I’m not exactly sure why I enjoy this game so much.  It could be the utter simplicity of it, all you do is run, jump, and shoot.  Then again, it could be the fact that it looks just like an old Atari 2600 game.  Whatever the reason, this seemingly simple game turned out to be terribly addictive, and has already cost me countless hours.  So, let’s go ahead and take a closer look.

Those blocky graphics and lack of significant control are almost instantly recognizable to anyone who witnessed the dawn of home video games with platforms like the Atari 2600 or Colecovision.  So, basically, your job is to run…run like the wind.  Where are you running?  Don’t know.  What will you do when you get there?  No clue.  This running is more akin to the old west movies, in which you are sure the hero ran past the same rock time and again.  Don’t watch the scenary too closely in this game or you may find the same rock going past again and again. 

The action in this game is pretty simple.  Like I said, you are running.  in a straight line.  At a constant speed.  I was expecting to be able to control the pace at which you run across the screen, but no such luck.  What you will find as you run are obstacles.  First are the hurdles.  These are metal beams at various heights, which you must jump over or slide under by flicking the screen.  Obviously, flick up to jump, flick down to slide.  Pretty easy so far.

The next obstacle you will face are the brick or rock walls.  For these, you will use your bazooka.  Just tap the destructible object to grab your bazooka and send a grenade hurtling toward it. 

Finally, you will also find zombies.  Yes…zombies.  coming at you.  Let one touch you and it is game over…or at least life over (as you might expect, you get three lives).  Don’t worry, though, because this is why you have the attack button.  Just hit attack to punch (or kick) the zombies.  

Of course, don’t think that is all there is.  Every time you earn 100 points, a new obstacle will impede your progress.  These obstacles will each add a different level of difficulty to the game, but all still rely on the same four motions (jump. slide, shoot, or attack).

The simple graphics and repetitive gameplay really did take me all the way back to the dawn of video games and the Atari 2600.  In the end, though…I found this game to be a refreshingly simple distraction from the typical complexities of modern day video games.   Just go ahead and…RUN!  You will not regret it.

Run! was developed by Arthur Ham (www.arthurham.com) and is available for $0.99 in the iTunes App Store.

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