Cross-buy with Vita version

Runner2 is coming to PlayStat?ion 4 on February 23, Choice Provisions has announced.

The auto-run platformer will support cross-buy compatibility with the Vita port Choice Provisions released a couple years ago.? Unfortunately, since another publisher (Aksys Games) handled the PS3 version, it looks like folks who own the game on that platform won't have the same opportunity.

In better news, the studio will be offering the "Good Friends" character pack for free, giving players the opportunity to play as Raz (Psychonauts), Quote (Cave Story), Dr. Fetus (Super Meat Boy), Josef (Machinarium), Spelunky Guy (Spelunky) and Invisible CommanderVideo. 

Runner2 launching February 23rd on PS4 [PlayStation Blog, Choice Provisions]

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And that's only a good thing

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien launched very early on in the year for just about every platform under the sun. We reviewed it, and really liked it. Not long after that, Gaijin Games announced that Runner 2 would be making its way to none other than the PlayStation Vita. After quite a long? wait, it has finally made its way to the handheld right at the tail end of the yea??r for $9.99.

After spending some t?ime with the new Vita version, I can tell you that it's just as good as you remember it. No significant compromises were made for the visuals, it's locked at 60 FPS, and the OLED screen compliments the game beautifully. Unfortunately, the game is not Cross-Buy or Cross-Save compatible, and there's no additional content or added control benefits on the Vita, but it doesn't need them. It's a fantastic game that can stand on its own -- and does -- that feels great to play with the Vita's physical controls.

If Runner 2 was a game you enjoyed ?immensely before and wouldn't mind paying for again, or still have yet to check it out, then there's no reason to pass up the Vita version. Should you decide to pick it up, just be careful not to throw your poor handheld against the wall once the difficulty reall??y ramps up.

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I heard you like running, so we put Runner2 on a portable so you can run while you run...

The PlayStation Vita keeps proving itself to be a serious contender for independent games, with titles like Terraria, Rogue Legacy, and Spelunky either already on the platform or in the works. To add to that list, Gaijin's rhythm platformer Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: F?uture Legend of Rhythm Alien will be available on?? the Sony handheld on December 17 in Nor??th America and December 18 in Europe.

The "Good Friends Pack" featuring characters from various other indie games will be available for Runner2's Vita launch. So you can not only get your run on while cooped up in an airplane economy seat on your way to visit family for the holidays, but you can also do it with Portal 2's Atlas or Machinarium's Josef if you so please.

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Bit.Trip Run! available now via the App Store

Commander Video is trotting onto the iOS App Store today in Bit.Trip Run!, Gaijin Games has announced.

Bit.Trip Run! is the mobile version of the marvelous musical platformer Bit.Trip Presents Run?ner2:?? Future Legend of Rhythm Alien. As one might expect, the iOS edition takes adva??ntage of its new portable environment with touch controls and augmented level design.

The title's first three worl??ds are available now ?for $3.99, with the remaining two scheduled to release as a free update somewhere down the line.

Bit.Trip Run! [iTunes]

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Also, Bit.Trip.Fate is 50% off on Steam

Although the Good Friends Character Pack for Runner 2 has hit the PS3 and PC platforms, it's been absent from the Wii U and Xbox 360 versions of the game -- until this week, that is. Straight from the developer, the 360 will be getting the $3 DLC today, and the Wii U will nab it tomorrow. Runner 2 is one of my ??favorite games of the year so f??ar, so I'm glad it's seeing a fair bit of success.

In other Bit.Trip news, Bit.Trip.Fate is 50% on Steam, and Runner 2 i?s currently f??ree for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

CommanderVideo [Twitter]

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Watch the 'Good Friends' bond over a line dance

Yes, that's Commander Video getting down on the dance floor with Cave Story's Quote. Bit.Trip Presents Runner2 is pretty cool like that. Gaijin Games released a downloadable character pack for its rhythmic platformer yesterday, bringing icons like Spelunky Guy and Portal 2's Atlas under one roof.

After spending some time with Runner2's burgeoning cast, I can safely say that the expanded roster doesn't really have an impact on the gameplay in any significant way. And yet, you get to play as Super Meat Boy antagonist Dr. Fetus whilst riding a unicycle with a saw blade for a wheel. It's amazing. And for just a couple bucks? Well, that's worth it for the novelty alone.

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So indie it hurts -- in a good way, of course

Gaijin Games has unveiled the final trio of characters joining the colorful cast of Bit.Trip Presents Runner2 as downloadable content. Atlas of Portal 2 fame joins the roster as a Steam exclusive, whils??t the eponymous Spelunky Guy is bound for just about every platform under the sun. There's also an invisible version of Commander Video. Because sure. Why not?

