PC vs. Wiiware. A comparison

[KuraIthys]

I just thought I'd share this for anyone curious about it. I got the PC version of this mostly by accident (from one of the humble bundles), but I've had the Wii version of this for quite some time.

I just played through this version a little to see what it was like, and I thought I'd share my conclusions and observations in case anyone was curious.

OK, so the PC version has a few features the Wii version lacks. It's obviously capable of running at higher resolutions, and (the steam version at least) has achievements, online scores, and difficulty settings which the Wiiware release does not. (The steam version also has a portal- themed stage).

However, while these extra features are certainly nice, it's difficult not to notice the flaws.

Let's start with the graphics. Now, you'd think, given the relative weakness of the Wii that the PC might have an edge here, but I would say that's rather debatable. The PC port's graphics are very bright, and rather harsh compared to the Wii version. This might not seem like much, but it has some effects which make the game look a lot more 'retro' than it was on the Wii. (and also just doesn't really do the backgrounds any favours.)

I should point out that running the Wii version on a Wii U has the effect of making Wii games brighter as well, but nowhere near as much as this.

In any event, you will definitely notice the difference between PC and Wii if you see them side-by side. Which is better is mostly a matter of taste I guess, but it is still worth mentioning.

It's also apparent that the PC version doesn't run that great. My PC is quite powerful, but while not slow as such, the game can lag unpredictably on PC, while the Wii version runs consistently, and smoothly, with no apparent lag either in the graphics, or the input.

This is important, because input lag makes this game incredibly difficult. (I once ran the Wii version through a video capture card. It was easily playable if you played it using a live overlay with minimal video processing, but even minor video processing - such as deinterlacing introduced enough lag to make it near unplayable. The PC version isn't as bad as that, but it does introduce a noticable lag which can be a problem at times.)

This brings us to the final point. The controls. Even without lag, playing this with a mouse makes it very apparent that this was not how the game was designed.
It works, but it is clearly an inelegant workaround.
Playing this with a mouse isn't nessesarily less accurate, (notwithstanding mistakes I've been making personally due to being used to the Wii controls)
But it becomes very uncomfortable very quickly. The Wii control scheme for this game is much more comfortable and consistent in my opinion.

(also as a minor additional point, the Wii controller rumbles in time to the beat, and if you hit the nether, the sounds play exclusively through the controller's speaker)

So anyway, I just thought I'd share that with anyone that wanted an idea of what the versions were like.

Personally, I would recommend that if you have the choice, you get this for Wii.

It's available for Wiiware (which is still accessible if you have a Wii U instead - assuming you have a Wii remote)

It's also available as part of a Wii compilation disk which contains all 6 bit.trip games that I found recently. (A new copy of which didn't cost me much).
The compilation apparently contains extra features compared to the Wiiware version (such as adjustable difficulty), but I haven't done a comparison yet.

In any event, The PC version is OK if you can't get anything else. But this game is definitely better on the Wii.

[Mika]

Just only play and fun :D.

Spanish (sorry, My English is so bad :S )

Los juegos estan genial. Pero creo que seria genial que fueran mas completos. Mas niveles. Ya que solo 3 en cada juego me parece que es un robo pagar por ellos :/. Una lastima que solo el BIT TRIP BEAT este disponible para descargar pirata, aunque los otros se pueden conseguir con el emulador de la WII y el juego en ISO xDDDDD. Es una broma :P. El caso es que 7.99€ es muy caro por cada juego, si fuera como la version de WII que incluye misiones y retos, no me importaria pagar tal cantidad de dinero pero esque solo 3... no lo vale. Y el BEAT que tiene el de PORTAL pero ni asi lo vale :(. Espero que el proximo juego sea mas completo. AHHh!! otra cosa. Tambien deberias meter en las opciones que se puedan poner diferentes resoluciones de pantalla. Ajustes de graficos (efectos especiales del fondo) y poder configurar las teclas. No a todos nos va bien las teclas WASD [Space]. En la resolucion de pantalla solo me deja 1280x720 y de aqui no se mueve :S. En la calidad grafica lo digo porque cuando llego a SUPER hace tantos efectos que el juego pasa de 60 Frames a menos de 20 Frames con paradas y es imposible jugar. Y en los controles, en mi caso utilizo un portatil y la tecla espacio es un poco mala para jugar.

Por el tema que se creo aqui de las diferencias entre WII y PC. Bueno, WII es una consola limitada, tanto en la resolucion de pantalla, como gama de colores como HW. Es normal que se vea de pu.-.. pena. Por eso los controles responden mas rapido y mejor. En el PC como tiene el V-SYNC activado va de culo. Tambien tendrian que dejar desactivarlo en las opciones.

Necesita muchos cambios esta saga de juegos. Estan bien pero hasta ciertos puntos.

