bit trip runner android

BIT.TRIP RUNNER

• Edit source
• View history

The game is perhaps the most widely-known entry in the original Hexalogy, and is very easily the most popular. Its presence and reception resulted in it gaining a spin-off subseries, with two sequels: BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien in 2013, and later, Runner3 in 2018. Finally, the game received a remake in 2023 called BIT.TRIP RERUNNER . In the mainline series, however, the game is succeeded by BIT.TRIP FATE.

The title theme, Blackout City, and the credits theme, Mermaid, are provided by guest composter Anamanaguchi

The game is known in Japan as BIT.TRIP RUNNER: リズム星人の激走 ( rizumo hoshi hito no geki sou ), which roughly translates to "Flat-Out Run of the Rhythm Alien". This goofy-sounding subtitle was the primary source of inspiration for Runner2's subtitle, "Future Legend of Rhythm Alien".

• 1.1 IMPETUS
• 1.2 TENACITY
• 1.3 TRIUMPH
• 3 DEVELOPMENT
• 6 SCOREBOARD

Runner was the first BIT.TRIP game to truly shed the usual three-level structure of previous games. While there are still three levels, they serve more as Worlds would in a traditional platformer. Each of the three Levels contains eleven regular stages, as well as a respective retro stage for each, in addition to one boss per world. This brings the overall total number of playable stages to 69, the second highest in the series, behind Runner2 at 120, and just ahead of Runner3, at 63.

IMPETUS [ ]

This world is where our protagonist, CommanderVideo awakens and uses the energy in him to run.

• First Contact
• A Wake of Dust
• Crater Raider
• Unstoppable Mr. Video
• Junior Melchkin (Meet)
• Jabol Smabbler
• Smabbler's Groan
• Beat Deposits
• End of the Beginning
• BOSS: Mingrawn Timbletot

TENACITY [ ]

As CommanderVideo continues to run through the world that he explored, he tries to get a hold of something in his life to be proud of.

Non Trotski

• Lesser Timbletot
• Hairy Knorwhisp
• Flyss Whizzle
• Wizened Elderbend
• Pandinkoris Plains
• Moint Moint
• Radbot (Meet)
• Slobbering Falls
• Beats Mines
• Middle of the Middle
• Watcher's Watch
• BOSS: Non Trotski

TRIUMPH [ ]

CommanderVideo went through many trials through out this journey and soon will triumph in the end.

• Paradise Lost
• Leaky Krinkston
• Withering Moint
• Sewer Snark
• Tubular Unders
• Gall Blaster (Meet Meat Boy )
• The Gauntlet
• Beginning of the End
• Rusty Warren
• BOSS: The Source

GAMEPLAY [ ]

BIT.TRIP RUNNER is a 2D platformer in which the player takes control of Commander Video , the main protagonist of the Bit.Trip series who had appeared only during cut-scenes in the previous titles. The game is split into three worlds, known as "Impetus", "Tenacity" and "Triumph" respectively, each containing 11 stages and a boss encounter. In each level, Commander Video runs automatically from left to right. To complete a level, the player must input certain commands on the controller, including jumping, sliding and kicking, to avoid or destroy obstacles and enemies. If Commander Video is hit by any object, he is immediately warped back to the beginning of the level and starts running again.

During levels, the player obtains power-ups that upgrade the score multiplier, starting at 'Hyper' and progressing through 'Mega', 'Super', 'Ultra', and finally 'Extra'. As these multipliers are gained, the background music becomes more advanced accordingly, with new melodies being added and modern instrumentation layered on top.

BIT TRIP RUNNER Bonus Level

Commander Video is also able to collect gold bars distributed through the course of the levels - if all the gold bars in a level are acquired, the player is given access to a short bonus stage based on Pitfall , the famous Atari 2600 game programmed by David Crane .

DEVELOPMENT [ ]

As the fourth of six BIT.TRIP games, RUNNER was designed as an attempt at "fleshing out the BIT.TRIP universe into a fuller, richer place by showing players what exactly the world looked like: an optimistic and colorful place while at the same time dreary and hostile." The game makes a number of notable changes to the design conventions of the other BIT.TRIP games, like a more traditional playable character and a structure consisting of lots of smaller levels rather than three long ones.

