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Top 5 Wii U Games: Through the Launch Window Glass

#2 - Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

by Zachary Miller - April 18, 2013, 3:43 pm EDT

Run, Forrest! Run!

I’m not sure if this confession disqualifies my gamer Street Cred, but I have never played a Bit.Trip game. I know; I’m a monster. These games are held in high regard by gamers generally and by indie fans in particular. The most popular of the five, by far, is Bit.Trip.Runner, a game in which the pixelated protagonist, Commander Video (who you may remember from Super Meat Boy) runs to the right endlessly, and your job is merely to get our boy to avoid obstacles and collect gold bars. I’m told that the music is incredible, and that it syncs up with the gameplay like Lumines or something, and that it’s very addictive and I’m a terrible person for having never played it.

I incorrectly assumed that Runner was just like endless runners such as Robot Unicorn Attack or Jetpack Joyride that I somewhat irrationally enjoy. So you can imagine my apathy when Neal Ronaghan and Patrick “Trick” Barnett started squawking excitedly about Runner 2, an alleged sequel to a game about which I had no interest in the first place, and that everybody should run out RIGHT NOW and buy a copy (on a digital platform). Well, it wasn’t long before half the damn Nintendo World Report staff was running to the tops of virtual mountaintops and singing the praises of this game on Twitter. Like any self-respecting sycophant, I instantly caved, but for TWO GOOD REASONS: 1) I am insanely prone to peer gamer pressure; and 2) like many of you, I’d forgotten I had a Wii U in the first place. It helped, also, that I had exactly $15 in Wii U bucks sitting on my eShop account, which made the purchase risk-free.

The next few days are an endlessly running blur.

ON YOUR MARK...GET SET...

I’ve determined there are two kinds of Runner 2 players: those who merely want to run to the end of the game, an easily-attainable goal—a finish line in sight, as it were. Then there are people like me, who spend dozens of hours in the first two worlds alone, trying and trying and bloody well trying to get to the top o’ dem leaderboards, which record the top four scores among your Wii U friends. These scores are displayed before and after each stage, demanding your attention and, if necessary, immediate do-over.

No longer restricted to the pixel plane, Commander Video now animated in EYE-POPPING HD, and the worlds he inhabits are vibrant, colorful, and above all, increasingly bizarre. Our boy avoids obstacles through a combination of leaping, sliding, kicking, blocking, springing, bouncing (yes, these are separate actions), slide-jumping, pole-riding, jump-kicking, wind-riding, loop-de-looping, and various other acrobatic achievements. You’d be amazed how many little actions become second nature as you’re pattering full-tilt through a series of interconnected fishing docks. It’s easy to forget about taking the harder path (for more points or unlockable stuff) or jumping over the checkpoint (for more points) or dancing (for more points and hilarity).

There’s really no lack of content here, either. Each stage—and there are so many I can hardly believe it—gives the player an opportunity to pick Easy, Medium, or Hard difficulties. The three are often different enough that conquering all three is like playing three separate stages. You get major bonus points for firing Commander Video into a comical bullseye at the end of each stage. The gigantic levels feature tons of unlockable costumes for each of the game’s menagerie of slowly-revealed runners (including CommandGirl Video and Reverse Merman), stages unlocked by collecting a certain amount of gold, giant keys that, themselves, bring out new unlocks and paths, and of course, those Atari-esque retro stages, activated by finding Famicom cartridges in certain stages. You’ll be running until the cows come home.

Ah, back to simpler times.

When it was first released, Runner 2 came under moderate fire for some irritating bugs: leaderboard placement wasn’t permanent—the second you played that level again, your new score completely replaced your old one whether higher or not, or the “would you like to play online” screen just sat there, looking like the game froze, after you selected yes or no for about ten seconds. But most dazzling, Runner 2 had the strangest problem wherein it would actually hard-lock the Wii U upon either turning the system off from within the game, or exiting to the Wii U menu. For some, like me, this last point proved too severe to put considerable time in (more considerable time) so I’ve taken a break. However, I’m happy to report that the patch is out and seems to fix all the problems, including the hard-locking.

So rejoice, dear friends, and do as Forrest Gump did: Just run.

Images

Talkback

SchadenfreudeApril 15, 2013

The puzzles in Little Inferno are no where near as rewarding as Picross because they involve association not logic. I really don't think it's much of a game and find it boring. I regret spending $5 on it.

LudicrousDa3veApril 15, 2013

Wii U's post launch has been slow, but the launch itself was pretty awesome. A top five is really tough. Looking forward to seeing all of your picks.

ShyGuyApril 15, 2013

I agree about Little Inferno being top five. I find the cat the most disturbing so far.

azekeApril 15, 2013

Little Inferno is on sale for 5 Euro right now...

Still doesn't feel like a good price from what i read though.

I don't think Little Inferno is for everyone, but I'm a huge fan of point-and-click adventure games and I think that for some reason Little Inferno REALLY scratched that itch for me. I was really happy to have bought it at launch for that reason... or maybe I just really wanted to burn things...

Also... I am very happy that Lego City: Undercover is on this list. I haven't beat it yet, but I really enjoy being able to freely explore such the city, and it's such a wonderfully dense environment in terms of things to look at, puzzles to solve, or collectibles to discover.

Tony_342April 18, 2013

Completely agree with this. I'm still confused about some of ZombiU's bad reviews. Example: a "weak link in the Wii U's launch." Really, GameSpot? It is still the best game on Wii U.

LudicrousDa3veApril 18, 2013

I'm baffled when I see poor reviews for Zombi U. I've had some friends, hardcore gaming enthusiasts, come by recently. They haven't really seen the Wii U yet (why, Nintendo?! How they've failed to promote this thing so much is beyond me), so in these cases, I bust out Zombi U. That's about four new Wii U owners, thanks partially to the merits of this unique game.

