Chernobylite starts off simply with a flashback of the protagonist Igor aboard a train with his fiance and the love of his life, Tatyana. It then quickly cuts to a dilapidated version of the place, and you are put right into another botched heist job at the power plant wherein you get to meet the main antagonist of the game, the Black STALKER. After a friend’s unfortunate death at the hands of the Black STALKER, Igor and his companion Olivier vow to take revenge and rescue Tatyana.

"This forms the basis for a seemingly humane and emotional plotline revolving around love and commitment but quickly falls into a number of post-apocalyptic tropes as emotional story beats are sidelined in favor of raising a collective revolution against the oppressive NAR."

This forms the basis for a seemingly humane and emotional plotline revolving around love and commitment but quickly falls into a number of post-apocalyptic tropes as emotional story beats are sidelined in favor of raising a collective revolution against the oppressive NAR, who wants to exploit the Chernobylite material for its own corporate greeds. This is further exasperated by an ending that veers more into the philosophical territory than humane, which leaves a sour taste in the mouth. While it’s filled with a number of revelations surrounding time paradoxes and the supernatural, it didn’t feel as emotionally impactful as I’d wanted it to be.

The main characters aren’t also interesting enough to warrant emotional investment in their personal tragedies, which is accentuated to a further degree by inconsistent dialogues and voice acting – which can range anywhere from convincing to downright embarrassing; all at the flip of a switch. However, the one-tone main cast is offset by a band of funny and likable companions, the standout highlights of which are Tarakan, a delusional maniac who wants to defeat The Rat King and Mikhail, an obnoxiously loud and violent junkie with a dark past.

"At times, it can prove to be a fun tug-of-war between how much resources should be used to upgrade the base, and how efficiently one can keep comfort problems at bay."

All of these colorful personalities reside at The Warehouse, which acts as the base of operations for the entire game. Chernobylite offers a number of base upgrades by means of crafting, which strikes a fine enough balance between accessibility and depth. You can craft a plethora of machines that allow you to create new equipment and upgrade existing ones, but doing so decreases the comfort level of the base which by extension can take a toll on the health and psyche of your companions. At times, it can prove to be a fun tug-of-war between how much resources should be used to upgrade the base, and how efficiently one can keep comfort problems at bay.

At the start of each day, you get to assign all of your companions their daily jobs. Any of the companions can be assigned to any job – even the main quests, wherein the companions will rid the area of enemies so you can easily finish up the job at a later time. Each companion has a success rate for a given job, and failure can have consequences ranging from a slight decrease in morale to being captured by the military forces.

While there are a number of options for tackling quests as you deem fit, there is a noticeable lack of variety nevertheless. Side quests revolve around getting to a location and pressing a single button to retrieve the contents of a supply drops, and it almost never veers away from this template. The main quests fare a bit better but operate on the same blueprint for a decent chunk of the game. It does ramp up in complexity towards the end, with one of my favorites being a multi-step kidnapping operation where choosing different options can have an interesting impact on the environment and the kinds of enemies you face.

"Chernobylite has a unique take on player mortality, which is one of the most interesting parts of the game."

When you are out and about, you need to constantly be on the lookout for resources, clues, and information that might help you inch further in your quest for finding Tatyana. There are a number of world events marked on the map, which can have either the titular Vagabond who is a trader with a knack for business and entrepreneurship, or containers with useful resources. Of course, you will also have to defend yourself from monsters and soldiers, the latter of which can be dispatched either with stealth options or combat. The enemy AI is easily exploitable with traps and distractions, which allowed me to sneak past most scenarios with relative ease. When fights do start, they are brutal – Igor goes down relatively easily in just a few hits, and most enemies are quite aggressive. Ammunition and healing supplies remain scarce for the most part, so it’s absolutely vital to understand which fights need to be taken and which don’t.

