Bit.Trip Complete Preview

If you are devoted to your Nintendo Wii and scour the Wii Shop Channel on a regular basis, you have likely stumbled across the charming yet challenging Bit.Trip series. Some games are also available on Steam and the iPhone, but Bit.Trip Complete for the Wii will include all six WiiWare games: Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Void, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate, and Bit.Trip Flux, with some new additions. The Nintendo 3DS version is coming out as Bit.Trip Saga and will make use of the 3D technology, but it won't have any of the additional features that will come with its Wii counterpart.

Each Bit.Trip game features a new mechanic, but at their core, they're all rhythm games. Whether you're moving a paddle, jumping, firing, or constantly dodging, it's the simple visuals and the head-bobbing chiptune melodies that are going to keep you hooked. It makes sense, considering that the creator and founder of Gaijin Games, Alex Neuse, is a huge Atari 2600 fan. Amid all the 8-bit-style graphics and colorful visuals, there is a simple story being told about Commander Video. To learn more about the story, be sure to watch the interview with Alex Neuse above.

Bit.Trip Complete adds 20 new challenges to each game, giving hardcore players a reason to revisit and ace each level. They're tough, and you have to perfect each challenge to move on to the next. Four challenges are unlocked initially, and the rest is up to you. Online leaderboards have been added now, so you can see how you're ranked against all the other players out there. For those who were intimidated by the "normal" difficulty of the original games, easy mode has been included, and hard mode has been added for veterans. Concept art, a video gallery, fan remixes, and letters from Alex himself are just some of the content that you can unlock as you progress through the game.

If you think you've got the rhythm and quick reflexes to survive, look for Bit.Trip Complete and Bit.Trip Saga when they arrive on the Wii and 3DS respectively on September 13. Music fans should note that Bit.Trip Complete will come with a limited-edition soundtrack sampler that includes 18 tracks of in-game music. Listen to Sound Byte Radio for the tunes as well as other video game music, and to view our reviews of the previous Bit.Trip games, please go here.