Grid Runner
Encyclopedia
Grid Runner is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment
and published by Virgin Interactive
for the Sega Saturn
, PlayStation and Microsoft Windows
in 1996.
If the player manages to beat the game, Axxel destroys Volga and escapes the ship just before it blows up.
. The object of the game is to change a set amount of flags scattered around the playfield to the colour of your player. Upon starting the game, two players must race to find the first flag. The first player to get to this flag will change the flag's color to blue or red (player 1 or player 2's color, respectively). The loser will then be marked as "it" and must then hunt down the other player "tagging" them and making them "it" instead. Only the player not marked as "it" may change the colours of the flags, and as soon as the desired number of flags have been changed, that player will win.
The map takes a grid-like form, featuring numerous types of tiles allowing the player to speed up in one direction, teleport or allow further pathways to appear. Each player is armed with a laser gun that can slow the opponent down, and each player may build "bridges" to overcome gaps. You may also use magic found on the map to slow down your opponent, teleport or speed up. Shields and time for the bonus stages are also collectible.
Each level is split into three rounds against an opponent, which the player must win in order to succeed. Opponents often come with certain abilities, giving them better control on ice for example, or being able to build two "bridges" at once. After each level there is a bonus level in which more magic can be obtained.
Radical Entertainment
Radical Entertainment is a video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1991 and previously developed games for game publishers such as THQ, Microsoft and Fox Interactive. It is now an entirely owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard after being acquired by...
and published by Virgin Interactive
Virgin Interactive
Virgin Interactive was a British video game publisher. It was formed as Virgin Games Ltd. in 1981. The company became much larger after purchasing the budget label, Mastertronic in 1987. It was part of the Virgin Group...
for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
, PlayStation and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
in 1996.
Story
Axxel and his partner Tara, a pair of space adventurers, are sent on a mission to the Gridonion Asteroid Field, a path between Earth and the Nether-Planets, to find out why ships have been mysteriously disappearing. While investigating a seemingly deserted ship in the asteroid field, Axxel is captured by the evil Empress Vorga, the cyber-witch who then forces Axxel to play her deadly game.If the player manages to beat the game, Axxel destroys Volga and escapes the ship just before it blows up.
Gameplay
Grid Runner is a top-down game similar to tagTag (game)
Tag is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations...
. The object of the game is to change a set amount of flags scattered around the playfield to the colour of your player. Upon starting the game, two players must race to find the first flag. The first player to get to this flag will change the flag's color to blue or red (player 1 or player 2's color, respectively). The loser will then be marked as "it" and must then hunt down the other player "tagging" them and making them "it" instead. Only the player not marked as "it" may change the colours of the flags, and as soon as the desired number of flags have been changed, that player will win.
The map takes a grid-like form, featuring numerous types of tiles allowing the player to speed up in one direction, teleport or allow further pathways to appear. Each player is armed with a laser gun that can slow the opponent down, and each player may build "bridges" to overcome gaps. You may also use magic found on the map to slow down your opponent, teleport or speed up. Shields and time for the bonus stages are also collectible.
Each level is split into three rounds against an opponent, which the player must win in order to succeed. Opponents often come with certain abilities, giving them better control on ice for example, or being able to build two "bridges" at once. After each level there is a bonus level in which more magic can be obtained.