⚡ Game Guide — Cyber-Pulse Runner
Welcome to Neo-London. A retro-style endless runner where you race through digital pulse-grids, collect rare Cores, and survive as long as possible.
This guide covers everything you need to master the game.
🎮 How It Works
Cyber-Pulse Runner is a retro-style endless runner: a small robot runs continuously right through a digital neon world.
- The robot runs forward automatically
- Jump over cyan barrel obstacles
- Collect Cores — unlock extra skins or visuals
- One hit = game over; aim for higher score and longer survival
- Background scrolls with parallax in multiple layers
🎯 Controls
- Tap — jump
- SPACE (keyboard) — jump
- Hold Tap / SPACE — higher jump (hold-to-jump-higher)
💡 Tip: in browser, click the game first so SPACE works.
🔋 Energy (Battery)
- Max 9 battery units for your hero
- Each game start uses 1 unit
- At 0 energy, game cannot start
- Battery recharges over time automatically
- Item Shop: Full Recharge for 100 Cores (instantly refill to 9/9)
⚡ Speed Mechanics
- Base speed: Increases gradually from the start of the run
- Speedometer: Top-right display shows your actual current speed
- Slow active: Speed is reduced; base speed still increases in background
- After Slow ends: Speed smoothly catches up (lerp) to base — no sudden jump
💎 Cores
Cores spawn between obstacles on the track. Three types, each with different rarity and rewards:
Standard Core (Yellow)
Spawn rate: ~80% | Reward: 1 Core + 5 XP
Advanced Core (Blue)
Spawn rate: ~15% | Reward: 5 Cores + 25 XP
Overcharged Core (Purple)
Spawn rate: ~5% | Reward: 20 Cores + 100 XP
Has strong purple glow + pulse effect to stand out
Using Cores
- Buy skins in Skin Shop
- Purchase items in Item Shop (shields, boosts, etc.)
- Full Recharge for 100 Cores
Score Multiplier (×2 Cores)
While active, Core rewards per pickup are doubled:
- Standard: 1 → 2
- Advanced: 5 → 10
- Overcharged: 20 → 40
Note: XP from cores is NOT doubled by the multiplier.
Cloud Sync: Your pilot name + Cores balance syncs with Firebase after each run.
🎁 Items & Power-Ups
Positive Items (Pick Them Up!)
Boost
Duration: 6 seconds | Effect: Speeds you up significantly. Perfect for tight spots.
Shield
Effect: Absorbs one hit — life-saver when you're in danger.
Magnet
Duration: Active pickup window | Effect: Nearby items and Cores are pulled in automatically.
Phase Shift
Duration: ~5 seconds | Effect: Ghost mode — you pass through barrels harmlessly. Robot looks faded with purple glitch shimmer. Timer shown in top-right HUD.
Score Multiplier (×2 Cores)
Duration: Active timer in HUD | Effect: All Core pickups reward double Cores (not XP).
Negative Items (Avoid or Be Prepared!)
Virus
Effect: Randomly triggers either:
• Heavy screen blur for 3 seconds, OR
• Inverted jump (short tap = high jump, long hold = short jump) for 3 seconds
Think before grabbing everything!
Slow
Duration: 6 seconds | Effect: Significantly reduces speed — avoid if possible.
🎨 Hero & Skin Shop
- One hero: Customize looks in SKIN SHOP with neon colors, suits, trail effects
- Buy skins: Use Cores collected in runs
- Cloud sync: When you use a Pilot Name, skins sync with Firebase
- Battery: Max 9 units; each run uses 1. Recharge over time or buy Full Recharge in Item Shop
- Equipped skins: Apply immediately on your next run
📊 Score & XP
Score (Pts)
Displayed in top HUD and Game history:
- +1 point each time you land on the ground after a jump
- Picking up items or Cores does NOT add to Pts
- Score Multiplier only doubles Cores gained — it does NOT multiply Pts
Run XP
Added to your total XP after each run.
Formula: Run XP = 10 + (distance_part) + (core_xp_pickups)
- Distance part: round(meters ÷ 1000 × 40), clamped 0–40 (cap at 1000+ m in one run)
- Core XP:
- Standard: +5 XP
- Advanced: +25 XP
- Overcharged: +100 XP
- Not affected by Score Multiplier
Floating "+N" text above the robot shows Core gained (after ×2 if Multiplier is on).
Leveling
- Every 1000 total XP raises your level by 1
- See current level in main menu
📺 In-Game HUD
- Top bar: Score, time (MM:SS), Cores count
- Top-right chips: Boost / Shield / Slow status; Magnet when active; rare Phase Shift and ×2 Cores timers; Virus blur or invert-jump timer
- Speedometer: Real-time current speed (top-right)
- Pause button: Stops the game; Resume or Exit to main menu (= run ends)
- Game Over: Retry, Share, or Main Menu options
⚠️ Obstacles
- Cyan barrels: Dangerous; hitting = game over (unless Shield absorbs)
- Two barrel types alternate randomly
- Jump timing is critical — practice to master
🔊 Audio
- Sound effects: Jump, collect, game over (toggle in Settings)
- Background music: Not in this build
- Browser: Audio starts after user gesture (first tap/click on the game)
💡 Tips & Tricks
- Master hold-to-jump: Tap for small jumps, hold for higher ones. Timing is everything.
- Collect Cores first: They're the currency for skins and power-ups. The more you collect, the faster you progress.
- Shield saves runs: If you're near low on battery, equip a Shield to extend your run by one extra hit.
- Magnet is powerful: Pick it up when surrounded by Cores — you'll gain much more currency.
- Use Phase Shift wisely: It's rare, so save it for tight barrel sequences.
- Avoid Virus: Screen blur or inverted jump can ruin a good run. Know the difference and adapt.
- Speed increases gradually: Slow down, breathe, and focus. The game gets harder as you run farther.
- Track your XP: Leveling unlocks nothing extra, but it's a cool progress marker. Share your level with friends!