Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,035 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien Game Cover
Bit.Trip Runner 2: Future of Rhythm Alien is addicting, innovative and one of the best arcade games yet. Despite its repetitive gameplay and a hefty price tag, it's still an amazing game.
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"Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien" is a single-player Kids Platformer game with a good plot and fantastic game mechanics. Spectacular graphics and an excellent soundtrack accompany players as they run, jump, slide, and kick through 5 worlds and 120 levels, battling bosses and unlocking costumes as one of 8 characters, in a rhythm-music platforming sequel to the award-winning BIT.TRIP RUNNER. The game features lots of grinding and hilarious elements.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,035 reviews
music218 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • The game features vibrant graphics and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Checkpoints have been added, making the game more accessible and less frustrating than its predecessor.
  • The gameplay is addictive, with a variety of unlockable characters and costumes, and multiple paths in levels that encourage replayability.
  • Some players find the controls unresponsive or laggy, especially when using a keyboard instead of a controller.
  • The game can become repetitive, with some levels feeling similar and the music potentially growing tiresome over time.
  • Visual clutter in certain levels can make it difficult to distinguish between the character and the background, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
  • music444 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, engaging, and well-integrated soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate how the music evolves with their actions, creating a unique rhythm-based interaction that adds depth to the platforming mechanics. However, some critiques mention a lack of variety and repetitiveness in the tracks, suggesting that while the music is enjoyable, it could benefit from more diversity across different levels.

    • “The music is amazing and catchy.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly accompanies the game's movements, gameplay is very smooth and the designs are great.”
    • “The music is fantastic in this game which is not a surprise considering it's a bit.”
    • “The music is so soothing and I don't really care about beating the levels on hard because it stresses me out, but I love playing on easy mode!”
    • “The music on its own would seem quite calming, but as soon as you put the music and gameplay together, it becomes the most stressful thing ever.”
    • “With the constant repetition of levels, the soundtrack gets old fast.”
  • graphics230 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, colorful, and modern 3D art style as a significant improvement over the original's retro aesthetic. However, some players find the new visuals overwhelming and distracting, making it difficult to focus on gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing and well-executed, opinions vary on whether they enhance or detract from the gaming experience.

    • “The graphics are incredibly pleasing to the eye.”
    • “With a very unique presentation, the visuals and audio are really impressive, enhancing gameplay more than ever before.”
    • “The graphics have improved dramatically and many new gameplay elements were introduced, while the atmosphere kept true to that original, harmonious feeling that the first game provided.”
    • “The graphics are cute but muddy, and the obstacles get lost in the visual clutter sometimes.”
    • “The updated graphics make it harder to keep track of yourself sometimes - world 4 I found particularly bad for this.”
    • “Unfortunately, one of the game's biggest problems is its visuals.”
  • gameplay179 mentions

    The gameplay in the Trip series is characterized by its addictive, rhythm-based platforming mechanics that blend simple controls with progressively challenging levels. Players navigate through vibrant worlds using a variety of actions like jumping, sliding, and kicking, all while syncing their movements to an engaging soundtrack. While the gameplay is generally praised for its charm and fluidity, some critiques highlight issues with forced backtracking and occasional overwhelming visuals that can detract from the experience.

    • “Trip Runner has one of the most addicting gameplay loops I can think of. It consists of working your way through a world Mario 3-style, and in typical auto-runner fashion, you don't have free movement; you have to jump, slide, block, and kick your way to the goal, all the while collecting the set number of gold in a level to a catchy soundtrack.”
    • “The gameplay is relaxing, yet challenging; there hasn't been anything that made me rage quit, just try harder. The normal difficulty setting seems to be really balanced, and implementing checkpoints makes the frustration factor go way down.”
    • “The gameplay is so smooth and so fun. It builds on the original's solid gameplay, refines the graphics and overall presentation, and allows players a lot more flexibility in choosing how difficult they want the game to be.”
    • “Forced backtracking through previous levels with the whole key vault chest mechanic is stupid; this isn't a metroidvania.”
    • “But if you miss it, you just wasted the last 2 minutes of gameplay, and if you succeed, you aren't really happy; you are just relieved you didn't miss it.”
    • “The gameplay is a little bland.”
  • story49 mentions

    The game's story is generally viewed as minimal and somewhat inconsequential, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the quirky and humorous elements, narrated by Charles Martinet, others find the narrative lacking depth and originality. Overall, the story is seen as a lighthearted addition that enhances the experience without being essential to the game's enjoyment.

    • “This game has one of the best soundtracks you'll ever listen to, an amusing story narrated by Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, and 8 playable characters brand new to the bit.”
    • “The story of someone's life disguised in what feels like the most generic art style and 'face value' story was genius.”
    • “It is a captivating, heart-wrenching story which touches on themes of accepting the outsiders; the unwanted members of society.”
    • “Story wise, it's nothing special.”
    • “This is one of those games with a story that just doesn't really need a story.”
    • “To the game's detriment, story elements are added at the start of the game and between levels.”
  • humor35 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and imaginative elements, with many reviewers highlighting the funny characters, absurd situations, and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some aspects of the humor may fall flat or veer into gross territory, the majority find it to be a refreshing and entertaining addition to the gameplay, contributing to its addictive nature. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging mechanics, making it a standout in the rhythm-based platformer genre.

