Topic: Bit Boy!! first impressions

So who downloaded Bit Boy!! today?

I've just played through 4-bit, 8-bit and 16-bit worlds and I am not sure what to make of it yet. I like the concept behind having different retro graphical styles, but the gameplay hasn't really grabbed me tbh. All the games are like Pac-Man but the mazes are full of dead ends so it's really tricky to get through a level without getting killed as there are baddies swarming about all over the place.

You do get a limited number of special weapons to help you out of tricky spots, but they can all run out pretty quickly! lol

So what do you guys think of it so far? I am hoping that it will be a grower as I play it more

That's a shame. I also just spoke to a fellow game reviewer (not on Nintendo Life) who says he's likely giving the game a 3/10. That's not good news. He told me the game play was shallow and that even the cool changing of the various bit generations wasn't enough to save the redundant and sometimes frustrating gameplay. I was so hoping this game would be great. I still want to check it out for myself.

Come on, anyone else have some opinions? Anyone out there liking the game?

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Well said. I agree completely.

Well one reviewer (cough Demon212 cough) actually enjoyed this game.

Really? Going to check it out.

You know...I have no right to say this yet, but I'm going to say it anyway. Forgive me. It's going to be a slight rant, but, seriously now.

I feel bad for BPlus. I do. I feel bad because their first game was (almost) universally panned, and was probably an enormous financial flop. That's sad in itself. But, then, according to them, they turned to their "fans" and asked what they wanted to see in a game. I have no idea what those poor, deluded souls told BPlus, but the result was Niki Pop 'N Squat. So I guess their fans are either very cruel human beings, or disabled chimps.

And that one flopped too. (By BPlus' own admission.)

So I feel bad. I feel bad because BPlus made a game they thought was good, and it flopped. In response they made a game they thought OTHER people would think was good, and that flopped, too.

Then this Bit Boy stuff starts coming out, and, honestly, it looked good. It had a retro flair, which served as a nostalgic hook. Dragging the same game through several generations of gaming was an interesting gimmick. The music sounded good. The gameplay (no matter what they say) was a strong reflection of Pac Man, which is one of the all-time classics and a PERFECT example of how simple game design can work strongly in the game's favor, rather than against it.

I mean...I thought this was it. I really did. I thought this was the game that BPlus was really going to blow our heads off with. They started off with their own little indulgent title, and failed. Went the popular route, and failed. In response? A return to basics. A simple game with a simple presentation. They were going to rediscover the heart of gaming. I cheered them on.

Is it really THAT bad? How can you screw up Pac Man?

I mean that. HOW can you screw up PAC MAN?

Bit Boy got a lot of non-fans on their side. It had people who disliked both games looking in their direction, with hope in their eyes. It engendered goodwill. The goodwill was THERE for the taking!

And they blew it?

I almost can't believe it. I mean...

I don't know. I'm tired. I'm ranting. It's just that I wanted so much to play this game and apologize for everything bad I've ever said about BPlus in the past.

I really did.

I really, really did.

I liked how at the end of Demon212's video he plugged Bplus and their forums. I can see it now, "This Bit Boy!! review sponsored in part by Bplus, makers of Bit Boy!!." LOL. A great video show of the game, as with all of Demon212's vids. At least now I have a better idea of how it plays. Can't wait to try it out for myself. Hopefully it's not far from a US release. I think the Kubi is cool.

I like Demon212's videos on youtube, but I don't think a review of his on a BPlus game is credible. He has some kind of love affair with them going on.

I like his videos because he explains the gameplay while the video is playing. Gives me a much better idea of what's happening in the game that way. Especially for these games that come out in Europe first. Ultimately I have to try it out myself before I can make a formed opinion of the game.

I liked the video, but I definitely started to question credibility when he went into his BPlus sales pitch. "Connecting with other people is what BPlus is all about!"

Oh...really? Or is that just what you read off the cue-card they sent you?

I admit, I'm biased. From this day forward I'm likely to buy anything Gaijin Games puts out because I fell madly in love with Bit.Trip at first sight. But I think there's a difference between having complete trust in a developer, and spouting off inane comments like that, which would better befit a dating site, or a cult.

Chicken, if you're anything, you're blunt.

Well, I just hope it turns out good, I've been looking to this game of theirs.

Who else downloaded this then? I've unlocked the 32-bit version now and it's more of the same. The maze design really lets the game down. It's all dead ends and long corridors with no escape when you get surrounded. Gah!

I did last night, but haven't had a chance to play until now.

I will report back sah.

BTW who's reviewing it, Adam?

Adam is indeed.

BPlus, ya did it again!

My sentiments exactly.

I thought that this was finally going to be BPlus's crowning achievement, but it turns out they can screw up even a simple maze game. For. Shame.

Let's hope Vector Tank fares better.

I don't believe in writing a game off on the back of a 2nd-hand comment myself.

Having played through to 128-bit in under an hour (guess some of us are better at maze games than others, **ahem**), I have to say I like what they've done here.

The game is basically like Pac-Man if you had no power pellets and a bunch of dead ends and 8 ghosts.

What's interesting about the game is that you just wouldn't have made a maze game on a console after the 2600, I mean I can't think of any off-hand. So, I find the game novel as a consequence and that carries a lot of weight with me.

The things I really like are the distinct look to the different eras: they really have managed to boil that down pretty well.

The music is pretty nice. The NES-style control works nicely. The game is pretty simple, but also quite challenging given the number of enemies, their patterns and habit of suddenly lunging.

The game is actually quite difficult partially because you get a set number of bottom-saving attacks (in lieu of power pellets?), but they're fixed for the entire era for all four or five levels that comprise that era; dying doesn't replenish them -- nothing does. If you blow your wad due to panic at the number of enemies on the first stage then you're boned.

They like to have your friends near the enemy door which gets quite annoying; especially if there's a door on each end of the spawning point.

Only three continues and each one requires the blood sacrifice of half your points -- the pain of it!

I really do wish they hadn't made the "4-bit" levels so bloody small though. I mean Atari/Intellivision games had good size playfields. I think the 4-bit/8-bit stages are really the prettiest, though.

I think if you like maze games and want a little tour of gaming history you'll get something out of this; if Pac-Man bores you to tears, well, probably best to avoid.

It would be cool if this did well enough for them to consider a sequel because I kind of like this concept of taking a certain genre of game through the eras. An Asteroids clone or Space Invaders style game could also be amusing if given the same treatment.

No regrets on my 600. Sorry if I'm rambling; the bloody 2 visible lines in the Internet Channel (wife is using iPlayer on the lappy) really disrupts my flow!

Well this review was emailed to me a little while ago. I'm afraid I'm getting worried. I wonder if this is coming to the US soon.

F grade, ouch!

Well I've played through the 128-bit version now and I have to say that was my least favourite of the lot. The background colours hurt my eyes and shaking the Wiimote to hop over things was just annoying. The camera angle is awful too so I ended up pressing (-) to swap to the top-down view which sort of defeats the point.

My main criticism of the game is the maze design. Long corridors which have no escape and lots of dead ends you need to go down cause far too many deaths. When you play classic maze games like Pac-man you realise just how ingenious their maze designs were. That's why people still enjoy playing the game today. Sadly I do not think the same will be said of Bit Boy.

I wouldn't say it's a terrible game by any means, but it's not great either.