The Bit.Trip games are odd, generally mixing Atari-style blocky graphics with modern visuals in the background, and using that as the basis for games that mix rhythm elements with other genres. In the case of Bit.Trip Void, you combine rhythm with bullet hell, guiding a blob of pixels around the screen and trying to grab black dots while avoiding white ones. This is a very simple idea, and aside from some finer nuances you can basically play the game without any help from the manual.
Essentially merging bullet hell with Pac-Man and rhythm play, your character (the titular Void, a mass of black pixels) gets larger with each black dot you collect. This is a perk and drawback since being bigger makes it easier to get even more black dots, but also makes it harder (and sometimes literally impossible) to dodge white dots. Fortunately you can ’bank’ your size, scoring a lot of points (useful for scoring extra continues) and simultaneously going back to a more manageable form. This is important since missing too many black dots and/or hitting too many white ones sends you to a nearly monochrome ’negative mode’; a few more mistakes in this mode will result in your game ending, though playing correctly will restore you to the normal game.
While this leads to a simple game, the mix of retro and modern graphics along with Atari 2600/early-era arcade music effects does a really good job of drawing the player in. It makes heavy use of thumping rhythms, keeping the player interested despite the game’s simplicity. It also encourages you to memorize stages and patterns, much like many other rhythm games; there is only so much room for improvising. Co-op play is also supported by just having the second player turn on their Wiimote (make sure both of you have a Nunchuk or Classic Controller handy, as both players need an analog stick to move), though how much this will matter may vary from player to player.
This results in Bit.Trip Void being a very intuitive game, with only three flaws worth noting. First, the background sometimes goes very dark and makes it impossible to see black dots. This can be overcome to some extent by adjusting your TV’s settings, so it isn’t a crippling problem. Second, the game is a little short but this is acceptable since it only costs 600 Points/$6. Finally, the game does occasionally throw in mean-spirited twists that are clearly meant to force you to use a continue, such as reversing your controls with little warning (or no warning at all if you’re in ’negative mode’ at the time the switch occurs). While each of these is a valid complaint, only the last one seriously harms the product.
Bit.Trip Void isn’t a casual game despite its appearances. It encourages quick reflexes, repeating stages to memorize them, and often requires very precise timing to navigate between streams of white dots to get to your target. With this in mind, the game is not for everyone; it has a certain ’hardcore gaming’ aspect to it. But if that doesn’t deter you, this is a pretty good addition to the WiiWare catalog and worth checking out.
