Ghostrunner 2 Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, & PC)

When it comes to sequels, they can go three ways. Either they’re worse, identical, or superior to the original. The best way to achieve the latter is to, well, keep the cogs that run the machine smoothly, throw out the bad ones, and, in their place, install innovative mechanics that elevate the experience. I’m happy to say Ghostrunner 2 understands the assignment, adding new mechanics to an already superior action platformer – and then some. 

The sequel is faster, bigger, and better on all fronts. It’s nearly a ridiculous nitpicking exercise pointing out the faults. But don’t take my word for it. Come along as we unwind our deep-dive Ghostrunner 2 review, breaking down everything you can expect, from the good to the bad and ugly (if any).

Rampage Rage

That moment when you finally take down a ruthless dictator, and then you realize that the job isn’t nearly half done. Often, many contenders will be looking to take up the throne. Meanwhile, chaos breaks out. Factions run wild under no supervision. It's time to kill and get away with it. 

We pick up the story a year after the events of Ghostrunner (2020). The Keymaster tyrant, ruler over the Dharma Tower, has just fallen. Several factions go to war in his stead, craving to fill the power void that’s left. It falls upon the protagonist, Jack, aka GR-74 or Ghostrunner – a metallic ninja with cybernetic enhancements – to, once again, have us reprise his role and restore order to a futuristic cyberpunk dystopian world.

Newcomers need not worry about playing catchup, as the sequel has in store a neat, concise recap to get you up to speed. The main antagonists are a group of violent cyberninja AI cults whom you travel to the ends of the world to deal with. But thanks to the newly introduced vehicular combat, covering vast levels is an absolute thrill. 

In no time, you’ll be thrust into the deep end of an ongoing turf war. It stretches outside the walls of Dharma Tower and into the sprawling wasteland beyond. In width and breadth, Ghostrunner 2 is more. The same goes for the content, which is packed to the brim with exciting NPCs and branching storylines. 

Some enemies return. However, we run into way more menacing foes in terms of numbers and fright. Fortunately, Ghostrunner 2 ups the ante on the action frontier with level design and parkour action craftier than ever. 

Therein lies the beauty of Ghostrunner 2, where, even despite its relatively cut-short 10 to 14-hour run-through, returning for more intense action is a no-brainer. 

Color Me Pleased

Dharma Tower itself is entrancing. Dipped in neon and with an added touch of billboard wonder, speeding past its nonlinear levels and complex motorbike section is an absolute thrill. Even as you go past the city into the sprawling desert, its rugged, rocky outlines and cascading dunes are varied enough to keep you glued to the screen.

It’s a deeper and vaster world where every minute spent in it feels earned. At the lightning-fast pace you’ll be moving, platforming can easily collapse on its knees if not done to perfection. But Ghostrunner 2 understands all its needs and works toward designing a distorted cyber arena that varies between a mix of dingy residential blocks and industrial ascents.

Vibrant and bold, stepping into Dharma Tower feels right. You are immediately immersed in a surreal futuristic puzzle world where every move encapsulates a rollercoaster: jump there, sway to the left, parkour forward, and so on. It uses color and light in distinct ways to help shape and guide your every move while bringing the city to life.

The only remaining aspect is the accompanying sound effect, and One More Level nails that, too, to perfection. You enjoy a killer soundtrack with such compelling synth waves that you can’t help but bop your head. In the intense, frantic moments, it picks up pace into a heart-pounding electronic beat before receding to a steady rhythm that never lets go of your unwavering attention. 

The best part is that as your sword slashes through enemies, the sound of the metal connecting to limb body parts sends chills down your spine. It encompasses an as-real-as-imagination effect that makes you believe you’re Jack, deadly and indestructible. But the combat isn’t for the faint of heart. Dying is inevitable, but respawns are almost instant—a quick enough transition to get your revenge.

Sword Dance

Despite how compelling the story and level design are, it still doesn’t come anywhere close to the adrenaline rush of the combat itself. Speed is the motto here, whether you’re traversing or slicing foes. You’re always on the move at breakneck speed. You’ll slice and dice enemies in mid-air, moving on to the next one with ease. But it comes with the caveat of equally dying on one hit.

Not to worry. The smooth and seamless slash of your sword pays off like a charm. Accompanying Ghostrunner 2’s killer soundtrack is your killing machine ninja, mowing down countless enemies at every turn. You’ll upgrade your motherboard as you progress, molding a playstyle specific to you. As you head back into the battlefield, you’ll crack enemy encounters like a puzzle.

Some enemies may fall easier when they fall prey to your obstacles. Others may need you to attack them in a sequence. There’s never a correct answer to how you approach enemies, which creates room for devising craftier plans on multiple playthroughs. Best of all is the timer, which allows you to take a shot at beating your own record. No enemy encounter is ever the same, so a 10-hour playthrough may easily turn into hundreds more.

Furthermore, vehicular combat features complex sections that incorporate maneuvering enemies and obstacles at the same time. You can use your bike guns or swords to send enemies into the abyss. Putting the pedal to the metal feels fluid and so much fun, with lightning-fast speeds that’ll have adrenaline junkies craving for more. Boss fights are interactive and epic spectacles. Plus, the new wingsuit makes it so air strikes are second nature. 

From combat arenas to motorcycle segments to parkour challenges, each moment playing Ghostrunner 2 explodes into high-speed octane action like never before. 

Slice and Dice

Ghostrunner 2’s one-hit kill mechanics raise the stakes for everyday FPS shooter fans. What’s more? Its expanded skill tree plays a vital role in progression. Every upgrade could mean life and death. 

I can’t imagine a more proper way to push for precision and perfect timing. Well, save for a hack-and-slash sword system that cuts through enemy flesh like butter. 

As for the performance, we have no complaints there whatsoever. Ghostrunner 2 runs smoothly, maintaining a steady 60fps frame rate.

Verdict

Whenever we say a sequel adds more to the original’s gameplay, it doesn’t always translate to a superior experience. However, Ghostrunner 2 has nurtured its unique and original parkour action system to understand the needs of its player base to a T. So when One More Level went on to re-capture Ghostrunner’s magic by adding a ton more mechanics than we could imagine, it’s such a relief to see it done to perfection. 

So long as you love the first game, Ghostrunner 2 will take you to the moon and back. The sequel is dangerously similar to the original, with the parkour system making a spectacular comeback in a dystopian cyberpunk-drenched world. But far more mechanics make their way to the sequel. A superfluous wingsuit and slick motorcycle combat introduce airspace and vehicular action for the first time.

While there are many praises to be sung on every aspect of Ghostrunner 2 – detailed level design, compelling storyline, immersive gameplay, you name it—it doesn’t mean there aren’t any issues to contend with. Firing on your motorcycle has a slightly annoying delay, which, at the game’s frantic pace, can mean game over. Some level design is inconsistent, favoring veterans a tad bit more. 

Still, any of the issues you may encounter barely compare to the exhilarating action Ghostrunner 2 offers. Simply put, it’s so much fun that it takes your mind away from any faults there may be. Overall, we hoped for bigger, busier, and better, and that’s exactly what One More Level delivered to us on a silver platter.