(DSiWare)

GO Series: 10 Second Run (DSiWare)

Game Review

GO Series: 10 Second Run Review

Europe PAL Version

Posted by Marcel van Duyn

More than ten seconds of fun

With the GO Series, Gamebridge is attempting to give once Japan-exclusive DSiWare a chance elsewhere in the world. Their first pick for release in Europe is 10 Second Run, a very simple little title which greatly resembles something one would expect to find online as Flash game. That's not a bad thing, though.

The concept is very simple – there are 50 stages, and in each one you have to get to the exit within a mere ten seconds. The game starts off with some very simple platforming to get your little stickman past, but it quickly starts to add additional obstacles and make the stages longer. This means you'll get closer and closer to the deadline with every new level.

In the end, you'll have to deal not only with basic platforming – and trying not to fall off the bottom of the stage – but also dodge fire, floating spikes, moving blocks and of course disappearing platforms. It's a lot to deal with in just ten seconds, especially in the last 15 stages or so. You'll need to pull off some pixel-perfect jumps if you want to make it all the way through, and you'll no doubt be performing a lot of restarts. The game also fittingly keeps track of your best times for each stage, so if you feel up to it you can attempt to improve your records.

Although there is very little to the game, it can be quite entertaining. Due to the fact that each attempt at a stage only takes up ten seconds max, it's easy to lose a good deal of time just replaying one over and over trying to beat it. There are only 50 total, but the last few are so difficult, there's no way you'll beat them quickly.

Aside from the main method of trying to finish each stage individually, there's also a Marathon mode. In this, you'll run through sets of them in as little time as possible, with your time carrying over between them. Obviously, instead of being presented with a nice big "FAIL" message when you reach ten seconds, the clock will just keep counting up. Beating one set will unlock the next, but as these are all the same stages as the 50 individual ones, you'll find finishing the last set or two even more difficult than beating their stages individually.

The graphics and music are as simple as the gameplay. The most basic blocks are all outlined in black, while the background is entirely white. Everything else is pretty much colour-coded – your character's red, dangerous obstacles are cyan and dark blue, and the exit's yellow with a pink "GOAL" sign. The only music you'll hear is a frenetic, panicky ten second song during individual stages that would not feel out of place when running out of time in a Mario or Sonic game, and a fast-paced tune during Marathon mode that will drive you to set as good a time as possible.

Conclusion

10 Second Run is very simple in every aspect – it looks simple, it sounds simple, and it plays simple. Also priced accordingly at just 200 Points, this is pretty much the best DSiWare game available for when you're making a short trip somewhere as you can achieve a lot in mere seconds.

Game Trailer

User Comments (40)

Zach

#2

Zach said:

If this came to the U.S., I'd definitely download it. It would be the first DSiWare game I bought without having to review it and without it being Photo Dojo. Nice review, Drake!

Retro-Commando

#3

Retro-Commando said:

Will this game be longer than five minutes long too complete I might download this but im concered is it just a rush to get to the end of the level within 10 seconds are the levels varied, ten seconds for a level just can't be that interesting. Can it?

ErrorSupply

#4

ErrorSupply said:

I've noticed some of the G.G series games being marketed under the "Go" label in Europe. I wonder how/if this will effect American releases of non G.G "Go" titles. Confusing.

DrakeStaff

#5

Drake said:

@Retro-Commando: Trust me, there is absolutely no way you will beat any of the last 10-15 stages within 10 attempts. That alone will keep you playing to try and beat them.

EddieP

#8

EddieP said:

Exploder: the premise is very similar, but the Flash game moves along at a much faster pace (a new hazard every level in Exit Path, a new hazard every 5 levels or so in 10 Second Run). They both have something in common - the last levels are pure evil :)

Sean_Aaron

#10

Sean_Aaron said:

The levels do get really hard. Took me 24 attempts to complete course 26 and 58 for course 24. I wouldn't worry too much about finishing everything in 5 minutes!

Tethers

#18

Tethers said:

@ GammaGames (#11): Why only 500 seconds? Didn't you read the review and some of the comments? O_o

lex0plex

#20

lex0plex said:

what happens to the little stickman when he gets hit with a projectile? does he break in half? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Ntommy

#21

Ntommy said:

I downloaded this game a few days ago, it's very nice and quite challenging.
Think about this: level editor + online sharing. If this game had them, it would have been AWESOME.

piguy101

#24

piguy101 said:

Ok, here's a question: Would this still be a hard game if it didn't have a 10 second limit. (I'm talking about the later levels)

DrakeStaff

#25

Drake said:

@piguy101: It'd be a bit easier since you wouldn't feel rushed, but some of the jumps you need to make are still pretty damn hard.

Tethers

#26

Tethers said:

@ piguy101: You can play all levels without a limit in the training mode.

@ game: If you beat all 50 stages, you get another mode called "1 second run"! There are additional 10 levels where you have to reach the end in 1 second :D.

I would give the game an 8/10.

grumblegrumble

#29

grumblegrumble said:

The screenshots look incredibly lame. Are you sure this game deserves such high praise? I guess we in the U.S.A. will find out this coming Monday.

Yoshi_2000

#30

Yoshi_2000 said:

This looks pretty sweet, I like these games without much depth. And 200 points is even better

suburban_sensei

#32

suburban_sensei said:

I totally agree with this review, a very strong 7. Just downloaded the game on a whim, and I am really glad I did, because this is very pick-up-and-play much like Pop Island: Paperfield. Nothing beats the excitement of finishing a level JUST in the nick of time...seriously on level 10 or 11, I finished with 0.01 left on the clock.

MrB4

#33

MrB4 said:

This is one of those "just one more try" kind of games for me. Every second I say "ok ill try again later", then immediately after that, I hit the replay level button, lol.

rachelthehedgehog

#35

rachelthehedgehog said:

okay umm not a good game. gets too hard and boring. theres like no point. i wish you could do races or earn money or something. not too good. dont spend your money on this.

ryanthehedgehog

#36

ryanthehedgehog said:

What really makes me mad about this game is that every time you die, you have to wait 5 seconds to start up again. So It's not die, respawn. It's die, wait 5 seconds, don't know what to do at the moment, respawn.

So that pretty much ruins the whole aspect for me, pretty much.
For some reason, before this game really caught my eye and I wanted it, but It's not worth the grab.

Pass this everyone.

Vallu

#38

Vallu said:

I bought it and cleared all levels in 1:30 hours. After clearing all 50 levels I unlocked "1 second run"-mode with 10 new levels, this time there is only 1 second time... It's great there is some kind of reward for clearing all the levels.

atariman

#39

atariman said:

I really like this game! it has a lot of levels. 50 levels and 3 other modes, and $1.99! so worth it. 7/10 :D

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