ArcRunner analysis

ArcRunner is a shooter with roguelike elements and a cyberpunk aesthetic developed by Trickjump Games and published by PQube

An AI is out of control on the space station The Arc due to a virus. Your mission in ArcRunner will be to travel through the different areas of the station and find the Kore AI to restart it. To do this you will put yourself in the shoes of a tactical agent to choose between three different classes in cooperation or go on an adventure alone.

In ArcRunner, in each game we will have the possibility to choose between 3 different classes depending on the combat style we have based on the choice of our melee weapon, our skills and our defensive form. The soldier class focuses on a versatile and more balanced model in which the use of a shield stands out that protects us frontally from enemy fire and prevents us from attacking while we protect ourselves.

The Ninja class is based on the use of camouflage and eliminating enemies using melee attacks with the katana we have. Finally, the pirate class focuses on the ability to hack objects and enemies that are within our reach, and by default we will have the antigravity option that will allow us to approach levels in a different way.

Gameplay

The structure of ArcRunner is simple, we will have to overcome a series of scenarios composed of several levels in which we will have to eliminate waves of enemies and face final bosses that do not live up to expectations because they do not have a wide variety of attacks, or behaviors that make things very difficult for us. We can use level design to seek an advantage against different enemies, since there are several areas of cover that allow us to separate enemies and destructible elements that allow us to do additional damage to them.

As we defeat them, they will leave a series of items such as weapons and skills on the field. Each time we complete a level we will enter a safe area that will give us some health and give us the possibility of unlocking an improvement for our character (improve reloading, increase damage…). Also note that we have the possibility of playing ArcRunner individually and cooperatively with other users, which will allow us to implement more strategies in each of the phases of the game.

The character’s movements are fluid, running to avoid shots and jumping will be a very important part of our game. These mechanics can be improved since we will be able to jump higher as we improve.

Progress

In ArcRunner Being a game with roguelike elements, the evolution of each of the games we play is important, and this is reflected in our character. In this case the progression of the title is correct, since at the beginning we will not be able to go far (selection difficulty aside) and we will suffer a little so we will have to improve our character with the resources that we obtain.

At the end of each game we obtain a type of currency that will allow us to improve different aspects of our character focused on equipment, damage, defense and class skills. This means that each attempt must be better prepared and it is easier to advance in the first levels and overcome the phase where we lost.

Conclusions

ArcRunner is a roguelike shooter with a cyberpunk aesthetic that can be played individually or in multiplayer in which the objective is to restart the AI ​​that controls the station we are on. Addictive and practical gameplay makes the game an interesting title in which to spend time testing the different classes and testing each of the skills.

The cyberpunk aesthetic is okay without standing out too much. The visual design of the final bosses is interesting, quite the opposite of their gameplay part since they do not represent a greater challenge than one might expect.

ArcRunner

$19.99

Benefits

• Lots of fun
• Replayable
• An interesting progression

The inconvenients

• Interface text difficult to read on large TVs
• Simple final bosses