Bit.Trip Void
Bit.Trip Void | |
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Developer(s) | Gaijin Games |
Publisher(s) | Aksys Games (WiiWare)
Gaijin Games (PC)
QubicGames (Switch) |
PAL: March 16, 2012 Nintendo 3DSWindows
| |
Genre(s) | Bullet hell, Rhythm |
Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Bit.Trip Void, marketed as BIT.TRIP VOID, is an
It puts players in control of a void, and represents the end of Commander Video's first chapter. Players move the void around with the joystick of either the Classic Controller or the Nunchuk, attempting to collect all of the black squares that appear, causing the void to grow; however, if hit players hit a white square, the void will be reduced to its regular size. Players are also able to reduce their void in size to avoid the white blocks. It features a heavy emphasis on retro-styled visuals and audio, with the audio composed by electronic musician Nullsleep. It was followed by three more games in the series, all developed by Gaijin Games: Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate, and Bit.Trip Flux.
Bit.Trip Void was well-received both before and following its release; it currently holds aggregate scores of 79 and 80.08% at Metacritic and GameRankings, respectively. It was praised for its audio and visuals, as well as its unique concept and 8-bit style. However, the high level of difficulty was still a problem, with IGN citing how the game sometimes blends the black squares with a black background, as well as a lack of leaderboards, which both IGN and GameSpot deride. Video Gamer named it as one of their recommendations for the WiiWare service.
Gameplay
Players take control of a spherical black void while black and white squares come from all sides of the screen in a modern retro game described by GameSpot and IGN as a bullet hell game.[1][2][3] It is controlled using either the Nunchuk or the Classic Controller for the Wii. Other versions use differing controls, with the console versions using the analogue stick. Void has three levels, with two checkpoints and a boss at the end. Before each level is a cutscene of the main character, Commander Video. Players are tasked with hitting every black square, while avoiding the white ones. With each black square hit, the void grows, and the player's combo grows with it, increasing the score more with every combo increase; however, if a white square hits the void, it will undo the void's growth and reset the combo to zero. The void may grow to great sizes, taking up most of the screen. Sometimes, the size will be too large to not hit a white square. This forces players to return to normal size by pushing a button, though without the added punishment of losing their combo. When the void returns to normal size, it will often be accompanied with a beat with squares coming out of the void.
Occasionally, players will obtain the ability to repel white squares, crucial for some parts. Hitting white squares or missing black squares too often will send the players' void to the netherworld; if they continue to fail to hit the black squares or dodge the white squares, they will get a game over, and will have to start over at the last checkpoint. After dying in or beating a level, players are shown their final score, and if it is a high score, will be able to enter it in. The
Development and release
Bit.Trip Void was developed by
The visuals and audio were initially designed to be complex, but the developers found this to be too "noisy"; as a result, they made it more simplified and minimal. He described the current build as "black and white over a sunset background", versus the early build, which he describes as "midnight colors". Roush was not satisfied with the earlier design, feeling that nothing about it was exciting, leading to its current design. The game was designed without a
The game was later bundled with the other five Bit.Trip games as Bit.Trip Complete for the Wii in 2011. A Nintendo Switch port released on December 25, 2020.[10]
Reception
Pre-release
Post-release
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 80.08%[13] |
Metacritic | 79/100[14] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Eurogamer | 8/10[15] |
IGN | 7.0/10[2] |
Official Nintendo Magazine | 8.2/10[14] |
Since its release, Bit.Trip Void has received generally positive reception, holding aggregate scores of 79 and 80.08% at Metacritic and GameRankings respectively.[14][13] IGN's Daemon Hatfield praised the Atari 2600-like visuals and soundtrack, in particular the players' ability to contribute to it. And while he found the game's appearance stylish, he found it too difficult to track the black squares when the background fades to black. He also derided the lack of online leaderboards, commenting that "it is becoming less and less acceptable to overlook the most basic of online functionality."[2] GameSpot's Lark Anderson praised Void for making the traditionally difficult more forgiving with the implementation of checkpoints and continues, as well as its "risk-versus-reward" mechanic, which he describes as a "refreshing spin" on the bullet hell genre. However, like Hatfield, he found fault in the lack of online leaderboards, adding that the number of levels is small.[1]
References
- ^ a b Anderson, Lark (2009-11-23). "Bit.Trip Void Review for Wii". GameSpot. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b c Daemon Hatfield (2009-11-23). "Bit.Trip Void Review - Wii Review at IGN". Wii.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b Totilo, Stephen (2009-09-06). "Bit.Trip Void Preview: The Stick's Turn | Kotaku Australia". Kotaku.com.au. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "Bit.Trip.Void announced, detailed, and trailered". Destructoid. 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b "Features: The History of BIT.TRIP, Part 2 - WiiWare News @ Nintendo Life". Nintendo Life. 2011-03-05. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Oyama, Jonathan. "Origin Stories: Alex Neuse on Bit.Trip Runner's Influences". Bitmob.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Caoili, Eric (2010-10-01). "Bit.Trip Beat Bounces To App Store". GameSetWatch. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Daemon Hatfield (2009-09-02). "Next Bit.Trip Revealed - Wii News at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "News - Road To The IGF: We Go BIT.TRIP.Running With Alex Neuse of Gaijin Games". Gamasutra. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "Complete Bit.Trip series headed to Nintendo Switch". Eurogamer. November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Levi Buchanan (2009-09-06). "PAX 09: Bit.Trip Void Hands-On". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Tong, Sophia (2009-11-23). "Bit.Trip Void Hands-On - Wii Previews at GameSpot". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b "Bit.Trip Void for Wii". GameRankings. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b c d e "Bit.Trip Void for Wii". Metacritic.com. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b Kristan Reed (2010-03-19). "Download Games Roundup Xbox 360 Review - Page 1". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "DLC Royal Rumble - PS3 vs Xbox 360 vs Wii". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Fahey, Mike (21 May 2010). "Bit.Trip Runner Micro-Review: Running Down A Dream". Kotaku.
- ^ "Review: BIT.TRIP Void". Destructoid. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-23.