Core System Analysis

What is SpeedRunners? 

SpeedRunners is a competitive side-scrolling racing game that pits players against each other with grappling hooks, power-ups, and interactive environments. Keep up with the fastest player in-game, or you will fall offscreen and get eliminated. Players are able to run, jump, swing around, fire rockets and grapple onto their opponents to knock them off screen. Friends become foes, as you learn quickly how the game is a free-for-all and you must fend off any opposition to be in the lead. The last player moving on the screen wins.

Core Gameplay

In the diagram above, the core systems of movement, combat and real time complement each other to form the gameplay of SpeedRunners. In a match, we can see movement being the primary core system, due to the constant flow of the game where you must keep moving or you’ll go off screen and lose. The next system is combat, which gives the game the main action of players fighting against each other for first place. Then real time is incorporated with the map timer of shrinking screen, where players have to run in a shrinking frame over time. The systems all together create the main gameplay loop of SpeedRunners.

Movement

The movement system plays a vital role for gameplay as its the main core system. The whole game is based on the concept of keep moving, if you stop you lose. All players have to keep moving to stay alive. The winner is the last person moving. There're multiple methods of movement in the game from running, jumping, sliding, falling, climbing and grapple hooking across the map. Depending on the map, boost will be available in certain parts to help the player gain momentum. Numerous obstacles will impede the player’s progression, therefore the player must move fast and think faster.

Real Time, Run Like Your Life Depends On it!

The real time system embeds a sense of urgency that makes the players rush to stay in the safe zone. The game has a map timer with the screen shrinking and the red borders of death getting closer and closer every second. It’s triggered when one player gets eliminated. If players fall behind, the red borders will engulf them and the player automatically explodes. The screen will shrink until all players are dead. A feature that keeps the games short and fun.

Combat, Fight To Stay In The Fight

The combat system is where players actually enjoy the gameplay, who don't like obstructing other players to win. In this aspect of the game, players compete with each other by using different pickup items.  One of the tactical weapons in the game is the Golden Hook, which lets them trade places with the player in front. Another pickup item is the homing missiles, where players can fire them at enemies in front or behind them. There's also a time bomb, where the player can place wherever and detonate to stun anyone in the blast radius. The ShockWave is a defensive item used in combat that will push players in whatever direction. So if you are leading and set a pulse, the players will be pushed back. This can be used to dodge hooks and rockets. But the pulse can be countered by boosting through it. Another item is the freeze ray that lets players freeze opposing players to stop them in their tracks. The Invincidrill blast through any object or player in your way. Lastly, the best item in the game, a box, which is an obstacle that is meant to slow down other players.

All Come Together

The core systems in the game integrate together to form unique thrilling gameplays and create an enjoyable experience. At some point in the level, sliding is essential and can be useful to getting through tight spots or knocking people over as a product of attack for combat and motion for movement systems to harmonize together. Another core systems interaction is the constant pressure to dodge other players attacks while traversing through the map. All core systems play a role in this gameplay. Dissecting the gameplay, the player moves throughout the tricky environment(movement system), while also having to be aware of other player’s attacks (combat system). Dodging for defense purposes to stay in the race, all while the screen follows the leading player(real time system). So all of the other players have to stay close to the leader to not get eliminated. Which leads to the game having a movement system intermeshed with combat, where the player can eliminate other players by moving across the screen faster. The death boundaries (game screen) will get closer to opposing players to put pressure and influence error. 

Overall...

Therefore, SpeedRunners would not be the same if it didn’t have this main core loop. These three core systems together create the identity of the game, because without any of them players will just be running around a map. First, the Movement System is very important, due to the fact that the game is about movement and without it the player is just standing still. Second, the Combat System allows for friendly competition which always makes the game far more interesting to play. Finally, the Real Time system implements a finish line in the game, where a player wins by being the last one alive as the map timer (death borders shrinking) counts down. Beyond these systems, a few secondary systems inhabit the game. The most defining secondary system is the social side of the game, where players can play against other random players and friends. Which can lead to forming a strategy against your friend’s playing style. In the case of playing with random players online leads to the excitement of being clueless on how good these strangers really are at playing the game. The social aspect enhances the overall gameplay, due to players conversing with one another as they compete and target each other. Therefore, the social system is a secondary system because you need the actual gameplay first, before letting players communicate with each other. In conclusion, I really enjoyed playing this game with friends. It made it way more pleasing to impede your friends in the game., and bring the game to reality to enjoy.