N++

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local), Online Content Sharing, Online Leaderboards

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Review:

N++ (in some places with the tacked-on subtitle (NPLUSPLUS)), is a challenging Platformer that is the latest iteration in the N series that originated on Flash in 2004. While this is technically the third game in the series, the gameplay and graphics of the N games have remained fairly consistent over the years. Players take the role of a ninja working his way through various dangerous single-screen facilities filled with bombs, deathtraps, and killer robots. Players must navigate each level to activate its switch and then head to the exit, ideally grabbing as much gold as possible along the way.

Visually, this is about as simple as a game can get. Your ninja is little more than a stick figure, and the levels you run through are simple blocks of one color against a different-colored background, with objects rendered in a similarly simple style. No one is going to be impressed by this game’s visuals, unless they find a spartan design aesthetic particularly appealing.

These simple visuals are accompanied by a soundtrack containing 63 electronic songs, and some of these are fantastic while others I don’t care for. Unfortunately, while at any time you can select a particular song you like or have the game randomly shuffle these songs, you can’t create a custom playlist of favorites.

Much as with this game’s spartan visuals, N++ doesn’t waste any time or effort with pleasantries when it comes to the gameplay. After selecting a game mode, players are shown a splash screen to give an idea how the game works, and the first series of levels are designed to acquaint players with the mechanics, but otherwise you’re simply given a level and expected to throw yourself at it as many times as it takes to complete it.

The controls here are simple – all you have is a jump button, let and right. Yet with these simple controls, N++ constructs some truly exquisite gameplay, and it all comes down to the game’s physics. Players must consider their speed and angle when jumping, build up momentum as they jump up walls or find ways to slow down before hitting the ground too hard. It’s a special feeling when you manage to hit a jump juuuust right to propel yourself on the trajectory you want, and the way this game’s movement is so well-designed is probably its biggest selling point.

In a way, each level acts as a puzzle of sorts, challenging the player to figure out how to best jump their way through each new gauntlet and get to the exit safely before time expires. You could try hunting down gold to extend time, possibly exposing yourself to added risk of brushing up against a bomb or enemy as you do. Dying in N++ is easy, and players will do it extremely often. Thankfully, this game is extremely quick to toss you back into the fray, and rarely does dying set you back very much.

In terms of content, N++ boasts a whopping 4340 levels, and that’s just what’s built into the game, as this game also includes a custom level builder and the ability to share and download other users’ levels online, much as you can do with the Mario Maker games. There are plenty of ways to sort of seek out levels too. What’s more, this game has support for 4-player co-op and race modes for those looking to challenge their friends or work together with them.

As for my complaints regarding this game, aside from the simple graphics and lack of a playlist feature, one thing that really frustrates me about N++ is how very user-unfriendly it is. This game’s menus are poorly-organized and hard to read, and even something as simple as “like”-ing another user’s level is difficult to figure out how to do. Also, while the ability to create your own levels is fantastic in theory, in practice this game’s level builder is off-putting as it is also really user-unfriendly in its layout and controls. Also, the high difficulty level of this game makes it something that won’t appeal to everyone.

In the end, N++ is a bit of a niche Platformer, but it fills that niche very well. It’s clearly not all that concerned with graphics or complex controls. Rather, this is a game that’s all about its in-game physics and huge variety of levels acting as a test of pure Platforming skill. If you think you are a gamer who is all about the gameplay looking for a Platformer to really challenge yourself, this game will likely be a paradise for you. Just be aware that the menus are a confusing mess.

tl;dr – N++ is a challenging Platformer with extremely simple graphics that has you as a ninja in single-screen levels trying to hit a switch and reach the exit before time runs out. The way movement works in this game is the real star of the show here, making for some truly excellent gameplay, and this game is absolutely loaded with content and game modes, including a stage builder and online community to download stages from. However, this is a challenging game that won’t appeal to everyone, and the game’s menus and stage builder aren’t very user-friendly. Still, if you’re looking for pure Platforming challenge, this game is a must-have.

Grade: B+

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