The gameplay is fun, but the lore is also an important part of the Bit. Trip series. From the cutscenes to the backgrounds to even the names of the levels themselves, the Bit. Trip story conveys a deep message. This page will explain all about it, starting with the first game—Bit. Trip Beat.
BIT.TRIP BEAT
BEAT focuses on the birth of CommanderVideo and his cognitive development as a mere infant to his early childhood. He learns how to move his limbs, and eventually achieves a sentient state of mind, speaking his first words, "I AM ONLY A MAN." at the conclusion.
Transition
The music in the first stage of the game is ambient and relaxing, like he is fascinated by the world around him. The background represents his home.
Descent
The cutscene shows him learning how to walk. He falls down and the gets back up, starting the level.
The name Descent implies that he is visiting the underworld. The deep Drum & Bass music also adds to the theme of this level. This signifies the part of CommanderVideo's life where he starts to face minor problems.
Growth
The cutscene shows CommanderVideo getting bonked on the head by a beat, and then he gets back up, starting the level.
This is when CommanderVideo starts to learn basic things, which explains why the backgrounds of this level show everyday things like trees, houses, and vehicles, while also mostly showing a picture of CommanderVideo's brain.
At the end of the game, it shows that he knows how to walk and do basic things. Then he enters what looks like a portrait of his ancestors.
BIT.TRIP CORE
CORE picks up where BEAT left off. The young CommanderVideo has achieved sentience, but the world around him is still very large an intimidating. He begins seeking the comfort of his parents, but by the end of his journey, he has developed the resolve to enable him to persevere despite how scary and unknown the world around him is. In his eagerness to venture forth, he accidentally strikes a comrade, knocking them over. He then states, "I AM NOT ALONE."
Discovery
This level is about CommanderVideo discovering the outside world. He also discovers the new mode Super, which explains why he keeps learning new modes as the games go on because he still learns things even after he is grown up.
Exploration & Control
CommanderVideo continues to make observations of the environment. His parents are helping him along the way while also doing their job—explaining the cutscenes. The Control and ending cutscenes shows that he now knows how to fly through space. He also knows how to dance and he is proud of it. Although he might have been a little too proud, because he bumped one of his parents when he was doing so.
BIT.TRIP VOID
VOID details the development of CommanderVideo's ego and emotions. He begins the game shoving his resolve and sense of self-worth in the faces of everyone he meets. They eventually tire of this and work together to knock CommanderVideo down a peg. CommanderVideo backtracks and realises that being kind to others is much better than his previous behavior, and makes amends with those he hurt. He joins hands with his comrades, finally achieving the height of his growth, and shouts, "I AM READY!"
CommanderVideo is ready to go on an adventure and fufill his promises.
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
His self-discovery complete, CommanderVideo gains the impetus he needs to start running. RUNNER is less about his further emotional growth, and more about the places he travels to and the people he meets. CommanderVideo gradually tires of the imagery in each new location, and comes into contact with Mingrawn Timbletot, who seems unable to be reasoned with. After defeating this new adversary, he confronts CommanderVideo and his friends and declares loudly, "YOU ARE NOT A MAN!" before fleeing into the cosmos, where CommanderVideo and friends give chase.
After he defeats the boss of RUNNER, he sees the main antagonist, Mingrawn Timbletot, and sees him in a more negative way.
BIT.TRIP FATE
The darkest and most somber of the Hexalogy, this game focuses of CommanderVideo's personal limits. CommanderVideo's only wish is to befriend the Timbletot, but as the latter continuously rebuffs the Commander's attempts, CV becomes progressively more unhinged and exhausted. As he gives into his anger, CommanderVideo loses all rationality, and sacrifices himself to kill the Timbletot once and for all. Though his friends are safe from the Timbletot, CommanderVideo himself is no more, as his soul leaves his body and begins ascending to the next plane of existence.
BIT.TRIP FLUX
FLUX is the final stretch for CommanderVideo. Having died in the previous game, FLUX features the Commander viewing his life from an exterior perspective. He learns to accept his demise and let go of the things he held dear in life, while also becoming satisfied with the life he was able to have.
Epiphany
With this sudden loss, CommanderVideo keeps moving forward, on the path to the afterlife (as seen in the backgrounds of the levels).
Perception
He sees the world in an all new way. The 5 symbols in the cutscene represent the past 5 games. His future is being decided now.
Catharasis
His mind and soul are being cleared, and he is being accepted into the (good) afterlife. After the final bossfight is over, he recognizes that the symbols were a picture of his personality and himself as a whole. Then he returns home, which looks different than what he first remembered when he was young.
After all is said and done, CommanderVideo's soul has finally let go of its mortal bondage, and ascends into the light, playing one final game of BEAT as he goes. Eventually, the light becomes so blinding that CommanderVideo inevitably loses the game, setting him free in one, absolute, final GAME OVER.
CommanderVideo's mind is cleared. He is ready to start a second life.
Runner2
Runner2 was explicitly stated to not be canon to the rest of the series, but despite this, was also designed to fit snugly between RUNNER and FATE. This is explained away as the game's setting suffering from time dilation, where CommanderVideo spent several months in this new world trying to find his way out, only to find no time had passed in his world.
The opening cutscene shows that Mingrawn Timbletot, trying to stall him, blasts him and his crew. Since CommanderVideo is heroic, he takes the blow and him and his friends get sent to an alternate dimension. They advance out of this out of this dimension by the end of the game.
Runner3
Runner3 is not canon at all. Unlike Runner2, which was made to fit between RUNNER and FATE, Runner3 has zero ties to any of the previous games other than its predecessor. But since there aren't any real ties to the other parts of the lore, maybe it can be after CommanderVideo rebirths after Flux?