Buy FOTONICA

Fotonica is endless runner perfection in a most blissful series of beautifully crafted lightspeed stages, the warm vector lines and hallucinatory neon waves that illuminate from the sides of your vision like some kind of adrenaline induced euphoria. When you finally reach that zen-like state of focus things begin to speed up even more, the colors and movements are intensified for a wonderful audiovisual overload that sets it apart from the rest.

The music comes from a plethora of incredible artists (including the very talented Baiyon of Pixeljunk Eden fame) and ranges from shimmering, gorgeous soundscapes to heavy pulsing electric rhythms with infectious bass and they compliment the array of different environments and backdrops you'll encounter between each visually shifting level perfectly. The minimalistic yet abstractly complex interconnected series of lines in the classic vector style needs to be seen in motion and lends itself to the very reminiscent feel from the Death Star trench run section of Atari's Star Wars that most endless runners give.

Fotonica moves away from the single boring stretch of hallway players may be used to from other games in the endless runner genre, instead giving us varying heights of platforms. The player character runs at increasingly faster speeds with the holding of a single button, and releasing causes you to bound into the air and leap over gaps in the broken pathways before you. Aiming and timing your landings is the key to success, and overshooting your jump by even the slightest is enough to ruin a good run. The longer you keep your momentum up the faster you go, and the more complex these breaks and gaps in the trail become as they stretch out to seemingly infinite lengths.

The game features two main singleplayer modes including Arcade and Endless as well as a split screen Versus mode that makes for some great living room multiplayer. Arcade mode features eight stages of increasing difficulty as shorter, more rapid platforms are thrown at you forcing you to think on your feet. As you fly and leap past these deadly gaps you collect various score increasing orbs tucked in hard to land spots, spicing up how score chasers will approach the leaderboards. Endless mode is just as it sounds, giving players who have already mastered the several Arcade mode stages and want to put their endurance to the ultimate test.

You'll run again and again, jumping from cascading catwalks to other layers of psychedelically colored platforms only to watch your arms flail in terror as you plummet to your death. When you get back up again and check your score against your friends, you'll run again with reinvigorated motivation and eventually find that ultimate "Runner's High". From the incredibly creative minds behind MirrorMoonEP, Fotonica further proves that Santa Ragione has the potential to craft unique and memorable experiences in a multitude of genres and stands as what is most likely my "Runner of the Year" due to attractive, straightforward and addictive design.

Incredible. Addictive. Psychedelic. Ingenious. I could use a lot of words. But it all comes down to this. This game has the best gameplay i have seen in years, and the overall experience is a great rush of enthusiasm. And that's what a game should be all about. I think i am in love.

FOTONICA is to Mirror's Edge what Antichamber is to Portal, only to a lesser extent. It strives to capture the same sense of speed and momentum while remaining visceral and intuitive by simplifying it's controls to a single button.

FOTONICA thrives of the complexity of its levels and the best parts of its gameplay only emerge at higher difficulties. When traveling at incredible speeds with multiple paths ahead of you the game loses the feeling of platforming and truly starts to emulate the euphoric velocity fueled fever dream it sells its self as.

The elegant fluidity of its single button controls shine in these moments, allowing you interact with the game in a responsive and satisfying way while remaining immersed. Unless you have on the input delay. Seriously, the input delay "interferes" with the experience in the same way a frying pan to the back of the head "interferes" with meditation.

So far I only have a little more than an hour clocked in the game, so I can't speak to its continued ability to induce the much sought after state of abstract techno zen. However I'd say that hour alone was easily worth the $7.49.

