They Always Run is a fast-paced action title about Aiden, a mutant with three arms on a mission to exact revenge for the violent death of his family by going after dangerous criminals throughout the galaxy. A premise like this has interested many people, leading players to pick up the game out of curiosity.
Of course, there are some quirks in They Always Run that a player will have to get used to before they can start to really progress. Since it features some mechanics that set it apart from other side-scrolling action platformers, here are some beginner tips that will be useful for people who are new to the game to know.
7 Watch Out For The Fast Combat
The combat is one of the most interesting (or frustrating, depending on the player's perspective) aspects of They Always Run. It is fast-paced, happens in real time, and can be a bit janky if a player does not know what they are doing.
Players should take the time to get the feel of how combat works in They Always Run. It can be a bit faster paced than a player is expecting, and can take some by surprise. Thus, it's a good idea to warm up with some easier battles before progressing too far into the game.
6 Pay Attention to Upgrades
Throughout the game, players will be able to upgrade Aiden as they progress. There are many sorts of updates available, but some will always be better than the others.
Players should pay attention to what kind of upgrades they can get at any given time. Some examples include being able to extend the reach of their grappling hook or increasing the speed at which the player runs. It is a good idea to start tailoring upgrades to one's individual style of play; different builds will work for different players.
5 Remember To Climb
Players can climb a surprising amount of obstacles in They Always Run. One of the most notable examples are the gratings and the walls around areas, as not many other platformers will allow players to climb walls. Many games feature wall jumps, but wall climbing itself is a different story, and part of what makes They Always Run stand out among other games in the genre.
A lot of the player's problems can be solved if they simply find a good spot to climb up and start going. A player might not realize that some place can be climbed, but once they do, they can probably find new areas.
4 Learn To Control The Third Arm
One of the main selling points of They Always Run is the unique mechanic of Aiden's third arm, which has an entire other button and way of controlling compared to his other two. The third arm can take a while to get used to, so it is best for a player to mess around with it.
The controls for the third arm can be considered "fidgety" for a newer player, but it will be pretty easy to get used to it. Spend a little time messing around with it, and it should come easily.
3 Platforming Can Be Pretty Complex
Some players may have already figured this out from the fact that they can climb on all sorts of items. Still, it's worth noting that the platforming in They Always Run is pretty interesting for a player to deal with. Anyone who is not experienced will definitely be caught off guard.
Platforming is a difficult learning curve in They Always Run. Players should not get discouraged, though, as it will get easier the more they get used to the quirks of it.
2 Do Not Forget Side Quests
There are many side quests for players to experience in They Always Run. Although these side quests are optional, they can provide the player with all sorts of stuff, such as interesting items or extra lore they may not have been able to experience otherwise.
Side quests are not that difficult to come across in They Always Run, but the player will still have to actively look for them. They cannot just randomly stumble into a side quest and go through it without knowing what they did or where they went.
1 Remember Checkpoints are Sparse
While there are checkpoints scattered throughout the world, they are not absolutely everywhere in the game. If a player dies, they might end up being set back by a large amount, losing considerable progress. Be sure to take advantage of every checkpoint available.
This is something a player will have to watch out for. As mentioned above, platforming in this game can be pretty difficult, and it is not uncommon for a player to get swarmed and picked off by enemies. It's not always avoidable, but it helps for players to understand the consequences of dying in the game.
They Always Run is available on Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.