Bit.Trip Presents...Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Runner2 is the type of sequel you dream happens. It takes the concepts and gameplay of the original and advances them in every way. Gaijin Games didn’t just make a great game—it made one of the best side-scrolling platformers in recent memory.

A better game than its predecessor, fun, addictive and powered by great gameplay.

Runner 2 is as good as platforming gets, and the entire product is an excellent value proposition. Moreover, it is FUN with a capital F. That's the highest compliment we can give the game.

It's a wonderful sensation to lose yourself in this game, whether you are facing down the formidable challenges of The Mounting Sadds or simply going for a breezy run in The Emerald Brine. Runner 2 doesn't just offer you an entertaining experience; it throws its arm around you companionably, ushers you into its whimsical world, and makes you feel like part of something special.

Both love letter to the purist gameplay ideals of yesteryear and free-spirited embrace into what the future may yet hold, RUNNER2 is the rare breed that wants to grab you by the hand and lead you on an earnest, cheerful adventure.

If you enjoyed the original, give Runner 2 a try — if you didn’t, and you’re a rhythm fan — try it anyways.

One of the best eShop games since launch. [June 2013, p.78]

Surely a much more mainstream and accessible game compared to the first one; despite that, Gaijin Games managed to create another great product that everyone should at least try.

An amazing amount of thought has gone into this; in an industry dominated by scattershot excess, this is a perfect exercise in honing a single strength.

Bit.Trip Runner 2 is a game packed with many highs and few lows. It is a beautiful platform game driven by the rhythm of music.

In the end, Runner2 appears to be more than a rhythm game. This is not wrong, as it is not less certain the balance of its elements, which even make us forget the limits of our actions.

A solid new title in the Bit.Trip series. The game feels and plays like a Bit.Trip game, despite the new graphical style. In short: Bit..Trip Presents... Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is a great title if you have a lot of patience. If you don't have a lot of patience, it is better to skip this game.

The charm and fun present are not easily found elsewhere and it’s great to see something which sets itself out as a pure gaming experience without the pretentious overtures that many bigger budget games now have. It’s both something old and something new and you should stop reading now and go and buy it.

Same great game as for the other platforms, pity for the poor use of the Gamepad.

The beautiful graphics and quirky charm make it easy to fall in the love with Runner 2, even when playing through the same level 50 times. The frustration level here is undeniable, yet Runner 2 still inevitably forces the player to take on just one more level. It’s an insane retro-dripped trip worth taking.

The steadily dwindling friend tallies on our post-run leaderboards are convincing proof that Runner’s sharpest edges remain intact.