Other additions include folks from Cave Story, Psychonauts, Super Meat Boy, and Machinarium. The "Good Friends" DLC pack arrives today on Steam for $3 and will come to Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Newtork, and the Wii U e??Shop at a later date.

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'This is totally a video game'

The Bit.Trip series' heroic protagonist has made the leap to browsers in the eponymously titled CommanderVideo. Heralded as "quite possibly the longest game in history," Gaijin Games' latest effort is a free endless runner reminiscent of the 16-bit retro levels in the awesome but ridiculously titled Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend ??of Rhythm Alien.

Speaking of which, Runner2 will be ?making its way to PlaySt??ation Vita sometime later this summer.

CommanderVideo [Gaijin Games]

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A towering home run

By the time Bit.Trip Runner burst onto the scene three years ago, Gaijin Games had already established itself on WiiWare with a trio of some of the best games on the platform. The retro-inspired rhythm series shared certain core tenets, but always placed a clear emphasis on reinvention. Runner took that to the next leve??l, s?haking the abstract presentation of its predecessors for a much more mainstream look and appeal.

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien picks up where that game left off. After seemingly defeating his nemesis, protago??nist Commander Video is sucked into an alternate reality where things look eerily similar yet unmistakably different. Trapped in this strange new land, our hero begins a new journey in search of a way home.

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Mac, PC [reviewed], PlayStation Network, Wii U eShop, Xbox Live Arcade, iOS)
Developer: Gaijin Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Release: February 26, 2013, March 5 (PlayStation 3), Summer 2013 (Vita & iOS)
MSRP: $14.99
Rig: Intel Core i7-2670QM @2.2 GHz, with 4GB of RAM, GeForce G 540M, Windows 7 64-bit 

Runner2's most marked difference from the rest of the series is most definitely the visual style. There's just no way around it: Runner2 looks different. It's not what fans are accustomed to and to be honest, I was less than thrilled by the change at first. Much of Bit.Trip's appeal ??in that retro aesthetic style, s?o to see Gaijin Games shift away from that was kind of distressing.

After seeing it in motion, however, I've come to prefer the new look. The warm visuals, distinctive characters, and varied settings have really won me over. And once the accompanying chiptune-inspired soundtrack kicked in it was like nothing had changed. Runner2 may not look exactly like a Bit.Trip game but it ?feels very much like a worthy successor to the?? series. 

Subdued at first, the game, like the music, builds upon itself into a crescendo. The player controls the constantly-moving Commander Video and must guide him through a series of platforming obstacle course. Slowly but surely the game introduces the player to new and different ways to inter??act with the environment. In no time at all Commander Video will be leaping over, sliding under, and knocking down whatever is placed in his path.

The Bit.Trip series is well known for its difficulty. All six of the previous games are extremely challenging and can verge on seeming onerous and unfair. Runner2 is a little different in that respect. True to form, traversing the game's levels are all about reflexes and persistence. Similar to Super Meat Boy, screwing up once will mean getting sent back to? the beginning of the level. However, there are no game-over screens so death rarely feels o??verly punishing. 

Things get even more accessible this time around with a tiered difficulty system and (largely optional) mid-level checkpoints. These additions go a long way to make Runner2 more inviting to newcomers or folks that have struggled with the Bit.Trip series in the past. Unlike past entries, this game isn't terribly imposing. Those looking to experience the game on one of the lower difficulty settings are almost certain to be able to get through Runner2's five worlds without too much frustration.

That isn't to say that Runner2 is a cake walk though. Far from it. The impetus for challenge, however, is left to the discretion of the player. Scattered throughout every level in the game are dozens of items that serve to enhance the challenge. Some are easier to obtain than others. Commander Video must oftentimes put himself in harm's way to acquire them but with that risk comes reward. Upon coming into contact with gold bars and the like, the objects will emit notes that complement the musi??c, giving the gamep??lay a synesthetic quality.

While Runner2 is a platformer, it has decidedly arcade sensibilities. Amongst other actions like hurtling over obstacles or dancing if you have a free moment, collectible items contribute points to an overall score. After a level is completed, these are fed into leaderboards, allowing players to compete with friends and the community at large. If you're anything like me, you'll be looking to one-up your comrades at every turn. Prepare to crank up the difficulty and strive for perfection.

That competitive atmosphere helps flesh out the campaign a great deal, but Runner2 certainly isn't hurting for content. With over 100 levels, the game features branching paths, retro challenge levels reminiscent of the original Bit.Trip Runner and various unlockable characters and costumes. Having invested over a dozen hours into the game thus far, I'm still j??ust scratching the surface when it comes to all the extra content.