In an early version of RUNNER , Commander Video had a wider arsenal of abilities, some of which were callbacks to CORE and VOID , but designer Alex Neuse decided to remove the more complicated moves after observing that playtesters were becoming overwhelmed. [1]

The game's soundtrack combines 8-bit music with contemporary genres such as techno and electronica . The independent chiptune band Anamanaguchi contributed some songs to the soundtrack. Meanwhile, to fit with the use of Commander Video as a character, artist Mike Roush created the graphics with a heavy emphasis on eyeballs, providing the locations with a greater personality.

Following the game's success, CommanderVideo would see a sudden surge in popularity. A majority of his cameos in modern games being a result of RUNNER's unprecedented popularity. This would come to a peak when a standalone sequel, Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien was released. Interestingly, due to the sudden departure from the series mainstay, the original RUNNER was rebranded as simply Runner, to match the sequel. And later on, Runner2 would get a sequel in the form of Runner3.

• Though the game is the only one in the original series to lack a NETHER MODE, the Retro Challenge bonuses could be considered a sort of NETHER MODE. All music is removed and the sound effects become discordant and simplistic, the sound effect for grabbing Gold is a unique sound that only appears in NETHER MODE in FATE and FLUX, and failing boots the player back to the Level Select.

SCOREBOARD [ ]

See the BIT.TRIP RUNNER Scoreboard

• 1 CommanderVideo

Bit.Trip Runner review

A frustratingly addictive experience, gamesradar+ verdict.

The innovative

hypnotic gameplay

The visual style

Infuriating difficulty

Complete lack of checkpoints

The eye fatigue

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Before you start up Bit.Trip Runner, grab a sticky note and jot down this very important instruction. "DO NOT FORGET TO BLINK." Take the aforementioned note, and place it somewhere visible on your television screen, because you will forget.

Bit.Trip Runner comes from WiiWare developer Gaijin games, and marks the best and most innovative game to date in their Bit.Trip series. The game inspires a strange nostalgia that you do not have specific memories for. The characters, enemies, obstacles and backgrounds are all made up of giant pixels and blocks. It's as if an Atari game was given depth and thousands of extra colors.

Runner places you in the shoes of CommanderVideo and his hurried quest to move from the left side of the screen to the right. At first glance Runner looks like a stylish platformer, and it is for the most part. The things that sets this game apart from its Mario frame of reference though, are the music and speed.

Music is an important part of Runner as all of the levels are meant to be played in rhythm with the hum-inducing chip-tune melodies. Developer Gaijin games created the music featured in all the levels, but went to popular chip-tune band Anamanaguchi for all the menu and credit music. This means anywhere you go in the game, you will encounter brilliant, memorable music that you will plant itself into your brain and invade your dreams.

As far as the actual gameplay goes, you do not control CommanderVideo's momentum, only his jumps, ducks, kicks and later in the game, his shield. CommanderVideo is in a constant full-speed sprint, and it is your job as the player to make sure that he makes it to the black and white checkered finish line at the end of each level. All the jumping, ducking, kicking and shielding that must be employed to avoid obstacles is all set to a hypnotic soundtrack. Every action in the game adds to the soundtrack. Progression becomes incredibly rewarding as you avoid more and more obstacles and collect more pickups. With the avoidance of each significant obstacle, the music becomes more layered and enthralling. Every difficult slide or precarious jump is rewarded with an adreniline boosting musical swell – and you will feel that adrenaline.

Runner will force you to sit up and lean forward with each consecutive attempt. Your eyes will strain and you will reminisce about your most intense Guitar Hero memories. The game moves fast, and the only way to progress is to perfect each level. You will die often, and you will get angry. Runner partially alleviates this frustration by instituting the fastest level restart in gaming history. There are no death animations, and no option to continue or to quit. When you hit a wall, or miss a jump, the game barely pauses as CommanderVideo gets literally flung to the beginning of the level. He restarts his suicidal sprint before you even get a chance to blink (hence the note). Even the music continues it's driving beat when you crash, pulling back some of your collected musical layers so that you can begin your journey to recollect them again. With no menu prompting you to quit, Runner quickly becomes an addicting timeleech that will cause the sun to rise before you even realize it is past your bedtime.

