Review : RUNNER 2 FUTURE LEGEND OF RHYTHM ALIEN

In a short time, Gaijin Games has succeeded in imposing its Order Video as a key figure in the independent scene. After mainly dug his hole on PC and Nintendo stamped machinery, are ready to talk about it again on all platforms HD. But contrary to his habits, the hero of the Bit.Trip saga returns this time its not a reward for us after the episode Runner. A good opportunity to castigate again laziness always quick to increment their series developers rather than focus on original and innovative concepts.

CRISIS OF BAD FAITH

This is indeed a hate absolutely untenable in the case that concerns us. Firstly because of the dozen games already developed by the studio, Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is so far the only result, although it is true that there are already a few compilations to their active. We note in passing that this subtitle extension turns wisely in FLORA, a poetic acronym particularly suitable for decoration of the first chapters. And, despite similar mechanisms in the first opus, this second part brings so much change that propels the series to higher spheres on almost all fronts. Music, graphics, interactions, number of levels, management difficulty, everything has been revised upwards, and not a little. In short, accuse anyone of laziness would be a clear proof of bad taste over a shameful injustice to work.

However, we can say without offending anyone that Runner 2 does not try to reinvent the wheel. The Commander is always trying to reach the end of a level avoiding to eat obstacles in full pear, which appear to set to the background music rhythm, which quickly became the second main character of the title. Dodge always triggers a note which complements the current melody, and it is always about to hunt for gold bullion and red crosses scattered in the background. Recent convert each time a little more our hero arc-en-ciel generator and, as before, the more drag turns, more music swells and becomes more instruments. In the last few meters, the voltage is similar to that of the Ride of the Valkyries to the player anyway. The introduction of a new line of piano, violin and drums announced that the end is a little closer and turned up the heat until it is released in a cry of victory when crossing the line arrival as desired. Because it is a parameter that does not change with this new edition is the difficulty, at least for masochists swearing by the extreme challenge and looking for a new fix. But this time, they will not be the only ones to find their account.


HARDCORE AND CRIS

As in 2010, the game features three levels of difficulty renamed for the occasion "quite easy", "just right" and "rather hard." For each of these modes, the decor remains the same, as well as the location of collectibles. The obstacles are however more and more and he ended up staying some place where to put the foot when we choose to compete in the heavyweight category. The brave will also notice quite quickly, and with relief, that "perfect" is no longer a prerequisite to complete an internship. Instead, collect all items will qualify for a bonus score as well as a mini game of target shooting once past the final flag. Checkpoints are also emerging about the mid-term (except boss levels where they are most numerous) and can not have to retype the whole level because of a careless mistake a few meters from the checkered flag. Again, developers have had the good idea to make them optional, or even encourage competitors to dodge: jumping over the score is instantly inflated a few thousand points, always welcome in a race the classification on the leaderboard. A huge arrow "Challenge" ausssi appears on the screen to flatter the ego.

If, however, this kind of attention was not enough to satiate the acrobats of the extreme, they could even make things worse by imposing challenge to take only the most complex branches they meet. Great new level design, it has become possible to win a race by taking different routes, indicated by green, red and blue arrows, without being penalized. The first will be followed by beginners, the second by the experts and the third lead to alternative outputs that both players will have an incentive to borrow at least once. Indeed they unlock bonus stages on the map of each world, which once completed will provide access to new characters purely cosmetic.

All, the Commander to his counterpart Callipygian Captain, through the reverse siren man manly attributes Swinging, have the same range of movements review also rising to the occasion. In addition to standard jumps, slides and kicks, it will in the future use of the elongated bonds, although useful to pass between two enemies, the shield to repel the onslaught of colored squares, learn to surf or under rails and play on the trampoline, which adds to the springboard. Suffice to say that with all these innovations, and despite the easy mode that turns the game walk in the park, the real psychopaths easily find the thrill of the first episode as long as they are needed the perfect, avoid checkpoints, play on the hardest difficulty and borrow only the paths indicated by skulls.


BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD AT A TIME

With a little luck, they even find the experience more enjoyable than before, thanks to the new artistic direction passing two fingers faultless. Exit the large pixels, welcome to high definition. The backgrounds and characters are now made in an absolutely beautiful pastel shades of the most beautiful 3D effect. In the distance, the world comes alive. The trees dance to the rhythm of our growth, and the mountains are watching their cyclopean eye, surrounded by pink cotton-floss clouds. Enemies are now recognizable at a glance thanks to their different colors and it is no longer necessary to be clairvoyant to win a round the first time. Superhuman reflexes are now sufficient. So bad that the depth of field comes confuse the scenes a little loaded. The blur overload sometimes too poor our retina becomes unable to distinguish between decorative objects hurdles. PC, however, it is sufficient to disable for better readability by sacrificing a bit of visual softness. In the same spirit, the secondary characters and alternate costumes, to glean unmasking chests stashed on red routes are often less effective than the Order base because more colorful. Black has the advantage of coming off the rest and perfectionists therefore may prefer to confine the hero base to augment their score.

In any case, whatever the avatar selected, the main ally of the player is undoubtedly music. All jumps, slides and actions to make it subject, and a music lover will feel very quickly like a fish in water, with the screen turning the experience into a kind of partition movement. Once you understand the pitfalls and trills against time, pressure on the handle as it connects you play an instrument and our actions are validated by all the pixels that are agitated by the speakers. And what a sound! The chiptune, also always fun, here is reserved for twenty-five retro courses stashed inside the hundred other classic levels. We must now rely on real instruments that combine around a single theme declined in different styles. Lounge jazz, rock, reggae, electro, everyone has a right of citizenship. The melodies start calmly before revealing their true magnitude as the Red Cross are collected for sometimes result in a symphony. It is thanks to them that we understand that the game has finally overcome our reluctance, when you find them unconsciously humming in the shower every morning after waking up.