Much like how Ghostrunner‘s protagonist grew beyond the confines of their original programming, GameRant’s Nick Rodriguez is drawn to the evolution in gameplay and worldbuilding demonstrated in sequel Ghostrunner 2, the first-person cyberpunk-action thriller from global publisher 505 Games and developer One More Level.
The sequel game preserves the core Ghostrunner experience and gameplay: cybernetic ninja Jack possesses a sword, a supply of electric shurikens, a penchant for high-speed wall-running parkour, and an army of enemies to use it all against. But while most FPSes allow some level of attrition in its firefights, Jack can easily die from a single stray hit, requiring deft reflexes, good survival instinct, and usage of time-slowing Sensory Boosts to navigate around threats.
On top of that basic premise, Ghostrunner 2 famously upped the ante with its original announcement, showcasing Jack’s crash-drop from the immense mountainlike Dharma Tower via motorcycle while demonstrating its new vehicular combat mechanics – and that’s not the only change from the original game.
Perhaps the most significant change Ghostrunner 2 brings to the formula is the new hub area. Between certain missions, protagonist Jack will visit a sort of makeshift headquarters, where the player can interact with friendly NPCs and explore an environment that is ostensibly free from hostility and risk. This is a major departure from Ghostrunner‘s core gameplay loop, which didn’t feature many opportunities to relax and take in the story. Time will tell just how content-rich this hub area is, but its mere existence already stands in stark contrast with the rest of the package. While some players may find these narrative-focused environments lackluster in comparison to the non-stop action of the first Ghostrunner, it will likely help break up the gameplay and hopefully allow the player to connect with Ghostrunner 2‘s NPCs.
Ghostrunner 2 was released on October 26, 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. To learn more about the game, visit its website or follow its social media account on Twitter.
