The original Temple Run, released in August 2011, was a runaway hit and has been downloaded more than 170 million times, which is just another of saying multiple mega butt tons. So, there are high expectations for the new version and, happily enough, the Temple Run 2 reviews to date (gameplay clip below the fold) have been pretty positive.

Get a fresh cup o’ joe, roll up your sleeves and dig in:

• If you’ve never played Temple Run, skip the original and play this. It’s the better version, and fully navigable without spending a penny. If you’ve already played Temple Run, well, Temple Run 2 costs nothing but play time. And if you do want to buy your way to a high score, the optional in-game purchases dovetail elegantly with the gameplay (they’re easily ignored if you don’t). I just wish Imangi had reached a little deeper and extended the frontiers instead of merely making them prettier — Time Magazine, Matt Peckham

• I can see Temple Run 2 reaching the same success as the first game based on its improvements. I’m looking forward to seeing every mobile screen on New York’s subway taken up by this game — a real sign of its success. For the price (free), iOS gamers cannot skip this one — Mashable, Chelsea Stark

• But many veteran gamers – the people who DO give many hoots about the next Call of Duty – will also love Temple Run 2. It crosses demographic and gaming boundaries as easily as Guy Dangerous hops over dangling footbridges. An excellent sequel — The Guardian, Stewart Dredge

• Most importantly, playing Temple Run 2 is a simple reminder of why the original was such a hit, and why it stands above all imitators. Its mechanics are still pristine. Its controls are still pretty much immaculate. The formula has been tweaked, and I think it has come out for the better. It’s evolution, not revolution, but it’s still Temple Run and it’s still a lot of fun — 148 Apps, Carter Dotson

• At the heart of Temple Run 2, though, it’s really Temple Run in new clothing. We wouldn’t say don’t download it – it’s free, after all – but, as good as the first one was, we tired of it, and, despite the added bells and whistles, it’s not really a concept that thrills us any more — Pocket Lint, Dan Sung

Final verdict? Fan reviews on the App Store are overwhelmingly positive (~10K yielding an average of 4 stars) and the above game journos generally have nice things to say, too. However, as Temple Run 2 is free, there is really no reason for you not to try it out yourself.

Put on your best running shoes, get in the chase and then write your own Temple Run 2 review in the comments below…

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