Ghostrunner is one of the laudable ninja action games out there to date. The developers, One More Level, and Slipgate Ironworks did a great job piecing together this fast-paced game. The game was co-published by All in! Games SA and 505 Games. It was released in September 2021 and is compatible with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game runs on the Unreal Engine 4 and features very interesting gameplay.

A Somewhat Cliché Plot

The game takes place in a cyberpunk-themed post-apocalyptic world that survived a global cataclysm known as the Burst. The rest of humankind is housed in an arcology shelter called Dharma Tower. The game begins with the Ghostrunner, a cybernetically enhanced swordsman who has lost his memory.

He is guided by the disembodied voice of an old man called The Architect and goes on a quest against the rulers of the broken world to uncover his true identity and history. The architect puts Ghostrunner on a mission to stop the Keymaster who had betrayed the colony. The plot is quite predictable, but the difference is in its execution and the great voice acting done in the game. The storytelling does not slow down the game’s pace, which is great.

The Slash And Dice Gameplay

Although it comes with interesting additions and unique challenges, this is essentially a single-player slice game. The action is really good and requires lightning-quick reflexes and very risky but rewarding combat. The developers avoid everything that could affect the sense of speed at all costs, which is commendable. Almost every enemy dies with one hit, but so do you. Not to worry, the respawn feature is impressively instantaneous, so you are not out of the game for too long.

The Ghostrunner is equipped with only a sword, but some unique mobility options and speed complement this weapon. You can run along walls, slide down slopes, and slow down time which enables you to alter your direction and momentum mid-air. This is one of the most visually stunning features of the game. Overall, the game has a cool flow, and you can move in unique ways to get to the enemies. The enemies also upgrade as you advance in skills and abilities, keeping the game interesting. Before you get comfortable with enemies shooting single shots from their pistols, you are introduced to enemies with machine guns that keep you moving even faster. After a while, the enemies come with special shielded armor, which you can only attack from behind.

The variation of enemy types keeps the action fresh at virtually every level. Before long, your method of navigation changes as you are introduced to an environmental mechanic rail. You then need to destroy the shield battery before you can attack a group of enemies or use power-ups that slow down attacks so you can eliminate a group of enemies. The game never seems to run out of ideas at every level, so there are multiple ways to execute an attack. Although this flexibility comes with its challenges, it is rewarding, so you never hit a wall. Instead of going directly at a machine gun-wielding enemy, you can go in the other direction to take down another ninja who is guarding a powerup and then snipe through another group of enemies before hitting your target. 

Superb Cyberpunk-Inspired Graphics

This is one of the most visually satisfying games I have played in a long time. The developers took the cyberpunk elements seriously, so the environment is noticeably dirty with many big neon signs.

Nevertheless, the world is beautifully lit and has an amazing rendering, but it does little in worldbuilding. The game is a blood-splattered arena with a strictly determined path. You can run the game on 4K, 120 FPS, and support Ray-Tracing on the right setup.

Great And Immersive Sound

Ghostrunner comes with a brilliant electro soundtrack that thumps as you slide and run through the intricate levels. The sound design adds to the immersion and action of the game.

The voice acting in the game is exquisite and goes a long way to elevate the gaming experience. With the haptics and adaptive triggers, you can feel every death and grappling hook shot, which is cool. The use of DualSense bell elevates the game, making it more immersive and visceral.

Highly Enjoyability And Dynamic Game

I have spoken a lot about the game’s pace because that gives it the advantage over others. There is no sprinting button because you’re automatically sprinting whenever you move. You cannot afford to stand still in a gunfight because you are only equipped with a sword. The enemies are really precise, and you are constantly on the move, which is how the game successfully keeps pulling you into the action. You must also be calculative because if you fail to react or miss a jump to the next wall, you plunge to death. 

There is a lot of excitement when you successfully dodge a bullet at the last minute or defeat an enemy that has proven difficult after many tries. Ghostrunner, however, seems to go out of its way to annoy you, especially when you have to travel through the ‘Cybervoid.’ This is an electronic block space where you can arrange the abilities you need in your gameplay. You are then forced to do tedious puzzles that have no real impact or consequence on the gameplay. This deals the hardest blow to the game’s pace, and the only consolation is that it makes up a minority of the gameplay.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ghost runner is 6 to 8 hours of fast-paced and exciting gameplay. It is quite difficult to get the hang of the game and can be brutally unforgiving. However, no matter how often your character dies (and it will die many times), you will never get tired of the gameplay. The game goes for about $30 and does not support multiplayer features.