Canabalt – a surprisingly fun Flash-based Parkour game

[Ben Paddon]

Here it is, and it’s magnificent. It feels like the sort of game one might find on the cover CD for an Amiga magazine circa 1996.

My record so far is 2007 metres. Anyone able to top that?

Topic

[Ben Paddon]

Scrap that – I just did 2760m.

[Danny Stephenson]

Bastard. just as I get 2262m as well…

[Danny Stephenson]

i like how that game changes everytime you play it.

[Kris ‘Drivaaar’ Carter]

2173… that’s good fun!

[Ben Paddon]

Apparently the link I gave is to an unofficial mirror. The official Canabalt website is here, and offers an HD version of the game too (read: renders pixels at 3×3 instead of 2×2). There’s an iPhone version as well, which I intend to buy when I am less poor.

[Danny Stephenson]

3387m

proof that i’m not just throwing numbers. Well as much proof is i CAN give with a pixelated game where the numbers were easy to C&P…

The only thing is that game changes each time you play it so you might have surpassed someone on level and only achieve 2000m whereas someone might get a cleaner level with less obstacles for 5000m say.

[JamesTC]

2835 is my best till now.

[Ben Paddon]

Two questions:

1.) Who’s the prick leaving all these bloody boxes around?

2.) Just what exactly is Michael Jackson running from?

[Ben Paddon]

My new record is 2999m. Danny is my nemesis, I must beat his score.

[Danny Stephenson]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. NEVER!!!!!

But seriously, 3387 is still the highest score.

[JamesTC]

2934, getting better.

[JamesTC]

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo121/SoundableObject/Untitled.jpg

Now I sleep.

[JamesTC]

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo121/SoundableObject/Untitled-1.jpg

[Dessie]

I cant even get to 1000! What are the things that fall from the sky?

[Dessie]

Wahey i got 2112. I don’t think i’ll do much better than that.

[Phil]

3320 on my first try. Judging by the rest of the comments here, though, that seems to be some kind of fluke of the randomized environment. (I only “died” because the camera was too high to let me see where the holes actually were. Boo.)

I’d play again to get a more representative figure, but then I’d reveal how poorly I play when chance isn’t on my side.

So 3320 for me.

[Pete Part Three]

Yes, like Phil; I got 2893 on my first go, and it seemed very easy. Then I tried again, and it was incredibly difficult. The fact that the course design is random is great, but it does render the competitive side of it a bit moot.

Will have to download the iPhone version.

[p2p_productions]

Is it just me, or does the game have a slightly John Woo-type feel..?

[JamesTC]

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo121/SoundableObject/Untitled-2.jpg

[Ben Paddon]

I managed to do 5382m on the iPhone version last night. Insomnia’s a wonderful thing.

[Dessie]

Best i’ve managed is 5208. A mate of mine got 9012.

[Ben Paddon]

Best record on the website is 4771m. I’ve determined a good tactic is to intentionally hit a box every now and then as a way of regulating your speed and making it easier to see oncoming dangers.

[Dessie]

Yeah hitting the boxes is a great way to get further. The windows are really annoying. Sometimes its impossible to judge the jump into one correctly.

[Ben Paddon]

[Pete Part Three]

I got it on the iPhone. It’s great. Came in remarkably handy when I was stuck for 30 minutes waiting for an accident to clear on the M25 earlier.

[p2p_productions]

>It feels like the sort of game one might find on the cover CD for an Amiga magazine circa 1996.

Yeah – actually, the running guy reminded me of Mr. Wobbly Legs..!

[Ben Paddon]

I’ve never played that, and now I’m not sure I want to.

[p2p_productions]

Doubt I’ll get much further than this..!

[Smeg4Brains]

Am I the only one that was expecting something to do with cannibals?

[JamesTC]

When you fall of the buildings, people eat you, waste not want not an’ all.

[Pete Part Three]

8044 on the iPhone. MUST. STOP. PLAYING.

[Dave]

Running from the Aparkourlypse.

[Danny Stephenson]

[Ostrich] Ha ha! [/Ostrich]

[Pete Part Three]

Ok, anyone with an iPhone needs to download DoodleJump. As simplistic as Canabalt and possibly even more addictive.

[Tarka Dal]

Do we know why it’s called Canabalt (apart from that you run a lot)?

[Michael Warren]

Charlie Brooker recommends the game in his Guardian column on videogames today – http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/11/charlie-brooker-i-love-videogames

[Danny Stephenson]

Charlie Brooker recommends the game in his Guardian column on videogames today – http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/11/charlie-brooker-i-love-…

“The one thing on this list that might ruin your life. The Peggle phenomenon had passed me by until literally a night or so ago. I was up till 5am.”

Yes, this has happened to me on many occasions! I’ve downloaded Steam onto my laptop anew after reinstalling Vista. So I get to complete them all over again! WOO!

[Dave]

I’m not very good at this, but I do like the crumbly buildings

[curtis]

Is it just me or are those things at the back quite clearly Starbugs on legs?

[Ben Paddon]

I was thinking the same thing!

[Author]

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