Urban Runner

Last updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

Urban Runner is an interactive movie adventure game developed by Coktel Vision and published by Sierra On-Line in 1996.¹ Spanning four CD-ROMs and marketed as “the first-ever completely interactive movie,” the game combined full-motion video sequences with traditional point-and-click adventure gameplay, placing players in the role of Max Gardner, an American journalist caught up in a deadly conspiracy in Paris.² The game was notable for its ambitious production, featuring approximately 20 hours of interactive video content and requiring hardware specifications that were considered demanding for its era.³

Originally developed under the title “Lost in Town,” Urban Runner was conceived as a spiritual sequel to Coktel Vision’s earlier FMV adventure Lost in Time (1993), and was intended to be part of a cohesive “Lost in…” series before Sierra’s acquisition of Coktel Vision changed the marketing direction.⁴ The game featured a distinctive visual presentation, displaying widescreen FMV footage within a 4:3 screen, and utilized an innovative dual-screen video technique to build tension during key sequences.⁵ With a production budget of 15 million French francs (approximately $2.5 million USD or €3.6 million in 2023 terms), the game represented a significant investment in the FMV genre during its peak popularity.⁶

Despite its ambitious scope, Urban Runner received mixed reviews and sold poorly, becoming one of the last games Coktel Vision developed before being acquired by Mindscape.⁷ The game has since become something of a cult curiosity among retrogaming enthusiasts, valued for its campy B-movie aesthetic and its unique position at the intersection of adventure gaming and interactive cinema.⁸

Game Info

Developer: Coktel Vision¹ Designer: Philippe Lamarque, Silvan Boris Schmid, Muriel Tramis⁹ Publisher: Sierra On-Line¹ Engine: Gob¹⁰ Platforms: MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95¹ Release Year: 1996 Series: Lost in… (spiritual sequel) Protagonist: Max Gardner Sierra Lineage: Coktel Vision

Story Summary

The game opens in Paris, where Max Gardner, an American journalist, is investigating a story about a major drug dealer who appears to be protected by an influential figure in French politics.¹ Max has arranged a meeting with a contact who promises to provide crucial evidence about the corruption case. However, when Max arrives at the designated meeting point, he discovers that the drug lord has been murdered, and Max is immediately mistaken for the killer by witnesses and authorities alike.¹¹

With the police closing in and dangerous criminal elements seeking to eliminate him as a loose end, Max must navigate the treacherous streets of Paris while attempting to clear his name and expose the truth behind the conspiracy.¹ The narrative takes players through various locations across the city, including warehouses, hotels, and offices, as Max gathers evidence against a shadowy organization known as “the Elite.”¹² Along the way, he encounters Adda, a mysterious woman who becomes both an ally and a romantic interest, though her true motivations remain questionable throughout much of the story.⁷

The game’s tagline, “Run fast, run smart, stop and you’re dead,” accurately captures the sense of urgency that pervades the narrative.⁴ Max finds himself constantly on the move, one step ahead of both law enforcement led by Inspector Van Dale and the criminal organization’s ruthless enforcers. The story culminates in a confrontation where players must make critical choices that determine Adda’s fate and the ultimate outcome of Max’s investigation, leading to multiple possible endings.¹³

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Urban Runner is controlled entirely via mouse, utilizing an intuitive “click and grab” interface that was designed to be accessible to players unfamiliar with traditional adventure game conventions.³ The game divides its action into two distinct phases: “Clue” turns, where players investigate environments and gather information, and “Action” turns, which require quick reflexes and timely decisions to survive dangerous situations.¹⁴

During exploration segments, players navigate through pre-rendered environments and interact with objects and characters by clicking on highlighted areas. The interface features photographs that are digitally inserted into the game world, creating a seamless blend between filmed footage and static imagery.⁷ A built-in hint system provides assistance, though it is limited to only three “jokers” throughout the entire game, encouraging players to think carefully before requesting help.¹³

Structure and Progression

The game spans four CD-ROMs, with players frequently prompted to swap discs as the story progresses.¹ The narrative is largely linear, though players can approach certain situations from different angles and must often choose between alternative solutions to problems. A notable feature allows players to control two different characters—Max and Adda—at various points in the story, providing different perspectives on the unfolding events.³

The game includes a replay option that allows players to review crucial scenes, which proves useful given the story’s complexity and the importance of catching subtle clues in the FMV sequences.³ Progression is saved through a traditional save game system, though players are advised to save frequently, particularly before action sequences where death is common.¹⁵

