Run Roo Run Review – Don’t judge a game by its first chapter

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On January 18, 2012

App Type: Uncategorized

Run Roo Run Review – Don’t judge a game by its first chapter

Our rating:

By: 5TH Cell Media LLC

Version #: 1.0.0

Date Released: 2012-01-12

Developer: 5TH Cell Media LLC

Price: 0.99

User Rating:
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Don’t be turned off by the apparent lack of difficulty of Run Roo Run, a recently released game for the iPhone. (An HD version for the iPad is sold separately.) Trying out the game for the first time by playing the first few levels, you might be tempted to dismiss it as a for-kids-only game, what with its apparent simplicity and a combination of colorful graphics and cute game character to boot. But my advice is, give it a chance, and you’ll see soon enough why it has made its way up the App Store charts.

Developed by none other than the makers of Scribblenauts, Run Roo Run sees a mother kangaroo on a quest to rescue her beloved joey, who was captured by hunters intent on selling the baby kangaroo to a zoo in Sydney. From their habitat in Perth, Roo must then run and traverse the Australian outback lest she never see her joey again.

In the game, Roo’s journey covers a total of 20 chapters, each containing 15 regular levels and 6 extreme levels, which can be played only after completing the regular ones. Each level is single-screen, meaning all elements relevant to the level are confined in only one frame, with Roo starting from the left and going toward the finish line on the right. In this way Run Roo Run may be considered a mini-platformer game.

To make your way through the first chapter you need only master the game’s single-touch gameplay: tap anywhere on your device’s screen to make Roo jump while she’s on the move. It is here in the first chapter where you’re likely to deem the game terribly undemanding, feel bored, and think of ditching the game altogether. But if you heed my advice, you’ll discover that there are game enchancements laid out along the way to keep the player engaged, as each chapter introduces a new contraption or method of helping Roo make her way around the obstacles she encounters.

Here’s a partial roll call of such enhancements: double-jump and gravity-reversal power-ups, propellant rubber tires and cannons, rideable clouds and umbrellas, and even oncoming birds you can hop on. At times new sorts of obstacles appear with the beginning of each new chapter, such as road spikes and—get this—Roo rendered nearly totally invisible.

And just when you thought you’re close to rescuing Roo’s joey, having finished all the regular levels of each of the 20 chapters, you find out that you’re actually required to also finish all the extreme levels! Mind you, they’re not called extreme for nothing. But fret not: when stuck in a particularly tricky level, you can use one of your two free Instantly Beat Level Bus or two free Slow Motion Help tokens. (Additional tokens are available in the in-app store.) Now who says Run Roo Run is just for kids?

Quick Take

Value:High

Would I Buy Again:Yes

Learning Curve:Low

Who Is It For:Casual gamers both young and old

What I Like:A myriad of levels (regular, extreme, and free weekly ones), single-touch gameplay, colorful cartoon graphics

What I Don't Like:Some extreme levels can be too extreme.

Final Statement:Run Roo Run has been hopping up the charts, and with good reason—it's fun, fun, fun.

Read the Developer's Notes:
From the creators of Scribblenauts!

Your joey has been captured and you need to get him back!

Run Roo Run follows a mother kangaroo traveling across Australia from Perth to Sydney in search of her captured Joey.

REVIEWS:
"A finely-crafted App Store gem" - 4/4 SLIDE TO PLAY
"It's entertaining in big or small chunks... Give it a shot" - 4.5/5 TOUCH ARCADE
"An App Store classic" - 9/10 APPGAMER
"It's an impressive and entertaining achievement" - 8/10 POCKET GAMER
"A surprisingly fresh and newbie-friendly platformer" - KOTAKU

Hop, skip, and jump your way across tons of unique and interesting obstacles in the Australian outback! Run Roo Run is a micro-platformer featuring single screen levels filled with unique, fun obstacles and easy to learn one-touch gameplay. Play for a few minutes, or a few hours; your journey to Sydney always picks up where you left off!

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Over 420 Levels!
- Get 10 new free levels every week!
- Over 100 extreme levels!
- Leaderboards
- Achievements
- Full Retina Graphics Support!
- GameCenter Support
- Easy to learn one-touch gameplay
- Fun power-ups including - kangaroo cannons, tire swings, ridable clouds, gravity defying umbrellas, invisibility, and much more!

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