Ghostrunner is one of my favorite action games of the past few years, and it’s a perfect blend of fast-paced action, and platforming with a cyberpunk backdrop. It’s why the announcement of Ghostrunner 2, especially after an expansion that already improved on the base game was very promising. I’ve had the chance to play some of the sequel, and now I’m even more excited about what the developers have planned. In my Ghostrunner 2 preview, I’ll talk about what I got to experience.
Block and Parry
In the first Ghostrunner, you could technically block, but it was more of a parry, and you had to respond right as you were about to hit. Now, you can actually block incoming attacks, and shots at the cost of a stamina bar. This means that you have more of a fighting chance even if you mishandle your initial approach to combat.
Areas feel wider, and while the enemy placements still encourage you to figure out the best possible path to get through each, the addition of blocking and multiple points of entry encourages you to try out different strategies. Killing enemies never feels tedious because, like you, most of them go down with a single hit.
You still respawn instantly and blocking becomes essential when each combat encounter has far more enemies than the first entry, especially in this earlier stage. It’s still a challenging game, and you have some of the abilities from the first game from the get-go. The blocking adds a bit more accessibility while making it function as a limited resource.
You can also perform a perfect parry which automatically kills the enemy attacking you, but the parry window is pretty strict. It took me a few tries to get it right, but not enough to feel confident using this repeatedly.
Overall, the combat design feels a bit more fleshed out, and while I didn’t die as much, there were already hints of far more difficult enemies to deal with early on.
Platforming and Bike
If you’ve played the first Ghostrunner, you’ll feel right at home, and adjust in a matter of seconds. Grappling from different points, swinging, wall-running, sliding, and dashing in the air feels responsive, and the controls are as tight as ever. The platforming is one of the best parts of these games, and the level design complements it well.
You’re never looking for the next point of interest, and are automatically guided towards it while maintaining your momentum. This extends to the combat too, and the larger combat areas I previously mentioned make full use of your platforming abilities.
While most of the platforming mechanics feel the same so far, the key addition to Ghostrunner 2 is the bike. This beautiful cyberpunk bike is a joy to ride, and I got to play through a fairly long section near the end of this preview build where I boosted the bike over ramps, slashed through energy points, and spiraled through tunnels racing to keep up with a signal.
The sense of speed and momentum is tripled while you’re on the bike, and seeing Dharma Tower blur across you is something I never knew I wanted. It’s my favorite addition so far, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves further.
Jack Is Back
One of the first things I noticed was the change in the tone of the writing. It makes sense with how things ended in the first entry, and Jack feels like a character with a lot more energy, and people he can count on. He isn’t as reserved anymore, and there is a clear sign of growth in how he talks, comments, and even acts.
He’ll acknowledge a joke, comment on a discussion between his companions, and even flip his sword around when he isn’t in combat. These small touches add to the character work, which I found was one of the weaker aspects of the first game.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Ghostrunner 2 so far, and it’s nice to visit Dharma Tower again. Blocking is a welcome addition that adds more depth to combat, and the bike section was the highlight for me. I’m very interested to see how the bosses have evolved over the original release, and what new abilities Jack will unlock next.
What did you think of our Ghostrunner 2 Preview? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This preview is based on the PC version of Ghostrunner 2. The key was provided by Diva Agency.
