Cor, it positive is sweet to be again in Commander Video’s trainers once more. I do know Bit.Journey Runner and Alternative Provisions’ assorted Bit.Journey rhythm video games have been obtainable on Steam for completely yonks (and nonetheless are, in reality), however my recollections of those are all on the Nintendo Wii. That’s the place I encountered a lot of the video games firs – and I haven’t actually been again since. I dabbled in Runner 2 on the Wii U, however positively bounced off the 3D-ness of Runner 3 when it got here to PC, preferring as an alternative the clear, easy traces of its stark pixel sprites.
It is with some shock, then, that I’ve had such time with Bit.Journey ReRunner, the lately launched fancied up model of the auto-running unique that brings its rhythmic programs kicking and screaming into that third dimension. But it surely’s actually extra of a compilation sport than the rest, packing in additional protein within the type of EP soundtracks and freshly-created course choices from all eight video games within the sequence (mashing tunes from Beat, Core, Void, Destiny, Flux right into a Runner-style format), in addition to plenty of new methods and skills up its sleeve. However the crown jewel in ReRunner isn’t a lot the enjoyment of getting a contemporary dose of OG Runner once more, however seeing what its participant base has already began making with its good Runner Maker stage editor. Yep, very similar to Tremendous Mario Maker earlier than it, Bit.Journey has opened itself as much as the whims of would-be sport making viewers, and they’re operating with it (sorry).
I have to admit, I’ve by no means been one for stage enhancing. Confronted with a clean canvas, my thoughts malfunctions and empties itself of all rational thought instantly – which could sound dumb once I’m confronted with a clean web page each day, however there we’re. My mind simply doesn’t work in stage blocks. Solely phrases, it might appear. Level is, I’ve by no means fairly had the time or inclination to sit down down and simply… mess about in stage editors. I’d a lot quite devour than create, and to date, at the least, what I’ve performed of the Runner Maker ranges has been fairly darn excellent.
It helps that each stage in Bit.Journey ReRunner itself has been made utilizing these very same enhancing instruments, permitting gamers to see and perceive the sport’s constructing blocks earlier than placing them to make use of later over within the Maker. In case you’re unfamiliar with Bit.Journey Runner extra broadly, it’s primarily a rhythm-based auto-runner the place your jumps and actions construct and crescendo in time with its chiptune soundtrack, making a melodic, onward rush of slides, jumps, kicks, blocks and, ultimately, blissful rainbow trails as you crash via obstacles, sail over chasms and slip between enemy assault patterns in your race to victory. A lot of your enjoyment will, in fact, rely upon how a lot you get into the groove of its music, however I’ve all the time had a delicate spot for Bit.Journey’s flavour of chiptune, and listening to these tracks once more all these years later has simply been beautiful.
![A black pixel character jumps to reach some gold on the moon in Bit.Trip ReRunner](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/20230925214950_1.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
I do nonetheless have some minor gripes about how readable the primary programs are in 3D, thoughts. Whereas Commander Video retains his unique flat, pixel look, the environments he is operating in are all three-dimensional, and with no choice to show off movement blur, a lot of ReRunner’s background surroundings can descend into messy smears of distraction. Typically I wasn’t in a position to parse what was even happening half the time as a result of I used to be so targeted on what was occurring within the foreground. This can be a disgrace, because the sequence’ ongoing drive for larger and larger ranges of visible spectacle does, I feel, detract from what makes Bit.Journey Runner so toe-tappingly good within the first place. It’s all the time been the music and the precision of its platforming that makes Bit.Journey Runner sing, and I might argue the rest simply will get in the way in which of that.
Nonetheless, the straight, horizontal plains of ReRunner are, at the least, much more digestible and fewer irritating than the curvier spirals (and thus tougher to guage) tracks of later 3D Runner entries, and the Maker ranges are equally all about making an amazing, left-to-right operating course. It has a quick tutorial that teaches you the fundamentals of making obstacles and rewards to make an interesting course, however I can’t say I used to be overly impressed to proceed tinkering with it after finishing it. As I stated, these things isn’t actually in my wheelhouse. Nonetheless, in some methods, it makes what the neighborhood have created all of the extra spectacular, because the tutorial is basically very transient, and a number of the ranges I’ve performed to date have proven a mastery of its rhythmic auto-running far past what it really teaches you in the beginning. (Since penning this I’ve discovered there’s a way more in-depth tutorial on Alternative Provisions’ website, which is price a learn should you’re !).
![A black pixel character with rainbows streaming behind him runs at a UFO enemy in Bit.Trip ReRunner](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/20230925214020_1.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
![A black pixel character kicks a pink rock on the moon in Bit.Trip ReRunner](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/20230925214945_1.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
A lot so, in reality, that there are some ranges in there that I straight up didn’t know find out how to full at first, largely as a result of they had been utilising strategies and skills that I used to be both nonetheless build up the muscle reminiscence for, or that I hadn’t encountered in the primary sport but. As such, I’d strongly suggest enjoying the meat of ReRunner first earlier than dabbling in its Maker ranges, as there are new powers and button presses right here that you really want to enshrine into your soul earlier than tackling the community-made stuff.
Alas, you possibly can’t inform upfront what skills you’ll want to make use of in a Maker stage, however you do get a tough problem indicator set by the creator, in addition to the time it takes to finish the course in query. Some are tiny five-to-ten-second challenges that require completely pitch-perfect timing for a single, spectacular flourish should you get it proper, whereas others are minute-long epics with a whole lot of gold items to gather, providing even richer, extra layered takes on its assortment of soundtrack choices. There are even a handful that rely so closely on tiny little booster springs to propel you ahead which you can simply sit again and benefit from the trip – and the music, in fact. There are all types right here, and should you make a mistake, ReRunner’s immediate checkpoint reloads (with an all-important little breather hole to ensure you’re able to go once more) get you straight again up in your toes in double fast time.
![A black pixel character jumps over wooden obstacles in Bit.Trip ReRunner](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/20230925221401_1.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
Sifting via to the actually good things was somewhat rocky at launch, admittedly, however fortunately it now seems to be as if it is improved a bit. You may type ranges by downloads, whole likes and whole performs, in addition to the entire variety of ‘bonks’ (aka: instances individuals have died) to assist get a fairly clear concept about what’s in retailer and, crucially, whether or not it is any good. It is also simpler to love and favorite ranges after you’ve got accomplished them now, too. I do not bear in mind this being an choice when ReRunner first got here out in September (if it was, it wasn’t very clear), and it was fairly unwieldy to dip again into its large record of issues simply to offer a stage its correct due. Fortunately, that is now not a problem, and the servers appear extra steady, too, which is all the time a plus, making every little thing simpler to get pleasure from.
So sure, you can nonetheless simply get the unique Bit.Journey Runner and have a good time with it. However if you’ve bought an ever-increasing variety of good community-driven Maker ranges, mixed with its meaty essential course of developer-made tracks with songs taken from all its completely different entries, Bit.Journey ReRunner is much from simply one other remaster also-run. Relatively, it appears like a victory lap for all the sequence, and as somebody who’s beforehand solely been in a position to admire and admire the likes of Mario Maker, Desires and different level-editor-focused video games like this (versus getting any nourishment from the precise enjoying of them), I’d argue that is most likely one of the vital profitable incarnations of one of these sport I’ve seen. Time to make some new Commander Video recollections afresh, maybe? Simply let me get my trainers.