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'Runner 2' and other indie hits get rare physical releases
Indie games don't often cross over into the physical world, so it's pretty notable when two separate companies make boxed games at once. Choice Provisions is partnering with Limited Run Games on a physical version of the Runner2 sidescroller on PS4 and PS Vita with 3,500 copies of each for sale online starting March 17th. Limited Run will also sell 1,000 copies of a (separate) limited Runner2 edition at its PAX East booth on March 10-12.
Humble Indie Bundle X offers up Joe Danger 2, Surgeon Simulator, and more
Who's humble and ready to bundle? Is it you? Are you sure you're humble enough? The tenth Humble Indie Bundle launches today, offering up to six DRM-free, cross-platform PC games for a buyer-chosen price. All bundle buyers will receive Steam-redeemable copies of Hello Games' motorcycle stunt sim Joe Danger 2: The Movie, Freebird Games' elegiac RPG To the Moon, Minority's fantasy-themed adventure game Papo & Yo, and Gaijin Games' autoscrolling rhythm-platformer Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien. Chip in a little extra cash to beat the bundle's average purchase price and you'll also receive Bossa Studios' super-gross/super-hilarious Surgeon Simulator 2013 and Abbey Games' planet-shaping strategy game Reus. Humble Indie Bundle X also includes a collection of soundtracks for all featured games, and if past bundles are of any indication, a bonus game or two are likely to be added at a later date.
Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien review: Running down a dream
If you asked me in person for my opinion of Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, I'd probably just respond with a string of rambling praise, eager to explain the game to you and enthusiastically answer any questions you might have. In fact, every attempt to write this review so far has resulted in just such an imaginary conversation in my head.So, I'm just going to go with it. Without further ado, here's my attempt to explain the radness of Runner 2 to a fictional, random gamer.%Gallery-173614%
Mac Game of the Week: Runner2 is a gorgeous, trippy journey
The Bit.Trip series of games are always fun examples of mixing music and gameplay, and Bit.Trip Runner was probably my favorite of these. It is a relatively simple game, where a little black box of a guy named Commander Video runs along, jumping up over obstacles and onto platforms in time with the really excellent retro chiptunes as you play. Bit.Trip has been working on a sequel to Runner for a while now, and Runner2 (full title: "Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien") is now available on Steam for the Mac (as well as PC and Linux). To say Runner2 is insane is an understatement -- this game is positively certifiable. The first game had a very retro feel, but this one is more like a cartoon, full of color and wacky visual gags and crazy figures and creatures. It's narrated by Charles Martinet, for pete's sake, who you may or may not know is the voice of Mario (yes, that Mario, from the Nintendo games). The core gameplay is still all about Commander Video jumping and sliding in time to the music, but the graphics are so wacky and so wonderful that it's more than enough. As the game goes on, things get even more frantic, allowing you to kick through obstacles, bounce off of trampolines or spin around the joystick (the game is definitely recommended to be played with a controller, which is easy enough on the Mac). You can even make it harder by skipping checkpoints as you choose, winning extra rewards if you go on, but going back even farther if you make a mistake. Runner2 is an incredible improvement on the original, and takes what was a fun idea and turns it into a gorgeously crafted work of art. The game, I believe, is going to come to iOS eventually, so if you're patient, you can probably wait to try and play it then. But (especially because this version is meant to be played with buttons and a joystick) why wait? You can buy it right now from Bit.Trip directly for US$9.99, or grab it on Steam for $14.99.
Runner2 out tomorrow on Wii U and Steam, Wednesday on Xbox Live
Gaijin Games' Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien sequel was submitted to its various platforms earlier this month, but we now have official dates and prices for the title, courtesy of Gaijin's co-founder Alex Neuse himself. CommanderVideo will start his run on the Wii U and Steam (for PC, Mac, and Linux) tomorrow, February 26, and then be available on Xbox Live on Wednesday of this week, February 27.The PSN, iOS, and Vita releases are coming later: Neuse says "hopefully March 5" for the PSN release, "but Early March for sure!" iOS and Vita versions are due out sometime this summer. The game will be $14.99 no matter what platform you buy it on, and Neuse notes that there's still a few hours for a Steam preorder if you want the various bonuses and discounts. If you've been waiting a long time to hear the voice of Charles Martinet narrate the long-awaited BIT.TRIP sequel, your wait is almost over.Update: March 5 on PSN is confirmed, according to Gaijin's other co-founder, Mike Roush.
