To be honest, when I saw the name of this game, the scene of playing the first version of "Temple Run" on the Nokia N97 immediately appeared in my mind. At that time, it was still an era when touch screens were just becoming popular. You could use your fingers to swipe around on the screen to avoid traps. Your phone would respond slowly and often hit the wall, but the tension was really addictive. Fast forward ten years, "Temple Run 2" has been out for so many years, and it is still very emotional to see it active on the list.
Not to brag, this game does have its unique position among similar parkours. Let's talk about the painting style first. Unlike the cartoony and bright style of “Subway Surfers”, “Temple Run 2” uses realistic 3D, and the details of the scenes are very particular. From the texture of the stone carvings in the temple to the light and shadow effects in the jungle, it was considered a ceiling level for mobile devices back then. Of course it doesn't seem like much now, but its art style has not become outdated even now, and instead has a retro and refined feel.
In terms of operation, it requires more precision than "Subway Surfers". Because there are many traps and dense mechanisms, you can slide left and right, jump up and down, and tilt your phone to control balance. When these operations are combined, the reaction will be slow and the game will overturn in half a beat. On the other hand, "Subway Surfers" is more of a brainless score-earning game. Running far depends mainly on props and character skills, while "Temple Run 2" tests the rhythm and on-the-spot reactions of your fingers. Both styles have their own audiences, but if you like the excitement of "one wrong step and all your efforts are wasted", this game is indeed more suitable for you.
Speaking of playability, I have to mention its "never running to the end" design. Many people find this a bit torturous. After running for half an hour and slipping back to the starting point, they feel very frustrated. But looking at it from another angle, isn't this the charm of parkour games? Just like life, you think you are about to see the exit, but around the corner is another trap. What it gives is not the satisfaction of clearing the level, but the sense of accomplishment after every extreme operation is successful along the way. Compared with parkour like "Ninja Must Die" with clear levels and BOSS battles, "Temple Run 2" is purer and more cruel.
Of course the shortcomings are also obvious. The characters and skins unlocked later are basically reskinned, with minimal numerical improvements, purely for collection. Moreover, there has been no major innovation in the gameplay for so many years, so it is easy to get bored. Compared with current parkour games that add RPG elements and plot lines (such as "Kart Run"), it does seem a bit thin. But having said that, it is originally a casual game, and you cannot ask it to compare with the depth of 3A masterpieces.
The charging mode is 0, which is purely free plus in-app purchases. To be honest, its krypton gold is not heavy, and the main experience basically does not force you to spend money. At most, you can buy some protective props or character appearance. Compared with many current mobile games that "get stuck without recharging money", this old-school conscience charging is really missed.
If you are a novice, it is recommended not to rush to score points, but to practice the rhythm of swinging left and right. The most essence of this game lies in the word "anticipation". Responding 0.1 second in advance and reacting after being cornered by a trap are completely two different experiences. In the later stages, you will find that your understanding of the game will slowly become an instinct - just like an experienced driver can know whether there is a car behind him without looking in the rearview mirror.
Finally, to be honest, in this era where the average person only wants to play 15-second short videos, there are not many old games that can make you calm down and practice for hours. Before it cools down completely, take a few more steps😌.