ShyGuyApril 18, 2013

Can't disagree with a single entry so far. Funky Barn will, of course, be number one.

MagicCow64April 19, 2013

I don't have a WiiU yet, but a big sad part of me wants to buy one just to play NSMBU.

LouieturkeyApril 19, 2013

So I love it that the #3 game, ZombiU states that it is the best game on the Wii U period.

CericApril 19, 2013

NSMBU for #1 Seriously...
Seriously...

azekeApril 19, 2013

NSMBU is the only game i played of top 5, so i agree.

I have a feeling that even if i played other games nothing would change.

The game is still tremendously fun.

Mop it upApril 19, 2013

Did no one like Nintendo Land, or does it not count because it was a pack-in?

ShyGuyApril 20, 2013

I really liked Nano Assault Neo as well.

TJ SpykeApril 20, 2013

Quote from: Mop

Did no one like Nintendo Land, or does it not count because it was a pack-in?

Having the game require multiplayer for most of the good games probably hurt it.

Pixelated PixiesApril 20, 2013

Of those top 5 the only title I've spent any significant time with was NSMB U.

Not to be a downer, but I can't help but feel vindicated in my decision not to purchase a Wii U until I feel it's warranted. For as much as I had fun playing NSMB U on my sister's Wii U, I can honestly say it holds a limited appeal for me. It was a low impact fun, and yet at the same time kind of...boring.

Zombie U does look super interesting. I'd love to give it a shot, but it's not necessarily something that I would buy the system for.

Runner 2 looks incredible, and I have no doubt I would enjoy that just as much as I enjoyed the original; but then again, it's not a game that I have to play on Wii U (Once I'm done with Fire Emblem I think I'm going to pick this up on Steam).

Hopefully some day soon there will be enough Wii U games which pique my interest, or one single game which I can't live without (Metroid Prime 4?), and when that happens the weights will tip. Until that happens though I'm happy to remain on the side-lines.

Great feature guys.

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterApril 20, 2013

boost mode can really mess with the level design, you can reverse the direction of cogs in the castle for example

oksodaScott Thompson, Associate EditorApril 20, 2013

Quote from: Louieturkey

So I love it that the #3 game, ZombiU states that it is the best game on the Wii U period.

It's my personal opinion that ZombiU is the best, but the voting didn't come out that way. So NWR says Mario, but I say for ZombiU :p.

LittleIrvesApril 22, 2013

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.

Pixelated PixiesApril 22, 2013

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

SarailApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

Ceric, you can. Click on the game's avatar icon to see individual total game time. It's there. :)

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P: :

And they're all great! Well, Mario Chase kinda sucks, but the other two are fantastic.

Pixelated PixiesApril 22, 2013

Ahaha. I'm not knocking it. Hide 'n' Seek is a lot of fun...when you're 5.  ;D

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Pixelated

Ahaha. I'm not knocking it. Hide 'n' Seek is a lot of fun...when you're 5.  ;D

*Frank Sinatra* Aren't we all just Young At Heart...

Quote from: Racht

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: LittleIrves

One day people will look back, see how Nintendo Land was relatively ignored and dismissed by early adopters, and weep great tears of shame on behalf of their ancestors.


Or we will look back and wonder how Nintendo thought they could get away with making several mini games which were effectively variations on hide 'n' seek.  :P:

Until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, I'm Sure NintendoLand was easily my most played.  My Son loves to play it.

If WiiU had the Activity Log from the 3DS *Hint Hint Nintendo* I could tell you exactly.

Ceric, you can. Click on the game's avatar icon to see individual total game time. It's there. :)

Is their a Super Hidden Top Game and like too?

SarailApril 22, 2013

Ah, I see what you mean. You meant that as in seeing stats based on total gameplay among all of your games (how many times played, total game time, etc...)

I got it now.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: Racht

Ah, I see what you mean. You meant that as in seeing stats based on total gameplay among all of your games (how many times played, total game time, etc...)

I got it now.

Yep, now on that note its.

Monster Hunter w/ 149:50 and 38 Plays
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed w/ 18:30 and 12 plays
Nintendo Land w/ 13:20 and 20 plays (I have a feeling this isn't being counted right.  I know for a fact I've open that software more then 20 times.)
NSMBU w/ 12:39 and 12 plays
Nano Assault Neo w/ 4:08 and 12 plays
ZombiU w/ 00:44 and 1 play (Alright now I know these are messed up.  I have at least 3 plays on this game.  My wife would probably remember those because I was fuming near the end.)

So Nintendo Land is my Second most played game.  <.< >,>

How the hell have you put 150 hours into Monster Hunter in less than a month? I'm pretty sure if you totaled up all the time I've spent playing all my Wii U games since launch it wouldn't be close to 150 hours.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

How the hell have you put 150 hours into Monster Hunter in less than a month? I'm pretty sure if you totaled up all the time I've spent playing all my Wii U games since launch it wouldn't be close to 150 hours.

I was Sick 2 Days and remember I got it about a week after launch as well.  A few hours a night really adds up.  Though 5 of those hours was me leaving it up while running errands.

TJ SpykeApril 22, 2013

Still, that is a lot of hours. Even if you played it every day since you bought it, that would average out to 5.55 hours every day.

CericApril 22, 2013

Quote from: TJ

Still, that is a lot of hours. Even if you played it every day since you bought it, that would average out to 5.55 hours every day.

Hmm... I didn't play Thursday last week.  Seriously got it on 3/21 then started to play it 3/22 (Curse you slow eShop Downloads).
Then didn't play 4/4-4/6, 4/11,4/17-4/18, and not today yet.  Probably not though.  5 hours sound about right.

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