Temple Run 2 Full Review: Story, Game Play, Graphics and More
Once upon a time, I downloaded Temple Run 2 only to pass the five-minute gap waiting for a friend. I intended to play just one round and get back to my normal business. But almost half an hour went by, and there I was playing to better my last record.
That sums up Temple Run 2 very nicely. It is not necessary to have a lengthy story line or realistic graphics. It just has to offer game play that will make you think that you could better your record at the next attempt.
I played Temple Run 2 on an Android phone over weeks, playing it in between short breaks, travel times, and even while going to sleep. This is the review of Temple Run 2 after hundred of attempts (and crashes).
Game Information
Game
Temple Run 2
Company Name
Imangi Studios
Operating System(s)
Android & iOS
Category
Endless Runner
Cost
Free (In-app purchase option)
Offline Play Available
Yes
Story
Whereas RPGs and adventure games rely heavily on storylines, Temple Run 2 lacks this feature. However, the game features a great narrative which fits the gameplay well.
Stealing a cursed idol from an ancient temple, you will immediately start being chased by a large creature. You have just one task – survive.
Nothing else.
The storyline is not complex but, in my opinion, it does not need to be. The main excitement of the game comes from surviving as long as possible, rather than learning something new about the plot.
Sometimes, simple things work better.
First Impressions
What was the first thing I noticed after installation? Everything was polished enough.
Clean menus.
Immediate responses from controls.
Fast loading time.
Despite being played on a mid-class Android phone, the game did not experience any lagging or crashing issues.
Unlike most free mobile games, Temple Run 2 does not overload you with tons of tutorials. In less than a minute after installation, I started running along dangerous cliffs and jumping over broken bridges.
Gameplay
Gameplay has been the key factor that made Temple Run 2 a successful game for many years now.
The controls are very straightforward:
Swipe to the left in order to turn
Swipe to the right in order to turn
Swipe upwards to jump
Swipe downwards to slide
Rotate the mobile phone to get coins
It's as easy as that.
The difficulty lies in the constantly increasing speed.
At first, everything seems quite possible.
A couple of minutes later, you find yourself making quick decisions when avoiding cliffs, fire pits, rivers, and minecarts.
One misstep means immediate failure.
Indeed, I have lost several games trying to collect all the coins rather than survive. After shifting my focus to surviving, my high score increased significantly.
It must be the most important thing I've learned.
Sometimes survival is better than collecting everything.
Variety of Environments
Something that makes Temple Run 2 quite appealing is its variety.
As opposed to running through the same landscapes all the time, the game continually changes environments.
You'll find yourself running across:
Ancient temples
Hanging bridges
Waterfalls
Mines
Forests
Cliffs
Fire challenges
The environment changes just a little bit, but it helps make playing the game for a long time more entertaining.
Mine cart levels are particularly exciting because they bring an entirely new gameplay experience.
Characters
Temple Run 2 allows you to choose from several characters.
Some of them can be unlocked by collecting coins, while others are unlocked during certain events.
All the characters have different looks, although their presence does not really affect gameplay.
Nevertheless, being able to unlock new runners provides an additional incentive besides reaching high scores.
Power-Ups
Every run is made interesting by power-ups.
Some of the power-ups that I like include:
Shield
It protects the player from one obstacle.
It is very useful especially in fast runs.
Coin Magnet
It automatically collects coins for you.
The perfect power-up when unlocking upgrades.
Boost
It boosts the character for a short while ignoring any obstacles along the way.
Ideal for adding more scores.
Coin Bonus
It gives an instant bonus of coins.
Used to buy upgrades for characters.
Graphics
Even though Temple Run 2 is no match for the graphics of today’s console games, the images of this game are impressive.
The landscapes are bright-colored.
There are interesting lighting effects.
Water splashes are realistically animated.
Running animations are realistic.
Above all else, everything is clearly visible when running at high speeds.
Years later, the graphics do not look old-fashioned.
On my Android phone, I was able to run the game smoothly without heating up my device.
Sound and Music
Temple Run 2 does not feature any music that would distract players.
In order to make players excited, it uses:
running footsteps,
sounds of water,
monster roars,
coin collection sounds,
environmental sounds.
Using headphones improves the experience even further.
The monster, which chases you, is always near enough to make you feel scared.
Controls
Definitely, one of the most intuitive games for mobile platforms.
In just a couple of minutes, you will know all about its controls.
Missed swipes were quite rare for me.
Touchscreen interaction worked really well in my case.
Of course, sometimes the crashes were completely my fault.
There were times when I was trying to get an additional coin by swiping a little bit later than usual.
It spoiled many good streaks for me.
Performance on Android
I tried Temple Run 2 on an average Android smartphone.
Game performance was outstanding.
I managed to see:
Fast loading
Consistent frame rate
Low battery consumption during short periods of playing
Smooth animations
No random crashes
Also, the game is really well optimized for older Android devices.
Coins, Gemstones, and Upgrade Items
Temple Run 2 encourages consistent gameplay.
Players receive:
Coins
Gemstones
Achievements
Daily rewards
Event rewards
Coins assist with upgrading player skills.
Gemstones enable you to restart after a crash.
In the beginning, I wasted my gemstones too fast.
Then I understood that keeping gemstones for longer runs would be better.
Resource management is one more element of strategy.
In-game Events
I like the special events available in the game.
These events provide:
Time-limited bonuses
Unique characters
Special goals
Seasonal themes
Thus, they motivate players to come back despite having completed all the upgrades.
Tips for Newbies
For anyone that has just started playing Temple Run 2, here are some tips I found to be helpful to learn quickly.
1. Prioritize survival above all
While coins have their benefits, survival is more important than anything else.
2. Get Coin Magnet upgrade first
Makes it much easier to collect coins.
3. Save your gems
Do not use gems on short games.
4. Practice swiping
The biggest mistake for most newbies is swiping too late.
5. Accomplish objectives
Completing objectives gives you rewards faster than grinding.
Mistakes to Avoid
Many newbie players tend to make the same mistakes.
Pursuing every single coin
At times, some dangerous coins might not be worth your while.
Ignoring power-up upgrades
Upgrades make your life much easier.
Wasting gems
Only use gems when breaking records.
Getting panic in high speeds
Stay focused and look ahead.
Positive Aspects
Addictive gameplay
Smooth control
Pretty graphics
Ability to play offline
Periodic events
Short play sessions
Runs great on most Android devices
Free
Areas for Improvement
No app is ever perfect.
Some areas that need improvement include:
Variety in gameplay modes
Different playing environments
Meaningful powers for characters
Fewer ads during game runs
However, none of these problems affect the game experience in a negative way.
Who Should Play Temple Run 2?
Temple Run 2 can be a good pick if you:
Like infinite running games
Are looking for a quick game to play
Prefer offline mobile games
Love score hunting
Love simple controls with difficulty progression
If you're a casual player or enjoy competition with friends, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had here.
Is Temple Run 2 Worth Playing?
Of course, it definitely is. And the gameplay itself is the main factor behind the huge popularity of Temple Run 2 for many years now. As you can see, this specific characteristic has been quite well balanced, ensuring great simplicity and difficulty of the game.
And all the runs are different because of the randomly generated paths, obstacles, zip lines, waterfalls, and mine cars. Once you start running really fast, quick reactions become necessary, and that makes the game much more interesting even if you spend just 5 minutes playing.
What I liked most of all in this game is that you do not have to pay any money to increase your skills while playing it. You improve your skills of the character automatically through learning jumping timing and sliding.
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