Tales Runner

Overview
Full Review
Screenshots
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Area: USA,Global
Official Site: Tales Runner
Publisher: gPotato
Developer: Rhaon Entertainment
Platform: Microsoft Windows

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Overview

Tales Runner is a 3D arcade-racing style MMO similar to Mario Kart, but entirely on foot! Players can jump, swim, and ski across four cartoon tracks.

PROMOTION: March 17, 2010: ALL NEW PLAYERS get a FREE WELCOME PACKAGE - CLICK HERE FOR YOUR KEY

Features

Single player missions
Simple controls
Single, Team, and Relay modes
Unique Racing concept
8 and 30 person races
Varied courses

Area: USA,Global
Official Site: Tales Runner
Publisher: gPotato
Developer: Rhaon Entertainment
Platform: Microsoft Windows

Review

Reviewed by Cody Hargreaves

Although I can't for the life of me remember who it was, the first person to mention 'Tales Runner' to me said that it was a little bit like "Mario Kart," and for the most part they were spot on with that comparison. They simply forgot to mention one minor detail -- in 'Tales Runner,' the players are on foot. Yes, 'Tales Runner' is the Olympic 100m Sprint version of the fabled 'Mario Kart,' and although this probably doesn't sound like the barrel of fun that I personally found it to be, the next few hundred words or so will be proving to you that it is. Like most other MMO 'Mario Kart' adaptations ('Kart N Crazy' for example) the main objective in 'Tales Runner' is a simple one: beat your opponents to the finish line, and have a blast while you do.

In this aspect of the game, Tales Runner is nothing short of a grand success. There are, however, some other pieces to the puzzle that don't fit as well as they possibly could have. One such piece, and the one that infuriates me more than any other, is the character selection. One would think that without the ability to select a vehicle of some kind (which would in-turn allow upgrades and the like) that there would be a large variety of available characters to choose from instead. However in Tales Runner this is not so. In fact, players are only given the option between one of four characters, two girls and two boys, and although it is eventually possible to purchase additional clothing it really doesn't cover up the fact that in the end, almost everybody is going to look exactly the same. Choosing my character from the abysmal selection (I chose the anime-themed, estrogen-imbued male with an oversized ego and annoying grin) it was time to take on the tutorial. Presumably to spice up the mix somewhat, you begin playing 'Tales Runner' a little on the unconventional side, beginning dropped around a hundred feet from a magical blimp at the beginning of each new race.

The following elements of the tutorial saw a large number of key combinations being used for various different skills and effects, such as jumping, rushing, breaking and the like, alongside some more glorious opportunities such as climbing ropes, leaping platforms, killing goblins, and avoiding whirlpools. Combined, these were the elements that I found most enjoyable in 'Tales Runner' as they felt different from everything else, and it is through innovation that I generally seem to find the most enjoyment. Once you complete the tutorial and the seven training exercises that follow, there is little else to do besides race -- and race you shall! There are three main modes to choose from, Practice, Time Trial and Online. Online will see you racing against others from across the globe in either Standard or Team style matches, and with options stretching from Normal Matches, Relay Matches, and 30-Man Matches. Inside said matches, players will spend most of their time simply racing, avoiding obstacles, and collecting power-up items similar to those found in Mario Kart. This includes everything from super speed dashing to spring boards, head buckets, and beehives. In addition, players are able to dash for a small period of time while they have stamina, which regenerates automatically while not dashing. Tales Runner is fun, fast, fantastic, and free. It's not the kind of game that'll last you a year, but it'll easily kill a few hours a week, if not more, and you're sure to have a blast while playing.