Chernobylite has a unique take on player mortality, which is one of the most interesting parts of the game. If you die at the hands of the NAR, you are most likely to end up in a prison alongside any other lost companion. It’s here where you are required to find your lost gear and make an escape. In other cases, you will end up in an otherworldly portal where you get to see all of the choices you made during the course of your playthrough and get a chance to change them. It’s quite interesting to see how each choice leads to a number of consequences in other quests and relationships, which then need to be replayed in order for the timeline to make sense, of course. This also allows Chernobylite to be extremely brutal with its choice and consequences, and it’s quite possible that your companions might even leave your cause if your relationship with them deteriorates to a certain point.

However, depending on the fail state – you are either required to relive the current day or continue on with the next day, which robs you of any progress made on the active quests. This kicks into gear during the latter half of the game, where quests start to get interesting and also relatively long. In addition to this, you lose all gear and supplies consumed during a failed run which can have a dire effect on your plans and options – both in the short term and the long term.

Chernobylite has some great art direction, which isn’t surprising since the team spent extraneous amounts of money capturing photos and doing scans of the real Exclusion Zone. The game is built using Unreal Engine 4 and captures the aesthetics of a dilapidated post-apocalypse wonderfully. The music is equally somber, which adds a lot to the melancholic ambiance that Chernobylite wishes to portray.

"It’s quite interesting to see how each choice leads to a number of consequences in other quests and relationships, which then need to be replayed in order for the timeline to make sense, of course."

However, its biggest triumph is the expertise with which The Farm 51 uses its limited resources and scale to create something that hides its limitations well enough to not be noticeable. Rarely – if ever – will you see a character model’s face during the entire course of the game since most dawn gas masks. This serves as a brilliant way of cutting all costs associated with motion capture and animation without sacrificing the story and characters. The game’s “open-world” is divided into a number of zones which cuts all development efforts required to have a robust asset streaming system for seamless travel across the map.

Chernobylite isn’t a very long game though, it took me just over 15 hours to roll the credits. However, there are a number of choices that can drastically affect the endings for each of your companions as well as the antagonist, which gives enough reason to replay it some time again in the future. There is also a free-play mode that allows you to roam around any of the game’s levels, which is a serviceable addition as an end-game distraction.

Chernobylite’s tapestry of intertwining mechanics treads a fine line between being a half-hearted effort and an obnoxiously complex one. That being said, it’s not for everyone – and it shouldn’t be. While its story elements are heavily hampered by uninteresting characters and the campaign littered with a number of repetitive quests, the moment-to-moment gameplay is brutal in the truest sense. Its unique implementation of choice and consequence allows for a number of divergent paths that bolster its replayability. It’s an enjoyable experience, albeit a flawed one.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

Last year’s Ghostrunner seems to have been a bona fide success story, and the IP is now owned in full by 505 Games. And there are still updates coming. As we already know, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S native versions of the game are on the way sometime this Fall. As part of the continued releases, there is also some free modes and some premium cosmetics.

The free updates came today that brought Photo Mode and Kill Run Mode. Photo mode is probably pretty self-explanatory, but Kill Run Mode is an arcade score attack. You have a strict time limit where you play through a section of the game as quickly as possible where killing enemies nets you extra time. Alongside it is the Metal Ox pack, which is a paid cosmetic pack for $4.99, and you can check out the trailer detailing it below.

Ghostrunner is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. You can check out the roadmap for the upcoming content planned, including the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game, through here.

First person action platformer Ghostrunner is getting a bunch of new content this year along with Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions. Developer 505 Games, which acquired the IP from All In! Games, has confirmed that current-gen versions will launch this Fall. It also outlined its full roadmap for upcoming content.

In Spring 2021, the new Kill Run Mode will be added which gives players limited time for completing levels. Photo Mode is also coming along with premium cosmetic DLC. In Summer 2021, there will be another new game mode and more premium cosmetic DLC along with two new bundles. Fall 2021 marks the “Ultimate” DLC’s release along with premium DLC and the current-gen console versions.

