Third-Person Parkour Game...

Parkour/free running, (the art of moving quickly through environmental obstacles on foot)has made it's way into video games,(as I thought it would) Mirror's Edge being the first, to focus on it entirely, as it being a player's means of travel through the game's environment. Afterwards, a number of games incorporated free running (either in whole or parts)elements into their games. Games like Prototype, Infamous, and Brink. Which all utilized free running techniques, to a certain degree. It would appear developers are as captivated by free running, as those who practice it. As these techniques will be utilized once again in ubisoft's upcoming game, Watch Dog's, by the game's main character, Aiden Pearce, as well as Techland's Dying Light.

However, the games that use free running, as a basic gameplay mechanic, such as Mirror's Edge and Brink, fail to deliver the entire free running experience. Sure, you as a player feel you are actually free running, (and there's nothing wrong with that) but you're not able to see the movements being performed, which is where free running shines. These movements have names, http://www.pkfrinternationa... not unlike skateboard or biking tricks. I mean, can you imagine playing a first person skateboard or bike game...it wouldn't work. I'm not taking anything away from Mirror's Edge, it was definitely creative, and deserved the critical acclaim it received.

In the end though, for me...it left something to be desired. By continuously seeing free running elements in games, I began to think about what a third-person free running game would be like. After all, there's a reason why free runners don't do first person demo reels. The reason is, they want their audience to see the movements, these are free runners such as, David Belle, Sebastien Foucan, and Damien Walters. Their free running presentation is their body movements, as they traverse the environment they're in, from a third person perspective.

Thus, the first thing any developer doing such a game should do, is focus on delivering the most accurate representation of free running as possible. The most logical approach, being third person, sure it would take time, but a great game is worth the time and effort. My overview, of such a game is as follows, basic to complex command inputs, co-op (offline and online) as most traceurs (those who practice Parkour) train in groups of 2 or more people. The co-op could revolve around some story, which causes a unification of traceurs. This game would also need a versus mode (or rather a friendly competition mode, as free running is not meant to be competitive) not unlike Mirror's Edge, in which players try for the fastest time through a specified gaming environment, within the game.

Hopefully, maybe one day a developer will make such a game...at least to the point of it being a third-person free runner game.