I grip an iPhone tightly as a creature on the screen mocks me. I'm used to defeating enemies in mobile FPS games or tapping to clear clicker game-style bosses. But this will be the first time I exert physical energy in a mobile game boss battle beyond clicking or swiping. As I jog through a corridor, phone in hand, a meter on the screen tracks my speed and location as I chip away at the enemy's HP. With continuous movement, I defeat my enemy. Once again, a new foe taunts me to leverage my movement to defeat them.
Run Legends is a forthcoming mobile game that encourages movement-based gameplay. In some ways, it's a natural evolution of the gaming-fitness hybrid that garnered worldwide interest upon the launch of Pokémon Go. I demoed the forthcoming release, launching April 24 for iPhone and iPad, at a recent Apple Gaming showcase in New York City. The experience puts the player and friends up against enemies in an experience that encourages running and movement to defeat common enemies. As far as I've seen, these enemies include a monster and an old, cranky grandmother. Teammates can work together to defeat enemies and protect one another despite being continents apart.
