In September, Choice Provisions studio released a remake of its first runner in the BIT.TRIP series, released in 2010. The new product received improved graphics, an updated soundtrack, as well as something that provides it with enormous replayability – a level editor. We share our impressions in the review.
- Developer: Choice Provisions, Gamecraft Studios
- Publisher: Choice Provisions
- Release date: September 19, 2023
BIT.TRIP RERUNNER can be described in a short phrase: a funny little man runs through the levels to a cheerful chiptune, avoids obstacles and collects bonuses.
Gradually, the conditions of the races become more complex, new movements and challenges appear. If at first the hero can only run, jump and slide, then after a couple of dozen levels he will unlock the blow and shield, learn to jump high on special platforms, and also destroy obstacles with shots.
The game has adjustable difficulty, but even in the easiest mode it seriously challenges your reaction speed and planning ability. Here you need to watch not the character, but the space in front of him, in order to have time to press the right button in time and perform the right action. At the same time, there are no too hardcore levels in BIT.TRIP RERUNNER: checkpoints are placed quite often (although you can turn them off if you wish), and a particularly harmful section can be learned and eventually passed through muscle memory.
At the same time, the soundtrack plays an important role in the gameplay . All jumps, hits and slides obey the rhythm of the music that accompanies the race, so if you “catch the wave”, you can complete the level almost with your eyes closed.
All this together gives a feeling of flow, which makes the gameplay of BIT.TRIP RERUNNER, and the entire BIT.TRIP series as a whole, so addictive. This, and also very short matches: the game is great as a warm-up when you want to take a break – just start, go through a level or two, and get back to work.
The game’s campaign contains three zones, each with eleven levels and one boss battle , as well as several bonus runs from previous installments in the franchise. But there’s something else here – RUNNER MAKER, a level editor that allows you to create custom runs. It is equipped with educational materials that help you become familiar with the features of placing blocks and objects, synchronizing with music and creating complex, complex locations.
Once you’ve created your level, you can upload it online and share it with the community. In the same way, you can download maps created by other players, and there are already quite a lot of them in the game – more than four hundred. Of course, you have to dig through them to find suitable tracks, fortunately there is the ability to sort levels by difficulty, duration, user ratings and other parameters.
In addition, the game allows you to unlock bonus content dedicated to previous editions of BIT.TRIP. In addition to standard materials, such as 3D models, comics and art, there are touching letters from developers and even poems dedicated to some games. This is quite unusual, but commendable.
BIT.TRIP RERUNNER does not bring anything new to the genre, but it allows you to get carried away by the dynamic, rhythmic gameplay, appreciate the detailed locations (created on Unreal Engine 5) and the edifying soundtrack, as well as experiment with creating your own levels and share them with the community.
