Running along the wall is a cool thing in itself - combine that with a jump and a quick spin before dodging a shot in slow motion and lassoing your way to the next platform, and you've got an exhilarating experience! Or so the folks at One More Level must have thought when they conceived Ghostrunner.
It needs no cinematic introduction. You wake up in a cybernetic body, with a sharp blade in your hand and a sonorous voice in your ear, which promptly tells you where to go: You are already wanted, but at the same time you are supposed to take revenge - in a post-apocalyptic world or rather a huge tower that houses a complete city. "freedom" and "individuality" don't play a noteworthy role in this dystopian juggernaut. So it's high time to put an end to the boss of it all, Keymaster Mara.
Ghostrunner is not a narrative game, though, which is why the story is only told in passing. Rather, Ghostrunner is a tough challenge with numerous deaths and lightning-fast restarts. So you get shot, remember who shot you, start over and try to do better. Because the enemies are absurdly nimble and precise, you can't make any mistakes. Because every hit is deadly and the opponents are so different that you almost always have to grasp and avoid several dangers.
Since you only have one word with you, you can't comfortably send the enemies into the futuristic hunting grounds from a distance, but can't avoid confrontation. A single blow is usually enough - but you have to be able to place it first. And to succeed, you run and swing elegantly through the pleasantly varied rooms.
After all, the cybernetic alter ego not only walks along with billboards or house walls but also pulls itself up to grappling hooks via a lasso. If you hold down the button for fast gliding, you also dodge in slow motion. You slide across the floor, knock away incoming projectiles with your sword, and last but not least, you collect enhancements with which you can briefly slow down time, jump especially high, or shoot throwing stars at switches.
Overcoming deep chasms on some kind of rails is even reminiscent of BioShock Infinite - but above all, you combine all of this because you almost always have to be on the move thanks to the inhumanly nimble enemies. Especially at the beginning, the fluid interlocking of all actions is no easy task, even though most abilities are only added over time. In any case, it takes quite a while until you understand the game and the controls in such a way that you know both off the top of your head. But once the timing is right, it feels great to acrobatically overpower the strong opponents!
Conclusion
Of course, when small mistakes are punished by death, it can be frustrating, and the physical presence of the alter ego can't keep up with that of a Mirror's Edge. But whenever you finally master a tricky spot, take out dangerous enemies on an alternative path, or the self-created combination of passive abilities contributes to success, the running, climbing, and shredding feel simply fabulous. After all, you creatively string together cool parkour acrobatics and powerful swordplay in pleasantly varied rooms, and even within the areas you usually have different ways to reach the goal - in other words: grab it! For cybernetic acrobats capable of suffering, Ghostrunner is indeed an exhilarating experience.
