Critical Play: Theme Only Games
Alto’s Adventure vs Temple Run
Alto’s Adventure is a 2D endless running game in a snowboarding theme, created in 2015 by Snowman. Temple Run is a 3D endless running game developed and published by Imangi Studios, first released in 2011. Though in the same genre, there are a lot of differences between them, due to the different themes that the games take place in.
Firstly, the overall atmosphere and overall feelings that are brought to the players. Alto’s Adventure is in landscape settings, and it takes place in the snow where the player guides a character on the snowboard to ski as far as he/she can. The game was designed to bring players with a sense of tranquil and beauty, by making the players experience the delicately-designed days and nights, as well as the peaceful and beautiful music. All the elements in the game are created in response to the theme of peaceful skiing, including the elks, the ropes to jump and slide on, the rocks in the way, the gestures that the character could make, etc.
On the other hand, Temple Run is a game where the character is chased by some giant NPCs. On its mobile version Temple Run takes place in a portrait mode. The primary theme of series is an explorer chased from evil demon monkeys, and the characters and themes vary. Apparently from the name we know that this happens in the temple, and the game was created to bring the fun of challenge to players. Compared to Alto’s Adventure, Temple Run would feel like faster-paced, and the running character, the chasers (who would appear if you are too slow), the background music and sound effects, all contribute to the overall tension of the game.
Secondly, different atmospheres would also affect the contexts that the player would choose to play the game. For example, for me I would only choose to play Temple Run when i feel like I want to beat or challenge something, but I would choose Alto’s Adventure when I feel pretty relaxed and chill.
Thirdly, different themes would determine the mechanism and controls of the game. In Alto’s Adventure where the player is skiing, there are controls such as backflip, safe landing, and you have to learn to master how to kick ramps, grind a bunting line, etc. In my point of view the hardest part would be mastering the skills of safe landing. Meanwhile, the more skills you master, the longer your scarf would grow. All of these mechanism and controls are created within the theme of snowboarding.
On the other hand, the controls in Temple Run were all designed within the theme of escaping in a temple. There are many turns, obstacles and broken roads along the way, and the player has to really pay attention to them. The level of difficulty would gradually increase especially when you have run a long way enough, and that’s where the hardest part lies in. You have to give really quick response to those dense turns and obstacles.
