And it actually lives up to that amazing premise, at least in its best moments. Unfortunately, the clumsy combat, linear levels, and repetitive environments get in the way of Ghostrunner's greatness.Ghostrunner is a game about a cybernetic ninja who can run on walls, slow time, dodge bullets in midair, and kill enemies in one swing of his sword. Ghostrunner's fast-paced action and challenging platforming make for a wild ride. The flaws hold Ghostrunner back from greatness, but there's still a lot to enjoy. When Ghostrunner works, it's a one of a kind experience, and it's worth trudging through for fans of platformers, and those looking for a cyberpunk fix. The platforming sections are so great that it's unfortunate when progress is slowed by clunky combat and some spotty pathfinding.Īt a $30 price tag and an 8-9 hour runtime, it's easy to recommend, though don't expect a deep story or much in the way of replayability. and really shines as a first-person platformer, a genre that is about as common as an intelligent conversation in a Youtube comment section. Ghostrunner is a fun and unique platformer that looks great and sounds even better. Unlike a game like Mirror's Edge, which featured a clean aesthetic that clearly marked your path, Ghostrunner's rundown environments and muted color palette don't always translate the direct path. Ghostrunner is not always clear about where you should go, and a few times I jumped for the wrong ledge, or ran across the wrong wall and plummeted to my death. The sameness of Ghostrunner's environments hinders your navigation as well. The levels are incredibly linear and don't give your Ghostrunner much freedom The neon-drenched aesthetic starts to wear thin about halfway through the game when you start to realize the crowded rooftops and derelict factories all look the same. Most of the time, there's one predetermined to your destination or a certain path that is best suited for taking out enemies. The levels are incredibly linear and don't give your Ghostrunner much freedom, which is a shame because Ghostrunner shines brightest when you're running and jumping between buildings at high speeds. And despite the Ghostrunner's abilities, there was never much incentive to use anything outside of my katana, the default dodge move, and the very useful Tempest ability, that unintentionally gave me Star Wars vibes. Your Ghostrunner might be a super powerful cyber ninja, but the one-hit kills made me feel like I was built out of wet tissue paper instead. Unlike platforming deaths, where I felt the death was my fault, dying in combat frustrated me to no end. An indicator flashes on the screen to let you know where an enemy is shooting from, but I never really felt like I knew where every enemy was until I died by each one twenty times. Sometimes I'd rush to take out a foe, only to be shot in the back by another gunman across the map. There's a lot of trial error involved in combat situations, mostly because I had a hard time keeping track of the enemies in the area. I hated when I had to put a pause on the parkour to deal with the generic baddies that seem to always know where I am, no matter where I am. The combat, while simple, proves to be the game's biggest annoyance. Ghostrunner might be fast and furious most of the time, but the second it starts to slow down, Ghostrunner starts to become a chore. Ghostrunner review: What I don't love about Ghostrunner These abilities include a projectile, a multi-kill dash attack, a force push, and the ability to hack an enemy and turn them against their allies. There are also four abilities that you unlock as you play. It's almost like playing a game of Tetris, as you twist and turn modules to best fit your playstyle. Booster Modules come in all different shapes and sizes, and you must try to fit as many as you can into the 36 square slots provided. In addition to your trusty katana, Ghostrunner features a unique upgrade system that allows you to mix and match upgrades, or Booster Modules, as you unlock them. Which is helpful because you'll probably be dying a lot. One hit is all it takes to end a run, but thankfully no matter if you get shot in the face or fall to your death from a miscalculated jump, your lives are infinite, your checkpoints are well placed, and your restarts are instantaneous. You, however, are also victim to the mechanic. The one hit, one kill mechanic keeps the game's pace high. Your ghostrunner wields a powerful sword that'll cut enemies in half with one swing. Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas (Image credit: Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas)Ĭombat is handled in a much simpler way.
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