GO Series: 10 Second Run Review - Screenshot 1 of 2

With the GO Series, Gamebridge is attempting to give once Japan-exclusive DSiWare a chance elsewhere in the world. Their first pick for release in Europe is 10 Second Run, a very simple little title which greatly resembles something one would expect to find online as Flash game. That's not a bad thing, though.

The concept is very simple – there are 50 stages, and in each one you have to get to the exit within a mere ten seconds. The game starts off with some very simple platforming to get your little stickman past, but it quickly starts to add additional obstacles and make the stages longer. This means you'll get closer and closer to the deadline with every new level.

In the end, you'll have to deal not only with basic platforming – and trying not to fall off the bottom of the stage – but also dodge fire, floating spikes, moving blocks and of course disappearing platforms. It's a lot to deal with in just ten seconds, especially in the last 15 stages or so. You'll need to pull off some pixel-perfect jumps if you want to make it all the way through, and you'll no doubt be performing a lot of restarts. The game also fittingly keeps track of your best times for each stage, so if you feel up to it you can attempt to improve your records.

Although there is very little to the game, it can be quite entertaining. Due to the fact that each attempt at a stage only takes up ten seconds max, it's easy to lose a good deal of time just replaying one over and over trying to beat it. There are only 50 total, but the last few are so difficult, there's no way you'll beat them quickly.

GO Series: 10 Second Run Review - Screenshot 2 of 2

Aside from the main method of trying to finish each stage individually, there's also a Marathon mode. In this, you'll run through sets of them in as little time as possible, with your time carrying over between them. Obviously, instead of being presented with a nice big "FAIL" message when you reach ten seconds, the clock will just keep counting up. Beating one set will unlock the next, but as these are all the same stages as the 50 individual ones, you'll find finishing the last set or two even more difficult than beating their stages individually.

The graphics and music are as simple as the gameplay. The most basic blocks are all outlined in black, while the background is entirely white. Everything else is pretty much colour-coded – your character's red, dangerous obstacles are cyan and dark blue, and the exit's yellow with a pink "GOAL" sign. The only music you'll hear is a frenetic, panicky ten second song during individual stages that would not feel out of place when running out of time in a Mario or Sonic game, and a fast-paced tune during Marathon mode that will drive you to set as good a time as possible.

Conclusion

10 Second Run is very simple in every aspect – it looks simple, it sounds simple, and it plays simple. Also priced accordingly at just 200 Points, this is pretty much the best DSiWare game available for when you're making a short trip somewhere as you can achieve a lot in mere seconds.