Before playing Runner 2, I had not played any Runner games. I'm not sure how Runner 2 is compared to the other games. With that said, Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (or FLoRA for short) is a rhythm based platformer. From the backstory video I got, Commander Video was chasing after the fiendish Timbletot, when suddenly Commander Video is warped to another dimension. In order to get back to his reality, he must jump, slide, kick, and dance his way through five different worlds.
Runner 2 isn't just a rhythm game. It has many elements of a platformer to go with the rhythm elements. The rhythm is all about pressing the right buttons at the right time, but all of the actions are things that would appear in platforming games. Every action of jumping, sliding, and kicking must be done within a time frame, or you restart to a checkpoint. The levels start out very simple, with just you kicking and jumping to get past the obstacles and slowly adds from there. Runner 2 has a very good sense of pace, as you only add something new to your skills once you've get the hang of the skills you have already. All of your skills culminate in the final world, which thoroughly tests all of your skills. Even for someone who has as little coordination as I do, the rhythm of this game is easy to pick up. The first world is a great adjustment to this, by letting you gauge how long it takes for Commander Video to kick and jump.
As soon as you've learned the basic mechanics, be ready to be tested by the bosses. They are quite challenging. Some of the bosses might "require" you to memorize their patterns, but if you react fast enough it isn't a problem. Another source of challenge is the retro levels, styled after the Bit. Trip. games. They are 8-bit challenges, and the challenge is added upon as these are the only levels to have lives in them. Part of the challenge is that there is minimal music, something that has helped you build your rhythm, and without much to guide your movements, it's pure platforming.
The biggest and best part of FLoRA is the sound. At the very beginning, you have Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, doing the voice overs for all of the game. He puts a lot of energy into the game with his alliteration and articulation. Next, the coordination of your actions and the sound effects is flawless. If Commander Video jumps, then a sound is made. Same as if he slides, kicks, or dances. The best part of the sound are the advancement orbs. Four times in every level there are items you can collect to add more to the background music, as well as have the level speed up. This is a really awesome touch, as it adds a clear sense of progression to each level. Each of the levels starts out very simple in sound, but then if you get up to three of the orbs it transforms into a marvelous melody.
There's a general aura of childishness, in a good way. The backgrounds of FLoRA are some of the weirdest I've seen, as they constantly move while you're going through the level. In every moment that you aren't doing any action, you are likely making Commander Video do ridiculous dance moves that add to your score the more you use them.
See what I mean?
Runner 2 is a charming, challenging rhythm platforming game. With an amazing soundtrack and tight controls, it's hard not to be caught up in the immense level of happiness exuded by this game. The only problem I had was with the hit detection, it felt a little off at times that it needed to be spot on. Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien gets a 9/10
See you tomorrow!