Although the game is pretty stellar overall, it could have used some streamlining; it forces players to sit through a number of menus to get to the action, an issue exacerbated by some lengthy loading times. It's a minor complaint, but also one that speaks to the quality of the? game. In the moments between levels, I just couldn't wait to get back into the thick of it.

Runner2 feels like a very natural progression for the series. The team at Gaijin Games has crafted a more nuanced and impressive follow-up to what was great title in its own right. Avant-garde but with a healthy respect for the past, Runner2 is a marvelous rhythmic platformer? that just about anyone should be able to enjo??y.

The post Review: Bit.Trip Presents Runner2 appeared first on Destructoid.

PlayStation Network release happening in March

Gaijin Games has put out some proper release dates for the various versions of Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien. Up first are Wii U ??and Steam (Windows, Mac, and Linux), with those launches happening today, followed by Xbo??x Live Arcade on February 27.

Unfortunately, Runner2 won't make it to PlayStation Network until March 5 at the earliest, and PS Vita and iOS in the summer. Last I was actively following the game, the art style hadn't fully materialized, and Jonathan Holmes was talking about it using words that ap??peared to be written in English, but felt foreign ??and nonsensical. Some things never change.

While we're on the subject, it's not too late to pre-purchase the game on Steam for a discount and extras, like Bit.Trip Runner and sneakers for the Scout and Demoman in Team Fortress 2. It still fe??els unusual to see the series on non-Nintendo platforms, even all these years later. Which version are you looking at, if any?

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'dat music!

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is nearly here, ?and Gaijin Games has a new launch trailer ??to celebrate.

Taking us through a brief history of the original Runner, the video kicks off with around a full minute of game footage, and shows off some of ??the bizarre and lovely visuals the game has to offer.

As long as you're looking for more platforming action, it seems as if it doesn't disappoint. It also looks like the Wii U will have the definitive version, so factor that into your purchasing plans!

The post This Runner 2 trailer will have you sprinting to ?play it appeared first on Destructoid.

Jogging your memory

Four years ago, a colorful Pong-like rhythm game came out of nowhere ??to become something of a surprise hit on Nintendo's precarious WiiWare service. A gem hidden in the most unlikely of places, the title garnered a cult following thanks to charming retro aesthetics, an infectious soundtrack, and seductively challenging gameplay. A sequel arrived shortly thereafter, followed by another. And then three more! 

In two short years the series had reinvented itself time and again. So, when the series came to a stunning and bittersweet conclusion in Bit.Trip Flux, I found myself wondering what trails the designers at Gaijin Games would find themselves blazi??ng next. As it turns out, none. Perhaps fittingly for a studio with one foot firmly planted in yesteryear, they've instead decided to tread familiar ground. 

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is a continuation of the concepts and themes first explored in Gaijin Games' fourth title, Bit.Trip Runner. And while it may look a little different than you remember, prepare to cast any fears and aspersions aside. This is still very much the Bit.Trip you know and love.

Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Mac, PC, PlayStation Network, Wii U eShop, Xbox Live Arcade)
Developer: Gaijin Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Release: February 26, 2013
MSRP: $14.99

When I first laid eyes on Runner2, I was a little skeptical. The retro-style visuals were a large part of what made the Bit.Trip games appealing in the first place. It seemed like an odd choice to eschew something so characteristic? of the series in favor of a new graphical design. It's not like I thought the new style looked awful per se, but it was a far cry from the nostalgia-laden aesthetic that had won me over years ago.

That said, it didn't take long for Runner2 to win me over. I had a very different reaction when I sat down to play the game rather than just looking at screenshots or video. It's difficult to fully explain, but the colorful new look really grew on me. And sometime over the course of the eight hours it took me to leisurely jog through Runner2's campaign, I came to prefer its vi?brant and cartoon-like visuals over that of its predecessor. 

More than anything else, though, the change brought the other parts of the equation to the forefront. The gameplay is as solid and engaging as it ever was, perhaps a tad more so, and fans of the original will be pleased to hear that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Commander Video is still set in constant motion and requires the player's help to overcome the obstacles that have been placed in his path. Platforming is more nua??nced this time around, as there are new and different aspects of the game's various environments that help keep things fresh and interesting. 

Of course, like any Bit.Trip game, the music is still the star of the show. Runner2's soundtrack is similar to the chiptune-inspired beats of the original Runner, but it's not withou?t subtle enhancements. Each of the game's five worlds has a distinct theme and t??he music very much corresponds to them. Perhaps the most notable example of this is the title's second world, where the songs take on a very Caribbean vibe. It's a nice touch that really goes the extra mile to nail that beachy atmosphere.

The entire package just feels like a very natural progression for the series. Runner2 is familiar and inviting, but it definitely takes things to that next level. I'm excited for more players to experience its warm ?embrace when the game releases next week.

