Grid Runner

Review by: Greg Leedberg

Grid Runner is a kind of game that you probably haven't played before. It combines aspects of tag and capture the flag, two very fun games to play in real life, adds magic spells and tough enemies, and puts it all in a futuristic outer space setting. Play against the computer, or for even more fun, play against a friend in two player mode.

Graphics: 7/10
The game is played from a overhead view looking down on your character, Axxel. The camera is high enough that you can see far enough in each direction. The graphics are crisp and clear, even in the split screen two player mode. However, they're not anything spectacular, but I don't think they're supposed to be, as there is more emphasis on gameplay. The opening cinema is well rendered, and will try to explain the story, but the story isn't very important to this game, so watching the cinema is optional. The only real problem with the graphics is that while each level looks different, within each level everything looks the same.

Sound: 5/10
There is music, but nothing memorable. You have some sounds during the game, like when you build a bridge or cast a spell, but for the most part they're just fancy beeps. Overall, the sound is just slightly better than 16-bit games.

Gameplay: 7/10
In this game, you have six spells you can use, each assigned to a different button. It's a little confusing at first (and you may have to keep the manual handy), but after playing it a couple times you'll have them all memorized. The control is very responsive in one player, but seems a little slow in two player, but that's okay. The game isn't extremely fast, and with out using the speed spell you move pretty slow. Even when you use the speed spell you don't run that fast, but it suffices. The ability to steal flags from your opponent can make it drag on at times, too.

Replay Value: 9/10
There are 28 stages to play on in two player mode, and 15 in one player mode. Each level is very different, with different features (one level is all ice, that one takes a lot of getting used to and you'll probably spend your first time just sliding around). I haven't made it all the way to the end yet, so I'll bet there's more "environmental" levels like this, which make you relearn all your timing for stopping and starting to move. It's even fun to keep replaying the same stage, since it's never the same game twice. You could be playing this for years.

Overall: 8/10
If you liked tag or capture the flag as a kid, you'll probably like this game, more so in two-player mode. The only things that could really make this better would be even more players (how about an eight player mode?) and faster running.