Released last year for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch, Ghostrunner is also available now for Amazon Luna. It’s already received a free Hardcore Mode and the Winter Pack DLC with the latter adding new paid cosmetics. Check out our official review for the game here and stay tuned for more details.

Developer One More Level’s cyberpunk ninja action title Ghostrunner was a game that many had been keeping their eye on before its launch, and following its release, its blend of slick platforming and high-octane action proved to be a winning formula. On top of being met with positive reception for players and critics alike, the game also went on to sell 500,000 units in less than four months. That success has caught the eye of many.

It’s been announced that 505 Games, who co-published the game alongside All In Games, have acquired the Ghostrunner IP from the former in a deal worth €5 million, which also includes all “technological solutions used in the game” (via GamesIndustry). All In Games will continue to receive a share of the profits made from the game’s sales even after the acquisition.

505 Games had, it turns out, been attempting to acquire the property since before it even launched, but none of their previous offers had been at the level that All In Games were willing to consider. Says All In CEO Piotr Żygadło, “Ghostrunner quickly turned out to be huge success, which convinced [505 Games] to submit an offer — one of those ‘hard to refuse’ [offers].”

Ghostrunner is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It will also be launching for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Futuristic parkour action Ghostrunner finally has a demo for Xbox One (which is backwards compatible on Xbox Series X/S), PS4 and Nintendo Switch. In a press release, developers One More Level and Slipgate Ironworks also confirmed half a million units sold since launch. For those who have yet to see what the fuss is about, this free demo should help.

The story focuses on Jack, a Ghostrunner on a mission to save the mysterious Architect. Jack has to maneuver around Dharma Tower, wall-running, jumping, dashing and grappling through environments while also dealing with enemies. While enemies die in one hit, the player does as well, leading to some tense action.

Of course, Jack has a few advantages at his disposal like Sensory Boost which allows him to slow down time and dodge bullets (or simply deflect them). For more details on Ghostrunner, check out our review here. Hardcore Mode was added in December, providing modified levels and tougher challenges – learn more about that here.

The Ghostrunner demo has just hit consoles! Run it on your #NintendoSwitch, #Xbox One, and #PlayStation4. Bonus: the demo is so fast that it even runs on Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility. Can you be faster than that?#BeGhostrunner pic.twitter.com/6q35eqRqHh

— Ghostrunner (@GhostrunnerGame) February 18, 2021

One More Level’s sci-fi parkour title Ghostrunner has received a major new update on PC with Hardcore Mode. It will become available for PS4 and Xbox One tomorrow while the Switch receives it on January 14th 2021. A new paid DLC called the Winter Pack is also available for all platforms – check it out below.

The Winter Pack essentially changes your weapon’s skin to that of the Cold Snap Katana. Meanwhile, you get a “Cold Blood Glove” as well for additional style. The DLC pack costs $1.99 and will be coming to Nintendo Switch on January 14th as well.

As for Hardcore Mode, it becomes available upon completing the base game and offers modified levels with tougher foes that appear earlier on. It’s meant for those seeking a true challenge and could provide a different enough experience to warrant another playthrough. For more details on the base game, check out our review here. In addition to previous-gen consoles and PC, it’s also coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S next year.

Ghostrunner launched late in October for PC and consoles, and though it was also supposed to launch simultaneously on the Nintendo Switch, it got hit with a last-minute delay, with its publisher confirming that it would come to Nintendo’s hybrid some time in November.

Now, All in! Games and 505 Games have confirmed when exactly when that’ll happen. Ghostrunner will launch for the Nintendo Switch on November 10, a week from now. Meanwhile, if you purchase the game before December 10, you will also get two exclusive in-game katanas, one of which is called the  ‘Exclusive Nintendo Katana Sword’.

Currently, Ghostrunner is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It will also be releasing for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S some time in 2021, with support for free next-gen upgrades.

In our review of Ghostrunner, we called it “an excellent game that combines fast-paced action combat with a compelling game world that any fan of action games or cyberpunk should enjoy.” You can read our full review through here.

Developer One More Level’s upcoming first person cyberpunk hack-and-slash platformer Ghostrunner might not be among the biggest blockbuster games releasing in the coming weeks, but it’s a game that a lot of people have had their eye on for a while. Its fast action, slick aesthetic, and one-hit-one-kill mechanic have looked like an interesting concoction for a while, and now, players can try it out for themselves.

Ghostrunner has released today, and it’s received an official launch trailer to celebrate that occasion. Take a look at it below.

Ghostrunner sees you, a cybernetic ninja, trying to ascend the Dharma Tower – which is a sprawling city built into a large structure that serves as the last bastion of the human race – in order to take out its tyrannical leader, Mara the Keymaster.

Ghostrunner is out today on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It will also release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S some time in 2021. Publisher 505 Games has confirmed that free next-gen upgrades will be supported.

While Cyberpunk 2077 is the big time cyberpunk title coming out later this year (it’s even in the name and everything), it’s not the only title in the genre that’s notable for the year. Next week will see the release of Ghostrunner, a fast-based first person game that challenges you to finish levels as quickly as possible while cutting through enemies. The game is coming to a variety of platforms, with a Switch version even announced recently, and next year will bring even more.

As announced by publisher 505 Games, the game will come to next generation consoles next year. While it’s quite the wait, if you’re interested in the game, it is also confirmed that you will be able to get a free upgrade from current systems if you can’t wait to slash and run through a gauntlet of enemies.

Ghostrunner will release on October 27th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S version will release sometime in 2021. There is also a demo available on PC via Steam you can try out.

SETTING

Cyberpunk settings are often some of the richest across all entertainment media, and Ghostrunner is looking promising as well. The game is set in the distant future, where a cataclysmic event wiped out the Earth and much of its population. The remnants of humanity now live in Dharma Tower, a sprawling city built into a large structure that serves as the last bastion of the human race. Things, however, are dire in the city as well. 

PREMISE

Dharma Tower is ruled by Mara the Keymaster, a tyrannical ruler who rules over the city with an iron grip. As is often the case in cyberpunk settings, the people of the city are divided and in the midst of a rebellion. You play as a hero who can fight not only in the real world, but also in cyberspace, and it falls to you to ascend the tower and kill the Keymaster to restore order to Dharma Tower.

INSPIRATIONS

The developers of Ghostrunner have drawn inspiration from plenty of stories from across media. One look at Ghostrunner’s fast and kinetic action makes it clear that it’s taking cues from Mirror’s Edge. Outside of video games, they’ve also cited classic cyberpunk stories such as Blade Runner as stories that have influenced them.

TARGETING HARDCORE PLAYERS

Ghostrunner developers One More Level have a pretty solid idea of what sort of an audience they’re targeting with their upcoming game- pleasing to the masses isn’t something they’re concerned about. Ghostrunner is very much targeted at the hardcore crowd. For instance, they don’t see fellow upcoming cyberpunk title Cyberpunk 2077 as competition. Speaking in an interview with GamesRadar, lead designer and producer Radosław Ratusznik said, “We’re players ourselves and we can’t wait to get our hands on the game. We don’t really perceive Cyberpunk 2077 as competition, it’s a gigantic AAA production, while we’re targeting hardcore players.”

MELEE-FOCUSED COMBAT

Combat in Ghostrunner is going to be almost entirely focused on melee attacks. You play as a cyber-ninja armed with a katana, and your goal, as you might imagine, is to cut through all enemies that fall in your path. Your enemies will not be restricted to melee attacks though, which should provide a nice layer of challenge to the combat.

