Take the fast pace and challenging 2D platforming of games
like Super Meat Boy and throw in 3 other opponents in a race of skill, endurance
and devious weapons.
SpeedRunners takes very simplistic game design and mixes in massively
competitive gameplay where anyone can screw over their friends in seconds, simple
but incredibly addictive with numerous fun ways to play, keeping you going back
for more to prove you’re the best either in the story mode, online or via local
multiplayer.
When you start there are 4 runners on the screen together
but as soon as one can’t keep up with the lead, he/ she explodes causing to
area around the outside of the screen to start glowing red and slowly giving
you less and less space to see anything, as soon as someone hits that red
boarder they then die as well until only one remains.
There isn’t a finish line
in this game it just keeps going until you win 3 rounds which can either be
over in seconds or take ages depending on how good everyone is you’re playing
against.
This may not sound like much but throw in the ability to
swing off certain areas with a grappling hook which can either make you travel
faster or give you access to short cuts but can also be a complete pain to you
by slowing you down if you miss-time releasing the hook, as you run around there
are power-ups to collect, a rocket that locks on to other runners, boxes to
drop behind you to slow other people down, a golden grappling hook which can
grab hold of a person ahead of you, pulling you to them as well as slowing them
down, and the Invici-drill which prevents obstacles affecting you thus helping
maintain your lead or catch up to the person in first.
The game gives new players the chance to stand up against
people who may have been playing for some time, for example located on the map
are switches that can be activated by running over them, these switches then
open new paths that could benefit players who need to catch up, the risk is that
even though the new route may be shorter it might contain more obstacles
requiring you to grapple or slide to avoid them.
The artwork is simplistic, not drawing too much of the eye
away from the race and more focus as to what is going on with each character which
I think is perfect, while you are racing you don’t want to distracted by a
funny background or overly complex scenery, these races can get nail-biting at
times when it comes down to the last 2 people standing and the field of vision
is getting smaller and smaller, you really need to be able to concentrate on
what you are doing above all else.
I can’t describe how much I have been and will continue to recommend
this game to people, its simplistic format which brings in a very competitive
edge leaves you wanting more, a very simple title to pick up and play, knowing what you
are doing within seconds but still tough to master. You can play this either online or in the same room, but
personally it’s so much more satisfying to be able to rub someone’s face in a
loss when they’re right next to you than shouting it through a headset over the
internet.
I really can’t recommend this game highly enough so much fun
with such a simple idea.... If you have read to the end of this what are you
doing? Get yourself on Steam and buy it now....