Here Comes Niko!
- August 3, 2021
- Frog Vibes
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Here Comes Niko!" is a charming 2D platformer where you play as Niko, a brave frog on a journey to save his home from an evil force. With smooth controls and challenging levels, you'll jump, swim, and fight your way through various environments to confront the villainous Than. Collect power-ups, discover hidden secrets, and enjoy the delightful pixel art style in this nostalgic adventure.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming art style and character designs that create a cozy atmosphere.
- Fun and relaxing gameplay with a focus on exploration and helping others.
- Humorous dialogue and engaging characters that add to the overall enjoyment.
- Repetitive tasks and objectives across different levels can lead to boredom.
- Short playtime for the price, making it feel less substantial.
- Several bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience.
- story274 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a blend of lighthearted quests and deeper emotional themes, primarily revolving around the protagonist Niko's journey to become a "professional friend" while grappling with family issues and personal identity. While many players appreciate the charming characters and whimsical setting, some feel the narrative is underdeveloped and relies heavily on collectible notes for backstory, leading to a somewhat vague and unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the story resonates with those who connect with its themes of self-acceptance and the challenges of familial relationships, despite its simplicity and brevity.
“The underlying story is relatable as well, it adds an emotional core to it all.”
“The art style is trippy and it's got a heartwarming, fun story.”
“Under the cutesy exterior, however, the game tells you a subtle story of Niko's rocky relationship with his family through collectible bottled letters, which helps you become invested in Niko's character.”
“The story was quite forgettable.”
“The story is rather basic: travel through the islands to reach a company HQ where you get a job as a professional friend.”
“While casual platformers don't need much of a story, it is notable that Niko's backstory is developed through some of the dialogue and additional collectible messages.”
- graphics182 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and vibrant 2D and 3D art style, which combines cute character designs with colorful environments, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. However, some players have noted issues with graphical glitches and low-resolution textures that detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the aesthetic appeal remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The art style is absolutely gorgeous and the characters have a lot of charm!”
“The visuals are so lovely, every character brings a smile to my face, truly a feel-good game that is still willing to dive into more serious matters as well.”
“The art style nails the hand-drawn look and mixes 2D and 3D in a delightful way.”
“The visuals would sometimes glitch out for no reason, and some of the playable area turned invisible, as well as the greenery turning very low-res.”
“I'm still surprised a game with these requirements and such simple graphics managed to lag on a 5500U.”
“There were major graphical glitches while playing - especially around the water.”
- gameplay153 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, offering a mix of platforming and fetch quests that can be enjoyable but often feels repetitive and lacking in challenge. While the art style and music enhance the experience, many players noted mechanical issues and bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a consensus that the game is best approached as a casual, relaxing experience rather than a demanding platformer. Overall, it provides a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 3D platformers, but may leave players wanting more depth and variety.
“The gameplay is simple but also challenging enough so that the platforming doesn't feel too easy.”
“Really fun traditional 3D platformer with some cool mechanics and great gameplay.”
“The gameplay is quite easy to understand and master; it's smooth, and most of the time you feel like you are in full control of what you're doing.”
“The gameplay is often so easy that it's basically effortless and pointless; the collectibles and chores are not compelling at all while offering no real sense of progression or meaning.”
“The main problem I had was that towards the end, while going for 100%, it became very tedious and repetitive dealing with the same NPCs and same quests with the exact same gameplay with basically no variety.”
“This game costs thirty dollars yet isn't even ten hours long despite being filled with recycled chore tasks that have little actual gameplay mechanics involved with them.”
- music109 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Here Comes Niko" is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the game's cozy atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its relaxing and catchy qualities. While some found the soundtrack to be forgettable or lacking in memorable melodies, the overall consensus is that it complements the game's vibrant art style and engaging gameplay. Despite occasional criticisms regarding abrupt transitions and repetitive tasks, the music remains a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyable experience.
“The music fits the vibe of the game and grabs you with the wholesome embrace of this world from the moment you see the home screen!”
“The music is fantastic and so is the art style.”
“The soundtrack consists of very soothing and sometimes ambient tracks that really bring the colorful environments to life.”
