Game: Bit.Trip Runner

Platform: WiiWare

Game length: 5-10 hours (depends on how much of a completionist you are)

Completed? Got stuck on level 3-9. There is two levels left, but after two hours of attempts, I have failed.

Lead Reviewer: Shawn

Normally pure frustration isn’t fun, but Gaijin Game’s Bit Trip series finds a way to take that aggravation and turn it into addiction. It may be the constant action, or the incredible chiptune soundtracks. It may even be the desire for perfection that they magically force you to strive for. Gaijin Games continues this trend of addictive frustration with Bit.Trip Runner, a rhythm-based platformer that’s unlike anything you’ve ever played before.

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+ Unique is an Understatement – This might not be the first time a game like this has been done, but for the most part, a large majority has never played anything like it. Being a rhythm-based platformer means that you don’t directly control the main character’s movement from left to right. Instead, Commander Video moves on his own and you control his kicks, jumps, slides, and blocks to the beat of the music. This probably sounds a bit strange, but the enemy and obstacle placement are in perfect position with the rhythm, so that your actions feel natural and allow you to feel like you are contributing to the music. The rhythm also helps you land perfect jumps that you really need your timing for.

+ Bit.Trip Beat – The music found in Bit.Trip Runner is outstanding. The fact that the game’s menu starts with the chiptune band Anamanaguchi is the perfect indication that it will carry throughout the rest of the game, and it really does shine… granted, it kind of had to considering it’s rhythm based. The music in each level is catchy and a joy to listen to, and every action performed works flawlessly in making you feel like you are helping mold the sound.

+ How to Avoid Frustration in a Hard Game 101 – I cannot speak enough for how perfect the difficulty feels while you progress through Bit.Trip Runner’s levels. Yes, they are frustrating. Yes, you will get annoyed. The biggest reason why? There are no checkpoints. Death will send you right back to the beginning of a level, but this fails to make your blood boil for a couple of different reasons. For one, if you mess up and “die”, the game immediately takes you to the start, and you begin again once you match up with the music. This is instantaneous, so you have no period of time to be angry, because you will be replaying the level before you can make the decision to throw your controller or not. This is the most genius way to make a hard game that I’ve ever seen. The level design is also fun to continuously play, the obstacles flow well, and they are placed in a way that feels natural.

+ “Command”ing Personality – This can be said for the Bit.Trip series as a whole, but the ability to finally play AS Commander Video brings the personality of Bit.Trip to a whole other plateau. His animations are hilarious and the old-school presentation does wonders when it comes to immersion. More developers need to learn that it’s not about how flashy the game looks; it’s more about how interesting the game world is and how much it draws you in. Bit.Trip Runner is inspiring in this area, because it works with so little, but does so much.

+ Difficult? You’re a Sissy – Okay, okay, so the game absolutely destroys me too. Instead of complaining about it, though, I’m applauding it. While many will be crying about the fact that they’ll never beat the game, I consider this to be a real homage to the games of old, as well as motivation to feel the satisfaction of victory. Nothing is more rewarding than beating a hard game, unless it’s cheap. I wouldn’t consider many of the obstacles in Bit.Trip Runner to be unfair in the slightest; they just require rhythm skills and perfect timing. Instead of complaining about it, go beat the level you’re stuck on! (side note: screw you level 3-9!)

+ Replayability Too? – Normally, having to collect things can be a real pain. Bit.Trip Runner breaks the mold on this one by having gold bars scattered around each level, and collecting them all will unlock a bonus retro stage after you reach the finish line. These are significantly harder to complete than the normal levels, but they also add points to your score and an even bigger sense of satisfaction when beating them. On top of this, the regular levels are so fun to playthrough, that I’m sure these retro levels may not even matter in the long run. Replaying a level to get all of the gold bars never felt tedious… I WANTED to get them all.

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- Bit.Trip Void – The only complaint I can hold against Bit.Trip Runner has to do with the “empty” feeling some of the worlds give. Two of the three worlds are very basic grays, which can be somewhat boring to look at. They also don’t have too much going on in the background, but this isn’t a complete negative. Some of the levels in the final world get so ridiculous that it’s a good thing it’s as bare as it is, so you can see what’s coming at you. You’ll learn to appreciate this after playing world two, which has so much going on that it’s sometimes hard to see the obstacles in your path. It just seems like Gaijin Games failed to find that perfect balance. It’s okay, though, because it doesn’t ruin the experience at all, you just may experience a few cheap deaths in world two!

Conclusion

Having a negative at the end of this review may even be misleading, because there was no part during Bit.Trip Runner where I felt the need to rip it apart or complain. It’s non-stop fun, and when the feeling of fun leaves, it’s normally replaced by one of motivation and determination. This is easily the best game of the WiiWare service, and may even be one of the best rhythm games ever made. If you own a Wii and have an internet connection, what are you waiting for? It’s only $8! For the value, Bit.Trip Runner will easily be one of the best games you’ll ever purchase.


Score

9.0


With that said, here is POWRDUP’s first ever video! It’s a tribute to Bit.Trip Runner. It’s the first time I’ve ever made a video, let alone edited one, but I think it came out pretty great. The quality isn’t the best, but this is something I’ll learn how to do better over time. Enjoy! (DON’T FORGET TO PUT IT IN 480P. IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER)