For a long time I've been trying to remember one of my favorite games as a child but despite all my attempts to Google search clues, I can't find it.

It was an old video game, but I don't know what system.

You were some kind of creature that was running very very fast on a road each level. SIDESCROLLER

You had to jump over things, I THINK you were trying to save someone, and I THINK you didn't have any weapons you were simply running.

The game always had somewhat dark backgrounds, and just a general dark feel to it.

The creature you were playing with had legs but I don't think he was human, I think he had some weird stuff going on but I don't remember what. He might have been redish but I'm not sure about that either.

Any guesses?