BIT.TRIP story?

[Krums]

Is there a good story about CommanderVideo told in the previous games, and do you recommend me play those before I play this game? I have played all 4 of the other BIT.TRIP games on Steam but I have not played or seen gameplay of the others that only are on Nintendo Wii.

I noticed the introduction cutscene where CommanderVideo was with 4 friends, I think I saw Super Meat Boy with them, and I had no idea about how they got together.

So should I watch walkthroughs of the other games to fully understand this game or should I just not care?

[PurpleMoustache]

There is a story, told through wordless cutscenes that is very vague.

However, the story in the beginning of this game is hilariously cheesy and made up, for the purposes of THIS game.

The more cutscenes you get, the more apparent it is that Gaijin Games wanted Charles Martinet to narrate exceedingly strange things

[Tenshi Cat]

The story of the series is actually explained in Bit.Trip Complete, but yeah, it's not important in order to enjoy this game. At the end of Bit.Trip Runner, CommanderVideo comes across Super Meat Boy and the others and teams up with them to pursue Timbletot, and that's all the explanation you get - don't worry about it.

[Krums]

Thanks, then I'll continue to enjoy this game without feeling bad about not playing all previous games.

[smallbar2012]

However, it should be said that the original six games have an amazingly profound story if you're willing to put in the time to interpret it, so I'd highly recommend playing them if you get the opportunity.

[crippl3]

This is a sidestory that takes place between BIT.TRIP Runner and BIT.TRIP Fate, but like others have said, you don't need to play them. (But if you have a Wii or 3DS, you should pick up the whole series. Only 3 of the 6 games are on Steam.)

[LeeTheAgent [FuG]]

I agree that it's a great story if you put the time into it, but to sum it up quickly, it's about the birth, life, and death of Commander Video. It's very existential. Here is my general interpretation:
1. Bit Trip Beat - This game is basically about being concieved, at the end you are born.
2. Bit Trip Core - About being a young child, you are the center of the world, but you see these scary bigger things out there (adults) and that conflicts with your view as yourself as the center of everything.
3. Bit Trip Void - Childhood through adolescence. You realize there are other people in the world, and you learn to accept them, gain new experiences, and try to avoid bad experience. In the end you grow up, basically.
4. Bit Trip Runner - You are an adult, getting along in the adult world. You keep going forward, trying the achieve your dreams, whether its safety and security, money, whatever. Along the way, you grow a tight-knit group of friends, and eventually fall in love. However, as sometimes happens, there is someone who takes a disliking to you, who becomes your personal antagonist. This is Timbletot. He taunts you, enrages you. You make it a goal to take him down.
5. Bit Trip Fate - Your hatred and Timbletot's antagonism sets you on your final fate. You can't avoid it now, your singular hatred of him means that your destinies are now now entertwined, and destined to come to a head. In the end you fight, and sacrifice your life to defeat him. CommanderVideogirl mourns your death.
6. Bit Trip Flux - Your dying moments, as you remember everything you've been through, and as your life fades away, you return to the Source from which you were born.

Runner 2 takes place sometime during Bit Trip Runner after you've met Timbletot, and is sort of an extension of that period of Commander Video's life, in an alternate universe.

[Krums]

Crippl3, there is 4 BIT.TRIP games on Steam without this one, not 3. BIT.TRIP BEAT, RUNNER, CORE and VOID.

Thanks LeeTheAgent, I didn't notice any of that when I played the games.

[Xalugami]

Originally posted by Makaveli:

Boring Game sry dont play this Game Type ;-)

Well you're obviously in the forums here for a reason...

Trolls aside, you don't need to have played any other BIT.TRIP games (besides RUNNER I guess, for continuity sake) to enjoy Runner2. Runner2 starts off with the ending cutscene of RUNNER and ends on the intro to FATE (out of technicalities, but it's debatable). The story told through the 6 main BIT.TRIP games is absolutely phenominal, however as mentioned above, you must take the time to decide how you yourself interpret it.
If you're not good at creating a story from vagueness, or don't like the challenge the BIT.TRIP series holds, then it's completely fine to pass the other games up.

[Krums]

I think I'll get the rest of the BIT.TRIP games when they release on Steam so I have the full collection there.
I guess the next one to release on Steam is FATE if this game ends where that game begins.

[Maka-61]

22.6 Hrs the Last 2 Weeks and say : when they release on Steam?
Joke dude i love bitrep im will buy nowwww.

[Spagett]

I played BIT.TRIP SAGA for the 3DS, and gathered the story for my own. Yes, Meat Boy is an assisting character in Runner 1 and FATE. FATE is the most difficult game of the series, but has the most dramatic ending.

If you're curious about the story, watch the videos by AmbisagrusSA. He doesn't speak during his playthroughs, but lets the music speak, and adds thought-provoking subtitles during the cutscenes and gameplay.

[Krums]

Yeah I watched his walkthroughs about the games that I have played for myself, but I want to experience the other games if and when they release on Steam.

[Xalugami]

The first 4 are on Steam currently, and according to Gaijin's Tweets, FATE is coming soon as well. I can't wait to replay it!

[crippl3]

Originally posted by No Detours:

Crippl3, there is 4 BIT.TRIP games on Steam without this one, not 3. BIT.TRIP BEAT, RUNNER, CORE and VOID.

Thanks LeeTheAgent, I didn't notice any of that when I played the games.

Didn't notice that they put Core up. Makes sense, would work fine with the arrow keys/WASD.

[LeeTheAgent [FuG]]

Glad I could be of help, but, as Xalugami mentioned, the story is so abstract you can read different things into it. I've watched all of AmbisagrusSA's videos, and that's how I saw most of the endings, since he's a MUCH better player than I am, yet I disagree with him on many points. That's what's so wonderful about this series, you can take from it your own personal interpretation, or not. Its existential storyline is there for you to explore, if you want to, but at it's heart, there's some damned fine gameplay there.