We can’t outrun death, can we? It’s selfish (after all, we need to make room for young talent). But could you at least do better with a little magic? As you can see in Running on Magic, it relies almost entirely on your ability to time your jumps.
Running on Magic is a runner-platformer where you run through the world with death on your back. Thankfully, Reaper is in no hurry to delay you. In fact, it brings me back to life from a terrible fall at first. He also gives you the ability to acquire and harness magic to stay alive. I don’t want to take away
So you run The game automatically moves at one of the four speeds available.There is a slow speed for beginners to help you get a feel for your platforming abilities, but this that too throw. Normal speed set a decent pace and I didn’t try to go any faster. That’s because, like real life these days, avoiding death is already hard enough.
Running on Magic makes use of procedurally generated levels to ensure you’re never the same twice. You can’t remember where the monsters, hard jumps, and environmental hazards are, so getting better is all about reading what’s thrown in front of you and adjusting your plans quickly. Most of the action is handled by timing your jumps and reaching the right spot. The game pushes you forward, but it can speed you up or back you down to some extent. This gives you time to decide, for example, whether to jump between rows of enemies or use magic to hover above them. Getting more isn’t always easy (especially on higher difficulty). So once you’ve used it up by avoiding enemies, chances are you’ve got nothing left for a jump you can’t complete without it. Your skill level determines how many hits you can hit before finishing. And when you die, you’re back at the beginning of the level, where there’s nothing to predict what you’ll look like this time.
The mechanism is simple and precise. Control your character’s speed and direction with the left stick, jump with the A button, and hit the ground with the Y button. The challenge is completely focused on your ability to avoid what you should avoid and overcome what you can, never being hampered by controls that feel awkward or unfair.
Running on Magic’s action is very basic, but complemented by a whimsical sense of humor. Reaper is portrayed as a patient, but somewhat exhausted companion forced to endure your tenacity.
The character moves as if riding a unicycle, giving the game a chaotic, accident-waiting feel, especially in high-speed settings.
The whole package is well put together, but Running on Magic doesn’t aim to be much more than just a time killer. There are only 5 levels to work on, so you should be able to complete it quickly. Four skill settings could extend the game’s lifespan, but even with procedurally generated levels, I didn’t find any motivation to do it again. You certainly get your money’s worth, but it’s not a game that will stay in your library for long.
