Nikoderiko

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 29 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Nikoderiko Game Cover
Nikoderiko: The Magical World looks fantastic, plays brilliantly, and hits all of the right spots.
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"Nikoderiko: The Magical World" is a charming platformer game where players join Niko and Luna on a journey to save a magical island from the evil Baron Grimbald. The game can be played in single-player mode or with a friend in local couch co-op. Traverse through 2.5D levels in seven amazing worlds, packed with cute characters, huge bosses, treasures, and secrets to discover, making it an exciting adventure for both classic platformer fans and newcomers.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game is visually stunning with gorgeous art direction and polished graphics, reminiscent of classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot.
  • Gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, featuring a variety of level designs and creative boss fights, making it a fun experience for both casual and hardcore platformer fans.
  • The soundtrack by David Wise adds a nostalgic touch, enhancing the overall charm and atmosphere of the game.
  • Controls can feel imprecise and floaty at times, which may detract from the overall gameplay experience for those used to tighter controls.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and replayability, especially when pursuing 100% completion.
  • Technical issues such as glitches and hitbox inconsistencies can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its smoothness and polish, featuring a variety of level themes and creative boss fights, reminiscent of classic titles like Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot. While the sidescrolling mechanics are well-received, some players find the Crash-style gameplay less engaging. Overall, the vibrant graphics and dynamic animations contribute to a charming and enjoyable experience.

    • “Most importantly, the gameplay is very smooth and feels polished. There is a lot of variety in terms of level themes and mechanics, and the boss fights were all creative too; I enjoyed them.”
    • “Bright graphics, very clean and dynamic animations, super voice acting, and fun gameplay - all you need in an arcade game!”
    • “The gameplay is smooth, the levels are very colorful, and every moment is full of charm.”
    • “Not exactly riveting gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay collisions could also benefit from more impact juice.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by David Wise, is generally well-received, featuring enjoyable and varied tracks that complement the gameplay. While some standout pieces are noted, the soundtrack is considered less memorable compared to Wise's work in the Donkey Kong Country series. Overall, it enhances the game's fun and visually stunning experience, though it may not reach the high bar set by previous titles.

    • “It even has a soundtrack by David Wise, the composer of the DKC games!”
    • “The music is enjoyable as one would expect from David Wise, with varied tracks on levels.”
    • “I just finished the story and it was pretty good and fun, definitely has that B-grade platformer vibe which I like and the music is great. You can’t go wrong with David Wise; he’s a legend. If you like DKC, you’re going to enjoy this game; I know I did.”
    • “The music is clearly a David Wise soundtrack, with mostly hits, some better than others. The sound design works nicely, although I sometimes almost thought I heard a seagull from the outside, in the winter.”
    • “The gameplay combines elements of DKC, Crash, and Rayman, but the music doesn't quite match the 12/10 art direction.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their eye-catching, cartoony style and vibrant colors, contributing to a fun and heartwarming atmosphere. While some players noted occasional issues with character visibility due to visual effects, the overall presentation, including clean animations and beautiful art design, enhances the enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “This is a fantastic platforming game reminiscent of games like Donkey Kong Country, Rayman, etc. It's a fun and relaxing game to play, with great graphics and couch co-op which is great with the kids.”
    • “One of the best 3D platformers that released in 2024, recommended, the visuals are so eye-catching and beautiful.”
    • “The only issue with the game's visuals I came across was the player characters getting lost in or behind visual effects at times, such as being obscured by defeated enemies remaining on screen briefly, or when lots of collectibles are collected at once.”
    • “The visuals?”
    • “Bright graphics, very clean and dynamic animations, super voice-acting and fun gameplay - all you need in an arcade game!”
  • story7 mentions

    The story is described as simple yet charming, with endearing characters and enjoyable voice acting, though some dialogue is seen as cringy and unnecessary. While it effectively drives the narrative forward, it leans into a lighthearted, B-grade platformer vibe reminiscent of classic titles like Donkey Kong Country. Overall, the story is fun and suitable for a kid-friendly audience, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its comedic elements.