    • “From start to finish, this game is addictive, funny, and challenging.”
    • “The world is vibrant, hilarious, and creative with giant, cartoonish backgrounds that will sometimes even distract you from the game with how funny and imaginative the situations are.”
    • “With solid, fluid controls, perfect synchronization, and a great sense of humor, Runner 2 asserts itself as one of the all-time platforming greats.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted as a strong feature, with many players appreciating the variety of levels, difficulty settings, and collectible elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviews mention that replayability feels forced in certain aspects, the majority agree that the engaging gameplay, competitive leaderboards, and hidden content significantly enhance the replay value, making it appealing for completionists and high-score chasers alike.

    • “Really, really good: music goes alongside the gameplay greatly, it's incredibly rewarding, has great replay value and great charm.”
    • “For those looking to 100% games, there's lots of replay value in collecting all the gold and achieving perfect on each level, as well as finding the secret retro stages and unlocking all the costumes and characters.”
    • “The game improves on the original in all aspects and offers competitive leaderboards, challenges, and difficulty modes offering loads of replay value.”
    • “But the replayability is forced and this doesn't feel like a proper sequel.”
    • “- not that much replay value”
    • “The game also has a large amount of replayability; some levels are locked until you have a certain amount of gold, or some levels are locked until you beat the key vault.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while it introduces additional challenges and opportunities for achievement hunting, it can also feel tedious, especially for those familiar with the previous installment. The game offers varying difficulty levels that cater to different play styles, making the grind more enjoyable for some, but still frustrating for others. Overall, the grinding is seen as both a rewarding and occasionally burdensome element of the gameplay experience.

    • “There is of course the part of the game that it is very grindy to some extent.”
    • “The 3 different difficulties provide a perfect range of experiences depending on the type of game you're looking to play - fun & fancy free, all the way up to teeth-grindingly frustrating (at times).”
    • “This may sound a lot easier than how it used to be, and it is, but it just makes achievement hunting a really tedious task when you already know how to play the game.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised, with many users noting it runs smoothly even on low-end hardware, provided the correct video settings are used. While some experience stuttering issues, overall performance is adequate, and gamepad support is notably improved compared to the original.

    • “There is no noticeable input lag with vsync on because this game is well optimized, and can run on a potato PC.”
    • “Catchy music, pretty visuals, and runs smoothly on my crappy laptop.”
    • “Personally, I prefer a keyboard, but it does seem that gamepad support is much more optimized for BTR2 than the original BTR.”
    • “Do note this game can have performance issues if you aren't using the 'correct' video settings.”
    • “There is a horrible stuttering.”
    • “Performance is adequate on Intel HD4000 at 720p.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its fun, light-hearted, and relaxing qualities, enhanced by great music and improved graphics. Players appreciate the harmonious feeling reminiscent of the original game, with an engaging and inviting ambiance that encourages repeated play. Overall, the combination of groovy beats and vibrant visuals creates an exciting and immersive experience.

    • “The graphics have improved dramatically and many new gameplay elements were introduced, while the atmosphere kept true to that original, harmonious feeling that the first game provided.”
    • “Fun atmosphere that keeps inviting you back for more.”
    • “I recommend this game for its fun and brilliant atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from the sequel.”
    • “Despite the improved graphics, the atmosphere fails to capture the essence of the original game, leaving it feeling hollow.”
    • “The game has a chaotic atmosphere that can be overwhelming, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it features a captivating and heart-wrenching story that resonates with themes of acceptance and belonging, some players feel it falls short compared to its predecessor, leading to a sense of obligation rather than genuine engagement. The diverse cast of characters enhances the emotional experience, offering varied backstories that contribute to the game's overall impact.

    • “I remember thinking about the story and crying (I was an emotional kid) at how perfect the story was.”
    • “It is a captivating, heart-wrenching story which touches on themes of accepting the outsiders; the unwanted members of society.”
    • “Not only does this keep things interesting, it is also successful in altering mood and affects you emotionally, providing context for the game to a small extent.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting smooth performance even on low-tier PCs. However, some players have encountered occasional glitches, particularly with camera issues that can affect gameplay. Notably, those playing on Linux have experienced fewer bugs, indicating a solid performance on that platform.

    • “And despite this, it runs great on low-tier PCs!”
    • “The game maintains a smooth performance even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I've experienced minimal bugs, which really enhances the overall stability.”
    • “I will mention that I have experienced a couple of weird camera glitches that made me go back to 100% levels because they made me miss a collectible.”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
    • “Does it work / bugs / glitches”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development received mixed reviews, with some players finding it bland and the character designs unappealing, while others appreciated the fun and interesting aspects of the characters, highlighting the art and humor as standout features.

    • “The art and character designs are awesome and hilarious.”
    • “I thought it was bland, and the character designs only made it worse.”
    • “Some of the character designs were a little too weird for my taste, but for the most part, they are fun and interesting.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Players appreciate the monetization model as it avoids microtransactions, enhancing the enjoyment of collecting in-game currency, which is further complemented by an engaging musical experience.

    • “...and no microtransactions!”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases.”
    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to progress.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game fully because it constantly bombards me with ads and offers to buy in-game currency.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player experience, making it hard to enjoy without spending.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Play time

21hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
5-26hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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