I was a little hesitant to get into Ghostrunner II since, even as CGM’s resident Ninja, I never actually got around to playing the first one. You’d think a fast-paced, first-person action platformer starring a cyborg ninja would be right up my alley, but despite always wanting to play it, it just ended up on my permanent backlog list.

Thankfully, one of the perks of being a game critic is being afforded the chance to dive into the sequel for the purposes of work. Having finally played Ghostrunner II, I can definitely say I missed out on the original—this game is a high-octane bloodbath where every decision counts, and I love it.

Following the events of the first game—it does feature a recap of the first game, so thankfully, I wasn’t lost—Ghostrunner II sees Jack taking on a powerful AI cult called the Asura, who have gathered outside Dharma Tower and are seemingly trying to resurrect the Architect. Jack must venture through the city and try to bring some semblance of order to the chaos that ensued after he killed the Keymaster and take down this dangerous new cult.

“Visually, Ghostrunner II is stunning, creating a cyberpunk world that combines Blade Runner with TRON to an incredible effect.”

That’s about as much as I can remember since the story—delivered mostly through dialogue that’s happening while you’re trying to platform quickly or in newly added pre-mission dialogue segments—is mostly incidental to the real meat of the game: the fast-place action platforming. I will say it’s a little frustrating that this game doesn’t give you a codex for plot elements like keeping track of characters, villains, important plot details, etc.

However, that isn’t to say the plot isn’t engaging, and it can just be a little hard to focus on when you’re trying to maintain the momentum of each level. It causes a bit of a mental whiplash when you’re trying to go from the high-speed processing of each encounter—navigating increasingly complex environments while processing enemy placement and trying to slice through each opponent with perfect precision, only to then need to quietly register what your allies are talking about through exposition and banter.

The gameplay is the true star of Ghostrunner II. If you’ve played the original, then you know what to expect: Mirror’s Edge mixed with Ninja Gaiden mixed with Hotline Miami. It’s an incredibly fun game loop as you move through each level, nimbly moving through platforming sections and cutting down your opponents with cybernetic precision. Players will utilize a wide arsenal of abilities, including shurikens, grappling hooks, shadow clones, and a good old-fashioned katana. Still, much like Hotline Miami, one hit is game over, so players will need to stay on their toes if they want to survive.

“The gameplay is the true star of Ghostrunner II – it’s Mirror’s Edge mixed with Ninja Gaiden mixed with Hotline Miami.”

Furthermore, much like Hotline Miami, this game moves at a breakneck pace—helped even more by the PS5’s SSD—so the pace never slows down as you’re constantly thrown right back into the action and adapting to each new challenge. Unlike its predecessor, Ghostrunner II features combat sections that are a lot less linear, so players are given a lot of options on how to approach each encounter, allowing them a bit of freestyle action that is incredibly addictive.

However, the gameplay is not without its flaws. The controls can be a bit finicky, and sometimes, trying to platform or jump between walls can result in some misplaced dashes and accidental deaths. Also, what was also a common issue in Mirror’s Edge, the first-person perspective—while adding a unique layer of immersion—can be a bit more of a hindrance than a helper in terms of spatial awareness. This not only causes some problems for the platforming but mostly in terms of combat when you can easily be killed by something behind you that you weren’t focused on at the moment.

Visually, Ghostrunner II is stunning, creating a cyberpunk world that combines Blade Runner with TRON to an incredible effect. Ranging from rain-slicked rooftops surrounded by neon signs to a run-down cathedral that combines Gothic architecture with pixelated light bridges to a digital world that just looks like feudal Japan if it were in TRON; the game constantly surrounds the player with an atmosphere that is as lived-in as it is brutal.

Backing the game’s visuals is an absolutely SLAMMIN soundtrack from Daniel Deluxe, We Are Magonia, Gost, Dan Terminus, and Arek Reikowski. I’m not the biggest fan of D&B, but in this game, it really works, maintaining a driving bass beat that matches the rhythm and flow of the game. And when the synth wave kicks in, and the vibe really gets going, it adds a lot to the cyberpunk atmosphere and makes the gameplay immensely cool.

Ghostrunner II is a challenging game but one that rewards persistence and adaptability. It will definitely test your Ninja abilities, but it’s not so hard as to be unfun—it certainly won’t turn people off in the same way Dark Souls does. If you can get past its difficulty curve, its slick style, incredible visuals, and banging soundtrack will keep you coming back for more and more. Fans of the first game or newcomers looking for a challenge should definitely check this out.