N
- August 25, 2016
- Slick Entertainment
- 21h median play time
"N++ is a challenging sci-fi arcade platformer with masterful gameplay, stunning graphics, and sensational music. Navigate through 4,340 hand-crafted levels, avoiding enemies and collecting gold. Play solo or with a friend in local co-op, with leaderboards, replays, and a level editor for added replayability."
Reviews
- N++ offers a vast amount of content with over 4000 levels, including user-generated content, ensuring endless replayability.
- The game's physics and controls are finely tuned, providing a satisfying and responsive platforming experience.
- The minimalist design and engaging soundtrack enhance the gameplay, making it both visually appealing and immersive.
- The game lacks online multiplayer, which disappoints fans who enjoyed the feature in previous versions.
- Some levels can feel frustratingly difficult, leading to potential rage quits for players not accustomed to high-difficulty platformers.
- There are occasional bugs and issues with save files, including save corruption and problems with cloud saves.
- music616 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, featuring a diverse selection of electronic tracks that create a trance-like atmosphere. Many players express a desire for a standalone soundtrack release, lamenting the removal of songs due to expired licenses. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is worth more than the price of admission alone.”
“The music helps you to concentrate while playing and you never feel bored.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal.”
“However, the only update in the past year was when the devs actually removed some content (music licenses expired), and didn't even fix a long-running issue with cloud saves.”
“Savefile corruption is a thing that happens (this game takes 800 hours at minimum to 100%), music gets removed as the license expires (I'm sure one day in 2025 we won't have a soundtrack), the soundtrack isn't available anywhere since all they bought was the license to put it in the game and not sell it as a soundtrack accompanying the game (in order to buy all these songs you have to spend hundreds of dollars and some of them aren't even on the internet officially anymore).”
“Devs are using updates to remove songs from the soundtrack instead of fixing Steam cloud save issues.”
- gameplay485 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of n++ is characterized by its finely-tuned, momentum-based mechanics that offer a satisfying and fluid experience, making it both easy to learn and challenging to master. Players appreciate the minimalist design and the vast array of levels, which provide endless replayability and opportunities for skill development. While some find the simplicity and repetitive nature of the levels less engaging over time, the overall consensus highlights the game's exceptional control precision and addictive gameplay, solidifying its status as a standout platformer.
“The physics are very well-tuned, and feel fair and interesting even after hundreds of hours of gameplay.”
“Incredible level design and great momentum-based platforming, combined with mechanics that make your own decisions determine the difficulty of reaching the end of each section.”
“The gameplay is an 'easy to learn, hard to master' kind of thing, but it's really fun.”
“Not intuitive, and not very good teaching about the game mechanics and rules of the world step by step.”
“After that, I realized that the core gameplay isn't fun to me, as I really didn't want to replay the same levels again.”
“The trailer gives a feeling that this game is energetic, but the actual gameplay makes me yawn.”
- graphics360 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that enhances gameplay clarity and complements its retro-inspired design. Players appreciate the crisp visuals and diverse color palettes, which contribute to an engaging experience, although some have noted occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the minimalist style is praised for its effectiveness in focusing on gameplay mechanics while providing a visually appealing backdrop.
“The visuals are slick, understandable, and complement the minimalist design of the game.”
“A perfectly tuned, hard as nails platformer, elevated by beautifully minimal visuals and a banger soundtrack.”
“The graphics are fluid and well drawn.”
“Also have had some graphical glitches in the menus.”
“My game got corrupted, the graphics were a mess so I was forced to reinstall.”
“The graphic settings do not work on my computer, tried every single resolution with fullscreen on/off, and the game just doesn't render correctly, I can only see the bottom right corner of the game, as if the window isn't centered correctly on my screen.”
- story73 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal to non-existent, with many reviewers noting that it focuses primarily on gameplay rather than narrative. While some mention a very basic premise involving a fast ninja, the consensus is that the lack of a deep story is a deliberate design choice that enhances the platforming experience. Players seeking rich storytelling or character development will likely be disappointed, but those who prioritize gameplay will find it rewarding.
“With minimalistic graphics composed of clean lines and filled-in geometric shapes, and a joking spoof of a story, this is a game entirely focused on gameplay and the player experience within its levels.”
“There is barely a story, but that's okay because this game is only focused on the gameplay.”
“Yeah, there's not much in the way of the story, but this game makes up for that in droves with its flawless, fluid, and extremely polished controls and levels that will keep you playing for hours.”
“There's barely a story, but that's okay because this game is only focused on the gameplay.”
“The design is simplistic and the story is nonexistent, because this game focuses on one thing: gameplay.”
“Just don't buy it with completion in mind - unless you're very driven about playing tough platformers to completion, you're not gonna finish it, though it's not like there's an ending (or plot for that matter) or any worthwhile rewards for going out of your way to complete it.”
- replayability50 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game n++ is praised for its exceptional replayability, with players highlighting features such as a vast number of levels, a level editor, and competitive leaderboards that encourage repeated play. Many reviews emphasize the game's ability to provide endless challenges through time trials, no-death runs, and user-generated content, making it a highly engaging experience. Overall, n++ is considered a timeless platformer with nearly infinite replay value, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers alike.