Google translator:

The games are great. But I think it would be great to be more complete. More levels. Since only 3 in every game I think it is a steal to pay for them . A shame that only the BIT TRIP BEAT is available for download pirate, although others can be achieved with the emulator and the game WII ISO xDDDDD . It is a joke. The fact is that it is very expensive € 7.99 per game, as if the WII version that includes missions and challenges, I would not mind paying that much money but is only 3 ... not worth it. And having the BEAT PORTAL but not so worth it. I hope the next game is more complete. Ahhh ! otherwise. You may also get the options you can set different screen resolutions . Graphics settings (special effects background ) and to configure the keys. Not all goes well we WASD [Space ] keys. The screen resolution 1280x720 just leave me here and not moving. In the graphic quality I say this because when I get SUPER ago many effects that the game goes from 60 Frames within Frames with 20 stops and is unplayable . And in controls, in my case I use a laptop and the spacebar is a little bad to play.

On the subject that I think here of the differences between WII and PC. Well, WII console is limited in both the screen resolution as palette as HW . It is normal to see bi-... penalty . So the controls respond faster and better. In the PC as the V -SYNC has enabled goes ass . Also would have to disable it in the options leave .

Need many changes this game series . They're fine but until certain points

[KuraIthys]

I picked up the Wii 'complete collection' for £12, which is a disk containing every game in the series that was released on wii... (that's about £2 per game, or maybe €2.50 or so...)

Having said that, I've played Bit.Trip Beat for over 100 hours... What it's worth depends on what you make of it.

They're now on the 7th game in the series by the way... They were releasing them every 6 months or so, and bit.trip beat is from 2009... Bit.Trip Runner 2 has lots of levels and a rather different graphical style...
The series has been going for a while, and this whole discussion is effectively about the oldest game in the series...

[Nacery]

The mouse lag thingy is probably a result of toogling vsync. Try disabling it and then let's talk.

[Notawallplan]

Besides, BIT.TRIP BEAT has gotten a MAJOR overhaul since it first came out on Steam. The graphcs are more smooth execpt for the HUD, whitch is supposed to be Atari2600-like. If you use a combo of keybord and mouse for positioning, it works fine. Even though the game has it's very obvous flaws, there's no denying that the game is f&%*ing spitting rainbows off the screen.

[pannicatack]

I think it's worth pointing out that the Steam version has the extra level <test>.

Though I do think that even having the games on Steam, I'll pick up the Wii disc at some point.

[Batabii • Suikoden I&II HD]

引用自 pannicatack：

I'll pick up the Wii disc at some point.

I thought it was eshop only...

[pannicatack]

引用自 Batabii - Little Mac CONFIRMED：

引用自 pannicatack：

I'll pick up the Wii disc at some point.

I thought it was eshop only...

Nope. There's a "Bit.Trip Complete" compilation that has all six games. Plus easy and hard modes.

[$&!3R]

so... i don't have a wii, should i try using controller instead of mouse the game says it is not recommended

[KuraIthys]

引用自 jupacshalom23：

so... i don't have a wii, should i try using controller instead of mouse the game says it is not recommended

No, that wouldn't help. The PC version is designed for use with a mouse.
And besides, it's specifically the Wii motion controls that work better than mouse control, NOT game controllers in general. The PC version has no support of any kind for motion control, so all you'll end up doing is making the controls worse, not better.

The Wii version controls better than the PC version. But that doesn't mean you can improve how the PC version works by trying to mimic this. That really won't work.

Anyway, mouse is still infinitely superior to tilt controls on a tablet pc. XD (Yes, I know that sounds weird given how the Wii controls work, but it's true. Part of the problem might be that you have to tilt the screen as well, or, it could be less reliable accelerometers... Who knows. Obviously subtle changes make a big difference for a game like this.)

[Nate The Great]

yes bit trip complete is 10 dollars on amzon includes all six easy and hard modes leaderboads and 20 challenge levels for evey game (those arn;t on pc)

[CoryStar]

I think the TC is bias towards the Wii version.

I am not noticing any mouse problems, at all. No lag issues, at all. And I don't have anything that could even be considered close to a good computer.

My biggest issue is that I wasn't prepared for the game. It was Pong, and a few knockoffs of that era, and then this. All my problems are from being rusty at this gametype, and nothing from the actual game.

While this game might be great on the Wii, people should not be discouraged from buying this version.

[Batabii • Suikoden I&II HD]

wow, is it still 2013?

[T-Mich]

I honestly think the game is good on both platforms. With the Wii, it you control the movement with your Wii Remote, of course. You move it in a twist motion to control whether it goes up or down. The game is a lot easier for me on the computer. The controls are just a bit more precise, though mastering it on the Wii is a better feeling for me.

[KuraIthys]

Likely I am biased... But then I have 100+ hours on the Wii version... And I found the PC version incredibly uncomfortable.

It's not that it's unplayable (the android version takes that honor), it's just... Physically uncomfortable, and... Ironically, (when I'm doing it), considerably less precise.

The main complaint I actually had about doing this with a mouse is that my hand starts to hurt after about 5 minutes...

[俄]

the PC is missing some subtle effects from the Wii version, it happens on every Bit.Trip before Runner 2 and it's a shame, when I finally get a WiiU I'll buy these games asap to try the better version out