A new VR version of the classic 2011 mobile game, Temple Run, has just been released and is now available on Samsung Gear VR. Like all of the titles that currently populate the Oculus Store, the game is free to download.
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Caught red-handed with an idol snatched from a mysterious temple, you find yourself being relentlessly hunted down by the series’ antagonist, a monster deemed the ‘Arctic Demon Monkey.’ The Sasquatch-like character will always have his revenge though, as you can never reach the end of the procedurally generated pathway set before you, making for another characteristically addictive (and super frustrating) installment of the Temple Run series.
Sounds like the same old game, doesn’t it? Not quite. Imangi Studios, the developers of the franchise, have entirely redesigned the game to take advantage of the Gear VR’s (and requisite Samsung Note 4’s) low persistence display and its unique ability to offer a first person point of view. This means dodging, jumping, and diving around the icy obstacles is a fluid experience that taps directly into the “not wanting to get mauled to death” part of your brain—and all in beautifully rendered stereoscopic 3D.
For Gear VR owners that neglected to purchase the bundle which included Samsung’s GamePad, or haven’t separately purchased a compatible controller like the MOGA Pro or Amazon Fire Game Controller, the ability to use Gear VR’s integrated touchpad is thankfully still an option.
Due to some unfortunately long shipping times from the United States, the only country where Gear VR is currently available for purchase, I wasn’t able to personally review the game, so we hear a first hand account from Orange County based freelance journalist, Ian Hamilton (twitter handle @hmltn) for more info on the game.
The most impressive thing about Temple Run VR is that it is a perfect port of the addictiveness of the originals—short, sweet and challenging. Even as I write this I have the itch to put Gear VR back on and try to make it as far as I can. First I used the touchpad to get to 1,000 meters and then I used the controller to get to 2,000. Glance left, right or turn around at any time and heavy-breathing beasts are there chasing. Better to stay focused on the road ahead.
The game employs long curved turns to rotate the player in a new direction. These curves go against VR best practices, as does jumping over obstacles, but I didn’t feel discomfort with either after maybe 15 minutes of gameplay. I wonder if it didn’t bother me because I knew what to expect from the 2D version. I’m also pretty acclimated to VR so your mileage may vary.
Along with yesterday’s release of Temple Run VR, the Oculus Store has also seen a few other apps hit the virtual shelves including two DK1 legacy titles Vanguard V and Ocean Rift, and also 360 cinematic video apps NextVR, and Jaunt VR, all a welcome addition to the store’s rather sparse amount of content on offer. But as the adage goes, “good things come to those who wait,” because according to Oculus VR’s Program Manager we should be seeing more Store updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.
And for those of us still waiting on the Gear VR’s arrival, that just means more goodies to look forward to when Samsung finally releases the device to the other 6.5 billion people on the planet.