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Seven soundtracks and the new game for $20

Are you as excited as I am for the upcoming BIT.TRIP game, Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien? Well, developer Gajin Games is, which is why they're offering the BIT.TRIP Lovers' Bundle.

There's three tiers to this offer. You can either pay what you want and get six soundtracks, pay $10 and get the previously unreleased Runner 2 soundtrack on top of the other six, or pay $20 and get everything plus the upcoming Runner 2 (in the form of a Steam key? on the February 26 relea??se day).

Also, the top contributor will be privy to some extra swag. If you're a BIT.TRIP fan, go show some support!

BIT.TRIP Lovers' Bundle [Game Music Bundle]

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An indie dream comes true

BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is now out of the developer's hands, as the certifica??tion process has begun ?for all three major publishers.

Alex Neuse of Gaijin Games notes on the Runner 2 blog that Nintendo was their final step in terms of the submission process, a??nd as a result, it's going to arrive sooner than later if all goes well.

Alex notes that this is "by far the most ambitious submission process Gaijin has ever done," and that they still have to submit to the PC, Mac, and Linux platforms.

For an indie developer, they sure are pretty busy. I can't wait to see all of their ??hard work pay off, and try the finished game. "Every system ever" is a pretty tall order if you ask me.

It's out of our hands now [Runner 2 Blog]

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Earlier this week we learned that Gaijin Games' Bit.Trip Presents: Runner 2 would be among the 50+ titles heading to the Wii U during Nintendo's incredibly vague and extended "launch window." And while that's exciting news and everything, I'?d like to take this opportunity to talk about something far more delicious. 

To date the Santa Cruz-based indie studio has revealed some of Commander Video's supporting cast for the for the pseudo-sequel to the fourth game in the Bit.Trip series. This week they've revealed the Reverse Merman, who joins Whetfart Cheeseburger and Unkle Dil in the title's growing? cast of edible characters.

With his golden sca??les and held held high, the fish-like man is certainly an impressive, if incredibly strange, figure. I do have some misgivings about his choice of athletic footwear though. It's incredibly difficult to run in flip-flops, but his tenacity certainly is admirable. 

Art Friday!!! - Reverse Merman [Runner 2 Dev Blog]

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Enough of the pageantry! Enough of glitz! Let forgo all forms of public relations and instead take a cold, hard, dead-faced look at the upcoming Bit.Trip spin-off title Bit.Trip Presents: Runner2 Fut??u?re Legend of Rhythm Alien and take it for what? it is -- a videogame about running a??nd jumping.

This stage is still a work in progress. There are still bugs to be worked out, features to be added, placeholder art to be un-placeholdered, and so forth. If you want to give the developers some suggestions on how to make this stage better, head on over to their blog. In the meantime, there is plenty off action here, including some new environmental hazards and boons to interact with. There are giant fans for blowing, and slippery rails for hanging and grinding. And checkpoints??! For nerds!

For the most part though, it looks like more Bit.Trip RUNNER but with a Toon Town twist. Only?? a total grump would take issue with that.

Gameplay Friday, Now with more Art! [Runner2]

The post Here’s a look at an incomplete stage of Bit.Trip Runner2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Alex Neuse posted this new video to the Bit.Trip Runner 2 development blog that shows the editing t?ools Gaijin Games is using for level design. If you've never seen the crude basic elements that all your favorite games are made of, most everything starts out looking like something you would have played on an Atari 2600.

Fans should take note of the new ability Commander Video has, first revealed in this footage. That jumping s???lide is going to cause all kinds of nightmares. Can't wait!

We Can Has Debug Features! [Gaijin Games]

The post A glimpse at the early progress?? of Bit.Trip Runner 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Bit.Trip series proper may be over, but there is more in store for CommanderVideo. Taking a page out of the Square Enix playbook, Gaijin Games is prepping a direct sequel to the fourth installment, Runner, and it will be avai??lable on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network som??e time in early 2012.

Entitled Bit.Trip Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Wow! What a?? name!), the game promises a slew of new abilities, achievements, and... actually, there's not that much info yet. All we have right now ar??e the above teaser video and a redesigned look for the Commander, which you can see in the gallery below. For better or worse, we're not in 8-bit Land anymore.

Also, what's with the "presents" in Bit.Trip Presents? Is this an indication that Runner 2 will be so removed from its predecessor that it will effectively be a standalone experience? Will this be like a Pac-Man 2 type of reconfiguration? All we can do is follow the game's dev blog and watch the mystery unfold.

BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

• HD Graphics
• 10+ new abilities for CommanderVideo (and other playable characters)
• Achievements/trophies/leaderboards
• Unlockable costumes
• Difficulty modes and checkpoints
• ...and LOTS more to be revealed later!

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