8 Bit Runner Demo

Parkour has slowly become a widely known activity in the last few years, mostly thanks to a few exciting YouTube videos. Since it is obviously a sport that only a few people find the courage to practice it, the general public sticks with enjoying it in video games, which is why titles like Mirror’s Edge and the like have attracted so much attention.

8 Bit Runner is a 2D platformer in which your primary goal is to get from one end of the level to the other, while avoiding the obstacles in between and doing your best to score a fast time as well. In essence, it is all about coordination and good reflexes, because most levels require you to perform a variety of acrobatics in rapid succession, while keeping an eye on the clock.

There is no story to nag you with cutscenes either, so you can focus on the gameplay entirely and not have to worry about finding items or talking to people. In fact, all you need to do is run and jump, with the occasional slide. While it may sound repetitive and boring, there’s usually no time to think about what it all means, given the fact that there is always a spike trap to avoid.

The most important thing in a game such as this one is the gameplay itself, because although the struggle to pass difficult levels is fun indeed, failing to do so due to botched controls and sketchy mechanics is not at all fun. Thankfully, 8 Bit Runner moves smoothly, and you shouldn’t have any problems with the character not responding accurately to your input.

The simple 2D graphics make it easy to analyze the levels on the fly and see exactly what your next move should be, even if you don’t succeed the first time. The objects are clearly distinguishable from the background, and the character animations are quite neat, even if it’s just a handful of pixels moving in tandem. The soundtrack is great too, especially since there are multiple tracks that keep you company.

All things being equal, 8 Bit Runner may not be the best in its class, but it’s certainly a game that proves to be quite punishing even with platformer veterans . Hence, if you enjoy falling into spikes and cursing at your screen, this should be on your list.