GunnRunner Reviews

You know that familiar feeling when you get lost in an activity so much so that you lose track of (the interconnections of) time and self? Yeah, GunnRunner is unambiguously that familiar feeling (filled - no less - with fun, frantic, and friendly energy). I should note here that this feeling is necessarily the good kind of addiction, if such a kind exists, where it also adapts to different play styles. To be frank, while I have started to pick back up my deep (agape?) love for video games since the start of the pandemic, I have noticed a nostalgic difference with GunnRunner compared with the other games I have played - including, among other things, its absolute banger/bop of a soundtrack, colorful and inviting vibes, and immersive bits and pieces (e.g., the helmet color mapping that corresponds to your health)! Allow me to give more context. I am no speedrunner, and yet I nevertheless make paradoxically tepid and chaotic attempts at refining how I beat any given level in GunnRunner - from Sisyphean struggles of making the right dash or jump (see Tha Climb…) to more relaxed and methodical takedowns of the Assembled. Here is where C. Thi Nguyen's concept of [i] striving play [/i] (hereafter 'SP') comes in handy. Nguyen defines SP as "Trying to win for the value of the struggle" (2020). Nguyen gives the example of rock climbing. If SP's telos (i.e., its 'purpose,' for simplicity) aimed at the means for the sake of the end, then rock climbing would be an irrational activity. After all, the end of rock climbing is to get to the top or to overcome some rocky obstacle, not to find the perfect combination of footing or what-have-you. Rock climbing - as an outsider - involves so much more than that. Instead, Nguyen argues that SP aims at the end for the sake of the means. What this means is that SP, unlike other kinds of play, embeds the player in what Nguyen calls [i] agential fluidity [/i] where we meaningfully take on temporary ends as our own. Nguyen goes on to argue that SP, then, is a form of art. To jump ahead, GunnRunner embodies that form of art. The struggle that you - Astro - endure allows you - the player - the space to experiment, to perfect, and to craft new routes of action, both in and outside the game. Needless to say, I am excited to keep playing.

A classic style pew pew game with a LOT of potential for level creation. It moves quickly and feels good! Don't expect to breeze through- you'll need good execution, a good plan, some puzzle solving abilities, and patience. If you're using an xbox controller and used to play halo with Bumper Jumper controls, try that control scheme in this game!

GunnRunner is a retro style, platformer, run and gun game. There are many many levels that each require some extent of critical thinking to pass. This adds a fresh feel to each new level that you play. Overall pretty addictive and fun, I recommend.

GunnRunner has me hooked! It is both incredibly fun and challenging at the same time. The creativity of the game design and the fluid of the movements are out of this world. You can tell the game developer has an extensive knowledge of games and game making, with this you can see their love for what they do. I respect the work put into such an amazing game. This game is going to be a huge hit and I am so glad I found it when I did! If you haven’t already, BUY THE GAME! 10/10, 5 Stars, A++++, Keep up the good work pixelCast Games.