N+
Platform Xbox Live Arcade | Publisher Metanet Software Inc.
N+, as you may know, is the "sequel" to the flash browser game N. N stars a ninja with an unquenchable thirst for gold, the only thing prolonging his 90-second lifespan. The goal is to use your ninja acrobatics to make it to the end of the level, while collecting gold along the way to increase the timer. N+ is the same concept, but so much more inside. 50 "episodes" (think level playlists) of five levels each make up the single player. There is an addictive co-op mode, XBL or Local, and two different game modes, Race, and Survival also included. A level editor is another new addition, and is a shining example of what an XBL Arcade title should be.
Gameplay - 9
N+, as those who are familiar already know, is all about doing crazy, daredevil acrobatic stunts, and has a distinctive freerunning taste to it. You have to dodge mines, various enemies, and collect the gold and make it to the finish as fast as possible. Thankfully, these seemingly complex maneuvers are made simpler with the simple controls. In fact, you use one button to jump and the thumbstick to move. If you hit a wall in air, you grab onto the wall and slide down. If you jump while in this position, you hurtle yourself off that wall. Simple controls for a simple game. These high-flying moves have nuances, but beginners learn quickly.
Visuals - 8
Simple. This is all that N+ is. In the game there are no frills, no visual tweaks to make the game look nice and shiny. This isn't Geometry Wars. The background is a light shade of grey, the walls a dark shade of grey. You are black (well, he is a ninja). Gold is yellow, mines are red and other enemies are round circles. This is minimalism at its finest. The level design is also impressive. You start with simple platforming sections, but as you progress the levels become steadily harder and will tax both your puzzle powers and your reflexes to pass them.
Sound - 8
Musically, there isn't much. A simple (and surprisingly good) techno loop or two, and simple, distinctive sound effects. As I've been saying, simple is key. The gold chime sounds like, well, something you collect. When you open a door, it sounds like a door opening. It's just sounds. Very simple. Simple is key.
Longevity - 10 (A+)
I don't think, in my right mind, that I will ever beat this game. It has a whole lot of levels, and though each one is fairly short, they're endlessly replayable. You can also play the co-op with up to four friends through the single-player campaign, or an entirely new co-op campaign. There are two multiplayer modes, as I mentioned, and they themselves have more levels. And, you can make your own levels in a level editor that controls much like a 2-D Forge, it being the best 3-D console level editor.
Learning Curve - 10 (A)
Very easy to pick up. It starts our easy and gets harder, but the difficulty matches perfectly with the pace of your ever-growing ninja skill(z). The only thing preventing it from a perfect 10 is a few oddly difficult levels near the beginning (Master Control, anyone?), and a few extremely easy levels later.
N+ is what an Xbox Live Arcade game should be. Independent, cheap, easy to pick up and play, and just with that certain something that makes it great. It's not perfect, but damn near close. It's a great title, and is a lot of fun to play, for just maybe an episode at a time, or play it for hours. Pick up and play. And play. And play.
Overall Score - 9.0
March 3, 2008 - 2:06pm
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Comments
I've been wondering what
I've been wondering what this game is for a long time as i keep seeing friends playing and wondering what it is. You helped find out. Also by looking at those pictures there, i can see that i have played a version of this game on the internet year or 2 ago... So this is kind of wierd. All that aside i remember this game being awesome and this review shows that. Nice work!
Sweet........................
Sweet................................................................
Dude this game is so
Dude this game is so freaking addicting! Me and my friends used to play it during our online class hours at school. The flash version has like 500 levels, and we almost beat them all. We did like 430+. The user created ones were always super freaking hard! The arcade version is good, and it takes awhile to get used to playing it on the controller after spending so much time (you die alot) on the keyboard. Currently I'm on episode 40-41. When it first cam out I beat 140 levels IN ONE DAY! This game is amazing, and definetly deserves the 9. Great review guys!
I love playing co-op with my
I love playing co-op with my friends, we used to play the flash version and everytime we died we would switch off, now we don't have to.
