Tron RUN/r (PC)

During a drought of Tron media following Tron: Legacy, Sanzaru Games developed Tron RUN/r, which introduced the franchise to the endless runner genre. When I first heard about the game, without looking into it further, I will admit that I didn’t bother with it because the title made it sound like a mobile game, only for me to learn during the leadup to Tron: Ares that it was, in fact, a PC/console game. On seeing you could still buy it on Steam, I waited for a sale to purchase the Deluxe Edition bundle that includes all DLC and starts you with 11,000 Bits, the in-game currency. While my personal dexterity and endurance was only able to carry me so far, I’m still glad to have finally played this game.

The core gameplay loop takes after the endless runner genre, except consisting of pre-constructed levels with an end goal. Within each level, you can collect Bits that are used as currency to optionally purchase Power-ups (manually-activated temporary abilities) and Companion (passive abilities that last until you take damage) before the start of each level.

In the base game, levels are divided between Disc and Cycle (25 levels each), the former based more on parkour and the latter racing. In Disc levels, your score is based on a number of factors, including collecting Bits, destroying enemies or obstacles and using your various abilities at the right time. The amount of parkour abilities at your disposal leads to increasingly complex level design that puts your dexterity and physical endurance to the test. Cycle levels have a similar baseline for score values, but these levels are on a time limit that can be extended by going through Disruptor Hoops. Between them, I found myself enjoying the Cycle levels more, in part due to not requiring as much muscle activity and because I found the gameplay a lot easier to adjust to.

 

Disc levels test your parkour skills.

Cycle levels test your driving skills.

A third mode, Stream, consists of randomly generated levels that swap between Disc and Cycle. Before each level, you no longer purchase Power-ups, only Companions that work with both modes, but you do get to select the music that plays during the level. In reality, the Stream levels randomly swap between a number of set stages, but it is still a good way of providing additional replay value since you don’t know what you’re going to get. This mode is also meant to allow multiplayer and Weekly Challenges, but I was not able to try this due to server error.

 

Stream is an extra test of skill.

An additional DLC mode, Outlands, features 16 pre-made levels of increased difficulty that mix Disc and Cycle gameplay, as well as Power-ups and Companions that work between both modes. Though I didn’t spend too much time with this mode, aside from playing the first level a few times to get an idea of it, I can still say that its lives up to this promise and provides some additional replay value for those looking for a challenge.

 

Outlands provides an extra challenge.

The thought that the title sounds like a mobile game isn’t helped by the game at times resembling one with its UI and Bit system, but it still otherwise looks like Tron in terms of style and presentation. There are also a number of customization options for your Program and Light Cycle that are actually reflected in gameplay. The DLC packs even collectively provide additional options based on the films and the (underrated) Tron: Uprising TV series, making it a rare piece of Tron media to represent the latter. The game also sounds like Tron, featuring electronic music by Giorgio Moroder and Raney Shockne (humorously, Moroder collab’d with Tron: Legacy composers Daft Punk on their album Random Access Memories), with remixes from Autechre, Plaid, Rusko, Bibio, Darkstar, patten and Christopher Nicholls.

 

In addition to characters and Light Cycles from across Tron media...

...these also provide more content for the Stream mode.

For fans of endless runners and similar, Tron RUN/r is a game worth considering, especially if you can get the Ultimate Edition, which includes everything, on sale. Tron fans may be more mixed on it, but it may be worth still giving a try through the demo.