Indie Game Pick: RunMan: Race Around the World (Tom Sennett and Matt Thorson)
Normally free downloadable games would come under the 'Freeware Game Pick' category, but I'm making an exception for RunMan: Race Around the World. Yes, it may be free to download, but to be perfectly honest, it is your DUTY to throw your money at Tom and Matt.
Simply put, RunMan is utterly fantastic. The whole experience comprises of pelting it through zone after zone of levels which look like they were draw in MS Paint with the biggest size brush, bouncing off walls, smashing through bricks and baddies and then picking up a medal at the end depending on how fast you were and how much stuff you crashed into. All the while a glorious mixture of folk, blues and jazz accompanies the action, somehow perfectly complimenting the hilarity.
And that's just the basics down. Each zone map is set out like a SNES-era Mario title, while the gameplay itself manages to feel like some mad cross between said plumber and that blue hedgehog of yore. Then each level itself has 3 different medals to achieve - a bronze, silver and gold - the latter of which requires complete control and concentration to master. Oh, and the game saves ghost runs of your performances which you can then race against. And there are boss levels too.
What I'm trying to say here is, I'm only up to zone 4 and I'm already wondering to myself... could this possibly turn out to be Indie Game of the Year? Grab it from Tom Sennett's site (for free or otherwise) and decide for yourself. Oh, and if you don't like it, it most likely means you're allergic to fun. You should see a doctor about that. (Main download page)
Comments
its a fun game. and it has controller support. the art style is nothing short of amazing.
i like the public domain music. theres some good songs in there and it really fits the game. ive actually used some of those songs in my youtube cartoons. i know the title screen music was in my last video actually. i think the song is The Hall Brothers - Wrong Road.
Posted by: andy | October 2, 2009 4:38 AM
I can't get it to work. It might be that I've got 64-bit Vista, but after unzipping it and trying to run it, I'm getting this message:
ERROR in
action number 1
of Key Release Event for Key
for object obj_final:
Error defining an external function.
Posted by: Josh | October 2, 2009 4:40 AM
Ditto here on the error Josh has, same OS too.
I tried using my XP VM, but the game ran too slow on the VM (1gb RAM allotted and 2 of my processors, I guess it's because it's not using the real graphics card?). It's quite too bad, I've been anticipating this game for quite some time too. Oddly enough my VM is able to run the CAD programs I have on it.
Posted by: arrrr | October 2, 2009 4:47 AM
This turned out a lot better than I could have hoped.
Everything manages to work so well together...it's amazing.
Posted by: Bob | October 2, 2009 6:45 AM
Gah, forgot to say that this is one of the best examples of a game where you feel that you're some sort of unstoppable force (super speed, super strength, and the super feeling of knowing you did your best).
Posted by: Bob | October 2, 2009 6:49 AM
Hooray for 20s Jazz!
Posted by: Alex May | October 2, 2009 9:46 AM
pure awesome! I like it better than sonic too, its just way more mental! only gave it a quick play of the majority of the first Zone but loved it. I'll be playing this for a long time me thinks...
Posted by: Anonymous | October 2, 2009 12:55 PM
Everything about the game just made me smile.
rom the funny download page, to the action-packed gameplay.
Posted by: Broxter | October 2, 2009 12:56 PM
I am still downloading the game, but it is worth to mention that the site is pretty funny :).
Posted by: Lucaz | October 2, 2009 4:18 PM
Wow, this and dondon are my candiates for indie game of the year!.
Posted by: Lucaz | October 2, 2009 4:32 PM
Can't believe an indie game of the year could be a Game Maker game.
Posted by: lord | October 2, 2009 4:40 PM
The game is quite fun, but the graphics really hurt my eyes!
Posted by: Hempuli | October 2, 2009 7:24 PM
@lord:
It just goes to show you that Game Maker is a tool, just like everything else.
Sure, there's such a thing as a bad tool, but once something is at a certain level of versatility, the real thing that matters is the skill, diligence, and creativity of the developer(s).
Anyway, Runman is amazing! It was definitely worth the wait. (Of course, I didn't have to wait the whole time, because I found out about it maybe halfway through...)
My only complaint is that there's no volume settings... I basically only use headphones, and even at the lowest volume my computer can go to, this game is really loud...
Posted by: The Purple Squerkle | October 2, 2009 8:02 PM
Squerkle: I agree with you. It's just surprising to me I guess that that particular tool would draw such talented developers.
Do you happen to know how long they spent developing the game?
I was wondering if Game Maker saved them a bunch of time.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 2, 2009 8:06 PM
This really is a fun game. Gives me the same feeling that the old Sonic games did.
Posted by: Chetyre | October 3, 2009 1:57 AM
"You have chosen this program:
runman
What would you like to do?
(Run) (Cancel)"
I found that rather humorous (I clicked Run)
Posted by: Zupponn | October 3, 2009 3:46 AM
Huh, I tried downloading the program again, just because I hoped the bug was fixed or maybe my download was corrupted...
and it works! yay
Posted by: arrrr | October 3, 2009 11:39 AM
wanna have this for mac please
Posted by: cow | October 4, 2009 10:04 AM
I'm utterly tearing my hair out with this game. I want to love it but at the same time, it's driving me nuts! That said, I'm playing it on a keyboard rather than a controller, which maybe has a lot to do with it... :/
Posted by: Seamus | October 19, 2009 12:08 AM
This is one of the best games i have played in my life, an considering it was made on the gamemaker makes me weep with joy. In my opinion, it is better than sonic, rayman, crash and mario put into one.
Posted by: MegaByte Games | November 7, 2009 4:52 PM