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Developer: Metanet Software
Publisher: Metanet Software
Genre: Action > General
Released: Apr 01, 2004
Players: 1

Website

- IGF - 2005 - Day 2

- IGF - 2005 - Day 1

- Interview with N developers Mare and Raigan

- n Review

Every now and then a game comes along that completely changes the way you think about games. A game so profound and innovative that it raises the bar for all developers everywhere. A game that will live on forever in the annals of video game history. Then there are games that while not really innovative or groundbreaking are still really fun to play. N is one of those games.

For those who are curious, N is a 2D action game in the vein of Lode Runner. You play a little ninja who runs from room to room collecting gold, avoiding traps, and bouncing off the wall in order to stay one step ahead of �€œninja-killing robots.�€? The game has a story of sorts, but it is mostly good for a quick one-minute chuckle. You can also check out the help section and read up on objects and enemies for a few more giggles and some help you get right into the game, but it�€™s really not necessary.

The game has you going through 60 episodes as you attempt to prove your mastery of �€˜N,�€™ the skill and art of being a ninja. Each episode has you going though five different rooms, climbing walls and dodging enemies and occasional weapons fire as you attempt to make it to the control panel to activate and reach the exit. The level designs in this game are pretty well thought out for the most part, adding an element of quick puzzle solving to the action via trap doors and key panels. A lot of room designs are in fact humorous in ways most non-gamers really won�€™t get (Wolfenstein vets will get a real kick out of one room particularly).

The game looks about as basic as it gets. Aside from our little non-descript ninja hero, everything is pretty much as stiff as cardboard. Enemy attacks usually consist of just moving across the screen to ram into you, most of the time without any kind of real animated motion. Yet in context with the rest of the game, the limited animations do kind of work. The whole thing comes across as a little flash movie in the style of the infamous kung-fu stick figure cartoons. Some of the best work comes from the ninja himself, who flies like a rag doll every time he dies and does a cool little victory dance every time he beats a room. I get the feeling this guy is one endorsement deal away from being a soft drink spokesperson.

Perhaps the game�€™s biggest draw is the moon-gravity-like physics. Players ricochet up walls and jump over the various cliffs and enemies like a kung fu version of an astronaut. The whole thing is reminiscent of a low-cost 2D version of Devil May Cry. Sadly, the games physics is also one of its biggest flaws. Controlling the ninja while making long jumps requires a very light touch. Not to mention the fact that sometimes the game seems quite finicky about how far you can fall. When make a flying leap across the screen you can never be 100% sure you�€™re going to survive the landing.

Still, for what it�€™s worth �€˜N�€™ isn�€™t a bad title. While it can�€™t compete with most other titles out there in the long run, �€˜N�€™ is one of those titles that you can just pick up and play without too much effort or time investment. If you have a minute or two you should definitely give it a spin.

Graphics: 5
Pretty basic, although the animation does sometimes impart a small weird Internet cartoon feel. Every now and then everything seems to work together, although most of the time it all looks pretty stiff.

Sound: 5
Without any real music to speak of, the game relies basically on sound effects to entertain your auditory nerves. While the beeps, boops, and grunt like sounds are somewhat humorous at first, eventually you�€™ll start wishing for the sound of fingernails on a blackboard just for a change of pace.

Game Play: 7
While far from the tightest controls, �€˜N�€™ does keep you fairly entertained with its level variety and a fair number of puzzles to solve. It�€™s one of those little diversions you can play while you�€™re supposed to be doing real work.

Value: 8
It�€™s free, and it�€™s actually fun to play. You can�€™t really argue with that. Plus the opportunity to beat your personal best for a level will keep you going for a while.

Concept: 7
It�€™s fun, and it brings back memories of Lode Runner so the basic concept isn�€™t really new. It�€™s like drinking a new brand of soda. The taste is different sure, but underneath its still soda.

Fun: 8
Like I stated earlier, it�€™s fun for a while. Something you�€™ll play for a couple of weeks and tell your friends about, but it probably won�€™t be part of your permanent archive.

Overall: 7
Clever to a point, �€˜N�€™ combines a fair amount of mediocre elements into a game that is somewhat more than the sum of its parts. Players won�€™t walk away raving, but they won�€™t feel disappointed either.

By: Russell Carroll
Posted: Friday February 18, 2005