Stick Ninjas Return!
The original N was a free flash game that featured stick-figure ninjas who had a thirst for goal and a penchant for acrobatics. Earlier this year, N+ came to the Xbox LIVE Arcade with a whole host of new levels and features. And now, N+ has come to the Nintendo DS, and if you haven’t experienced the game yet, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. It is definitely the best version of the game so far. While the core gameplay hasn’t changed, there are plenty of new features that make this game one of the best for your DS so far this year!
If you have never played N or N+, the premise of these games is fairly simple. You play as a tiny little stick-figure ninja who has a 90 second lifespan. In this lifespan, you have to run and jump through a ridiculously difficult room with a door at the end. There are no weapons, no special upgrades, and each level consists of just one room. This N series is probably one of the most simplistic platform-style games currently available, but this bare-bones gaming experience does not make the gameplay any less innovative. The N series is a real triumph of game design, and this series shows that you don’t need cool weapons, monsters, or graphics to make a title memorable. All you need is unexpected and fun gameplay, and the N series has this in spades.
N+ for the DS has the same core gameplay as all of the other N titles, but it is presented a little differently this time around. The graphics are about the same, but the real difference is the addition of the second screen, which gives you an overhead view of the entire map. This is amazingly helpful when you are trying to plan out a strategy for moving through a room. You can see all the traps, bombs, and killer robots form the top screen, and this makes the game a lot more accessible and interesting.
Another thing that is a little bit different on the DS version of N+ is the ninja crash animations. Those that played the PC and Xbox 360 versions probably remember the grizzly, ragdoll physics you encountered when your ninja didn’t quite make a jump or had a nasty run-in with a robot with a laser (and a grudge!) Your ninja would usually fall to pieces and dematerialize into a pile of severed limbs and bright red blood. Even though it was only a stick figure, it was pretty gross nonetheless. The DS version has toned down these crash and impact animations. While your ninja will still frequently meet an end which consists of every limb detaching from its body, it is not as gross this time around. You won’t see any ninjas bouncing off the walls as their limbs come off, which may be a relief for those who found the original to be a little too much. If you were disturbed by the cherry-red blood squirts that were in the last iteration of N+, you now have the option of turning the blood completely off.
As far as the levels are concerned, N+ for the DS has a great mixture of new and vintage N+ levels. A lot of the stages are instantly recognizable from both the original N and the LIVE Arcade version, but if you are an N veteran, there are plenty of new rooms for you to discover (and die in!) All the rooms still have the trademark, puzzle-platform feel that we’ve come to expect from the N series, and you’ll have a blast flipping switches, dodging bombs, mines, robots, and meeting your inevitable demise once you open each level’s final door.
One of the best new improvements for N+ on the DS is the level creator. While the level creator was certainly a fun and interesting feature on the Xbox 360 version earlier this year, the level creator on the DS feels a lot more natural. You are able to pull up menus via the shoulder button and then select and add the elements on screen with your stylus. This makes creating levels a lot less time-consuming and really allows you to create your “ninja vision” as you see fit. All the elements that you see in the game are unlocked immediately, and you can incorporate anything you see from the regular levels into your own stage. Then once you are finished creating your masterpiece, you can use the Nintendo WFC to upload it and challenge online opponents to play through your level. Of course, if you are feeling adventurous yourself, you can also play through other user-created levels.
In addition to the level creator’s online component, there are also several other ways to play online that utilize the standard levels. First up (and my personal favorite) is the co-op mode. This mode was probably my favorite on the Xbox 360, and it remains so in the handheld version because you have two ninjas, but only one of them needs to make it to the goal for success. This allows you to employ a little bit of strategy in your gameplay.
My personal favorite co-op strategy involved me throwing myself at bombs and obstacles so that they would disappear and my partner could pass through more easily. Of course, this doesn’t work as well on the Nintendo DS version because there is no voice chat capability. So, if you throw yourself onto a land mine, even if it is for the sake of the team, your partner may follow you out of confusion or think you are a supreme idiot. Either way, I have to say that the co-op does still satisfy my love of working together, even though it is much easier to execute on the Xbox 360 version.
But many people are not as into cooperation as I am, and for those people, there are also some competitive online multiplayer choices. First up is the Blitz mode. This mode is essentially the same as Race mode in the previous versions and tests which ninja can get to the door the fastest. There are also two new online multiplayer modes. The Tag mode is probably the most interesting of the new online modes and plays like the playground game of tag. You have to keep yourself from being the one who is “it” and whoever has the “it” status when time runs out is the loser. Sure, it might be a little immature, but come on, you know you haven’t played good old fashioned tag in awhile, and it really is a bunch of fun. The next new mode is Domination. This mode is a little bit more conventional then tag and plays like a ninja capture the flag game. It is also pretty fun and still manages to keep up with the whole “playground” motif.
Overall, N+ is a must-buy for both those who love the N series of games and those who have not yet had the opportunity to check it out. The second screen really adds a great new dynamic to the gameplay, and the classic feel of the game is as sharp as ever. I really can’t recommend this title enough; it is very fun to play, and the online modes provide endless replay value. And, when you factor in that the DS is budget priced at only $20, there really is no reason for you not to run out and grab this title. Unless you hate ninjas…you don’t hate ninjas, do you?
RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
The graphics look nearly identical to those on the PC and 360 versions. While the ninja crash animations are a little softer this time around, the action is just as satisfying. 4.8 Control
N+ is ridiculously easy to control during the regular level gameplay (you just run and jump), and the stylus controls for the level creator feel much more natural than the console version. 3.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Music is very generic and repetitive, but it exudes retro charm, which makes it fun to listen to nonetheless. 4.9
Play Value
There are more than 200 single-player levels to burn through, 100 multiplayer levels, and if you are still bored, you can go online and play through an infinite number of user-created levels. You can be a ninja forever!
4.4 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Game Features: