The Kahi Review: Perpetual Run 2

Perpetual Run 2 is the sequel to Perpetual Run, an platform arcade game that had you jumping over spikes while you dash across platforms by using only the up arrow key. The sequel adds to the original game by introducing "ninja-mode", where you slide down walls and can ricochet of one wall to the other.

The gameplay is pretty simple. You start by sliding down a wall in "ninja-mode", and hitting the spacebar will turn that wall into a platform that you run on. You ricochet off one wall to another via the left and right arrow keys, and after hitting the spacebar to turn into "platform-mode", use the just the up arrow key to jump. While it does take a bit of time to get used to these controls, once you get it it becomes second nature to you and you're hitting away. You will need to switch between "ninja" and "platform" mode rather quickly, however. The game leans on split second timing for some areas.

The graphics are very simple: white boxes for platforms (the color changes later on to red, then gray, then a blue/white mix to distract the eyes, etc.), red triangles for spikes, and a white person-like figure that you control. But while they are the most basic form of graphics I've ever seen, they work for the game tremendously. Any more depth and it would distract you from the actual gameplay itself, and in this game you can't afford to waste a single second. As such, while they aren't anything special and I would be very displeased if they were in another game, in this particular game they are a must. They also add to the "retro" theme that the game has, and you probably won't notice them because you're too busy playing the game.

The music is pretty nice, but it repeats itself over and over, which gets a little annoying after a while. However, again, the game is so fast that it stays in the background for most of the game. It wasn't until 30 minutes that I finally realized "Hey, this is the same thing I heard a minute ago!"

There is absolutely no storyline to this game, and it doesn't need one. It is an arcade game, after all...

The interface isn't much. You just hit space to start the game and space to restart it after you die. Nothing tells you at the beginning that you need to use the arrow keys to move left and right, and when introducing the switching wall/platforms, two words displaying the phrase "Press Space" flash by without telling you what it actually does (although you will find out when you press it, obviously). There is a timer that tells you how long you've lasted, however. I got to 151.79.99 before kicking the bucket on my longest time.

All in all, this is one of those arcade games that you just can't stop playing. The game is timed so so that you get enough time to jump without thinking "It's going too fast; this game's not fair!" while still providing a challenge and narrow saves along the way. Sure, the interface could be a bit more explanatory and the music could be less repetitive, but they're buried under the surface of a fine, addictive platformer that you should definitely check out.