But this drive for level completing perfection does come at a cost. While perfecting each level creates an intense experience, it treats even the smallest mistakes as level ending disasters. There are no check points, and there are no life meters. Running into a wall, or getting hit by a flying saucer holds the same game ending repercussions as jumping a split second too early. Even Guitar Hero lets you miss a few notes. Too often will you thank Nintendo for the silicone sleeve protecting your flung Wii remote as you make the tiniest mistake right before the finish line. It is infuriating and unfair, but the quick restart will have you playing the level again before you can even ponder calling it a night.

You haven't played anything like Bit.Trip Runner, and even though you may find yourself inventing all sorts of new profanities to yell at the, "don't forget to blink," note on your television, it's unlikely that you will be able to put down the controller without trying at least one more time. May 26, 2010

Following widespread complaints, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth patch takes another stab at improving the RPG's muddy graphics in Performance Mode

How to kill enemies with the Expendable Anti Tank in Helldivers 2

How to find the Stardew Valley Bookseller

Most Popular

By James Mottram 15 March 2024

By Matt Glasby 15 March 2024

By Heather Wald 15 March 2024

By Molly Edwards 15 March 2024

By Tabitha Baker 14 March 2024

By Kevin Harley 14 March 2024

By Bradley Russell 14 March 2024

By Tabitha Baker 13 March 2024

By Abigail Shannon 13 March 2024

By Fraser Porter 13 March 2024

By Phil Hayton 12 March 2024

Bit.Trip Runner Review

Simplicity, complexity, and difficulty work in harmony in this marvelously scored entry in the Bit.Trip series.

By Chris Watters on May 26, 2010 at 7:43PM PDT

It's a rare franchise that can reinvent itself with every new game yet still remain true to itself. Despite offering very different gameplay experiences, the Bit.Trip games all feature an engaging mix of infectious chiptune music, attractive retro-styled visuals, and simple mechanics that build smoothly to create a hefty challenge. The fourth game in the series, Bit.Trip Runner, continues on this course, taking the series into the realm of platforming. As the enigmatic humanoid CommanderVideo sprints unflaggingly toward the finish of each stage, it's up to you to make him dodge obstacles using a limited repertoire of moves. Simple jumps and slides slowly compound into strenuous feats of timing and precision, and though the most challenging levels make you feel like you're hitting your head against a wall, they never feel insurmountable. The excellent music entertains throughout your triumphs and failures alike, making it all too easy to give each level one more try. Bit.Trip Runner is not only the lengthiest game in the series, but also the best.

As with every Bit.Trip game, things start out simply. In the first stage, you learn to jump over things and become acquainted with the fact that you are continually moving fowards at all times. A few stages later, you learn to slide under other things. After you learn to kick (destroy things) and spring (launch off a specific thing), you have learned the moves you will use for the majority of the game. You perform these actions with button presses while holding the remote sideways, and CommanderVideo responds with alacrity. As you progress, you begin to discover the subtleties of each move. For example, you can add a little extra distance to your jumps by holding the button down. Slides can be maintained indefinitely, but kicks only last a moment. By the time you get into the later stages, you need to master the variable jump length and become proficient at quickly popping between slides, jumps, and kicks if you hope to succeed.

In addition to pits, projectiles, and other unfriendly objects, each stage features two types of strategically placed items for you to pick up. The first--gold bars--count toward your point total. If you grab them all, you get access to a special bonus stage in which you try to grab a lot more gold bars to boost your score even higher. Though CommanderVideo has the same abilities in these stages, there is no music and the background looks like something out of the original Pitfall. While there are still no online leaderboards, players have a welcome concrete goal to strive for because each level has a perfect score. The second type of item is a red plus sign that kicks the music up a notch. Players who have experience with the Bit.Trip series will recognize the familiar progression (hyper, mega, super, ultra, extra) that layers new musical complexity onto the soundtrack and causes CommanderVideo to leave an increasingly flashy trail behind him.