Puzzles and Mechanics

Urban Runner features a combination of traditional adventure game puzzles—inventory manipulation, environmental observation, and logical deduction—alongside timed action sequences that test player reflexes.¹⁶ The action sequences present players with split-second decisions, such as choosing to jump or slide to avoid danger, with incorrect choices typically resulting in death.¹⁷

The timed nature of many puzzles and action sequences sets Urban Runner apart from more contemplative adventure games, creating a sense of urgency that matches the thriller narrative.¹⁶ Some puzzles involve manipulating objects in the environment to distract guards or hide evidence, while others require players to piece together information gathered from multiple sources. The game’s puzzle difficulty has been characterized as relatively low, with the built-in hint system and straightforward solutions making it accessible to casual players.¹³

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Urban Runner received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising its ambitious FMV presentation while criticizing its gameplay limitations and acting quality. Adventure Gamers described it as “a solid adventure that is generally enjoyable, though it lacks enough polish or ambition to recommend without caution,” ultimately awarding it 3.5 out of 5 stars.¹⁶ The review noted that “with its continuous timed actions and puzzles, Urban Runner isn’t for everyone, but it’s a solid thriller worth playing for fans of interactive movies.”¹⁶

The game’s acting received particularly harsh criticism, with one reviewer noting that “one thing they overwhelmingly have in common is terrible acting.”¹¹ This assessment aligned with the broader FMV genre’s reputation for B-movie quality performances. GameSpot user reviews gave the game 7 out of 10, acknowledging its entertainment value despite technical limitations.⁴ Critics also noted that the game’s high hardware requirements limited its audience, as many players lacked systems capable of displaying the recommended 32,000-color visuals at 640x480 resolution.¹⁸

Modern Assessment

In retrospective analysis, Urban Runner has been characterized as emblematic of “all that can go wrong when the two art forms [gaming and moviemaking] collide.”⁵ However, the game has also found defenders among retrogaming enthusiasts who appreciate its campy charm and ambitious scope. One modern reviewer noted that while “Urban Runner is an okay game, but not the best FMV-based one I have played,” it remains an interesting curiosity from the FMV era.⁷

Aggregate Scores:

• MobyGames: 58% (Critics)¹
• IMDB: 5.3/10⁹
• OldGames.sk: 56%¹⁴
• VGTimes: 5.5/10¹⁹
• MyAbandonware: 4.09/5⁸

Modern assessments often note that Urban Runner’s failure to achieve commercial success stemmed from a combination of factors: its demanding hardware requirements, the declining popularity of FMV games by 1996, and the inherent challenges of marrying interactive gameplay with linear filmed sequences.⁷

Development

Origins

Urban Runner began development at Coktel Vision’s French studio as part of an intended series following the success of Lost in Time (1993).⁴ The game was originally titled “Lost in Town,” maintaining the naming convention of what was planned as a cohesive “Lost in…” franchise.⁴ However, when Sierra On-Line acquired Coktel Vision during the game’s development, marketing strategies changed, and the title was altered to Urban Runner to better appeal to international audiences.²⁰

The development team set out to create what they described as “a CD interactive game where character behavior in fully filmed urban environments will be managed by an artificial intelligence module.”⁶ This ambitious goal reflected the industry’s excitement about interactive movie technology during the mid-1990s, though the final product’s AI systems were considerably more modest than the initial vision suggested.

Production

Development of Urban Runner took approximately 18 months, with a team of around 50 people working on the project as of December 1995.⁶ The production budget reached 15 million French francs, establishing a break-even target of 500,000 units sold—a goal the game would ultimately fail to achieve.⁶ Three months of the development cycle were dedicated exclusively to live-action film shoots, capturing the extensive FMV footage that would comprise the game’s visual presentation.⁶

The filming took place in various urban locations, with actors performing scenes that would later be integrated into the game’s interactive framework. Brandon Massey, who had only two acting credits to his name, was cast in the lead role of Max Gardner, contributing to the B-movie quality that would characterize the final product.¹¹

Development Credits:¹

• Designers: Philippe Lamarque, Silvan Boris Schmid, Muriel Tramis
• Additional Design: Arnaud Delrue, Roland Oskian, Jean-Marc Vincent
• Composers: Michel Golgevit, Hervé Lavandier, Bernard Leroux, François Musy, Olivier Rabat
• Lead Actor: Brandon Massey (Max Gardner)

Technical Achievements

Urban Runner was built on the Gob engine, Coktel Vision’s proprietary technology that had previously powered several of their adventure titles.¹⁰ The engine supported two display modes: a standard 256-color mode and an enhanced 32,000-color mode for systems with more capable graphics hardware.⁵ The game rendered at 640x480 resolution, which was considered high-end for adventure games of the era.¹⁸

