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Ghostrunner, unveiled at Gamescom 2019, captivated gamers with its intriguing premise: a cybernetic ninja navigating obstacles with lightning-fast parkour and wielding a deadly blade. The 18-minute Gamescom 2020 demo showcased a tightly designed level that amplified the hype. Unfortunately, the final product doesn’t quite live up to the initial promise. This review explores the highs and lows of Ghostrunner, dissecting its successes and shortcomings.

Cybernetic Ninja in Action

The Thrill of the Blade

Who are you? You don’t know. You are Ghostrunner, a lethal killing machine. Fast, agile, and precise, your blade slices through any foolhardy enough to stand in your way. Even projectiles can be deflected or reversed with pinpoint accuracy. These simple mechanics are the foundation of Ghostrunner’s often exhilarating combat.

Ghostrunner Combat

The game thrusts you into arenas filled with static and mobile enemies, their aim as true as Hawkeye’s. Survival depends on constant vigilance, choosing the optimal path to approach and eliminate each threat. One hit is all it takes, for both you and them. Wall-running, grappling hooks, and time-slowing “blink” abilities enhance your mobility. Traversing these large, open arenas is a constant joy, a thrilling dance of death and precision.

Ghostrunner Platforming

Death is frequent, but each retry offers an opportunity to experiment with new approaches and target prioritization. The satisfaction of finally clearing a room after countless attempts is immense. The combat evokes the same thrill as Katana ZERO, but with a first-person perspective.

Furthermore, Ghostrunner features an intriguing upgrade system. As you progress, you unlock passive abilities represented as Tetris-like blocks. Strategically arranging these blocks within a “circuit board” allows for customized builds and playstyles. Unlockable active abilities further diversify the combat experience.

Ghostrunner Upgrade System

Frustrations and Shortcomings

While the combat shines, numerous encounters feel unfairly designed. Early on, multiple approaches are viable, but later levels often restrict options, demanding numerous deaths to discover the “correct” solution. This repetitive trial-and-error diminishes the initial excitement.

The platforming sequences, meant to break up the combat, also suffer from inconsistency. Momentum, jumping, and wall-clinging, crucial for navigating environmental puzzles, feel unreliable. Ghostrunner’s jump can feel inexplicably weak one moment and perfectly normal the next. Wall-runs can end abruptly, and grappling hook landings can be unpredictable.

Inconsistent Platforming

The movement system seems to draw inspiration from Titanfall 2 and Mirror’s Edge but lacks the polish and consistency of its predecessors. This inconsistency makes many platforming sections tedious and frustrating.

The boss battles are equally disappointing. Only three exist, one of which is excessively difficult and unfair. The remaining two are surprisingly easy, even compared to regular encounters.

Boss Battles

A Narrative Void

Ghostrunner opens with a flashy cinematic depicting the protagonist’s quest for revenge, culminating in a Doc Ock-esque villain tearing him apart. He then awakens, amnesia-stricken, guided by a predictable, quickly-revealed traitorous voice in his head.

The world-building is minimal. Characters offer glimpses of the setting, The Tower, but their dialogue is so bland that even the in-game characters seem uninterested. Despite its cyberpunk setting, the visuals are monotonous, lacking contrast and vibrancy. Environments often feel copy-pasted rather than organically designed.

The narrative itself is laughably weak. Lacking any significant highs or lows, Ghostrunner runs in circles, slashing enemies, getting betrayed, and repeating the process. Beyond the 60% mark, the increasingly inconsistent gameplay and vapid story drain any remaining motivation.

Bland Environments

Conclusion

Ghostrunner offers moments of thrilling, stylish action, but its inconsistent mechanics and weak narrative ultimately hold it back. The core gameplay loop is engaging, but the frustrations outweigh the fun. While the potential is there, the execution falls short. Hopefully, future updates can address these issues and allow Ghostrunner to fully realize its potential.