With games like Dust and Fez ruling Xbox Live Arcade, it’s easy to forget the final word in the platform’s name. Fortunately, Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien recalls the likes of Geometry Wars, providing exceptional depth within a simple arcade-y premise.
A sequel to Bit.Trip.Runner (a retro-styled game that was exclusive to Nintendo platforms and computers), Runner2 once again has you controlling a constantly running character. Though you can’t stop his forward progression, you can keep him out of harm’s way by jumping over, sliding under, kicking through, and deflecting obstacles en route to the finish. Adding to the tension are various collectibles that are often even further in harm’s way but grant you higher scores, bigger multipliers, hidden characters, extra costumes, and bonus stages (of the standard and retro-styled variety).
Boss battles also tend to involve running and avoiding things, but they do look cool.When it originally released, Bit.Trip.Runner came with just one difficulty: really hard. Runner2 offers three difficulty options but isn’t diluted as a result. The real beauty of this sidescroller is the split-second decisions you’ll have to make about the best way to race through a stage. Do you bypass the mid-level checkpoint to earn more points? Go for a Perfect rating by snagging all power-ups and gold? Stick with safer, lower-scoring routes when the level splits in two? You can also gun for a high score on each level’s leaderboard, which requires even riskier maneuvers like dancing (a move that keeps you from performing any other action for a brief time) and interacting with certain obstacles instead of avoiding them. For a game that can be boiled down to simply “make it to the end without getting hit,” it packs a surprising amount of complexity.
For the most part, Runner2’s style befits this extremely engaging gameplay. Commander Video and the other selectable runners are all wonderfully animated (the likes of Whetfahrt Cheesebörger and Unkle Dill would fit right in on Adult Swim), and the five worlds exhibit unique visual and music styles. (The bleeps and bloops of your jumps and attacks play in tune with an overarching song that evolves as you power up.) However, we didn’t dig the fourth world, whose red saturation mutes your colorful costumes while obfuscating key items and obstacles. Moreover, each world starts to get repetitive after about three-quarters of its stages, once you’ve learned its various tricks.
But for most of the time it’ll take you to finish Runner2’s 100 stages (and 25 bonus ones), you’ll be entertained and excited. It’s pure arcade fun, and easily the best game to hit XBLA so far this year.
Flying bits are visible in the Mounting Sadds world, but other elements of the stage tend to be obscured.PUBLISHER: Aksys Games • DEVELOPER: Gaijin Games • ESRB: Teen • MULTIPLAYER: None • ACHIEVEMENTS: Steadily Paced • COST: 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) • RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2013
+ Extremely fun, addictive premise with plenty of difficulty options.
+ Great unlocks and rewards, featuring an amazing cast of oddball characters.
- Level design’s a bit repetitive; fourth world’s design is a bit obstructive.
? Can someone buy Reverse Merman some better-fitting underwear?
