Free Running

But hey, these are minor quibbles. The simple truth about Free Running is that it is good, addictive fun, with plenty chucked in for gamers to perform. Unlocking new clothing items to add to your chosen character, finding new tricks and performing them in chains and exploring and mastering all of the locations on offer are all thoroughly enjoyable ways to spend your time. Whilst it was never going to be a system-seller and while many gamers will probably be willing to pass it over without having even tried it, the game provides a surprisingly enjoyable and compulsive chunk of gaming that deserves a lot more attention than initial glances may garner.

Ultimately, though, Free Running is an interesting shell of a platform game that lacks excitement, inspiration and a simple motivating reason for playing through to the end – unlocking more levels and clothing items just isn't worth the effort. With larger environments and more spectacular feats, this could have been special but, if you'll allow the term, it's a bit pedestrian. No, when it comes to new urban sports some are best left on the streets. Though a game about dodging busses? Now that could be interesting...

Rebellion has given us an interesting, if rather uninspired take on the sport of Parkour. They have the right names involved, some nice video clips of the real thing to whet appetites and a decent enough game holding everything together. As an advert for Free Running as a sport, it does pretty well, but as a game it comes up as decidedly average. Fun and accessible, but by no means the best game around.

To make a short story even shorter: don't buy it, don't even rent it. It wasn't worth our time and it probably isn't worth yours.

Free Running is a noble effort to apply the platform game template to a seemingly appropriate real world pastime, but it's hamstrung from the start by gameplay that is neither agile nor fluid enough to deliver an engaging experience, and by a concept that is considerably less unique on a joypad as it is in reality. Certainly an interesting experiment but not something that's likely to appeal to more than a few die-hard aficionados.

A sense of unfulfilled potential runs throughout Free Running. It is unlikely that it will sell in vast quantities, but if it does make enough to spawn sequels it has every chance of reaching maturity within a few iterations. For now though, it is only recommended for the die-hard parkour fans.

Free Running sait pourtant se montrer, de temps à autre, vraiment intéressant et explore une discipline méconnue avec un certain succès. Dommage qu'il faille à ce point batailler contre ses défauts pour réussir à l'apprécier peu ou prou. Il se relègue donc tout seul au rayon des curiosités, là où seuls quelques courageux attirés par le principe (et le petit prix sur PS2) iront peut-être le chercher, sait-on jamais.

Free Running sait pourtant se montrer, de temps à autre, vraiment intéressant et explore une discipline méconnue avec un certain succès. Dommage qu'il faille à ce point batailler contre ses défauts pour réussir à l'apprécier peu ou prou. Il se relègue donc tout seul au rayon des curiosités, là où seuls quelques courageux attirés par le principe (et le petit prix sur PS2) iront peut-être le chercher, sait-on jamais.

Adieu plaisant concept d'un Prince Of Persia du béton. Il est tout de même consternant de constater qu'on arrive plus facilement à marcher sur un mur dans le jeu d'Ubisoft que dans celui de Rebellion qui est pourtant entièrement tourné vers ce genre de pratique. Imaginez la baffe qu'il va prendre le jour où Assassin's Creed va se pointer.