Runbow is a game that I really like, and it was one of the few games that I still played on my WiiU (yep, it still exists, you know). The funny thing is that it was an impulse buy; I wanted something different, and everyone was raving about how good it was. So without reading any reviews, I bought it, and I was not disappointed. Now the game has made the jump to Nintendo Switch, taking advantage of the console’s hybrid nature. It is the perfect game to play on the go. Is it worth to double dip (if you have it on WiiU already)? I believe that the answer is yes.
Runbow’s objective is simple: you run through the stage, while avoiding enemies, hazards, and getting to the goal at the end. On paper it’s like taking candy from a baby, right? Nope! You are so wrong, my fellow gamer, since Runbow is a really strong baby that will use all types of devilishly clever traps, hazard,s and an innovate color changing system to impede you to get to the candy, since the color changing mechanic is Runbow’s most appealing thing on the game. Picture this: There is an orange platform in the middle, and you can use it to get to the goal, but suddenly the background changes color to orange. What do you think it happens? That platform is no more, so if you were in the middle of your jump, you will have no place to land anymore, until the next color change and so forth. Because of this, Runbow is more than a simple mindless platformer. The game requires you to think and look ahead in order to reach the goal. And might I add in the least time possible (you can take your time in some stages, but you wont get all three medals in each stage). It’s more than a race to the goal. It’s a race against time, and all odds are not in your favor.
There are a lot of ways to play Runbow, but I’ll talk first about single player. In single player mode, the story puts you against femme fatale, Satura. She gets mad, while all the Hues and Vals are filming (movies I think), and it’s up to whoever you choose to beat all of Satura’s challenges. The Adventure Mode (against Satura) puts you with a selection of levels with the task of reaching the goal all while defeating enemies or collecting some items. Here you are given medals depending of your completion times. You only die if you fall of a cliff or on spikes. As you unlock more when you progress further, some levels are really tricky. Others have an extra challenges like a gigantic saw following you while the colors change fast.
Another Single player mode is the Bowhemoth mode. Be advised, though. This mode is HARD! For starters, this mode challenges you with multiple rooms of particularly hard platforming and color schemes. To make things more challenging, it doesn’t let you save your progress. If you need a break or if you quit because you can´t take any more punishment, you’ll be thrown right back to the start the next time you load it up. It’s hard, yes, but so satisfying once you finally beat it.
Aside the great game play and polished controls, Runbow’s presentation is top notch. It has sleek menus, catchy music (yep even after playing another game, the music is still in my head), and beautiful and colorful backgrounds. Even the way the game taunts you when you lose is great. I even understood a reference “+1 is in another castle.” I couldn’t help to smile (if you don’t understand it you need more gaming in your life).
Runbow is a great game as single player. However, it is more oriented to multiplayer action. Therefore, it makes sense that there are several modes that are split into ‘Run,’ ‘Arena,’ and ‘King of the Hill,’ all with differences on the standard game play. In Run, you run from a starting point to a goal. Arena encourages players to punch each other around in the hopes of being the last one standing. King of the Hill makes players fight over one particular spot on the map, aiming to take command there for a set amount of time. Local multiplayer allows up to eight players in these modes, nine online, so more the merrier–and more chaotic. Not even eight player Smash compares with the hectic competitive action seen here, especially on Arena Mode.
Multiplayer is fun, but there are some things that were overlooked here. First, there is not an option to add CPU characters (on Run mode, you can play solo), so if you want to try the multiplayer modes you need to get more players. Online is another thing. You can play Run, Arena, and King of the Hill, but the main issue here is that there are barely any players online. Sometimes I had to wait 10 minutes to get connected with someone. On WiiU, I could get online multiplayer quickly. On Switch, I cannot (at the time this article was written, the game has been released and tried online several times). I could get matches more quickly but only on Run mode. Arena and King of the Hill barely had anyone.
There is also the lack of Colourmaster, but its understandable, since that mode was made exclusively for the WiiU gamepad. It wouldn’t work here to be honest. Besides, there are a lot of unlockables, including Indie Stars like Shantae, Gunvolt, Lilac and many more, although all characters have the same moves for the sake of fairness. It wouldn’t be fair for Shantae, for example, to transform into a bat and fly to the goal (it would be cool, but unfair). There is also adsitional content in the form of DLC that includes costumes, music, and Satura’ Space Adventure. It would have been nice to get any kind of legacy discount for owners of DLC on WiiU, or at least Satura’s Space Adventure included. If you feel like you need it, you have no choice to double dip (it’s worth it, though).
Bottom Line: Runbow is the definitive party game, but with enought content to be enjoyed as a single player. The jump from WiiU to Switch was a smooth one, except for Colourmaster. Nothing has been cut and everything is here. Despite some online woes and lack of multiplayer against the cpu, Runbow continues to charm me with its colorful game play and shenanigans. It’s worth to double dip, and if you didn’t have a WiiU, now is your chance to experience Rainbow Power.
A review copy was provided.