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N+ Review: Is it Worth It?

N+ Review: Is it Worth It?

N+ is this retro-inspired platformer available to consoles and handhelds as of mid-2008. There is no story, no flashy graphics, and no easy mode. Slick Entertainment goes back to the roots of gaming with a simple platformer. Get the stickman Ninja from the starting point to the endpoint. In the middle is a time limit, gold coins to collect, robots who will kill the player without mercy, and no skill level settings. As an adaptation to the original and free flash game, Cheat CC comes to see if N+ is worth spending money on.

N+ cover art evolution.
N+ character evolution gives the ninja a slick look.

Better Graphics

The PSP version looks a bit sharper and more detailed than the Xbox 360 version. No one at CheatCC has had the chance to see the DS adaptation yet, but Atari promised these new handheld versions are more refined and finished. Also, the game includes a large number of levels that will keep you busy for hours on end; so, even if you’ve played the game on the Xbox 360, you still have reasons to play it on the go. To top it off, it includes a great level creator that makes the replay value skyrocket. We’ll talk more about that later.

Retro Feel and Gameplay

N+ is streamlined and simple. So much indeed that it looks like an old Atari 2600 game, only sharper-looking and with faster-paced gameplay. For a change, no one not talking about a remake or a sequel of a retro game but rather a new and original idea that has gone a long way. It first saw light in 2005 as a Flash game. Who knew ninjas could be so cool even when just represented with a few straight lines and plain colors? Looking at the screenshots, see how the main character of this platformer is nothing more than that. The backgrounds are gray, blue, or purple wallpapers, and the platforms are straight or curved shapes with no further detail. Bombs, coins, and other elements in the game are equally minimalistic, but they work! So, how does such a simple game become so appealing? The key is in the gameplay.

In N+ players take on the role of a ninja and just sprint and jump from platform to platform, avoiding bombs, mines, zap and laser drones, missile turrets, and other explosives. In each level, players will have to look for one or more switches. The main switch unlocks the exit door, and other switches open up certain gates so you can make your way to the exit. While doing all this, your ninja has to pick up as many gold coins (or dots) as possible, which affects the final score along with completion time and number of tries. Like any good ninja, the character is able to climb from wall to wall, jump higher after being flung from launch pads or bounce blocks, and more. The only ninja thing he won’t do is fight. Oh well, that would be a good idea for N2 or whatever they want to call it.

N+ screenshot
Players need to get gold as if their lives depend on it.

Challenging as N+ is Simple

As easy as it sounds, the game is actually quite challenging. The good thing is there’s a nice balance between the maps, and some are easier than others, to help you catch your breath after some nerve-racking, hair-pulling stages. The level of difficulty relies simply on how the different elements were laid out on the stage. Also, the more explosives encountered, the tougher it will be to reach the exit. However, N+ is so addictive that even the most maddening frustration won’t be enough to quit. That’s perhaps what makes this game so engaging.

As more levels are completed, players will receive rewards like new ninja colors, level packs, animations, and more frantic and restless techno music to drive them crazy while they play. These rewards are not too significant, but they’re enticing enough to keep players going. Of course, most of them will find more motivation in unlocking all the levels and beating every single one of them, rather than being able to play the game with a pink ninja instead of the standard black. The amount of levels included in the UMD makes this title almost never-ending, especially for those who only pick up the PSP from time to time. One thing to consider is the ability to play this while on the airplane. Something tells me people won’t enjoy watching anyone yellinig at the game, all full of rage.

N+ screenshot
A Dragon is one of the most Ninja things to conquer.

Multiplayer Modes

N+ also offers a local multiplayer mode. If friends also have a PSP and N+, players can join forces and beat about 100 levels cooperatively. This makes it much easier; one of you can focus on touching the switches while the other collects some coins and gets to the exit. Only one of the players has to go through the door in order to beat the level, so there are fewer chances to screw up along the way. Online co-op would have been nice, though the ability to communicate is very important, and maybe that’s one of the reasons why online co-op didn’t make it into the game. It will be nice when handheld games start to include voice chat on a more general basis. There’s also a competitive two-player mode with about 50 levels. Talk about frantic!

Final Thoughts

N+ is a perfect game for any handheld device. Its simple yet addicting gameplay will keep players engaged for hours. It’s lack of story and arcade feel bring players back to a simpler time of gaming when the goals were clear and bad voice acting was only a friend making their own sound effects. N+ is easily worth the money.

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