Ghostrunner

Ghostrunner brilliantly succeeds in combining supercharged and demanding action with equally demanding platforming phases.

Ghostrunner is a fresh and frantic action game set in a striking cyberpunk universe. A videogame that offers a demanding gameplay experience that will force us to master each of the cyborg's abilities to advance in a somewhat generic script.

Fluide, responsive and full of adrenaline, Ghostrunner will put every player to the test pushing them over their limits. Despite some flaws, it's a very well crafted game.

Ghostrunner frustrates and thrills in equal measure. There is too much trial and error at times, but persevere through clenched teeth and you’ll be rewarded. [Issue#183, p.95]

As I came away from Ghostrunner and started writing about it, I realized that I genuinely wished there was more game to play. That’s not a comment on the game’s length, which is very well paced, filled with bonus collectibles and perfect for speedrunners, but more a comment on how much potential there is here. Give me more levels, more platforming gauntlets, more cybernetic abilities to use, just give me more Ghostrunner.

Ghostrunner is an all-around great action game. The first-person parkour mechanics will make you feel like a badass, as will chopping up bad guys. The game doesn’t always control perfectly, but everything still comes together to create an awesome, action-packed cyberpunk experience.

It owes an obvious debt to Mirror’s Edge but this impressive new cyberpunk game surpasses its inspiration in terms of both combat and first person parkour.

With its breakneck pace and skill-heavy gameplay, Ghostrunner is a speedrunner’s dream. But even beyond that demographic, this is a great first person action game that feels punishing but fair. You may die hundreds of times, but instantaneous respawns and generous checkpointing ensure that Ghostrunner’s challenging combat and platforming never become a chore. More than all of that though, Ghostrunner is jam packed with a great variety of enemies, mechanics, and special powers that constantly changed up how I approached its many unique encounters. That meant it always felt fresh, and by the end of its six to eight hour campaign, I was all too eager to jump back in for seconds.

When Ghostrunner rips, it really rips. Wall-running, jumping, sliding, and cutting through enemies as you go is empowering and impressive. For a good portion of the game, you'll only experience how impressive it feels to dart around a room in short bursts, but even that's enough motivation to keep you pushing forward to master the art of robot ninja parkour. There's bound to be a lot of frustration along the way, so it isn't all smiles, exactly, but the rush you feel in the moment as you perfectly run a room is worth the grit.

Not since Mirror’s Edge has first-person movement felt this good.