The clever placement of these items not only makes each level unique, it smoothes out the difficulty curve by challenging you to strive for precision a few stages before it is actually required. Early on, items are often used as cues, showing you where you need to jump to avoid obstacles. Before long, however, they start to shift and begin challenging you to cut jumps closer than necessary. You can pass the stage without collecting every single item, but it's hard to resist striving for that perfect score. This ends up being a helpful impulse because soon enough, you are forced to cut your maneuvers extremely close just to make it to the finish. There are some very difficult sections in the lengthier later stages, and they present a serious challenge that may be too daunting for some. Yet though the timing is demanding, you never feel like success is unattainable because you have already achieved a high level of precision en route to your current stage, albeit in smaller doses. On top of that, nothing ever changes within a given level, so you can gradually increase your chances by learning the layout and timing patterns. Furthermore, hitting an obstacle merely sends you back to the start of the level, ready to begin another run almost instantly. Bit.Trip Runner pushes you to the limits of your dexterity, but it does so in such a deft way that repeatedly failing a level doesn't actually feel like failure.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Bit.Trip game if the chiptune music wasn't enhancing the action every step of the way. The game features three levels (12 stages per level) and each has a distinct audio persona. Every stage begins with a minimal soundtrack, perhaps some low tones and a simple beat. As you pick up the aforementioned red plus signs, a whole new layer of sound enriches the track. Meanwhile, every item you pick up and obstacle you avoid chimes an individual note. The spacing of the obstacles is such that these chimes fit seamlessly into the music. The stroke of genius here is that these tones are dependent on the musical track, not on your position in the level. The baseline track is always playing, even when you hit an obstacle and are sent back to the beginning of the level. This means the chimes that sounded for the first few jumps on your previous run will not be repeated on your current run, creating the sense that you are part of an ever-renewing soundtrack even though you are doing the same thing over and over. This clever auditory trick creates a sense of continuity and novelty that smoothes over your stumbles and keeps things feeling fresh even on your 15th try.

Bit.Trip Runner's visual aesthetic echoes that of its predecessors, though the nature of platforming means that it features a less abstract and more concrete look. There is still some strange stuff to see and the occasional distraction to trip you up, including a bit of graffiti that reimagines CommanderVideo as a cat. With 33 regular stages, 33 bonus stages, and three boss fights, Bit.Trip Runner is definitely the lengthiest game in the series thus far. It presents a platforming challenge that is old school in its simplicity while boasting stylish visuals and a supremely clever and engrossing implementation of music. The difficulty gets very steep toward the end of the game, and promises of "just one more" can easily drag on until your whole world appears to be scrolling sideways. Still, Bit.Trip Runner is engaging, challenging, and a whole lot of fun, which makes it one of the best games available on WiiWare.

• Leave Blank
• Excellent difficulty curve encompasses accessibility and difficulty
• Soundtrack creates a cohesive, engrossing atmosphere
• Simple, responsive controls
• Challenge can be daunting

About the Author

Chris Watters

More gamespot reviews.

Use your keyboard!

Log in to comment

Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored

Sign in to see reasons why you may or may not like this based on your games, friends, and curators you follow.

Buy BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Packages that include this game, buy bit.trip.runner franchise pack.

Includes 4 items: BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien Soundtrack, BIT.TRIP RUNNER, Bit.Trip Runner Soundtrack

Buy Bit.Trip.Runner 2 + Soundtrack + Good Friends Character Pack

Includes 3 items: BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien Soundtrack, Runner2 - Good Friends Character Pack

Buy BIT.TRIP RUNNER MEGA BUNDLE BUNDLE (?)

Includes 8 items: BIT.TRIP RUNNER , BIT.TRIP.RUNNER Soundtrack , BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien , BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien Soundtrack , Runner3 - Official Soundtrack , Runner3 , BIT.TRIP RERUNNER , BIT.TRIP RERUNNER Soundtrack

Content For This Game Browse all (2)

“It's one of the finest music games ever made.” 9/10 – IGN “Gaijin Crafts The Best Auto Runner Yet.” 9/10 – Game Informer “...a marvelous rhythmic platformer.” 9/10 – Destructoid “...a flawless victory in game design.” 10/10 – GameZone “...The game fosters this sense of synesthesia. In my head.” 8.5/10 – Polygon

About This Game

Embark on a rhythmic odyssey with runner2: future legend of rhythm alien, the sequel to the acclaimed bit.trip runner., system requirements.