Are there the same objects
Are there the same objects and stuff as the first game or did they add anything?
who what a cool game. i wish
who what a cool game. i wish i had a xbox. sob sob sob sob sob sob sob sob sniff sniff
Dude!!! I never knew that
Dude!!! I never knew that this was the sequel to the computer game!! I love N game and I am a beast. With humbleness. This is such a cool flash game. A co-op mode??? Unbelievable! The level editor is out for pc in v1.4. If anyone want to download. Here's the link: http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet/downloads.html. Uber addicting. I used to play this game in 8th grade everyday with my friends in homeroom. We downloaded the pc version and just kept playing the whole school year, got pretty far and beastly. This deserves the 9 it got.
And @DK5000: They have the original levels and multiplayer map packs. Source: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/n/nplusxboxlivearcade/
I could keep ranting about this, but I need to get this game. $10, eh? Worth it totally.
Oh yeah: What are the controls for the xbox? I would guess LS for moving, and A for jumping.
I LOVE THE N GAME!!!! please
I LOVE THE N GAME!!!! please god tell me it's gonna be on PC too. i'm pretty good at the original...
LS is moving, A is jumping.
LS is moving, A is jumping. X is to kill yourself. You can also jump with the Right or Left Trigger. To zoom in or out, click the right thumbstick. (i think) Can't remember if Y does anything, but all you really need is moving and jumping...
Co-op levels are nice, and when a player dies they do not respawn. Sometimes you have to "waste" players and have them suicide to reach certain keys for doors and such. They seem easy at first, but the higher co-op level are a pain!
The multiplayer over XBL is okay, but for me players would tend to lag on the screen sometimes, since the game is kinda fast paced....
What would zooming do? And
What would zooming do? And that's a new aspect, killing some teammates to pass the level... don't think I like it that much.
This is one of the best XBLA
This is one of the best XBLA games hands down, and the co-op is a bitch, its so damn hard but i manged to finish co-op
Oh yeah, do you still get to
Oh yeah, do you still get to unlock new colors after you beat a whole column of episodes like in the pc version? The colors don't do anything, just make your ninja look cooler. I have I think 4 colors in the pc version, not including black.
You already have an
You already have an arse-load of colors anyway, ranging from green to heliotrope.
Yea, you start with all the
Yea, you start with all the colors....theres really no incentive for beating it, unless you count achievements. My friend managed to get ALL of the colors in the PC version. Yea he's a beast! Zooming is used b/c honestly playing on a TV screen is kinda hard for this game...trust me it comes in handy. Also you don't have to kill teammates to pass levels. Just sometimes it's impossible to grab all the keys, so you have to make one man a decoy for a rocket or something. It adds a good bit of strategy really. I think I may try to beat it tomorrow b/c I only have like 45 levels left, it won't take that long...
Sweet. And @Legendary
Sweet. And @Legendary Hooligan, I don't think they'll put this on the pc. Then, why would people pay for the same version of the game on xbox when they could download it for free on the computer? IMO, I would prefer the pc controls more than the xbox. Just familiarity, I guess, and there's no "gap" when you want to switch directions. On the xbox, there's the neutral position for the LS, but on the pc, there's right and left arrow, nothing else.
Just a note, anyone who
Just a note, anyone who played this in a browser, is breaking the GPL, the game is a standalone flash executable, but sites such as www.games.com, ripped the flash code from it, and reposted it, and doesn't support custom maps and other things, but yes N and N+ are awsome
I've been playing the
I've been playing the original N for over a year, and to see these guys make it on the Live arcade (and the DS/PSP in late April) is just plain fantastic! I only wish I had the 360 to play it. Great job, Metanet. Great job.
I downloaded this for my
I downloaded this for my computer this year, and I've been hooked ever since. I've only got two more stages to beat, so I may not end up buying it again, but I definitely recommend it highly. My friends and I had great fun playing this while we were waiting for Halo 3 (true story).
this game is the best! i
this game is the best! i have n+ and the n game for the pc