Rainbow Runner (XBLIG): "An Intense Run 'N Gun Shooter"

In my early search for games to review I came across a very unique shmup style shooter called 'Rainbow Runner'. Being the shmup enthusiast that I am I couldn't wait to see if the developer would allow me to review the game. It ended up taking a while to acquire the code from Tristan Nishimoto (Progpixel Games) due to complications with Microsoft, but I found it to be well worth the wait. After receiving the code I spent a couple of hours, or more playing through the different game modes. I could have spent a lot more time than that, but I needed to get the review out there.


Tristan's unique take on the shmup genre really stood out from the shooters I've played in the past. Instead of piloting a ship I found myself controlling the running figure of a person. When I watched the trailer of the game I had noticed this detail, but I had no idea how involved this shmup would turn out to be. I also found that the colorful look of the game is much more than just eye candy. If you are a shmup fan, and think your just going to jump right into this game you might be surprised. The game's controls, and rules definitely take some getting used to. I wouldn't say they were severely hard to learn, but it does require some practice. This game also features a very nice techno/rave style of music that accents the gameplay greatly. I could listen to it's soundtrack for a very long time.


Rainbow Runner's controls are fairly simple. If you find you don't like the initial control setup, the game offers a wide variety of control customization. I was actually satisfied with the initial setup, and went along with it. If you choose the initial control scheme you'll find that the top bumper buttons are used for jumping, the left thumbstick is for movement, and the right thumbstick is for shooting. It plays kind of like a dual thumbstick shmup, but the addition of the X, Y, B, and A buttons for switching colors makes for much more involved/challenging gameplay. You'll also find that Rainbow Runner features the vibration function which adds a nice interactive feeling to it.

The level layout in Rainbow Runner is accented by a city backdrop. As your character continues to run you will hardly notice the cityscape, and it's probably a good idea to not focus on it. I should warn you that the constant flashing colors combined with the quickly advancing background could cause problems for people who are known to have seizures. I was able to withstand all of the visual effects, and even played the game for over 2 hours.

Rainbow Runner requires the constant switching of your runners colors which are color coordinated with the X, Y, B, and A buttons. If you wanted to change your runner's color to blue you would press the X button. The same concept also applies to the other three buttons. The use of color changing reminds me of shmups like 'Ikaruga' where you altered polarity/color in order to absorb bullets of the matching color type. The same concept applies in Rainbow Runner. As you race through the levels you will need to change to the appropriate color in order to pass through walls (stick figures holding colored walls). These walls are usually lined up in a random sequence, and require you to make the right color choice. The four bosses in the game also require color changing tactics in order to defeat them. It's mostly for dodging the sprays of colored bullets though. The bullets your runner  shoots will damage any enemy on the screen regardless of the color. I found that the color changing is mainly required for the wall sequences, and the boss fights.

There are a good variety of game modes available in Rainbow Runner. Each mode offers 5 difficulties (beginner, easy, normal, hard, masochistic). The first mode choice you'll find is 'Adventure'. Adventure mode will have you running through color wall sequences, shooting flying enemies (flying square vehicles, stick figures on rockets), and battling a boss at the end of each level. This mode also features a combo scoring system that awards you with points for making through enemies, and walls without getting hit. Once you get hit the combo system starts over. You also have seven lives/hits in which to make it through the adventure. If you lose lives/hits you can easily acquire more by gaining a certain score. The next mode in the list is 'Endless'. This is my favorite mode out of the entire game. Basically it's a survival mode in which you run until you lose your last life/hit. It caters to the shmup fans who always shoot for the highest score. There are no bosses in this mode just walls, and flying enemies. The third mode on the list is wall mode. This mode focuses only on the wall sequences. You are given one life to make it as far as you can. The score system is different from the previous modes, and doesn't have a combo system. The scores are actually toned down a good bit in this mode. The final mode that's available is 'Boss Rush'. It's just like it sounds. You face all four bosses from adventure mode in a race to get the quickest completion time. If you get hit it tacks on extra time to your end results.

Rainbow Runner is a brilliant display of artistic shmup action from the title screen on. I enjoyed the variety of game modes it offered, and especially like the 'Endless' mode. I could see myself spending hours playing that mode alone. If you are a shmup fan this is definitely an experience that shouldn't be passed up. I ended up only having one issue with the game, and it was that there were no online leaderboards. If Progpixel Games could apply this feature in an update this game would be truly impressive. Rainbow Runner definitely ranks up there with some of the best game titles released in the XBLIG library this year.