“However, the lack of a clear objective and a subpar soundtrack diminish the overall gaming experience, leaving me feeling like I am just collecting tapes and apples without knowing why.”
“The soundtrack is also neat albeit without any melodies you're likely to remember a week after finishing the game.”
“It also doesn't help that there's a lot of silence between areas to do stuff in; I get this is a vibe relax game but the music is pretty decent and is relaxing as is, having silence while you're moving through nothing just doesn't help it be less boring.”
- humor100 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it charming and funny, particularly enjoying the quirky dialogue and memorable characters like the "handsome frog." While some appreciate the light-hearted, self-deprecating humor and clever puns, others feel that it can be repetitive and not universally appealing, with some jokes falling flat. Overall, the game's humor contributes significantly to its cozy and enjoyable atmosphere, making it a delightful experience for those who resonate with its style.
“I adored torturing my boyfriend with the handsome frog; I'd tell him, 'Talk to that frog over there, he has something to say,' and when he'd see the name, he'd groan and laugh and read what awful funny pickup line he'd get this time.”
“The humor is super amazing too.”
“The art style of the game is quite cute, and the dialogue that you come across is endearing and funny.”
“Some of the jokes were okay, but many were very generic and not funny. I didn't even chuckle once, and a few of them get repeated in every area as part of the same missions, which makes it not very fun.”
“The humor fell flat for me; it felt forced and often relied on clichés that didn't land.”
“I expected more creativity in the humor, but it mostly consisted of tired jokes that failed to make me laugh.”
- emotional89 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its relatable and heartwarming story, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings such as joy and sadness. Many reviews mention moments that brought them to tears, showcasing the game's ability to blend wholesome gameplay with poignant themes, including personal struggles and familial relationships. Overall, it is celebrated as a cozy, uplifting experience that can also touch on more serious emotional undertones, making it a unique entry in the genre.
“This game has helped me through a breakup that has been tolling on me emotionally and mentally.”
“Such a lovely short game that actually made me cry when I finished the main story.”
“It had some surprises I did not see coming, an emotional story, amazing and humorous dialogue, and excellent platforming controls.”
“The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I felt no emotional investment in the plot; it was predictable and uninspiring.”
“The game tries to evoke feelings but ends up feeling hollow and unengaging.”
- stability45 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game is generally described as quite buggy, with numerous visual glitches and minor gameplay issues that can detract from the experience, particularly in later levels. However, many players find these bugs to be inconsequential, as the game's charm, art style, and overall enjoyment often outweigh the technical shortcomings. While some reviewers note that the game feels unfinished, they still recommend it for its fun and relaxing gameplay.
“Not the most mechanically tight or bug-free game, but the music, art style, simple story, and fun gameplay make for an enjoyable short game to play through.”
“The overall presentation of the game is far from best-in-class, and you will come across some gameplay and visual glitches, but it's nothing that ruins the overall experience.”
“Visual glitches, things not behaving correctly, stuff not being saved right, collectible counts incorrect, etc. clipping just from pausing, pausing not actually pausing the game, things not fitting on certain resolutions (anything 720p and below) fps being weird, stuff floating around somehow, it's not unplayable, you can beat the game just fine, but it really shows how unfinished it is at launch, it feels like they didn't even playtest it considering you can't even 100% it atm, and it's not even that long.”
“There are way too many bugs and glitches, even for its first few days of release.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charm, cozy feel, and engaging visual design, creating a relaxing experience for players. Many reviews highlight the unique and lovely characters, as well as the enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the ambiance. However, some players noted inconsistencies in the atmosphere across different levels and expressed disappointment when the gameplay did not align with the intended vibe.
“The atmosphere and level designs are really good and there are some pretty unique gameplay executions like suddenly switching to a side-scrolling 2D platformer.”
“It's a very relaxing collect-a-thon and like any good one, the atmosphere is amazing and you just want to spend forever finding everything.”
“Great visuals and cozy atmosphere.”
“All but two atmospheres, Salmon Creek Forest and the bathhouse, feel very samey, which I personally dislike.”
