As with last year's Temple Run: Brave, the new Temple Run: Oz takes the framework of the latest core entry – in this case the recent Temple Run 2 – and gives it a Disney-fied makeover tied to a big-budget flick. This time around, it's Oz The Great and Powerful, a prequel to the iconic Wizard of Oz, and the result is a game in which you'll guide a digital approximation of James Franco along a yellow brick road filled with obstacles and collectibles alike. While visually vivid and solidly enjoyable as a behind-the-back runner, Temple Run: Oz simply hits too soon after Temple Run 2 to generate much enthusiasm.

Expectedly, the game sticks closely to the Temple Run 2 playbook, with simple swipes used to jump, slide, and turn as needed, plus light tilts of your iPhone or iPad letting you snag coins to use on items and ability upgrades. Replacing the added mine cart and zip line sequences of the previous entry are very simple and straightforward hot air balloon moments, which send you soaring between giant crystals in the clouds to grab trails of coins. Additionally, as you run through the world, you'll see opportunities to turn towards other destinations, which appear in a haze as the brick road builds before you, but there's not much to the mechanic aside from a change of scenery.

Even so, Temple Run: Oz still scratches a lot of the same itch as its predecessor, as the compulsive run through winding paths entertains, plus the presentation impresses with vivid terrain. But this licensed remix feels less lively, in part due to unsubtle implementation of active hazards – like thorns that grow out of the ground – that you can spot well before they emerge due to the arcing coin trails above. Also, the lack of leaderboards takes a lot of the punch out of a formula built around score-based competition. But ultimately, the fact that Temple Run: Oz drops less than two months after the great, free Temple Run 2 (and with a price tag in tow) makes it feel comparatively expendable.

The bottom line. Temple Run: Oz puts a slick Disney spin on the top 3D endless runner, but isn't quite as captivating or fully-featured as the free and still very recent Temple Run 2.