Dharma Tower may be free of the Keymaster and the Architect, but Ghostrunner 2 has arrived for gamers to see that the fight for survival continues. Our protagonist, Jack the Ghostrunner, has returned once again to protect the citizens of this post-apocalyptic world, with the help of developer, One More Level, and publisher, 505 Games.
When Ghostrunner released in 2020, players quickly fell in love with the high-octane thrill ride they were given. The one-hit kill system, while challenging at times, was a masterclass in fast paced gameplay. In a way, it was akin to a John Wick film, where the action sequences are at the forefront, with just the right amount of story to keep viewers interest and curiosity
Ghostrunner 2 has returned us to this universe and very much keeps this level of action. However, with changes in the way it tells the story, the sequel is both helped and hurt as a side effect.
Ghostrunner 2 Starts Strong With Tried and True Gameplay
If nothing else, Ghostrunner 2 plays to the best parts of the previous game, and throws the player into a very familiar style of combat. The gameplay is not reinvented, and the one-hit kill system that made its predecessor so adrenaline-inducing is still a key factor.
All of the essentials are also present, you have wall running, grappling, stamina for dashing and slowing time, brutal parry animations, great music, and a respawn so fast you will almost forget you just died ten times in the last five minutes.
The shuriken ability (throwing stars) is also incorporated near the beginning of the game, which is a welcome feature for those who prefer a slight ranged advantage before going in for the kill.
In a lot of ways, when it comes to combat, Ghostrunner 2 plays it very safe. There are a couple of additions made to the gameplay and story that were not part of the previous title, however, they did not feel like major leaps toward innovation. As I made my way through Ghostrunner 2, it’s not that I felt I was playing the same game again, but there was never a sense that the sequel had accomplished more than the original set to achieve.
The New Ghostrunner 2 Dialogue System Feels Like An Afterthought
One of the ways Ghostrunner 2 tells its story is through the use of a new dialogue system. The previous game had Jack mostly talking to allies like Zoe over voice chat, which is still a majority of how information is passed in this game. But now, you can also speak directly with NPCs. This is a welcome addition for gamers to get to see these characters face-to-face, but the dialogue doesn’t add much to the story.
One More Level and 505 Games advertised this system as a way to further explore the lore and plot, but the most important information still comes from conversations during combat. In fact, a lot of the in person conversations you have with the characters do little to expound on the world, and tend to be more about their feelings towards the mission or other characters.
Since I went into the game knowing there would be a new dialogue system, I expected a fair amount of options for conversation. However, each time you are given the opportunity to talk, there are only about two or three things you can ask.
So, don’t expect Ghostrunner 2 to play out like an RPG, when the reality is that dialogue is very limited. There is no skill tree to make distinguished choices, no impact to your actions, and no way to expand the conversation.
The reason I felt the dialogue system appeared as an afterthought is that it all happens in one location. Occasionally between missions you come back to the same spot and get a chance to talk to your team. And the things that happen in this location (despite one major plot event) do not have any impact on how the story turns.
The Motorbike In Ghostrunner 2 Is a Great Bonus
The motorbike is an aspect of gameplay that has been heavily advertised in anticipation for the release of Ghostrunner 2. It is certainly the most unique addition, and I think it’s a major win for the game. It changes up the style of combat just enough to prevent the standard fast paced hack and slash action from getting old.
That said, in some situations the motorbike could be something where you want to be careful what you wish for. I kept wondering when the motorbike was going to show up, when all of a sudden it arrived and took over all aspects of the game. When you finally find it, the bike will stay with you through a large portion of Ghostrunner 2, that has a semi-open world feel to it.
There may come a time when you just want to hop of the bike and go back to cutting enemies in half, but you have to bare with it when things feel repetitive. The chase scenes can be a lot of fun, and while at time I did feel that driving the bike may have needed more quality over quantity, it served a valuable purpose.
It should also be noted that it can be very easy to get stuck while using the motorbike, which can feel a bit tedious at times. A simple checkpoint reset will fix the problem, but it might be at a cost, depending on your progress.
One gameplay aspect that did not serve a purpose and felt like filler, I will discuss in the following paragraph, this serves as your spoiler warning.
Near the end of the game, Ghostrunner 2 does what feels like a last ditch effort to extend the length of the game. Jack is given a wingsuit ability, which takes quite a bit of getting used to and will probably lead to several deaths for the average player.
While often times you can predict how your moves will react to the environment, the wingsuit is a roll of the dice. Sometimes you will be propelled in the air where you need to go and other times you will completely miss the mark.
I recognize that the wingsuit is not a horrible gameplay mechanic, but its late arrival feels more like a gimmick than a useful tool.
Ghostrunner 2 Is a Comfortable and Mostly Familiar Game
Although I listed several things in this review that might come off as dissatisfied, it should go on the record that I believe Ghostrunner 2 is a lot of fun. I loved the first game and greatly enjoyed my time getting to run around Dharma Tower once again.
My observation for this title is that a sequel should try to push the bounds of what was accomplished in the first game. Ghostrunner set the bar fairly high and laid the foundation for an even more dynamic narrative, that somewhat missed the mark.
I have not mentioned much about the overall plot to avoid spoilers, but the story in some ways felt done before. The Ghostrunner series needs to be fresh, and it still feels like there is so much room to grow. There’s also no harm in adding a story index, if the fear is that players won’t be able to keep track of all the new information.
Ghostrunner 2 is a good game and in a lot of ways it plays to the strengths of what makes it a fun experience. If you were a fan of the first game, I would absolutely recommend the sequel, even if the narrative isn’t as fleshed out as you might dream.
Ghostrunner 2 has several of the needed elements for a fantastic game, and I only hope that if fans get a Ghostrunner 3, it will double down on expanding this incredible universe.
7/10
Ghostrunner 2 was played on PS5 with a code supplied by Diva Agency.
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