Hey wait this isn't the Wii U.

I'm going to go with the minority and say that the first game is better than this one. BIT>TRIP RUNNER is one of my favourite games, so this review might feel like I'm sticking the boot into Runner 2 a bit. But that's only because it's got big shoes to fill. It fills a good amount of those shoes, but comes up short in a few areas.

The core DNA is really strong, so it was difficult to make this not worth recommending. (I suspect Runner3 does manage this though.... I'll let you know when I get to it!)

Runner feels slightly tighter than Runner2 and, despite the abundance of checkpoints, the second game has some more vindictive level design choices. While Runner is the harder of the two games, obstacle placement was never intended to trip the player up; you just needed to figure out and execute the key presses and you're home free. Runner2 deliberately places some obstacles in such as way as to mislead the player into making the wrong choice in a split second, which was often really mean spirited. Maybe the game gets away with it because it is generally easier than its predecessor?

One BIG complaint I have is the regular issues with contrast between background and foreground - often I found Commander Video being too similar in colour and brightness to the level environments (even after switching to a white skin, which a player shouldn't ever have to do anyway to be successful); Commander Video always remains in the player's peripheral vision, so his not standing out form his background is a massive problem. I'm not sure how that was never picked up during QA and play-testing.

Likewise, having loads of distracting nonsense moving about in some of the backgrounds (World Three being the worst for this) just causes annoyance rather than any fair challenge. Likewise, the camera really irritatingly slows down ahead of checkpoints, but this is easy enough to get used to. However, the camera frequently would fall behind the curve when transitioning from high to low areas; sometimes this was a result of [recoverable] player error, but sometimes just bad camera/level design; either way you get a bonk you probably shouldn't have received.

The variety of obstacles is pretty lacking throughout - there's almost no variation in them between worlds, a big step down from Runner, where there was much more variety, pegged to the environment.

The game on the whole looks good, but I'm not a fan of the overly surrealist art style they went for; it's just not for me. And while Charles Martinet delivers a good performance as the Narrator, the Narrator is 100% unnecessary and adds absolutely nothing to the game, other than more surrealism.

The introduction of new mechanics (wuch as slide-jumping and slide-kicking) does bring some new level design philosophies that, largely, hit the mark. But some levels were a bit tedious for it.

And whilst the requirements for All Achievements are pretty BS (and would be sooooo soooo boring to actually fulfill), they're easier than the first game's. Plus, no one is forcing you to do them, so it's no reason to mark down what is, on the whole, a very good game

Went back to this after years of thinking it was too hard for me. Just finished 100% perfect+ on all levels and it was very enjoyable. Later levels require some patience on hard as does getting a bullseye at the end of a stage but the journey to the end was a nice experience.
Great music and art style and some decent bosses make for a solid runner.

"BiT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend" is a vibrant and addictive rhythm platformer that often garners high praise from Steam reviewers. Players frequently commend its tight controls, catchy soundtrack, and charmingly retro aesthetic.

The game's simple yet challenging gameplay mechanics, which involve timing jumps and dodges to the beat of the music, provide a satisfying blend of rhythm and platforming action. Each level is meticulously designed to sync with the music, creating an immersive and exhilarating experience that keeps players hooked from start to finish.

Moreover, "Runner2" features a whimsical art style and colorful, pixelated visuals that pay homage to classic arcade games while adding a modern flair. The game's quirky sense of humor, evident in its amusing character animations and playful level design, further enhances its appeal.

Additionally, the inclusion of various unlockable characters, costumes, and secret levels adds replay value and encourages players to keep coming back for more.

Overall, if you're a fan of rhythm games or platformers, "BiT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend" is a must-play title. Its seamless integration of music and gameplay, coupled with its infectious energy and retro charm, make it a standout addition to any gaming library.

Fun rhythm game, nice visuals and music. Only gripe is it can be annoying getting 100% achievements if you keep missing the bullseye. Worth it at full price, very worth it on sale.

This is the BEST Runner game of the series! Best music, graphics, feeling of play, and a true 2D runner!

this game pisses me off immensely

Game blew my socks off when i first played it! Wow! Had a lot of fun playing this this gem.

This amazing, unique, auto-running platformer contains fast-paced, pretty challenging (yet fair) levels with tons of replay value thanks to its large amount of collectables and secret exits. More and more stage hazards get added as you progress, which makes it feel fresh throughout, with the game's levels in general being just the right length. It also has a beautiful cartoony artstyle with tons of personality. My only real complaint is that it occasionally lags, which can get you killed for reasons that aren't your fault, but aside from that, this game is an absolute must-play!

forgeddaboutit