Gaijin Games has done it again.
Though it doesn't really have a true story, anyone who has paid a little bit of attention to the series as a whole has seen that they all tell a story. Due to the fact that the story hasn't ended yet, that's what Bit.Trip FLUX is for, I won't go into any details on that. This game simply has CommanderVideo take on his next foe, with the help of his friends, in a six level, side-scrolling, shooter where he meets his fate. I'll let you beat the game yourself to know what I mean by that, but as I stated before, the game has a surprise ending that almost brought a tear to my eye.
Like the other Bit.Trip games, this one is different from the others, but the same in a way. It's based off of shooters, but it has a twist, much like the other Bit.Trip games. While you destroy your enemies, they make music. It sounds a lot better if you defeat the enemies as fast as you can to sync it with the background music already present. But, we'd all expect that part of it because these are rhythm-based games. The true twist is that CommanderVideo is stuck on a preset path and has to dodge fire from his enemies. This would be almost totally impossible if nothing was able to touch CommanderVideo, so you have to maneuver to protect his core, the red cross that rests on the track.
As I started before, this game has six levels. Every two levels are apart of the same "world" as they share the same kind of background, though it's not completely the same. The levels don't have checkpoints and are fairly hard, though after you run through it a few times, you'll get the hang of it. Each sends waves upon waves of enemies that, then destroyed, increase your multiplier gauge, much like past Bit.Trip games. If defeating enemies for up your score and this gauge isn't enough, because it isn't, they drop items that boost your gauge even further, but they will only stay on your track for a short amount of time before they disappear. This adds a bit of difficulty if you want to go for that perfect score since you'll need to not get hit once (a task in itself), defeat every enemy, and pick up every item they drop. Standing in your way is the boss fight at the end of each level, but to help you along the way is the friends you made back in Bit.Trip RUNNER.
Yes, those friends from RUNNER appear once again, and this time they really help you out. At different points within the different levels, you'll run into a power-up, which is one of CommanderVideo's friends. Each one changes how you fire, but the power ups only last a short time. Meat Boy makes another guest appearance, and he's my favorite power-up. With him at CommanderVideo's side, you can fire off a super powerful beam that destroys everything in it's path, including fire from your enemies. CommandergirlVideo makes a three-prong attack so your not firing off in one direction anymore and when you're in GIGA mode, the new mode added for this game that's the new top level, she let's you fire off all around CommanderVideo. Junior Melchkin fires off lasers, while in GIGA it becomes one super laser. And finally, Mr. Robotube, the other guest appearance in the game, fires off bullets in two waves, and in GIGA and line in between the two waves is added to make the power-up much more useful. Each of the power-ups have their ups and downs and some people will prefer one over another. Like I mentioned, my favorite is Meat Boy, though I'll use CommandergirlVideo while I'm in GIGA mode.
While the levels themselves are hard enough, the boss fight at the end of each is a real killer. Each works a bit different from the other and some may feel easier then others, but I feel this is the hardest and most annoying part of the game. Why is it annoying? There's no checkpoints throughout the lengthy levels which means you have to run through them time and time again just to try to fight the boss, some times not even getting lucky enough to face the boss, only to be killed by it again to start the process over again.
The multiplayer in this game is almost a laugh. Both players have total control of CommanderVideo so you are forced to either compete with the other play over how to play the game, or work together by having one move CommanderVideo while the other shots everything. Either way, you gaming experience is diminished while trying it this way. You're better off just passing over trying to play it in multiplayer-mode.
Like other Bit.Trip games, FATE mixes old-school with new 3D graphics to make another stunning looking game. While CommanderVideo is just pixels himself, his enemies and the backgrounds have a dark, but stunning 3D feel to them. While they are very simple, they also remind you that they effect your gameplay when some formation blocks some of your shots from hitting an enemy. For the cut scenes, they are few, simple, but say what they need to while keeping the look that the rest of the game offers.
Adding to the darkness of the game is the chiptune-inspired dubstep soundtrack that features Minusbaby as the guest artist in a few of the tracks. The music in FATE has a driving pulse to it and really opens up as you progress through the different multipliers. The sad part is that the music you add to this already amazing sounding background music could completely not fit in if not timed right making this game seem less of a rhythm-based game then the other Bit.Trip games. I feel that they could of pulled off the same idea but played up the rhythm-based gameplay much better. Still, the music is well composed and sets the tone of the game.
Overall, Bit.Trip FATE is a fine addition to the Bit.Trip series and will be loved by Bit.Trip fans. While it could be easily improved just by adding checkpoints to the game, it does what it needs to do, and that's to be a great game. If you've never played a Bit.Trip game in your life, try this game out now. It's only 800 Wii Points ($8) and is worth every cent or try the demo while it's still up.