Phase Runner (XBLIG): "A Terrain Changing Avatar Runner"

Phase Runner is a unique XBLIG title with 3D style visuals that was recently released on the Xbox 360 by thelostone (The developer). It features a unique style gameplay as well as soothing relaxing music that is accented by a female's voice. Aside from that fact this is one of the only XBLIG titles out there that incorporates your Xbox 360 avatar into the game. Phase Runner takes shmup style gameplay, removes the bullets, and turns it into a running/escape type of game. The forever changing terrain that lies underneath your feet definitely presents a challenge.

In the game's start menu you will find a brief visual explanation of the gameplay that is involved. It is fairly straightforward, and the only controls you will mainly use are the thumbsticks. The left thumbstick is used for your avatar's movement while the right thumbstick is used for camera rotation. It's just like the shmup genre I mentioned previously. The back trigger buttons can be used to zoom in, and out of the game screen. I actually found that it's best to keep a the camera zoom at a good distance since it's harder to see what's going on if you have it zoomed in.

The point of Phase Runner is to gather all of the amber/gold stars that are scattered among the changing terrain. Each star is worth a set amount of points. Your pursuit of a hi-score is complicated by the fact that there are sphere shaped enemies chasing you throughout each terrain layout. The terrain changes in Phase Runner actually take place when an in-game timer reaches zero. The timer isn't actually set for a long period of time. Another part of  the changing process involves how the terrain underneath your avatar is constantly moving. Your decisions in movement direction will greatly effect how well you'll do. Some terrain will actually stop your avatar if you move along the wrong path. I've found myself getting stuck, because of this. As a result the sphere shaped enemies were able to take away a lot of my hit points/life.That's another feature of the game. You start the game off with 100 hit points/life, and each time one of the sphere shaped enemies hits you it's decreased. There are ways to regenerate your life. I think the blue orbs/stars actually help with that but I'm not 100% sure. I did notice that if I went a certain amount of time without getting hit my avatar would regain lost hit points/life.

In the end I found Phase Runner's simple control scheme, and gameplay to be relaxing. The soothing techno style music helped in that area. I definitely liked that thelostone incorporated the Xbox 360 avatar into the game. The 3D visuals, and avatar inclusion is what caught my attention. Those are the main reasons I sought out the game for review. In all of those areas the game really shines. If I had one suggestion it would be to slow down the disc shaped enemies a little. They move a lot faster than your avatar which makes the game a good bit more difficult. A minor change in their speed would be very helpful. Other than that I think the game is definitely worth the 80 msp.