Fotonica, correction, FOTONICA is a one button runner game with interesting graphic style and fitting soundtrack. I find the one button implementation kinda unique - it's not like you're non stop running and you have the one button for your jump, no no no - you run while holding the button, you jump by releasing the button, and you fall down faster, if you press the button while airborne. It works for almost any key on your keyboard, and there is even achievement to use different keys, while completing a level. It was a little bit counter intuitive for me at the start, nothing a few deaths couldn't fix :p and also produces fun sounds, if you decide for whatever reason to start mashing a key!
I couldn't find any background story on who is running and why are they doing it, but I did notice that the gender of your runner alternates ( or maybe I'm delusional) from track to track (although I've only played the first 3 for now) going female male female. I was able to tell that ( or delude myself of it) just based on the moans your character does, while jumping. Now beware - the rhythmic music and the moaning can sound totally out of context to a person who has no idea, what are you doing on your pc :p In light of that fact, the game does offer you a one button (Q) instant exit with no confirmation required, for your plausible deniability!
The biggest plus for me though, are the online leaderboards - you have 5 min spare time and you can go for a couple runs ( the first 3 maps I've played don't take long) to beat that pesky neighbor, who topped your highscore once again :p
There is a local multiplayer, but I haven't had the pleasure to test that one yet.
The price tag might seem just a big high, in light of recent (Halloween) and upcoming (Xmas) sales, but if you're just a little bit competitive, I'm sure, you'll get your money's worth out of this game!

TL:DR you want to watch me fail or see the gameplay, check out my overview video :
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=339063934

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWh4xjxdf8c

About the most hectic and manic single button game you will ever play.
The faster you run the more points you score but the harder it gets and the more addicted you become.

A great simple concept that will keep you hooked for hours.

After playing this game for only an hour, my fingers tremble as I write this review.

At first, I thought this game was overpriced; 10 dollars for an arcade running game?

It was only once I played it that I realized this is MORE than a game. This may be the only game I have ever played that gave me as much of a rush as it did. Do not turn away from this game.

It is enlightenment.

This is a fun little first person view one-button platformer, with levels in an oldschool vector/wireframe aesthetic. It's a game about running really fast and jumping at the right times. Think Canabalt, but in first person, and with a choice between several infinite randomly generated levels and a number of designed maps with multiple paths and a finish line. Very small time commitment to play, pretty addictive once you start, and somehow relaxing and adrenaline-pumping at the same time.

Minimal arcade runner that does everything right.

(Music, Graphics, Controls, Challenge. Fills gap of "I want to play something but I don't have much time." Contains arcade levels of "I can beat that, one more time.")



I bought the original version on the Humble Store, which enabled me to get this enhanced edition. The original edition is still available on the Humble Store (At least, it is for me (: ) I've not done much of the 'enhanced' game, will over time (:

I purchased this game through the humble widget last year- the line art design is easy on the eyes, and the single button mechanic is simple and intuitive. If you enjoyed Race the Sun, you will likely enjoy this.

Push button, get videogame. It really is that simple in FOTONICA, yet another delightful addition to an increasingly long line of runner-games. If you happen to enjoy games like T.E.C. 3001, Race the Sun, or maybe some games of similar concept on tablet/smartphone, this is definitely one to check out.
The game is practically one-dimensional in movement, one can only go forward, and up/down. Only a single button is used to run and jump. Hold it to run, and let go to jump. Don't let that fool you into believing it's easy, though, because it isn't.

Incredible sense of speed and super easy to pick up and play. Wonderful fun and really great visuals. I bet it's mind-blowing with an Oculus.

really simple, but really fun. If this were an arcade cab, i'd dump more quarters playing than what i paid for this. Good sense of speed, good soundtrack, good for scorehunting.

This game is very interesting , it takes time to master this game
but the game is fun and creative !!!

FOTONICA is literally a running simulator, with lovely graphics and a chilled out vibe, you can run at fast or slow speeds, challenge yourself or just drift with the music and visuals, as well as an online versus running mode.

All it needs is a map creator and it'll keep me entertained for a long time to come.

Amazing game. The amount of depth they put into a game that only uses one button is unimaginable. Coupled with an awesome soundtrack, this is a must play.

9/10

It's an easy game to recommend. It feels great; running, jumping and landing is very satisfying. The rest is in the trailer, it's a game made in excellent, minimalist taste.

Well worth the time that I spent playing it.

Brilliant in its simplicity, Intriguing in its execution.

Fantastica..

A lot of fun and really addicting. It does need more levels and something else to make it a little more challenging, but other than that its good. The visuals, despite being overly minimalistic, are intriguing and give the game a unique feel. Not a fan of the music, but I like it in this game because it fits. I wouldn't say its worth $10, but if you can get it on sale, do. It's a really good time-waster, especially if nothing else in your library looks entertaining at the moment.

This game is really intense on acid, just sayin