Run Sackboy! Run!

Run Sackboy! Run!
Developer:	Firesprite, Sony XDev Europe
Publisher:	PlayStation Mobile
System(s):	PlayStation Vita, Android, iOS
File size:	311 MB 315 MB 272 MB
Genre:	Action
Supported players:	1
Current version:	1.01 (PS Vita) 1.0.4 (Android) 1.19 (iOS) (Read more...)
Release Date (Y/M/D) Code NZ (Soft-launch) 2014-09-26 ? World 2014-10-30 ? World 2014-12-17 ? US 2015-03-31 PCSA00490 World 2015-04-01 PCSF00562

Run Sackboy! Run!, abbreviated as RSBR, is a free-to-play endless runner game developed by Firesprite, with assistance from Sony XDev Europe and Station Interactive AB. It is the second entry in the Sackboy subseries, and seventh LittleBigPlanet title overall. Sackboy continually runs to the right, and the player can make him jump or dash by tapping or swiping right on the screen respectively. The goal is to run as far as possible through three different environments, all the while dodging obstacles, collecting powerups and ultimately outrunning The Negativitron.

The game was used by Sony to promote the then-upcoming LittleBigPlanet 3, containing multiple references to it, and allowing the player to unlock costumes that could be used in that game. The iOS version was initially soft-launched in New Zealand in late September 2014, before rolling out worldwide one month later, with Android and PlayStation Vita versions releasing in the following months. This game has the distinction of being the only title in the franchise to not be released in Japan.

Gameplay

The game is played exclusively with the touch screen. Being pursued by the Negativitron, Sackboy moves right on his own, gradually picking up speed the longer the run lasts. Tapping the screen will make Sackboy jump, while swiping right will make him dash forward at great speed. Keeping in line with previous titles, Sackboy dies in one hit unless he has a powerup. As well as enemies, spikes and electricity, littered throughout the game are puddles of pink goo that slow Sackboy down if he lands in it, giving the Negativitron a chance to catch up. If the player doesn't dash quickly enough it will eat Sackboy, ending the run.

Levels are procedurally generated, with bubble, hazard and powerup placements all being randomised on every run. Score Bubbles are found throughout each area, and in addition to incrementing the player's score when collected they can be used to purchase costumes and upgrades in the shop. Collecting 10 in quick succession starts a chain, though this does not appear to affect the score; they instead go towards powering up the shield in the bottom left of the screen. It takes about 150 bubbles worth of chains to charge up the shield, but once fully charged, touching the icon in the bottom left will activate the shield, protecting Sackboy from all stage hazards (including goo) for 10 seconds. In addition to Score Bubbles, Prize Bubbles can sometimes appear in an area, and can contain Stickers, Save-Me Hearts or a "One Free Boost" item.

As play continues, Sackboy will find himself running through three different environments: the Gardens, Avalonia and the Canyons, each one introducing new gameplay mechanics and increasing the game's speed. Every run starts in the Gardens, which eases the player into the game's mechanics. Enemies are typically stationary, and those that move do so at a relatively brisk pace. This is also the only world where the Magnet powerup can spawn. Every 250 meters or so, the King, Avalon Centrifuge or Uncle Jalapeño (depending on the theme) will fly on screen with a sign indicating how many meters the player has travelled. After about 500 meters, the player is sent to Avalonia, which introduces the Jetpack, as well as moving platforms, switches and electrified surfaces. After roughly 1,250 meters, the player takes a Bounce Pad to the Canyons, where they will be met with missiles and the Glider. After 2,500 meters the game loops back to the Gardens, but the lighting changes for every location, hazards are placed in more difficult spots and powerups are no longer restricted to their respective themes.

The game has a leaderboard to keep track of the player's best score, although no version of the game uses Game Center, Google Play Games or even PlayStation Network for posting these scores online. Instead, a Facebook account is required to post scores and compare them with other players.

Powerups and Boosts

On occasion, the player can run into a powerup. In addition to protecting Sackboy for one hit, having a powerup equpped will positively affect the gameplay for a limited time. Before looping back to the Gardens at night, which powerups can spawn depends on the theme. These powerups can be upgraded in the store so they last longer when picked up.

Magnet		First appears in the Gardens. Attracts all nearby bubbles for a limited amount of time.
Jetpack		First appears in Avalonia. Pulls Sackboy into the foreground to play a bubble collecting minigame. With the Jetpack, tapping and holding the screen will make Sackboy ascend, descending when let go. The aim is to collect as many bubbles as possible before returning to the main level. Collecting all of the bubbles in a line will spawn a set of red bubbles.
Glider		First appears in the Canyons. Tapping and holding the screen with this equipped causes Sackboy to slowly glide down. Bounce Pads spawn on the floor to propell Sackboy up to the bubbles in the sky, and like the Jetpack, the aim is to collect as many bubbles as possible before the powerup expires.

In addition to the powerups listed above, at the start of every run the player can choose one of a number of boosts that give them an advantage for the duration of the run. These usually cost Bubbles to equip, but if the player has a "One Free Boost" item from a previous run, they can redeem one for free.

Name	Icon	Description	Price
Missile Jammer		Automatically destroys missiles before they can hurt Sackboy.	750 Bubbles
+10 Multiplier		Adds +10 to whatever the score multiplier value is for the rest of the run.	1,000 Bubbles
Head Start		Spawns an entrance at the start that sends Sackboy to Avalonia, or 750 meters.	500 Bubbles
Mega Head Start		Spawns an entrance at the start that sends Sackboy directly to the Canyons, or 1,500 meters.	1,000 Bubbles
Auto-Shield		A fairy joins Sackboy, and gives him a one-time shield if he runs into a hazard.	750 Bubbles
Blue Bubbles		Turns all regular Score Bubbles into blue bubbles, doubling their value. As a side-effect, the shield takes half as long to charge up.	1,500 Bubbles

Costumes

As well as powerup upgrades, there are 12 costumes for the player to collect and wear, most of which increase their score multiplier by a set amount. Many of these can be purchased with bubbles, but some have special requirements to unlock them. While most of the costumes are taken from other LittleBigPlanet titles — or in some cases, their prerelease material — a handful were created specifically for this game.

Icon	Name	Requirement	Effect	Notes
	Kangaroo	500 Bubbles	+1 Multiplier
	Yeti	2,500 Bubbles	+1 Multiplier
	Princess	7,500 Bubbles	+2 Multiplier	Originally from the Knights of Old Costume Pack.
	Footballer	15,000 Bubbles	+3 Multiplier
	Horse Rider	50,000 Bubbles	+4 Multiplier	Originally from the Summer Sports Costume Pack.
	Renoir the Owl	Beat OddSock on the leaderboard (score 100,000 points in one run)	+5 Multiplier	Added in the December 19, 2014 update. A cut character originally intended for LittleBigPlanet 3's Popit Puzzles.
	Croc	150,000 Bubbles	+6 Multiplier	Originally from the Even More Animals Costume Pack.
	Wolf	Earn 50 Wolf Tokens from Mega Lucky Chests	+6 Multiplier	Added in the April 8, 2015 update.
	Mayan Warrior	200,000 Bubbles	+8 Multiplier	Originally from the Warriors of the World Costume Pack 1.
	Sackicorn	350,000 Bubbles	+10 Multiplier
	Aviator	Earn 500 Aviator Tokens from Lucky Chests.	+12 Multiplier	Added in the October 30, 2014 update. Originally featured in an early Cross-Controller demo for LittleBigPlanet PS Vita.
	Santa	$4.99 Microtransaction	x2 Sticker Chance	Added in the December 19, 2015 update. Originally free DLC for the original LittleBigPlanet. Only available to purchase from December to January 6.

External links

• Run Sackboy! Run! on Firesprite's website
• Official website on LittleBigPlanet.com (Archive)
• Run Sackboy! Run! on the official UK PlayStation website (Archive)
• Run Sackboy! Run! on Google Play
• Run Sackboy! Run! on the App Store