“Replayability is a major factor of n++ - improving your times, going for no-death runs, trying new levels, or simply going through your favorites is quite easy, and the game's clearly built to be enjoyed for quite some time.”
“This game is timeless, and the presence of the level editor means that this game has a huge amount of replayability.”
“While there isn't a lot of replay value, there are more than enough levels to feel satisfied with the game.”
“The gameplay itself and almost unlimited replayability of the game more than justifies the money, when you throw in the amazing soundtrack, additional user-generated content, and overall ambiance and aesthetics the game delivers, then it's really a no-brainer.”
“Good, fun, and fast-paced game that has loads of content and replayability.”
- humor44 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both hilarious and engaging, particularly through the use of ragdoll physics and creative level designs. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of playing with friends, where the absurdity of character deaths and funny level names contribute to a lighthearted experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with challenging gameplay, making it a fun choice for casual play and multiplayer sessions.
“First, you cannot take any damage, otherwise you die, with your ragdoll typically getting abused in ways that loop from horrifying to hilarious.”
“Dying sends your character into a dramatic funny ragdoll, that often bounces off of enemies, and blows up into physics-driven pieces from bombs.”
“The game is hilarious at times through subtle humor hidden in level names and layouts.”
- stability32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, particularly with buggy menus, unlocks, and achievements, which have been a source of frustration for players. While these bugs do not significantly impact the core gameplay experience, they detract from overall enjoyment and have led to mixed reviews regarding the game's reliability. Despite these issues, many players still find the game enjoyable and well-performing on various systems.
“This game runs great at 60 fps on my crappy laptop with an AMD A6-6310 and integrated graphics.”
“It runs great and has all the features you know and love.”
“This game is buggy and unrewarding.”
“However, I was disappointed at how buggy the game was on release, so I wrote a negative review explaining the problems that existed.”
“You can tell this also because the game has many known unlock bugs and is buggy as hell.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has seen significant improvements compared to earlier versions, with enhanced I/O performance, smoother frame rates, and better controls that support accurate gameplay. While some users noted past optimization issues, the current iteration is praised for its lack of random frame drops, improved graphics, and a more enjoyable multiplayer experience. Players are encouraged to push their skills to excel, as the game balances challenge and performance effectively.
“It's extremely optimized C++ code - you'll have a good time playing, and the devs would literally have to go to hell and back to fix anything.”
“Its performance is a huge improvement over the original 'n' in ways that actually matter.”
“Releasing this fully optimized, perfect new version of the 'n' game is one of the best things that happened to me in my whole life.”
“Update 7/20/2022: I forgot how poorly optimized this game is.”
“Only those willing to push themselves to high peaks of performance will excel here.”
“If you let yourself tense up (and you will!), your performance will suffer.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some enjoy the co-op experience and the variety of levels, many find certain levels to be tedious and frustrating, particularly those focused on gold collection. The gameplay is solid, but the grind can lead to moments of rage quitting, especially in the more challenging levels. Overall, the game offers a vast amount of content, but the grind may not be rewarding for everyone.
“On many levels, the path to getting these is the most tedious and unrewarding way to play.”
“Some of the levels become tedious and irritating when there are large chunks of gold just dumped out of the way or put somewhere obnoxious; not all of the 1075 solo levels can be gems.”
“There are a few different game modes, solo which I managed to beat all the new levels in, but gave up on the expert levels. I completed about half of them, but the other half were too rage-inducing for me to want to put another 50 hours into grinding.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of N++ is characterized by its minimalist design and ambient IDM soundtrack, which together create an engaging and immersive experience without being distracting. The game's beautiful graphics and well-designed UI enhance the overall aesthetic, making it a standout in the 2D arcade platformer genre. Players appreciate how the elements of music, movement, and visuals seamlessly flow together, contributing to a challenging yet enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Fun platformer with a great minimalistic atmosphere which is pushed further with the electronic IDM music that is playing.”
“The soundtrack is an assortment of ambient IDM-style tracks which all manage to pull off the difficult task of giving the game atmosphere while not being distracting at the same time.”
“N++ has challenging gameplay that constantly invites you to push yourself to the limit, beautiful and simple graphics, and a soundtrack that perfectly matches the game's atmosphere.”
“Cyberninga inception atmosphere for nearly ten (million) years now”
“Same controls, same atmosphere, and same butt-clenching stress as before.”
“The minimalist atmosphere and hefty content of nplusplus makes it the ultimate 2D arcade momentum-based platformer to date.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, particularly during challenging segments like "eeny," which can evoke feelings of frustration and heartbreak due to significant UI bugs. Despite these technical issues, the game's precise movement physics and immersive environment interactions contribute to a profound emotional connection, making the grind both rewarding and tumultuous. Overall, the emotional journey is intensified by the game's potential for extensive gameplay and personal investment.
“The emotional turmoil I experienced after that was unprecedented.”
“Heck, I'm tackling the hardest challenge in the game right now, which seasoned players will know simply as 'eeny.' The grind has been an emotional experience, so I figured now would be a great time to revisit my thoughts.”
“You don't need to read all of this; I wrote it after 100%ing the game when I was still very emotionally vulnerable (and hormonally everywhere, as growing up will do to you).”