Giana Sisters: Dream Runners

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
37

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 3 out of 4
  1. XGN
    Aug 31, 2015
    55
    Giana Sisters Dream Runners is a game which falls short on a lot of parts. The camera never sits right and the game offers almost no variation. Still it looks nice and offers a fun time racing with four people in platformer-style.
  2. Brash Games
    Aug 31, 2015
    40
    It’s fun for five minutes and if you were excited about playing online like I was then that is shattered immediately. The idea for the game is good and it had potential, unfortunately that potential was not met.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Oct 10, 2015
    30
    All nine stages are far too cramped and zoomed-in. [Nov 2015, p.107]
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  5. Push Square
    Aug 30, 2015
    30
    A mashup with good intentions, the title falls a long way short of its admirable aspirations.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 4 out of 7
  1. FriedConsole
    Nov 5, 2015
    4
    The original Giana Sister game was a blatant rip-off of Super Mario on the Commodore 64 that Nintendo strongly pressured the developers toThe original Giana Sister game was a blatant rip-off of Super Mario on the Commodore 64 that Nintendo strongly pressured the developers to stop selling. Somehow the series survived and now we have the the latest game Giana Sisters: Dream Runners. The game is unique take on 2D platformers that turned out to be a poorly executed terrible idea.

    The idea of Giana Sisters: Dream Runners is head-to-head speed running through a 2D platformer circular level. You knock out a player by having them fall off screen or in the case of more than two players a 30 second timer starts when the first player is out. The problem is that there is very little interaction between players so it feels like it doesn’t matter if you are on the same screen. You can pick up power-ups but often they do very little and some are only designed to work when either in front or behind other players. There is some level changing events that can be triggered but they still have very little impact on other players. Often races between good players are never ending affairs of boredom.

    There are only 9 levels for you to have to memorize to become good but I am not sure who wants to invest their time mastering the boring levels for very little reward. The controls are wonky, it is hard to see everything going on screen and difficult to keep track of your character. This whole game seems like a throw away side minigame mode for a 2D platformer that doesn’t exist. The developers have the gall to to charge $10 for very little content. Visually it is just as ugly and hard to look at as every Giana Sister game before it. The only positive thing I can say about this game is that music is kick ass 80’s wankery which I quite enjoyed as an enthusiast of 80’s wankery music.

    There is online play with rankings but I couldn't find a single match while trying at different times of the day so you can add that to another reason not to buy this game.

    In summary, Giana Sisters: Dream Runners is terrible and I think maybe the world would have been better if Nintendo successfully sued this game series out of existence.    … Full Review »
  2. Shenandoah
    Jan 4, 2021
    8
    Putting the idea of giana sisters platformer into a coop racing-like game is incredible unique. The game misses some single-player content. ItPutting the idea of giana sisters platformer into a coop racing-like game is incredible unique. The game misses some single-player content. It is a pure coop racing challenge up to 4 local players which makes a lot of fun to play together.… Full Review »
  3. TheLastofMe
    Aug 6, 2019
    3
    A promising concept is steamrollered in a game that doesn't really work as a platformer and breaks down entirely as a racer. I had rather beA promising concept is steamrollered in a game that doesn't really work as a platformer and breaks down entirely as a racer. I had rather be kicked in the shins for eight hours than play this again.… Full Review »
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