One of the biggest mobile smartphone games we’ve ever played is the original Temple Run. The endless running, violent jungle apes and coin collecting took over everyone’s iOS/Android devices during the game’s long stretch after release. The devs behind the game, Imangi Studios, knew not to rest on their laurels. So, the small development company fine-tuned the original and offered something new to longtime fans – Temple Run 2.
Here’s everything you need to know about this endless runner smash hit game.
Temple Run 2 is the sequel to the original game, which was released on August 4, 2011 (iOS) and March 27, 2012 (Android). As for Temple Run 2, it was released on January 16, 2013 (iOS) and January 24, 2013 (Android). A Windows Phone version of the game is currently in development. Polygon posted an official plot synopsis on the game:
Temple Run 2 takes place in a temple floating in the clouds instead of a thick swamp in the jungle, evoking the Inca of Peru rather than the Aztec of Mexico. The new locale feels much more open, if only because players can see the sky. Thanks to the altitude, the sequel also includes some aerial gameplay, with zip lines used to traverse large gaps. In these segments, the player merely tilts the device to perform actions, since it wouldn’t make sense to do something like jump. Imangi also implemented another mainstay of Indiana Jones films and their ilk: mine carts. Movement in carts is controlled just like regular running, with touchscreen swipe gestures.
Temple Run 2 is an “endless/infinite running” game, which is a platform game that has the player controlling a character that continuously moves forward on a never ending path. These games’ controls operate by letting you swipe to change directions and jump while avoiding oncoming obstacles and pitfalls. Temple Run 2 changes up the formula of these types of games by allowing the player to pick up power ups, upgrade different statistics and ride in mine carts during certain sections of the game. The first offical title that launched the “endless running” genre is Canabalt, which launched in 2009.
There are four different characters that can be used during the many instances of Temple Run 2’s stage runs. Here’s all the characters and the coins requirements needed to unlock some of them:
– Guy Dangerous: unlocked from the start
– Scarlett Fox: 5,000 coins
– Barry Bones: 15,000 coins
– Karma Lee: 25,000 coins
Imangi Studios developed the game since March 2012. The small studio went to work and upgraded the first game’s visuals and tightened the mechanics that made the first game so addictive in the first place. After being announced on January 16, 2013, Temple Run was immediately available for download on the iOS App Store in New Zealand. The international release of the game followed soon after. The studio says that a third game in the series in not in development (for now…), but expansion packs are on the way.
During a Polygon interview with the co-founder of Imangi Studios (Keith Shepard), an interesting tidbit about the game’s creation came to light:
According to Shepherd, the three people who made Temple Run — him; his wife, Natalia Luckyanova; and artist Kiril Tchangov — took a conservative approach to development, building the game in five months and hoping it would become a hit. That didn’t leave a lot of time for bells and whistles, although one could argue that Temple Run, like many mobile games, struck a chord because the core experience is so easy to grasp while being addictive.
The team of three that made Temple Run ballooned only to five for the sequel. “We’ve had the opportunity to grow a lot, but we value our independence and … the small size of our studio,” Shepherd told Polygon. Imangi built a custom iOS-specifc engine for the original game. When the company wanted to port the title to Android, the developers decided to use the Unity engine. “It was more efficient for us to focus on using an already established game engine,” Shepherd explained.
Make sure you stay ahead of the violent monkey pack in Temple Run 2.
Click here to read moreDuring the four-day launch run of Temple Run 2, something amazing occurred – it amassed over 20 million downloads in the iOS App Store alone!
Kotaku gathered up three meaningful tips for the game straight from the creative team behind it:
– Multiply and Conquer: The easiest way to get a larger score (so you can brag to everyone you know) is to utilize your score multiplier. To do this, you need to complete different objectives. Each objective ups your multiplier by one, so focus on those objectives first to get your score really high.
It may seem counterproductive to spend 1,000 meters of your run avoiding coins entirely, but in the end the payoff is worth it.
– Coins, Coins, Coins: Coins are the currency in Temple Run and they are used to upgrade the characters and gameplay. The fastest way to start earning coins is to upgrade the “Coin Values” under abilities. Doing this will make the double and triple coins appear on the track. Also, everyone’s favorite powerup is the magnet- it helps you get every coin near you as you run.
Not only that, those “Coin Value” powerups add a splash of color to the game once they kick in. So pretty.
– Going the Distance: Clearly, you want to run as far as you can. To do that, it sometimes means you must sacrifice extra coins for bonus items. The shield power will help with obstacles, but remember, it won’t protect you from falling. The Boost, at the beginning of the game, can also help you move forwards faster.
Makes sense, though as a coin hoarder the idea of skipping coins in favor of a temporary special power makes me twitch.
For those of you who just want to break the game and get as many coins as possible, Sidhtech provided the following info on how to get unlimited coins below:
If you want to get your hands on unlimited coins in Temple Run 2 then you will have to download a small program which is called DiskAid. You then put this onto your device and extract it and then find a gamedata.txt file. You then move this to your Temple Run 2 slot and you can enjoy unlimited coins and much more.
The Telegraph spoke to Keith Shepard and got some details on how him and his wife got to work on their runaway hit (no pun intended):
Natalia and I formed Imangi Studios in 2008. We’re both software engineers and we always wanted to start our own company of some sort and work for ourselves. When Apple announced the App Store and that anyone could make apps for the iPhone and distribute them to a worldwide audience, we immediately knew we wanted to give it a try. Natalia and I are pretty risk averse in general, so I don’t think we would have ever taken the plunge into starting our own company if we weren’t married. Since we’re married it was like having a built -in safety net. I quit my job and Natalia kept hers to support us while I got things off the ground. Nine months later she quit her job and joined up full time. The great thing about working together is that in addition to our skills complementing each other well, we are always talking about the business and our games and how to make them better. It’s great to always bounce ideas off each other and for us both to be working on something together.
For fans of the Disney animated film Brave, a Temple Run-inspired game is out there for those who want to control the characters from the movie. Here’s all the details you need to know about the game from the Google Play store:
TEMPLE RUN: BRAVE IS AN OFFICIAL APP WITH AN ALL NEW LOOK AND ARCHERY FEATURES!
From Imangi, the makers of Temple Run, and Disney comes a new take on the most exhilarating app. Join Merida from Disney/Pixar Brave as you run, slide, jump, turn and shoot your way across the wilds of Scotland on an endless running adventure!
New features just for Temple Run: Brave —
• Introducing ARCHERY – tap targets to shoot a bullseye and earn extra coins
• New, amazing visuals. It looks better than ever!
• All new environments inspired by Disney/Pixar Brave and the wilds of Scotland
• Play as Merida from Disney/Pixar Brave
• Outrun Mordu, the demon bear, to earn running glory
Bonus: Download Temple Run: Brave and start running with $.99 worth of coins for FREE, that’s 2500 coins for power-ups and more!
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Also includes all the great features from Temple Run:
• Simple swipe and tilt control that are easy to use and just feel right
• Level up your character and use crazy power-ups
• Endless play!
Want to know what all the hoopla is about? Check this out!
Click here to read more
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