Get ready to race
Ah, the grappling hook--such a simple, beautiful tool. In DoubleDutch Games' SpeedRunners, a four-player competitive 2D platformer, it's practically your lifeline, as you'll need it to to avoid pitfalls and gain enough distance on your opponents to destroy them. The goal here is simple: outrun the other players until they fall off the edge of the screen.
From heat-seeking rockets to path-impeding blocks, there are plenty of power-ups with which to harass others. One minute you'll be running along with a healthy lead, and the next you'll be in the back of the line after someone lassos you with a rope from behind. The way in which you'll pick up items and use them to overcome the competition will instantly remind you of Mario Kart--only its kart racers have been replaced by speedy superheroes on a 2D plane.
Every level has multiple paths and obstacles to keep you on your toes. There are destructible blocks to trip over (whoever's in the lead will especially have to watch out for these, as the frontrunner will have the least amount of time to react), vertical pathways that you'll have to wall jump to ascend, switches that close off shortcuts to those on your tail, and cleverly placed sections that you can use the aforementioned grappling hook on to gain some momentum. The fast-paced competition is bound to keep a smile on your face--and before you know it, "one more match" will have turned into a few hours of play.
Meet SpeedRunners' Blue Shell equivalent: the heat-seeking missile. At least you can dodge this one with proper timing.
Every player starts each race with a grappling hook. Keep an eye out for white ceilings, as those are indicators of where you can actually use it.
The lasso is a powerful tool for yanking another player behind you--just be mindful of your timing, as they can dodge it if they're far enough ahead.
There are multiple layers in each level, some of which have extra items or act as speed-boosting shortcuts.