“I did not feel very relaxed or vibey while playing though, especially with how frustrated I got with a certain part that is pretty much RNG dependent, and not fun at all. I don't think they nailed the atmosphere down at all, which is a shame considering what it's supposed to be and what it's marketed as.”
“The recurring chore where players have to collect live insects so they can be mass-murdered by a vacuous carnivore is distinctly out of character with the rest of the lighthearted atmosphere.”
- character development19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant and charming character designs, which are consistently described as cute and memorable. Players appreciate the diversity and representation within the character roster, including positive LGBTQ+ representation, while the overall aesthetic contributes to a lighthearted and joyful gaming experience. However, some critiques mention that certain characters may come off as unlikable, yet the art style and character designs remain a strong point for most reviewers.
“The aesthetics are colorful and soft, the character design is adorable (my favorites are Nina and Niko), there are a few decent jokes cracked by the characters you'll meet, and just jumping across the levels does feel satisfying.”
“A fun and lighthearted game, this can make even the worst moods flip on their head the moment they see the vibrant colors and charming character designs of Here Comes Niko!”
“I must say, the game has everything going for it in service of this 'a game for tired people' hook - the artstyle is welcoming, pleasing to the eye and of course very cute, the character designs are all very memorable and yet again: cute (you'll recognize a lot, if not all of your weird and wonderful friends as they reappear throughout your journey) and the soundtrack consists of very soothing and sometimes ambient tracks that really bring the colorful environments to life.”
“In spite of the character designs looking like Tumblr threw up all over them, and the characters being really unlikable in general, this is a really good platformer with an overall nice art direction that is also very accessible.”
“Some personal gripes are the character designs.”
“(A Tamagotchi-style snail could liven this up a bit, but was pretty basic and boring to me.) The 'paper' character design makes precise platforming a bit difficult sometimes.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often involving the completion of mini-games and the search for collectibles in frustratingly hidden locations. While some achievements require minimal grinding, many users express dissatisfaction with the lack of variety and the monotonous nature of tasks, leading to a subpar experience overall. Despite some optional grindy elements, the game does not offer enough engaging content to justify the repetitive gameplay.
“This game cost 25 US dollars and the actual game has like nothing to do in it aside from the same tedious, music-less, boring, and in some cases infuriating tasks over and over again.”
“The game is mostly middling, and the frog fan achievement is needlessly grindy and pointless.”
“However, lack of level variety, tedious gameplay, and noticeable bugs create a subpar experience.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its short length and the lack of new content after completing the story and achievements. While the platforming mechanics are enjoyable, players find little incentive to revisit the game once they have experienced everything it has to offer. Many reviewers suggest that it may be worth purchasing on sale, given its brief playtime and minimal replay value.
“And there is replay value in the game!”
“This game is merely 300MB but has more playable content than many gig-size games.”
“However, once you finish the story and get all the achievements, there is little to no replay value in the game, aside from deleting your save game to enjoy the game all over again.”
“It has next to no replay value; it's short, and the ~4 hours of content there is relatively unpolished.”
“It's a bit expensive at its current price point ($35.95 Australian) for what is a fairly short game without much replay value once you've completed everything.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed, with some users experiencing stable performance while others report significant stuttering issues despite high FPS readings. Additionally, there are complaints about poor CPU performance and the game's visual fidelity being reminiscent of older hardware, leading to inconsistent frame rates even on capable systems.
“I can play Dishonored with more stable performance or GTA 5 with performance on par with bathhouse level.”
“The performance was mostly okay, but occasionally, even when Steam was telling me I had over 100 fps, it felt like the game was stuttering.”
“I saw a few minor bugs and encountered a major performance bug.”
“The performance was mostly okay, but occasionally, even when Steam was telling me I had over 100 FPS, it felt like the game was stuttering.”
“I saw a few minor bugs, and got a major performance bug.”
“CPU performance is poor in places; this game looks like it should run on a PS2, but I can only get a consistent 50 FPS on a quad-core.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is well-executed, featuring effective advertising that complements its calming nature, making it appealing for players seeking relaxation.