The technical architecture allowed for seamless integration of pre-recorded video with interactive elements, creating the illusion of real-time responsiveness within filmed sequences. The game employed a distinctive widescreen presentation for its FMV content, letterboxing the footage within the standard 4:3 display ratio.⁵ This aspect ratio of 1.33:1 was confirmed in technical specifications, with the full-color video presentation requiring significant storage across the four CD-ROM discs.⁹

Technical Specifications

CD-ROM Version:¹⁶

• Resolution: 640×480
• Color Depth: 256 colors (8-bit) or 32,000 colors (32-bit)¹
• Media: 4 CD-ROMs (2.0 GB total)²¹
• Minimum CPU: Intel i486 DX2 66 MHz¹⁰
• Recommended CPU: Intel Pentium 90 MHz¹⁰
• RAM: 8 MB minimum¹⁶
• Hard Drive: 20 MB¹⁶
• CD-ROM Drive: 2x speed minimum¹⁰
• Video: SVGA card¹⁶

Cut Content

Analysis of the game’s data files has revealed multiple unused cinematics and audio clips suggesting alternate gameplay paths that were planned but never implemented in the final release.⁷ The Italian version of the game contains more dialogue in its introduction than other language versions, indicating regional variations in content presentation and suggesting that some content may have been trimmed for international releases.⁷

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
1.0	July 1996	Windows 3.1/95 (UK)	Initial release1
1.0	July 25, 1996	Windows 3.1 (NA)	North American release1
DOS	1996	MS-DOS (EU/US)	DOS version7
ScummVM	2.1.2-2.9.0	Multiple	Modern compatibility5

Language Versions:⁸

• English (US/UK)
• French
• German
• Dutch
• Italian (expanded intro dialogue)⁷
• Hebrew (as “Avudim BaIr”)¹⁹

Technical Issues

A notable bug affected saved game functionality: attempting to load a saved game with the incorrect CD-ROM in the drive would trigger a critical error, potentially corrupting save data.²² Players were advised to ensure the proper disc was inserted before attempting to restore progress. The game’s demanding hardware requirements also caused performance issues on systems that met only the minimum specifications, with video playback stuttering on slower machines.¹⁸

Modern players can access Urban Runner through ScummVM, which provides compatibility with contemporary operating systems. The Collection Chamber maintains an updated version using ScummVM 2.9.0 for improved stability.⁵

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• Cuddly Toy Weapon: Players can throw a cuddly toy at a killer during one action sequence, a memorable absurdist moment that has become a selling point among fans.²³
• B-Movie Aesthetic: The developers appear to have embraced the low-budget feel of their production, with deliberately over-the-top performances and dramatic scenarios.¹⁸
• Character Introduction: Max’s opening narration includes the line “Daylight at last. I took a deep breath of fresh air already imagining myself sprawled out on my comfy sofa with a glass of my best whiskey in my hand,” establishing his hard-boiled journalist persona.⁹
• Setting Location: The game is set primarily in the city of Clichy, a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris.¹

Multiple Endings

Urban Runner features multiple endings based on player choices made throughout the game, particularly regarding Adda’s fate.¹³ The critical decision point occurs during the game’s climax, where players must choose between saving Adda or pursuing the primary objective. The game tracks several key variables:

• Adda’s Survival: Whether players choose to rescue Adda during the final confrontation
• Evidence Gathering: The completeness of evidence collected against the Elite organization
• Inspector Van Dale: The resolution of Max’s relationship with law enforcement

The “best” ending requires successfully gathering all evidence, making the correct choice regarding Adda, and exposing the full extent of the conspiracy.¹²

Voice Cast

Character	Voice Actor
Max Gardner	Brandon Massey1
Adda	Unknown5

Brandon Massey, the lead actor, had only two acting credits in his career, with Urban Runner representing one of his few professional performances.¹¹ The production was filmed in France, with a primarily French crew handling the technical aspects of the shoot.⁹

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Urban Runner sold poorly upon release, failing to reach its break-even target of 500,000 units.⁷ The game’s commercial failure has been attributed to multiple factors: the FMV gaming market was already saturated by 1996, the hardware requirements exceeded what many home computers could deliver, and the mixed critical reception dampened consumer interest.⁷ The game represented one of the last major FMV productions from Coktel Vision before the studio’s acquisition by Mindscape marked the end of an era.⁷

Collections

Urban Runner was not widely included in compilation releases, likely due to its poor commercial performance and the technical challenges of packaging FMV content. The game has primarily circulated through abandonware channels and preservation efforts rather than official re-releases.⁸

Fan Projects

The game is now supported by ScummVM, allowing modern players to experience Urban Runner on contemporary systems without the compatibility issues that plagued original installations.⁵ The Collection Chamber has maintained an updated package incorporating the latest ScummVM builds.⁵ While no major fan remakes have been undertaken, the game maintains a small but dedicated following among FMV adventure enthusiasts.

