The Bit Trip Series

WiiWare started out as what many gamers thought would be an onslaught of shovelware at reduced prices to cash in on the Wii craze. While this is mostly true, there have been a few standouts.

Gaijen games, via Aksys publishing, has made an excellent franchise in the Bit. Trip series. While predominantly a rhythm game, each iteration offers a non-traditional approach to a certain genre.

BIT. TRIP BEAT



The first of the series was/is Bit. Trip Beat. This game is the only in the series thus far to utilize any sort of motion control via the wiimote, and they did it well. You hold the wiimote sideways, and tilt it up or down to move the paddle in the same direction. Very pong-like in gameplay, though this incorporates more of a rhythm-based mechanic as well as chain combo possibilities and upgraded-as-you-play-well sound and graphics.

The art (this part of the series review can be assumed to apply to all titles in the series) is, 8-bit, as the name implies. Very bright, colorful, and rapid. The quickness can be a good thing and a bad thing, sometimes I cannot tell whether it was a piece I was supposed to hit or a piece of the background. Minimal complaint.

There are only 3 levels, but the game makes up for that by making each of them very long. Unfortunately, this worked against them. The visuals, while appealing, are a tad straining on the eye and 15-minute levels are a bit much (if you make it that long, there is a life bar). Speaking of the life bar, the worse you do, the less appealing the graphics become, and the sound disappears entirely to leave you with a black and white soundless screen. Nice touch.

For a first game in a series, this one starts strong. 4/5 stars

Bit. Trip Core



If Beat was a pong-type game, this one could be considered a variation of a shmup (shoot 'em up, if that's your fancy). You control a reticule that can be aimed up, down, left, and right. Depending on where the bits are coming, you wait until they pass a crosshair and "shoot" them (with the 2 button) to the beat. This iteration features the combo string and expanded graphical/musical ideas as the previous game.

This game suffers a bit from tough controls. Your timing, with the d-pad and the 2 button, has got to be dead on balls accurate. If they are not synced well you will miss, regardless of its presence in your crosshair. Again the tradition of 3 levels, but of this one it's enough. Clever designs to be sure, but a few lulls in the second level made me wonder if I had regressed to the first again somehow.

A tough learning curve from level 1 to 2 really makes the game a grind. Don't even get me started on level 3. I give it 2.5/5 stars. Only if you really love the series will you want this title.

Bit. Trip Void



For this game, Gaijin really got creative. Consider this their spin on a party game, and a unique one at that! Up to 4 players can play at once, cooperatively (or not >), to obtain all the black bits (and growing into a larger void in the process) whilst avoiding the white like the plague (as they deplete both your score and your size!). Unlike the last 2 games, this one uses the nunchuk, with the analog stick moving your black-dot-thing in 8 directions, and the A button on the wiimote pressed to de-void your dot when it has amassed too big from ingesting the black particles.

While the concept is fun, and playing with others is niche, it gets boring. Why? It's so stinking easy. And long. At least in this one they put checkpoints in. They must have gotten complaints about Core's toughness, and really watered this one down. Still fun, and the music is fantastic if not a bit sleep-inducing. I give it 3.5/5 stars!

Bit. Trip Runner



The latest installment of the series, this is Gaijin's spin on a platformer. An oldschool NES platformer. What does that mean? It means this game gets tough. REAL tough. You control Commander Video (the series star, 'nacth) as he runs on rails towards his goal. You can jump, kick, and slide your way through obstacles of crazy layout. The latter levels are truly fun designs.

The learning curve is great. My complaint? They took away the damn checkpoints. This is what gives it that NES feel, one flaw is a brutal deportation to the beginning of the level. While I appreciate the nod, I'd rather have the checkpoint. I suppose that would ruin a combo streak, but if you start from the beginning again so does that! Can't win 'em all.

Complaints aside, this is probably my personal favorite. Tied with Beat. The game gets a solid 4/5 stars!!!

Awesome reviews! You should repost them in Ninfest Nation Media for MASSIVE COINS!

I've only played the demo of Bit. Trip Beat. It was ok but felt the gameplay as a bit simple for me (rolling the Wiimote up and down to move the block). Music effects were nice, as you described, and like you did find myself getting a bit confused with what blocks I could hit. Some of the background blocks tricked me! I'd probably give the demo a 3/5. I'm hesitant but think I'll give the full version and the other games a go down the road.

How do I post it there myself? I thought you had to do that? :O

I mean the Ninfest Nation Media section here on the forums where you posted your other reviews. That way you get more coins. More coins are rewarded for review posts. Just lookin' out for ya!

O. DURP!

I'll post 'it there too. Let's keep this thread for ongoing discussion about the series!

Upon further playing of Runner, its even more fun. The songs are pretty catchy, a few more repetitive than I'm accustomed to. But vibrant and bright nonetheless.

And their website has slots for 2 more games in the series, as if they are already planned out (I'm sure they are.)

2 more planned? They sure are laying down the 8 bit love with this
franchise.

I really think you should get Runner, man. Its old school harshness at its finest.

After playing more of Bit Trip Fate, I can safely say a new 2nd favorite is here. Bit Trip Beat is cool, but this one edges it out.

This is another shmup mockery, but it differs from core in a few ways. You are on rails for one, and they are pretty strange rails at that. More shaped like sound waves than straight lines. And lots of power-ups, including a guest appearance by super meat boy, who has yet to even have his own game released on WiiWare. lol

This gets 4/5 as well.

I saw a picture with the Bit.Trip guy and Super Meat Boy together and couldn't understand why. Now I know! And knowing is half the battle.