SUPERHOT (on VR) came to mind while watching this - an FPS where time moves only when you move. Generic & faceless enemies, monochromatic & minimal setting, basically no dialog or story, linear progression with straightforward objectives. Despite all this, the game is still one of the most innovative shooters in recent years thanks to how it can give the player such a captivating sense of power.
A game that's *very* similar to ghostrunner in vibe and game feel, which I would absolutely put in the "runnerlike" genre (though it did come first), is Katana Zero. If you haven't played it, I highly recommend it! Also, I was surprised this video and your channel were not more widely known! You're going to grow a lot more, I'm sure. If you'd like to, try telling people to subscribe at some point in the video (preferably not the end, though, as there's a lot of drop off in viewership)
Dude, what a GREAT video essay. This is unironically the first video essay I've watched that genuinely made me want to play the game. It's been in my "To Be Played" list for a while now. Thanks, man! I really appreciate your content. This video, while only an hour old at the time of this comment, is criminally underviewed. Also, as a fellow Surge enjoyer, I salute you 🫡
Have you tried the project Hel DLC for ghostrunner? Loved that one. Then again, I’m a huge fan of ghostrunner in general. I’m thinking of finding a way to make a real version of the Tsuru sword from GR1
So basically, 'Ghost-like' or 'Runner-like' = Everyone is a glass cannon. That's what I always found so interesting about 'tank builds vs glass cannon builds;' Tanks are offense + defense - speed, and generally focus on damage per hit. They are arguably the easiest builds to learn and finish games with, but they're not the most effective. Glass cannons are offense + speed - defense, and generally focus on damage per second. They are arguably the hardiest builds to learn and finish games with, but they're the most effective once one does get the hang of them (assuming one doesn't go for a offense + speed + defense build, not sure what that's called, but in most games such builds are either not possible or require a large time and resource investment that most people don't have the patience for.) I'm not sure of the actually validity of this, I'm literally just pulling this out of thin air so correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the feeling that most noobs go for tanks and most veterans go for glass cannons (when they're being pragmatic and not making whatever character they want that is.)
Hey, really enjoyed this video! It did get me thinking. I do heavily disagree with Ghostrunner being designed with its fantasy obscured and believe that it (and the runner-like genre) rather focuses on shifting the power dynamic to be hedged against the player‘s mastery over mechanics. To me, it oozes fantasy, one that is matched very cleverly by gameplay. Precisely, the fantasy of being a ninja: deadly but also reliant on training to overcome overwhelming odds. That said, I do enjoy the fact that we come to the same conclusion. This game is an interesting take on the formula of power fantasies, specifically contrasting it with boomer shooters. Playing the game really gives credit to honing your skills within it and is (to me especially the first one) crafted with razor precision to get you into this state of mind.
honestly i believe ghostrunner 2 is mediocre if not bad. i had several bugs and janky mechanics along with the story being pretty shallow. ghostrunner 1 had way better controls and tighter combat. Ghostrunner 2 was just simplified for console players because you can't get the precision from a controller so you they made a hard lock to stop the player from chaining movement options together for insane speed.
Wolfenstein New Order is not bad. New Colossus purposefully depowers you and makes you hide behind cover... in a fucking Wolfenstein game. And the one after that just turned into a looter shooter with bullet sponges and cringe dialog.
SUPERHOT (on VR) came to mind while watching this - an FPS where time moves only when you move. Generic & faceless enemies, monochromatic & minimal setting, basically no dialog or story, linear progression with straightforward objectives. Despite all this, the game is still one of the most innovative shooters in recent years thanks to how it can give the player such a captivating sense of power.
A game that's *very* similar to ghostrunner in vibe and game feel, which I would absolutely put in the "runnerlike" genre (though it did come first), is Katana Zero. If you haven't played it, I highly recommend it!
Also, I was surprised this video and your channel were not more widely known! You're going to grow a lot more, I'm sure. If you'd like to, try telling people to subscribe at some point in the video (preferably not the end, though, as there's a lot of drop off in viewership)
Dude, what a GREAT video essay. This is unironically the first video essay I've watched that genuinely made me want to play the game. It's been in my "To Be Played" list for a while now. Thanks, man! I really appreciate your content. This video, while only an hour old at the time of this comment, is criminally underviewed.
Also, as a fellow Surge enjoyer, I salute you 🫡
How about instadeaths? Games where everyone including the player dies from one hit
Have you tried the project Hel DLC for ghostrunner? Loved that one. Then again, I’m a huge fan of ghostrunner in general. I’m thinking of finding a way to make a real version of the Tsuru sword from GR1
So basically, 'Ghost-like' or 'Runner-like' = Everyone is a glass cannon.
That's what I always found so interesting about 'tank builds vs glass cannon builds;' Tanks are offense + defense - speed, and generally focus on damage per hit. They are arguably the easiest builds to learn and finish games with, but they're not the most effective. Glass cannons are offense + speed - defense, and generally focus on damage per second. They are arguably the hardiest builds to learn and finish games with, but they're the most effective once one does get the hang of them (assuming one doesn't go for a offense + speed + defense build, not sure what that's called, but in most games such builds are either not possible or require a large time and resource investment that most people don't have the patience for.)
I'm not sure of the actually validity of this, I'm literally just pulling this out of thin air so correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the feeling that most noobs go for tanks and most veterans go for glass cannons (when they're being pragmatic and not making whatever character they want that is.)
Hey, really enjoyed this video!
It did get me thinking.
I do heavily disagree with Ghostrunner being designed with its fantasy obscured and believe that it (and the runner-like genre) rather focuses on shifting the power dynamic to be hedged against the player‘s mastery over mechanics.
To me, it oozes fantasy, one that is matched very cleverly by gameplay. Precisely, the fantasy of being a ninja: deadly but also reliant on training to overcome overwhelming odds.
That said, I do enjoy the fact that we come to the same conclusion. This game is an interesting take on the formula of power fantasies, specifically contrasting it with boomer shooters.
Playing the game really gives credit to honing your skills within it and is (to me especially the first one) crafted with razor precision to get you into this state of mind.
honestly i believe ghostrunner 2 is mediocre if not bad. i had several bugs and janky mechanics along with the story being pretty shallow.
ghostrunner 1 had way better controls and tighter combat. Ghostrunner 2 was just simplified for console players because you can't get the precision from a controller so you they made a hard lock to stop the player from chaining movement options together for insane speed.
Finally the game is recognized
Wolfenstein New Order is not bad. New Colossus purposefully depowers you and makes you hide behind cover... in a fucking Wolfenstein game. And the one after that just turned into a looter shooter with bullet sponges and cringe dialog.
So, it's a mirrors-like with a sword? XD