Bit.Trip Collection
Genre: Compilation / Music-Rhythm / Arcade
Players: 1
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Review:
Bit.Trip Collection, released on the Nintendo Switch in 2023, is a Compilation of the six games that comprise “original series” of Bit.Trip games: Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Void, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate, and Bit.Trip Flux, which were all released separately on Nintendo Switch in 2020.
I have previously reviewed all of these games. Here is what I thought of each of the games in this collection:
| Game | Genre | # of Players | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit.Trip Beat | Arcade / Music-Rhythm | 1 | C+ |
tl;drBit.Trip Beat is an Arcade-style game that combines elements of Pong, Music-Rhythm games, and motion control. It’s this last element that will make this a game that not everyone will enjoy, as these controls take some getting used to. However, if you can get used to these controls, you may find elements to this game that make it worthwhile. | |||
| Bit.Trip Core | Arcade / Music-Rhythm | 1 | C |
tl;drBit.Trip Core is an Arcade-style game that has you firing at dots in one of four directions in time with a beat. Despite its simplicity, this game is deceptively difficult, and its presentation isn’t as appealing as some of the other games in the series. As a result, this is a game I’d argue only fans of the Bit.Trip series should get. | |||
| Bit.Trip Void | Bullet Hell Shmup / Music-Rhythm | 1 | B- |
tl;drBit.Trip Void is a game that combines elements of Bullet Hell Shmups, Music-Rhythm games, and even a little Katamari Damacy to make for simple gameplay that’s compelling and works well with the game’s hypnotic presentation. There are definitely areas where this game could be improved, but it is overall an excellent title well worth checking out. | |||
| Bit.Trip Runner | Auto-Runner / Music-Rhythm | 1 | B |
tl;drBit.Trip Runner is an Auto-Runner that incorporates Music-Rhythm elements for a wonderful audiovisual experience that compels you to keep trying even after failing. Which you will do repeatedly, as this game is unforgiving of mistakes. The high challenge level may put off some players, but this game is nevertheless one of the highlights of its genre, even still to this day. | |||
| Bit.Trip Fate | 2-Stick Shooter / Bullet Hell Shmup | 1 | B |
tl;drBit.Trip Fate is a 2-Stick Shooter / Bullet Hell Shmup that makes an interesting twist on the formula by forcing players to stick to a single line when moving. It’s a solid entry in the genre that fans of 2-Stick Shooters should definitely consider, but Bit.Trip fans may be a bit let down by the lack of originality and the downplayed importance of Music-Rhythm elements compared to other games in the series. | |||
| Bit.Trip Flux | Arcade / Music-Rhythm | 1 | C+ |
tl;drA direct follow-up to Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Flux has some of the same good and bad qualities. It is an Arcade-style game that combines elements of Pong, Music-Rhythm games, and motion control. It’s this last element that will make this a game that not everyone will enjoy, as these controls take some getting used to. However, if you can get used to these controls, you may find elements to this game that make it worthwhile. | |||
Overall, I feel like the games in this collection range from middling to pretty good, with the highlights here being Runner, Fate, and Void. For the most part, I think this series is better the farther away it gets from its Music-Rhythm elements, except Runner’s Music-Rhythm elements are pretty strong and that game is excellent – so excellent, it would go on to have two sequels, Runner2 and Runner3. Anyway, while I think only half of the games here are truly great, I don’t think any of them are outright bad, with the worst game of the group, Core, just being a bit too simple for my tastes.
Of course, when talking about bundles of games you can buy separately, the next question is always, “how good a value is this?”. And the answer is… really, really good, actually. While the six individual games sell separately for $5 each, Bit.Trip Collection sells for $10, meaning that you get a massive 66% off by buying these games as a package. Just to give you an idea what a deal this is, if you bought all of the separate games included here at their lowest sale price, $2 each, you’d still be spending $2 more than this bundle costs when it’s not on sale.
Are all the games in Bit.Trip Collection winners? Not really, no. But roughly half of this package of six games is pretty darn good, and the other half is at least decent. For this package’s $10 price tag, that is an outstanding value, and I would argue that if you were eyeing these games before but didn’t buy them, this Compilation just gave you an excellent reason to go ahead and give these games a try, especially if you enjoy simple Arcade-style games and Music-Rhythm games.
tl;dr – Bit.Trip Collection is a Compilation that includes Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Void, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate, and Bit.Trip Flux. All of the games here are at least okay, with about half of them actually being genuinely good. However, at the extremely generous price of $10, this package is an absolute steal. Even if you’re only getting it for half of the games, it’s still better to get the whole package than to buy the games separately. This is definitely a great choice for anyone who enjoys simple Arcade-style games and Music-Rhythm games in particular.
Grade: B+
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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2023 Game Awards:
Runner-Up: Best Compilation/Collection
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