Goofy Gadgets - Temple Run Oz

Recently I have been playing a lot of Temple Run 2. It’s become my time suck of choice over that last few weeks. But it’s not Mousey! Yes I do allow myself some non-Mousey things!

But then, much like Disney did with Brave, Disney had a version of Temple Run made to promote Oz The Great and Powerful. And though I have not logged the time I have with the other versions yet, I am really enjoying this version.

In Temple Run Oz, you are the wizard running down the Yellow Brick Road being chased by a flying Monkey. The game has much of the functionality as Temple Run 2 with similar bonuses and the ability to continue the run by using earned gems. The backgrounds however are very Oz focused. And there are some twists to the game, with walkways dropping before the Wizard arrives on them and obstacles that fall onto the road in front of you. Additionally some obstacles can reach out and grab the Wizard as you run. Another change is the addition of backgrounds. So instead of running through the same basic backgrounds again and again, I have already unlocked the Dark Forest background which helps to provide variety to the game.

Running Down the Yellow Brick Road

One change between Temple Run and Temple Run 2 was the addition of non-running stages. In Temple Run 2 your runner is dropped into a mine car for a portion of their run and rides through a mine. The Oz version of the game has replaced the mine car with the Wizard’s balloon. One has to navigate the balloon between crystals to keep the balloon moving forward. Honestly I prefer this balloon phase to the mine car version, mostly because I am mastering it more quickly.

The Wizard Takes Flight

If you enjoy Temple Run, Temple Run Brave, or Temple Run 2 you will likely find yourself wasting, I mean investing, time playing this new version. The only thing to consider is Temple Run Oz costs a whole 99 cents, while Temple Run 2 is free. So you may wish to start with the non-Disney branded version to help determine if Oz is a land you want to run through.

iOS 5.0 or later is required to run this application  

Excuse me, I need to go become unproductive now.

Goofy Gadgets - Temple Run: Brave

My niece asked for my iPad.  She’s adorable and I find it difficult to say no to her.  Then I discovered that this youngster knew how to download apps onto it and I now had a copy of Temple Run, which was luckily free for me to enjoy.  I asked her what she knew about it after she started to play.  All she knew for sure was all the kids were playing it at school so it had to be good.

Temple Run is pretty simple.  You are a treasure hunter running through a temple attempting to escape a hoard of apes trying to capture you.  As you run you have to jump over obstacles like tree stumps and gaps in the ground.  You pick up coins as you run which you can use to pay for strengthened power ups which could boost you ahead or earn you more coins.  You can also use coins to buy new treasure hunters to run with.  The game gets more difficult as you run.  And you always will be caught or fall.

So, I was finding Temple Run a minor distraction, which I picked it up several times.  But then one day the Between Tween, with mom’s permission, paid the 99 cents to download Temple Run: Brave, inspired by the Disney Pixar movie Brave.  And then my time spent on this game concept escalated!

Screenshot from Temple Run: Brave

In Temple Run: Brave you are Merida running away from the bear Mordu through an ancient ruin.  The game play is basically the same though they have added an archery challenge.  Occasionally a number of targets will come up with hitting with an arrow will get the player more coins!  All one has to do to hit the target is tap the side of the screen the target is on before you pass it.  And as you earn coins you can buy additional outfits for Merida.

Temple Run: Brave now with archery!

I find the game play very easy.  In fact I find it easier than the original.  Merida moves to the right and left of the path fairly easily, where in Temple Run it feels harder to move the runner on the path. 

The only issue I have found is Merida when you switch costumes is sometimes pointed the wrong way.  So she might be running straight but facing in another direction.  And this looks really really odd. 

Overall, I really enjoy Temple Run: Brave and I have played it for weeks.  If anything I have moved to Temple Run more and more because the Disney version has made it easier for me to play.  But I still come back because I enjoy the archery element.  I highly recommend you download Temple Run: Brave for your iPad or iPod.