BIT.TRIP CORE

This is the hardest game in the BIT.TRIP series, but also the most satisfying when things go right in my opinion. It's very much the most rhythm-game-like game of the series, so actually hitting the beats feels great. However, it really could have benefited from having shorter levels or at least checkpoints. There are only three levels, but they are very long and very hard, and if you die you must restart from the beginning of the level. This wouldn't be so bad if weren't for the fact that some of the time, it's just intentionally confusing and hard to see, so you end up missing lots of beats and dying as a result. So you have to memorize a bunch of stuff, which can feel a little unreasonable because of how long the levels are. Despite all this, I still had a good time and I think you should at least give it a try.

CORE was, I found, quite a bit more difficult than BEAT, having more plates spinning with beats flying in to four different quadrants, rather than from one direction. Mileage may vary, but I found the keyboard controls pretty ghastly and had a much more enjoyable time with the DS4 controller. I found this to be pretty tricky and had a better time of it once I switched to Easy the gameplay remains the same, it's just more difficult to succumb to failure and have to restart the entire level (Gaijin being characteristically uncompromising, once more)

If you are interested in a colorful and challenging rhythm game, I'd say this one should suffice. On the one hand you have some pretty but kind of confusing visuals that go in tune with a not half bad chiptune soundtrack. More so, it may take you a few tries to discern the gameplay from the background, at least that was my case. I believe there's also a story since there are cutscenes though it's quite cryptic. On the other hand, the simple yet sort of dizzy-prone gameplay can be quite the task to finish. There's definitely a reason why the default difficulty is easy so keep in case you went for the achievements (keeping in mind that some may be bugged). In fact, in my experience it took me almost 2 (real life) years to beat the second stage, taking into account that neither one has checkpoints as is tradition with the saga. All in all, it's pretty and difficult even if it can be beaten in less than an hour. Regarding that last part, I highly recommend playing it with a joystick with a decent d-pad, as some parts may twist your fingers on the keyboard (specially on harder difficulties).

This game is challenging in all the right ways. The soundtrack is lovely, and the game is simple and intuitive. It really does remind me of a cabinet style arcade game, and I quite like that. The visuals are interesting, if a bit distracting, and some levels make it very hard to see what is actually going on. The achievements are actually fun to hunt for. I am not a big achievement hunter myself, but I find myself wanting to beat these. Overall a very simple game and a great addition to the Bit.Trip series.

I don't know what they were thinking with this.

God i have always loved the ost to this game... the game... ehhhh not so much lol. it's an interesting concept, really cool abstract approach to rhythm based games... but it's a bit... it can get messy lol. it's fine when you get the hang of it.. but its more of a stray in regard to beat and runner in the sense of accessibility. it takes a lot more effort and patience to get into the groove of it, even then it's not like those where you can "first time complete" a session after learning the mechanics and... "level layout"(in a more abstract way lol, lacking of a better phrase here). in runner, after a few levels you can get into a trance and complete levels on your first try if your... "in it" lol. this is more abstract visually and a lot harder to read as the stage progresses... so I can easily recommend it for the soundtrack and the novelty of trying gameplay wise... but it's not a great game really. well... in the sense of fun or engagement. it is cool though lol... if thats of any value. YES, if you buy the bundle... NO, if you just buy the game... (though i think oddly enough the game comes with the ost in the folder without buying the ost, i could be mistaken though... i have it but it says i dont own the ost... im listening to it as im writing this soooo yeah... i have no idea whats happening with this ost thing lol. probably an oversight)