shurikens, the ability to slow down time, the inseparable and deadly katana, a grappling hook, as well as an incredible motorcycle and the main course: lots of speed and precision.
I'm not going to say outright that it's highly recommended to play the first title to delve deeper into the story because it is still shallow and without much explanation, which is a shame because the plot of the first one gives off an image of conspiracy theory, intrigue and so on. But at no point did it deliver what it could in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk universe. And let's face it, in the Ghostrruner franchise, what matters is the quality of the gameplay, leaving the story just a backdrop.
Because I love futuristic universes, artificial intelligence, post-modern punk, etc., I hoped that Ghostrunner 2 would deliver a more in-depth and concise story, but its potential is still being wasted.
Pure adrenaline
When I say that you don't necessarily have to have played the first title in the franchise to be familiar with the story of Ghostrunner 2, the same doesn't apply to the gameplay. If you've already played the previous game, things will be much easier here and you'll have a better idea of what to expect.
Ghostrunner 2 is still fast, precise, and deadly, but this time Jack has some new additions to his arsenal, which, although they don't seem to be a big deal, make a difference when it comes to defeating enemies before being caught by surprise. The shuriken, for example, is perfect for using to blow up flammable barrels that are now scattered around the scene, considerably increasing your range of options for succeeding in an onslaught against a larger number of enemies.
Thinking about which is the best option to defeat the adversities encountered with just one blow to each opponent is fascinating, even if death is present at various times, this is part of the classic trial and error, because the more you become familiar with what is happening, the greater the chances of success.
Ghostrunner 2 offers much-improved exploration, far beyond the world around Dharma Tower, which makes us more curious to see if the holes in the urban streets can offer any kind of advantage, such as finding a metal tube to slide down or walls to climb to avoid being spotted by enemies.
Think fast, but not too fast
The Ghostrunner titles are a very strategic franchise, in which you have to think quickly before making any decisions since just as you detonate your opponents with one blow, all it takes is one enemy hit for the game to restart at the point you reached. This is part of the experience, but it can be frustrating because the window in which you can make a decision is so small. But that changes in Ghostrunner 2.
At first, this didn't catch my attention, but as the game went on I began to notice this phenomenon, which makes our lives much easier. Not only that, but at various times the enemies are at a considerable distance and don't have x-ray vision to see beyond range, which was common in the first game.
Is the game less punishing? Absolutely, but it's still enjoyable, fast, and frantic, but it does present a wider window of accessibility so that more people can try it out and get to know it in a more user-friendly way. Still, on the subject of accessibility, the subtitles (PT-BR) are more visible, which was barely visible in the previous title.
A motorized cyberninja
One of the great new features of Ghostrunner 2 is that some levels are played with an incredible futuristic motorcycle, which, as in the solo gameplay, is also very fast and precise.
The aim is to complete certain courses in the shortest time possible since you are "guided" by a radio signal, and if you miss it, it's game over. You have to dodge obstacles, and lasers, pass through narrow tunnels, and other types of obstacles. It sounds a bit obvious, but it's a real race against time.
Undoubtedly, the use of the motorcycle in some stages brings a certain relief after so much tension, adrenaline, and difficulty to overcome, always in more linear vertical scenarios. Not that the action diminishes with the vehicle, but it drastically reduces how repetitive the same stages become.
New enemies, new abilities
Ghostrunner 2 also features a greater variety of enemies, in addition to the familiar ones, but they all have unique reactions depending on the approach chosen to defeat them, so memorizing a pattern isn't exactly the best idea for doing well in boss battles.
In addition to the weapons already mentioned, we have a type of breath that can blow the enemy away and increase the window of time to think of a way to defeat him. Not only that, but a series of skills that can be unlocked throughout the adventure are also very useful and bring a lot of dynamism and offer new ways of offensive approaches. In Ghostrunner 2 it's not enough to eliminate your targets, but to do it with great style and elegance.
Once you master the skills and understand the style of play, Ghostrunner 2 becomes incredible and addictive, especially as it offers such simple and easily accessible controls. Nothing is more beautiful in a game than when the strategy you've devised works as planned.
Electronic party
Once again, Ghostrunner 2's soundtrack is impeccable, dictating the rhythm of each movement executed with mastery, as well as the sound of the sword making clean, precise cuts. There's no doubt that the soundtrack once again deserves an album on the streaming platforms.
The game's graphics have improved considerably from what was quite generic in the first game, failing to take advantage of the colorful, urban atmosphere and post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world. The highlight is the motorcycle stages, in which you feel like you're on a journey of colors and lights, all very well set.
Ghostrunner 2 is a title that, despite being the second in the series, is undoubtedly more accessible than the first because the action window is wider. But that doesn't mean it's now an easy task to overcome obstacles, not at all. But there's no denying that it's a more attractive game for those who want to experience all that adrenaline.
Ghostrunner 2 was analyzed on a laptop (via Steam), kindly provided by 505 Games.
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Ghostrunner II
- Release date: October 26, 2023
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- Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Microsoft Windows)
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