| Developer: | Zach Gage |
| Platforms: | iOS |
| Genre: | Action, bullet hell |
| Modes: | Single-player |
| Released: | March 4, 2010 |
| Composer: | Sabrepulse |
| Publisher: | Zach Gage |
| Engine: | openFrameworks |
Bit Pilot is a 2010 bullet hell action game created by Zach Gage. It was released on March 4, 2010, for iOS. In the game, players control a spaceship and must dodge asteroids and lasers. It received largely positive reviews from critics, praising its gameplay, controls and soundtrack.
The player controls a ship with protective outer rings. Each time it hits an asteroid or a laser, one layer of the ring is lost.[1] As the game progresses, more asteroids spawn into the playing area. The player can earn bonus points by collecting shields,[2] which replenish the player's defenses.[3]
Bit Pilot received a "generally favorable" score on Metacritic.[4]
Edge awarded the game 8/10 points, calling it distinctive due to its gesture-based control scheme, which is "uncommonly nuanced and tactile".[5] The A.V. Club gave the game an "A" rating, calling it a "tough, unbeatable game" with "atrocious challenge".[6] Tracy Erickson of Pocket Gamer gave the game 3.5/5 stars and the Bronze award, calling it "an amusing, bite-sized piece of gaming", and saying that while it "travels a familiar course", "the manner in which it's presented makes this old formula fresh".[7]
The gameplay was mostly positive. Kyle Vanhemert of Wired magazine praised the soundtrack and retro graphics but criticized that the game "lacks variety".[8]