Gaijin Games reveals Bit.Trip sequel for XBLA and PSN

Commander Video is charging headlong into another retro chip-tune adventure, as Gaijin Games has announced a new addition to the Bit.Trip family called Bit.Trip Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien.

Currently in development for the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, Bit.Trip Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien will break away from its old-school roots, swapping 8-bit visuals for an all-new HD cartoony style. The downloadable title will also sport a ton of new abilities for Commander Video and his playable allies, swappable costumes, new modes, and more features set to be revealed at the game's newly launched website.

“We definitely are going to add a bunch of new stuff to Runner 2, but we do not want to overcomplicate the game in the process,” wrote Gajin's Danny Johnson, explaining, “This is particularly an issue with the abilities CommanderVideo can perform. The first game was complex enough with just five abilities, so we are figuring out ways to keep the game simple but still have exciting new possibilities.”

Further pitching the game in today's announcement, Gaijin co-founder Mike Roush added:"Runner 2 is going to blast open your mind like a blooming flower and Gaijin Games is going to pollinate it with our fun proboscises."

Hm. That sounds oddly pleasant. Prepare to have your brain matter pollinated with the newest Bit.Trip sequel in in 2012. In the meantime, watch Gaijin's new behind-the-scenes video to see how the team settled upon its seemingly random title:

Making Runner 2 - 0101 - Brainstorm from AREA 5 on Vimeo.

Oct 10, 2011

Matt Bradford wrote news and features here at GamesRadar+ until 2016. Since then he's gone on to work with the Guinness World Records, acting as writer and researcher for the annual Gamer's Edition series of books, and has worked as an editor, technical writer, and voice actor. Matt is now a freelance journalist and editor, generating copy across a multitude of industries.