• OS: winXP SP3
• Memory: 2 GB memory
• Graphics: GeForce 8 series (8xxxx) or Radeon HD4 series (HD4xxxx)
• DirectX®: 9.0c
• Hard Drive: 850 MB free hard drive space
• Memory: 4 GB memory
• OS: 10.6.8 Snow Leopard
• Memory: 8 GB memory
• OS: ubuntu 12.04 LTS

© 2023 Choice Provisions. All rights reserved. Choice Provisions is a registered trademark of Choice Provisions Inc . CommanderVideo is a registered trademark of Choice Provisions Inc. All company names, brand names, trademarks, and logos are the property of their respective owners.

More like this

What curators say, customer reviews.

You can use this widget-maker to generate a bit of HTML that can be embedded in your website to easily allow customers to purchase this game on Steam.

There is more than one way to buy this game. Please select a specific package to create a widget for:

Enter up to 375 characters to add a description to your widget:

Copy and paste the HTML below into your website to make the above widget appear

Popular user-defined tags for this product: (?)

Sign in to add your own tags to this product.

BIT.TRIP RUNNER

Bit.Trip Rerunner

Images & screenshots.

Bit.Trip Rerunner News

Review: BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER

BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER is a must-play for fans of rhythm platformers and creative level design enthusiasts. The combination of classic gameplay, innovative level creation, stunning visuals, and a thumping soundtrack ensures an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience. It’s a testament to how a classic title can be rejuvenated and made relevant for both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre.

Developer – Choice Provisions, Gamecraft Studios

Publisher – Choice Provisions

Platforms – PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER brings a much-needed revival to the classic rhythm platformer genre, offering an enticing blend of nostalgia and innovation. Whether you’re a newcomer to the rhythm gaming world or a seasoned expert, this title offers something for everyone, thanks to its fresh mechanics, revamped art style, and pulsating soundtrack. The standout feature here is the RUNNER MAKER, a level editor that empowers players to create and share their custom levels, elevating the game to a whole new level of creativity and community interaction.

The inclusion of the RUNNER MAKER is an absolute game-changer. It unleashes your creative potential as you tweak obstacles and fine-tune the beat-driven gameplay. The ability to share your creations with the gaming community adds an exciting layer of interactivity, inspiring both players and designers alike in this vibrant rhythm gaming adventure.

One of the standout features of BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER is the sheer number of levels to conquer. With over 150 obstacle-filled challenges inspired by the classic games, players are in for a treat. Each level is crafted to be progressively more challenging than the last, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience that will keep you hooked for hours on end.

The game’s visual overhaul, powered by Unreal Engine 5, introduces players to a trippy and mesmerizing art style that complements the rhythmic gameplay perfectly. The vibrant visuals make each level a visual feast for the eyes, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

And let’s not forget the soundtrack – it’s nothing short of sensational. The fully remixed music cranks up the intensity to unhealthy volume levels, immersing players even deeper into the game’s rhythmic world. The synergy between gameplay, visuals, and music is where BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER truly shines.

Lastly, the Historical Gallery is a delightful touch, paying homage to the original game with fun nods and gaming artifacts. It’s a nice way to connect with the game’s roots and appreciate how far the BIT.TRIP series has come.

In summary, BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER is a must-play for fans of rhythm platformers and creative level design enthusiasts. The combination of classic gameplay, innovative level creation, stunning visuals, and a thumping soundtrack ensures an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience. It’s a testament to how a classic title can be rejuvenated and made relevant for both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre.

Rectify Gaming

BIT.TRIP Runner

Game length provided by HowLongToBeat

• You control CommanderVideo as he runs, jumps, slides, kicks, and more!
• Extremely addictive “just one more time” gameplay!
• With exciting modern and retro challenges, you can run through more than 50 levels!
• Chiptune supergroup Anamanaguchi makes a guest appearance!

©Choice Provisions, Inc.

Mac notice: The game is 32-bit only and will not work on macOS 10.15 and up.

Something went wrong. Try refresh page.

Noone has rated this game yet

None of the verified owners have rated this game

There is no rating for applied filters

There are no reviews yet.

There’s no reviews matching your criteria

Your review should focus on your in-game experience only. Let the game stand entirely on its own merits.

To discuss topics such as news, pricing, or community, use our forums . To request new games and website or GOG GALAXY features, use the community wishlist . To get technical support for your game contact our support team .

To keep our review sections clean and helpful, we will remove any reviews that break these guidelines or our terms of use .