Video Game Review - Ghostrunner 2

Rob reviews Ghostrunner 2 on PlayStation 5…

When it comes to platforming games, I’m the first in the queue to say that I’m really no good. Having to perform various actions to reach a platform, or avoid a bottomless pit just aren’t my ideas of fun. So when it came to Ghostrunner 2 you could say that I was in for a “wild ride”. 

I’ll admit now that I never played the first title. And if I had, I probably wouldn’t be writing this sentence right now. That’s because Ghostrunner - and it’s sequel - are not just action titles. They’re bloody platformers too! That being said, while I did struggle with Ghostrunner 2’s high intensity platforming shenanigans, and didn’t really understand what I was fighting for - it’s action sequences were a rollercoaster thrill ride that never let me escape their warm embrace until the credits rolled.

Thankfully for those like myself who didn’t experience the first game there’s a handy cutscene that brings you up to speed - we’ll sort of. This introduction does an interesting job in introducing our cyborg ninja playable character, but aside from throwing an inconspicuous guy in a suit off of a digital looking tower I was still none the wiser. From what I gather, killing “suit guy” has left a power vacuum within the gorgeous cyberpunk world and various factions are vying to be top dog. As the cyborg badass Jack you’ll have to deal with these power plays while simultaneously trying to recover your past memories. Meanwhile a once thought deactivated group of Ghostrunners (folk like you!) have returned and are causing their own problems for everyone including Jack and his group of rebels. No doubt there’s a lot more to the story than what I’ve described, but you’ll soon be neck deep in cyborg ninja action it’ll all blur into a bright neon tangle. 

What Ghostrunner 2 does well is it makes each of its enemy encounters one massive sandbox. You’re given plenty of tools to carve your way through the digital world, and plenty of ways to do it. Jack has a few skills at his disposal such as grinding, sliding, boost jumping, and finally blocking and deflecting attacks with his sword. Some skills can also be used to help traverse the world with the active dodge being relied on quite frequently. With the sheer volume of different button presses and accuracy, it’s fair to say that your muscle memory needs to be spot on. In quite a bizarre way, playing Ghostrunner 2 took me back to my Rock Band/Guitar Heroes days with needing to remember sequences on the screen to what buttons to press. 

Skills can also be buffed with numerous enhancements that can be switched freely in between missions. Acting like a PC motherboard, you’ll be able to upgrade Jack’s system by adding chips to his upgrade grid/tree. These then give you passive buffs to your stamina bar, or adding a quasi special attack that can be utilised in battle. There’s a lot of variation here, and upon unlocking all the available chipsets, Jack has quite an arsenal at his disposal. As the game progresses you’ll also get access to a motorbike and wing suit. These also play a big part on how you progress through some of the elaborate assault courses, with both working extremely well in tandum with your other skills. 

As briefly touched upon earlier, Ghostrunner 2 isn’t a particularly easy title. Death is never more than a moment away as both you and the enemies can die in a single hit. Encounters then become a tactical game of chess as you attempt to out wit your opponent’s, while keeping one eye on everything else. While I did die a lot, Ghostrunner 2 never felt particularly frustrating. You’re thrown back into the action pretty quick, which not only placates any frustration, it also gives you ample time to try a new approach. Checkpoints litter stages with most appearing before complex parkour sections, or lengthy battles. 

Boss battles also gain the advantage of having checkpoints. And while it may sour the experience for those wanting more of a challenge, for me it was a godsend. Not only are some of these fights on the level of a FPS Elden Ring, the boss encounters don’t share your same 1-hit-kill mentality. Away from this and they’re pretty fun encounters with each introducing unique obstacles that’ll really test your abilities - and reaction times!

Playing Ghostrunner 2 on the PlayStation 5 was a visual treat. It’s a gorgeous game to look at, and the Cyberpunk world blends the necessities of ninja parkour into infrastructure that you’d find in a futuristic city. There’s plenty of hidden collectibles too with each unlocking new cosmetics or lore. This further expands each environment, and gives a great reason to replay previous completed stages. The games soundtrack also compliments the high octane action with plenty of techno beats that’ll see you head banging along to as you slice and dice.

Even though I’m not a fan of platforming titles, or even played the original title, Ghostrunner 2 kept me coming back for more. While more proficient parkour ninjas among us will no doubt have an easy ride, Ghostrunner 2 saw me hit its credits in about 14 hours, which to me is an acceptable time for a game of this calibre. With plenty of extra challenges, and the possibility to replay levels to find missed collectable, or even to improve time taken, there’s plenty of reason to take another trip into its cyberpunk world. 

Overall, Ghostrunner 2 is a game I’m glad to have experienced. It’s packed full of crazy enemy encounters and parkour madness that’s all been thrown into a gorgeously realised Cyberpunk setting. If you play once action-platformer this year, Ghostrunner 2 needs to be top of the list! 

Rating: 9/10 

A code was provided for this review

Ghostrunner 2 is out now and can be purchased via the PlayStation 5 store. 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on X/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews, and BlueSky @geekculturereviews.bsky.social