This gameplay style doesn't take advantage of the Wii's capabilities and is not analogous to another game, but it is easier to control because of the concrete button-pressing. Instead of having to deal with the sensitivity of tilting the Wii Remote (like in Beat), you only have four directions to deal with. You can also launch a bomb once per level that wipes out everything on the screen. It's not a huge gameplay addition, but it does help tone down the difficulty a bit.
That's the biggest issue in the game: it's unforgiving. The three levels are 15-minute affairs, each with creative boss fights that don't skimp on challenge. It's a good amount of content for a WiiWare game, but it could stand to be broken up into smaller chunks. There is nothing more frustrating than working your way through one of the levels and then failing in the final minutes, especially since there are no checkpoints.
To alleviate this brutal difficulty, the cooperative mode comes to the rescue. Two players can team up and play the game simultaneously. Unlike the multiplayer mode in Bit.Trip Beat, which arguably made the game harder, Core's co-op mode actually helps you survive the levels.
Core also introduces different power-ups and challenges. The power-ups give you boosts such as multi-beam, which allows you fire off two beams in opposite directions at once. The challenges task you with clearing sections with a handicap, such as rotating the D-pad controls. The challenges are extremely tough, and unless you're gunning for the top of the (offline) leader boards, they're better off left alone.
The art style and music remain similar to Bit.Trip Beat, and this game continues the story of the intrepid, two-dimensional Commander Video. The story is a bit unclear, but it is rife with trippy visuals and awesome chiptune music that changes as you progress through each level. The visuals are oftentimes too busy, though, and can distract you from the gameplay.
Bit.Trip Core is another solid entry in the Bit.Trip series, but it maintains most of the issues of its predecessor (long levels, difficulty, busy visuals). If you loved Bit.Trip Beat, getting this is a no-brainer. However, if you weren't sold on the first game, Bit.Trip Core isn't going to change your mind.
Pros:
Lastability: 7.0
There's a lot of content despite the fact that there are only three levels. However, the levels are brutally hard, so you might not want to replay them over and over unless you master the game. The cooperative multiplayer adds to the fun, though.
Final: 8.0
Bit.Trip Core is a beautiful game, even though it's so challenging. People who like their games old-school and difficult should have already downloaded this game. If you're not up to the challenge, you're better off looking the other way. Let's hope that next time, Gaijin Games breaks up the levels into more digestible chunks.
"The story is a bit unclear"
I think the point is that the developers want gamers to try to interpret the story.
I think it's supposed to become clearer when more games in the series come out.