Related Publications

• In-Game Hint System: Built-in help with limited “joker” uses¹³
• Online Walkthroughs: Multiple fan-created walkthroughs exist, including comprehensive guides at Sierra Help and The Spoiler¹⁵¹³

Critical Perspective

Urban Runner occupies an interesting position in adventure gaming history, representing both the ambitions and limitations of the FMV era. Released during what would prove to be the final years of mainstream FMV production, the game attempted to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling while simultaneously falling victim to the genre’s inherent constraints—stiff acting, limited interactivity, and the challenge of balancing gameplay with cinematic presentation.⁵

The game’s spiritual connection to Lost in Time and its intended role in a larger “Lost in…” franchise speaks to Coktel Vision’s ambitions during this period, even as Sierra’s acquisition disrupted those plans.⁴ While Urban Runner is rarely cited among the great adventure games of its era, it remains a valuable artifact of 1990s gaming culture, demonstrating both the excitement and the pitfalls that characterized the industry’s brief love affair with interactive movies.⁷ Modern retrospectives have been more forgiving than contemporary reviews, recognizing the game’s entertainment value as a campy thriller even while acknowledging its technical and artistic shortcomings.⁸

Downloads

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – European version preservation²¹
• MyAbandonware – Multiple language versions⁸

Technical Resources

• PCGamingWiki – Compatibility fixes and ScummVM setup¹⁰
• Sierra Help – Walkthrough and technical support¹⁵

Series Continuity

Urban Runner was conceived as a spiritual sequel to Lost in Time (1993), originally titled “Lost in Town” to maintain the naming convention of an intended “Lost in…” series.⁴ While not a direct narrative sequel, the game shared Coktel Vision’s approach to FMV adventure gaming and was marketed as part of the same creative lineage. Sierra’s acquisition of Coktel Vision during development led to the name change and the abandonment of the planned series branding.²⁰

The game represents Coktel Vision’s final major FMV production before the studio’s subsequent acquisition by Mindscape, marking the end of an era for the French developer’s adventure game output.⁷

• Previous: 1993 - Lost in Time (spiritual predecessor)

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames – Urban Runner – developer, publisher, credits, ratings, platform details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

2. GameFAQs – Urban Runner – game description, interactive movie details ↩

3. GameFAQs – Urban Runner Details – technical features, replay option, character switching ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. GameSpot User Review – original title, spiritual sequel info, tagline ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

5. Collection Chamber – Urban Runner – technical presentation, ScummVM support, critical assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

6. Les Echos (Archive.today) – budget, development time, team size ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

7. The Cutting Room Floor – Urban Runner – cut content, sales performance, version differences ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

8. MyAbandonware – Urban Runner – language versions, user rating, retrogaming popularity ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

9. IMDB – Urban Runner – cast, designers, technical specs, rating ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

10. PCGamingWiki – Urban Runner – engine, system requirements, technical specifications ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

11. Alex Bevilacqua Blog – Urban Runner – plot summary, acting critique, actor background ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

12. Sierra Chest – Urban Runner Walkthrough – storyline details, character names, puzzle information ↩ ↩²

13. The Spoiler – Urban Runner Walkthrough – hint system, multiple endings, difficulty assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

14. OldGames.sk – Urban Runner – game structure, Clue/Action turns, rating ↩ ↩²

15. Sierra Help – Urban Runner Walkthrough – gameplay guidance, save advice ↩ ↩² ↩³

16. Adventure Gamers – Urban Runner – review score, system requirements, gameplay assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

17. APKPure – Urban Runner – gameplay mechanics description (unrelated Android game) ↩

18. TV Tropes – Urban Runner – hardware requirements, B-movie aesthetic, graphics specifications ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

19. VGTimes – Urban Runner – alternative titles, rating, genre classification ↩ ↩²

20. MobyGames Archive (Web Archive) – Sierra acquisition, development history ↩ ↩²

21. Internet Archive – Urban Runner Europe – game description, file size, preservation ↩ ↩²

22. GameFAQs – Urban Runner FAQ – save game bug, walkthrough notes ↩

23. GOG Dreamlist – Urban Runner – cuddly toy trivia, user commentary ↩