    • “It is perfectly enough to drive the story forward and build some characters, though I'd be lying if I said it wasn't endearing in places.”
    • “I just finished the story and it was pretty good and fun; it definitely has that B-grade platformer vibe which I like. The music is great—you can't go wrong with David Wise; he's a legend. If you like DKC, you're going to enjoy this game; I know I did.”
    • “I found myself skipping through every dialog scene (and there's quite a few, which are just there for comedic purposes and serve no story value) because I just found it rather cringy.”
    • “Story content for a kid-friendly platformer like this... you have to be either funny like Mario/Banjo-Kazooie or be a bit edgy like Mega Man/Sonic.”
    • “The story is simple but charming; I think the characters and voices are great.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its challenging and enjoyable stages, appealing to players who appreciate this aspect. However, some users note that certain moves may become easier to avoid after initial attempts, potentially diminishing the challenge for repeat playthroughs. Overall, while it caters to fans of replayability, it may not suit everyone.

    • “The stages are quite challenging but very fun at the same time, offering high replayability!”
    • “There are moves that look hard to avoid but really aren't after the first time, which could hurt replayability as it might become too easy.”
    • “There are moves that look like they are hard to avoid but really aren't after maybe the first time, which could hurt replayability as it may become too easy.”
    • “I personally like this sort of replayability, but it might not be for everyone.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its heartwarming atmosphere and impactful visuals that evoke feelings of joy, even leading to tears of happiness. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall emotional experience is overwhelmingly positive.

    • “This game is so awesome that I cried and ran to the toilet to cry, but I cried from happiness!”
    • “Nice visuals, nice gameplay, heartwarming atmosphere, that's what I love.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is highly optimized, with users reporting no technical or performance issues during extensive playtime. It supports high framerates, with one player achieving a stable 144fps at 4K resolution, indicating excellent performance across various setups.

    • “I didn't run into any technical or performance issues in my 20+ hours of play, and support for framerates above 60 is hugely appreciated!”
    • “The game runs smoothly with no issues, and I'm getting a stable 144fps at 4K.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere for its impressive level design and visuals, creating a heartwarming and engaging experience that enhances gameplay.

    • “Loving the level design and atmosphere!”
    • “Nice visuals, nice gameplay, heartwarming atmosphere, that's what I love.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including persistent glitches and bugs that affect level progression and gameplay mechanics. Players have reported oversized hitboxes and other technical problems that detract from the overall experience, indicating that these issues have remained unresolved since the initial console release.

    • “There's a lot of glitches and bugs, some messing with level progress, that to my understanding have been in there since its initial release on consoles months ago.”
    • “Bugs, glitches, or ridiculously oversized hitboxes on some enemies and bosses (as in: full character-wide areas of empty space between me and an enemy and I still end up getting hit) are the only things that have ever killed me in this game.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted, kid-friendly jokes reminiscent of classic platformers like Mario and Banjo-Kazooie, alongside a touch of edginess akin to Mega Man and Sonic. The characters, particularly Niko, deliver charming one-liners, such as "with you I'd never be boared," showcasing a playful and engaging sense of humor that appeals to both kids and adults.

    • “The two main characters are packed with personality, and honestly, Niko won me over the moment he hopped on a boar and said, 'With you, I'd never be boared.' I mean, with this dad humor, how can I resist?”
    • “The humor in this game is spot on, blending clever puns with slapstick moments that keep you laughing throughout.”
    • “The witty dialogue and playful interactions between characters add a delightful layer of humor that makes the game truly enjoyable.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players note that while the game offers numerous shiny collectibles for 100% completion, achieving that goal often requires significant grinding and replaying of levels to gather the remaining items.

    • “Lots of shiny collectibles for those going for 100% completion, but actually reaching that number seems to involve a lot of replaying levels and grinding for collectibles for those last few percentages.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being poorly executed, with many users feeling that the characters lack depth and complexity. Additionally, the character designs are deemed unappealing, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth for the characters; they felt static throughout the story.”
    • “The game fails to provide any depth to its characters, leaving them feeling one-dimensional and forgettable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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