ONE HIT KILLS

The most fundamental mechanic that Ghostrunner is built on – and the one that seems the most interesting – is the fact that every single attack in the game is essentially a killing blow if it finds its target. All enemies will die with one slash of your katana- by that same token, you, too, will die as soon as you take even a single hit. Mobility, then, is going to be crucial, and dodging incoming attacks and moving around while slashing at enemies will be the key to surviving combat encounters.

CYBERSPACE

The bulk of Ghostrunner will be spent ascending Dharma Tower, as we’ve discussed earlier, and while you’ll be spending a lot of time in the tower’s dilapidated cyberpunk environments, a lot of your time will also be sent in the digital world of cyberspace. These environments will provide some welcome changes of scenery and bring more outlandish design and sights to the table, complete with their own combat and platforming challenges.

PARKOUR

Ghostrunner’s gameplay is built on two pillars. The first is the one-hit-kill melee combat that we’ve spoke about. The second is platforming. Ghostrunner will be putting a lot of emphasis on the kinetic first person platforming that games such as Mirror’s Edge have popularized in recent years. You can look forward to plenty of wall-running, grappling, jumping across chasms, and more. 

ABILITIES

Your traversal abilities and melee attacks will serve as the foundation of the core gameplay in Ghostrunner, but there will be plenty more abilities in both platforming and combat to make use of as well, several of which will be unlocked as you play more. We’re going to have to play the game to discover the extent of the progression, of course, but already, we’ve seen abilities such as a Force Push-style attack, and the shield-shattering Blink ability.

DIFFICULTY

Given its one-hit-kill mechanic, it’s no surprise that Ghostrunner isn’t going to be an easy game. One More Level have said that they’re targeting the hardcore crowd with their game, and that will apply to difficulty as well. The core loop seems to be centred around a trial and error approach, so expect to die- a lot. Learning the movement and attack patterns of enemies and using that knowledge to your advantage will be a crucial part of the experience.

CHECKPOINTS

Don’t be too daunted by the prospect of repeated deaths and gruelling difficulty though. Ghostrunner is still going to accommodate players with some important accessibility features. For instance, the developers have said that there are going to be plenty of checkpoints in the game, which means you won’t be punished too badly every time you die, and jumping back into the action will be quick and seamless. 

ENEMY VARIETY

You’ll be coming across various different kinds of enemies in Ghostrunner, all of whom will challenge you and demand skill in unique ways. Some enemies will be equipped with shields, bipedal robots will shoot energy beams at you from a distance, drones will remain aerial as they look to take you down, and so on. Learning the weaknesses and patterns of different enemy types will be crucial as you attempt to climb to the top of Dharma Tower.

BOSSES

There will, of course, be boss encounters as well. Given Ghostrunner’s central one-hit-kill mechanic, it goes without saying that these won’t be traditional boss fights, but you can expect set piece fights against tougher enemies. Speaking about boss fights in an interview with Respawn First, the game’s writer Jan Gąsior said, “Yes, there are bosses in Ghostrunner. They’re not your usual bullet sponges though. These encounters put some caveats on the core mechanics, but they don’t change the rules of the game on you. I can’t go into much detail at this point, but I think players craving for memorable fights won’t be disappointed.”

LENGTH

Most developers in the industry tend to make their games as long as possible- which is great, of course. It’s more bang for our buck. But shorter games with tight pacing and a concise runtime have their own undeniable appeal. That’s what Ghostrunner seems to be going for. Its developers have said that the game is going to be between 5 to 10 hours long, which seems like a good length for a $30 game, especially if it has good replay value. 

RAY-TRACING AND PC REQUIREMENTS

Ghostrunner’s developers have confirmed that the game will launch with RTX support, and from what we have seen of the game with RTX enabled, its slick environments are looking even slicker. What exactly will your PC need to run the game though? Well, so far, only its minimum requirements have been officially unveiled, and they’re rather modest. At minimum, you will need an 8 GB RAM, with either a GTX 630 or a Radeon HD 6570, alongside either an Intel i3-2100 or an AMD A8-5600k.