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Published by 505 Games, Ghostrunner is a magnificent melee fighting game that is filled with violence and gore. This action-adventure game puts players in the heart of cybervoid, a city that is the aftermath of a cataclysmic event, in which residents fend for themselves. Fans of the first-person perspective (FPP) genre can expect to unleash their fury of mercenaries waiting to ambush them.
The title character, the sword-swinging assassin Ghostrunner, must get to the top of Dharma Tower to face Mara, the Keymaster, in an attempt to bring justice to a land that is devoid of law. Though the game is exhilarating at its high points, there are a couple areas where it misses the mark. Here are its best and worst aspects.
10 Loved: Ultra Futuristic Cyberpunk Setting
The cutting-edge game offers players the vivid and vibrant visuals of a cyberpunk city that is in midst of turmoil. Gamers can venture through an urban landscape that is ultra-futuristic and fresh. The environment in Ghostrunner is decked with high rises and skyscrapers that are spectacular to the senses.
Not only is the city of Cybervoid a satisfying challenge to climb, but it also features a stimulating synth-wave soundtrack to keep the heartbeat pumping. Cyberpunk enthusiasts will be eager to uncover wall art and graffiti while progressing on their quest, all to a tune that fits the atmosphere.
9 Didn’t Love: One Hit Is All It Takes
Ghostrunner pits players against numerous enemies that are out for blood. As new players will learn quickly, even a single hit from these foes can cause a critical failure and end the game. Gamers must take the time to learn their moves and their attack patterns before going for the kill. For example, the Enforcer will shoot three projectiles at a time and reload his gun immediately. Be fast and look for such openings to close in and destroy enemies before they have a chance to strike back.
Learning these patterns, however, can be tedious for some. Before they master the tricks to killing each enemy, it can be easy to grow frustrated with how easy it is to die frequently.
8 Loved: Sensory Boost Is A Super Ability
Sensory Boost is a special ability that players can learn early on in the game. It lets players slow time and move to their left or right in order to avoid attacks and close in on enemies. It comes in handy when dealing with projectiles and bullets that can take players out in an instant.
The time-slowing ability can be used on the ground, in mid-air, and in combat, making it a versatile asset throughout the game. Players new to Ghostrunner can use Sensory Boost to get behind opponents and catch them off-guard.
7 Didn’t Love: Difficult To Save Progress
Since it takes only one hit to end the game, players need to be cautious of their progress. Whether one is a pro-gamer or a new player, it can frustrate just about anyone to kill multiple rounds of enemies and get killed by a thug. Getting killed mid-level will send players back to the start of the level, losing all progress in the process.
What's more, Ghostrunner players can’t restart a level from checkpoints if they happen to close to the game; they must reach the end of the level before quitting. Finding checkpoints between the stages is crucial for surviving the game. Be sure to reach as many checkpoints as possible to be able to clear the level.
6 Loved: Surge Is Excellent For Survival
There are several abilities that players can unlock. Among these, Surge is a ranged ability that releases a burst of energy which can slay enemies in a row. Novice gamers who find it hard to kill enemies with the sword can use Surge to defeat enemies from a distance without taking a hit.
Surge can be unlocked after clearing the level In Her Own Image. It can be upgraded to increase the size of the energy burst, its range, and its speed. The ranged ability is tremendously effective against enemies such as turrets and wrecks.
5 Didn’t Love: Hard To Navigate
Players have to complete 17 levels to finish the game, which can take more than eight hours. In addition to exploring the depths and heights of Dharma Tower, players can also collect a number of artifacts, audio logs, and swords to make their journey fulfilling. The game design of the cyberpunk city can be tantalizing, and it’s not unusual for gamers to roam the streets for hours on end — however, this makes it easy to get lost.
A few levels, such as The Road to Amida provide a treasure trove of information about the Ghostrunner project. Players can collect artifacts such as the Ghostrunner Poster, Credit Card, Architect Bust, and The Hammers Gang Insignia. But since The Road of Amida is such a vast stage, getting to these artifacts can be harder than expected, making it frustrating for completionists.
4 Loved: Sword Skins Look Amazing
Ghostrunner's weapon and item design complements the cyberpunk atmosphere of its central location, the Dharma Tower. Generally, survival games that are edgy and innovative with their combat system offer players multiple weapons such as chainsaws, pistols, and assault rifles to mitigate their enemies. Ghostrunner, on the other hand, provides only a tactile katana to slay enemies.
Fortunately, players can unlock more than fifteen sword styles that make the game more immersive with each strike. These sophisticated sword skins are dispersed throughout Dharma Tower. Fan favorites include Twilight Seisouken, Venom TsuruGR, and Izanami.
3 Didn’t Love: No Co-op Mode
The exciting city of Cybervoid presents several chances to perform death-defying stunts to make any gamers feel like they have the license to kill. With all these opportunities and several deadly foes, Ghostrunner is a game that will get players killed at least a few hundred times before clearing any level.
The one-strike survival nature of the game will make beginners and seasoned FPS experts crave a co-op mode, which could can make impressive feats in Ghostrunner easier to accomplish. The game does display a leaderboard at the end of each level that showcases players with the best time and the least deaths; however, there is currently no co-op mode that allows friends to play alongside each other.
2 Loved: Shurikens Are A Ninja’s Best Friend
Gliding at high speeds from platform to platform in the Cybervoid can truly make players feel like ninjas in pursuit of their prey. In addition to the splendid sword skins available in the game, players can also use shurikens to take out their foes.
Shurikens can be found in specific locations in Dharma Tower. Picking up shurikens in the game will allow players to throw the ninja weapons at enemies without being detected. Players can also throw shurikens at panels throughout the game to access hidden pathways in the cyberpunk city. It adds some flavor to the combat, and increases the adrenaline of fights.
1 Didn’t Love: Lack of Weapons For A Survival Game
FPS fanatics are usually spoiled for choice when it comes to weapons. For a game that is centered around a cyberpunk city, Ghostrunner offers its players a mere handful of weapons to deal damage. Apart from slashing with the sword and throwing shurikens at enemies, there aren’t many options to take out the mercenaries.
The DLCs released recently do give gamers additional levels to explore and new sword skins to unlock. Still, it's a shame that the survival game doesn’t feature other weapons to make the kills more satisfying to execute.
Ghostrunner is available to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.