Bit.Trip Runner

Genre: Auto-Runner / Music-Rhythm

Players: 1

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Review:

Note: Included in Bit.Trip Collection, along with Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Fate, Bit.Trip Flux, and Bit.Trip Void.

Bit.Trip Runner is an Auto-Runner-style game with Music-Rhythm elements originally released on the Wii’s WiiWare service in 2010, gradually making its way to other platforms, and eventually finding its way onto Nintendo Switch in 2020. While this game is the fourth installment in the Bit.Trip series, it is probably the most well-known, resulting in the game receiving multiple sequels.

The presentation here is likely a large part of that. Bit.Trip Runner’s style has players guiding the low-resolution pixel art protagonist Commander Video through colorful, blocky, voxel-style 3D landscapes that make for a striking visual presentation. However, it’s the music here that really steals the show, with the game’s catchy chiptune themes interacting with the player’s actions to make this a sort of interactive audiovisual experience (for good examples of this, check out Impetus and Conviction). This is in addition to excellent chiptune music by Anamanaguchi such as Blackout City. Suffice it to say, while this game is retro in its stylings, it is nevertheless an audiovisual treat.

To some extent this great presentation is a large part of what keeps pushing players to keep at the game, as the gameplay is definitely on the unforgiving side of things, with even the smallest mistake sending you to the beginning of the level. That’s not to say that the gameplay isn’t compelling – the game does manage to have a good amount of variety, gradually adding different kinds of actions to do to respond to various obstacles. However, the high challenge level here will definitely frustrate some players. This version of the game does add new challenge levels, but I didn’t really notice a difference between them, and even on the easiest difficulty, one mistake means restarting a level.

Despite the high challenge level, it’s hard not to like Bit.Trip Runner. The wonderfully endearing presentation makes it easier to want to keep giving the game one more try after hitting an obstacle or missing a jump, and the Music-Rhythm elements in the gameplay along with the decent amount of variety make it fun even if you’re having to repeat things a bunch. If you’re looking to try the Auto-Runner genre, this is a great place to start – it’s one of the classics of the genre, and shows it at its best even while also having some of its worse qualities.

tl;dr – Bit.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.

Grade: B

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