Temple Run 2

Review:

Once again, Imangi Studios has outdone themselves with the release of Temple Run 2, taking the captivating thrill of its predecessor and amplifying it to a new level. While maintaining the same core of the original Temple Run - a never-ending chase - this sequel incorporates fresh graphics, characters, obstacles, and rewards that serve to enhance the game's overall appeal and replayability.

The setup is still vaguely identical to the original: you've desecrated a temple and the enraged resident guardian is hot on your heels. However, instead of merely escaping these adversaries on a narrow jungle path, Temple Run 2 transports the player on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride of diverse settings. The game whisks you through various landscapes from steep cliff paths to dark mineshafts, offering amazing dynamic scenery that is a vast improvement from the singular jungle backdrop of the previous version.

The visual fidelity in Temple Run 2 has heightened dramatically, offering a fresh and evolved feel. The graphics are brighter, richer and more dimensional. The paths are more naturalistic, and the textures and animations of the running characters are now more refined and lifelike.

The avatar lineup is also more appetizing with additional characters and each comes with a unique special ability that can significantly influence gameplay. Remember, though, unlocking these characters and abilities does require collecting coins and gems, which heightens the overall challenge of the game.

Navigating through the game is now more complex and exciting with the addition of novel obstacles such as zip-lines and mine carts. Ziplines require swiping motions to maintain balance, while mine carts demand well-timed tilts of the device. These add a fresh kind of nuance to the gaming experience and require a skill set above and beyond the basic swipe-left, swipe-right of the original.

One of the most significant enhancements in Temple Run 2 is the introduction of power-ups. These can be upgraded between runs using the coins you collect, and they offer useful tweaks such as score multipliers, speed boosts or coin magnets that enhance gameplay and boost your scores. The introduction of power-ups further adds a strategic aspect to the game which is a welcome addition in comparison to the original.

However, it would be remiss to ignore that the increased complexity may sometimes overwhelm especially to the new players as there can be a lot happening on the screen simultaneously. Moreover, the in-app purchase system can also get a bit frustrating when trying to unlock power-ups and characters faster.

However, Temple Run 2's achievements greatly outweigh these minor downsides. It charges forth with confidence, managing to be exhilarating and frustrating in equal measure. The game brilliantly manages to instill a sense of urgency, and the thrill of narrowly escaping the temple beast never lessens.

In conclusion, Temple Run 2 is a magnificent sequel that delivers more than just a facelift to its predecessor. Facing the dramatic ups and downs, the breakneck pace, and the relentless pursuit by the temple guardian leads to an addictive gameplay experience. With its impressive graphics, enhanced characters and abilities, new power-ups, and richer landscapes, Temple Run 2 offers more complexity, more strategy, and more replay value. For fans of the runner genre or the original Temple Run, this sequel is most definitely a must-play.