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Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
grinding, stability
86% User Score Based on 139 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
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Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut Game Cover

About

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut is a multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by VEA Games and was released on December 5, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut is a vibrant platformer where you control Niko and Luna across eight colorful worlds, battling the evil Baron Grimbald and his Cobring army. Featuring thrilling runs, jumps, minecart rides, and epic boss fights, it offers solo or couch co-op play with added levels, treasures, and Hard Mode challenges.

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Play Modes
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut screenshot
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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews
music17 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Nikoderiko is a beautiful homage to classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot, featuring vibrant graphics and a catchy soundtrack by David Wise.
  • The gameplay is engaging and fun, with a mix of 2D and 3D sections that keep the experience fresh and exciting, along with a variety of collectibles to hunt down.
  • The game offers a charming story with lovable characters, making it a delightful experience for both casual players and fans of the genre.
  • The controls can feel unpolished and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments, especially during jumps and boss fights, which can feel overly punishing.
  • Many players have reported bugs and technical issues, including crashes and inconsistent hitboxes, which detract from the overall experience.
  • The grind for 100% completion can be tedious, as some collectibles serve little purpose beyond achievements, and the random nature of rewards can be frustrating.
  • music
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game, composed by David Wise, is generally well-received, with many praising its catchy, vibrant, and atmospheric qualities that evoke nostalgia for classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country. While some reviewers find it exceptional and memorable, others feel it falls short compared to Wise's previous work, describing it as enjoyable but lacking standout themes. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's charm and complements its colorful graphics and engaging gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is a standout as well—catchy, vibrant, and the kind of music that lingers in your head long after you’ve stopped playing.”
    • “The music is stunning, it fits the atmosphere perfectly, well done to the composer!”
    • “The soundtrack has some great standout pieces for me, some even unexpected for the game's style, but in a good way.”
    • “Everything about Nikoderiko feels slightly off - the controls are just a little weird, the dialogue feels like a fever dream, and even the David Wise soundtrack is just kinda there.”
    • “That still makes it better than most soundtracks, to be clear, but if you have any familiarity with his other work, this is probably going to underwhelm.”
    • “- the soundtrack is completely forgettable.”
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness, responsiveness, and variety, drawing strong comparisons to classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot. Players appreciate the charming visuals, creative level design, and engaging mechanics, although some express concerns about certain features like the random loot chest mechanic and auto-sliding. Overall, the game offers a fun and polished platforming experience, though some players desire more challenge and consistency in mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is tight and responsive, and it runs beautifully on Steam Deck, making it a joy to pick up and play anywhere.”
    • “This game knows how to charm us with its beautiful and colorful graphics, strong level design, and great soundtrack, along with varied 2.5D gameplay in which you regularly have to play from a different perspective!”
    • “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.”
    • “I'm not a fan of the random loot chest mechanic - it feels like you're training kids for later gambling, which genuinely sucks.”
    • “There needs to be an option to turn this 'auto-sliding' mechanic off.”
    • “Mechanics feel inconsistent.”
  • graphics
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty, vibrant colors, and charming art style, reminiscent of classic platformers. Players appreciate the smooth transitions between 2D and 3D visuals, as well as the strong level design and dynamic animations. However, some users noted minor issues, such as occasional character visibility problems due to visual effects.

    • “This game knows how to charm us with its beautiful and colorful graphics, strong level design, and great soundtrack, along with varied 2.5D gameplay in which you regularly have to play from a different perspective!”
    • “The visuals and animations are fantastic; I felt like I was back in a Nintendo game!”
    • “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 are just generic.”
    • “The visuals?”
  • story
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is generally described as simple and clichéd, suitable for a child-friendly platformer, with well-written characters that add charm despite the overall lack of depth. While some players found the dialogue cringy and skipped through it, others appreciated the endearing elements and comedic moments. Overall, the narrative serves its purpose in driving the game forward, aligning with the expectations for its genre.

    • “The story has a basic premise and all of the characters are written well with their own unique identities.”
    • “The story is simple but charming; I think the characters and voices are great.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story is very simple.”
    • “There is not much of a story, but it is an okay standard for this type of game.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when it comes to achieving 100% completion. Many express dissatisfaction with the reliance on random rewards and inconvenient respawn points, which exacerbate the grind. While some enjoy the challenge, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding mechanics could be improved to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
    • “I want to love it, but right out of the gate, it just feels so tedious.”
    • “One thing I really disliked was finishing the game and realizing I didn't have 100% even though I completed every stage with all the collectibles, and that's because you have to buy a lot of extra stuff with game money/items, and to top it off getting something new is not guaranteed, it's random, so, by the end I was stuck with 92% after spending everything I collected (and I collected a lot), and the only way to get 100% is farming, terrible choice.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by light-hearted, dad-joke style quips, such as the main character's pun about being "boared," which adds charm and personality to the characters. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the gameplay and visuals, making for a fun co-op experience filled with laughter amidst the action. Overall, the humor complements the game's vibrant graphics and engaging platforming challenges, reminiscent of classic titles like Crash Bandicoot and Rayman Legends.

    • “Plus, playing it in co-op is a blast, especially when you’re just laughing at the chaos together.”
    • “The world is well made and beautiful to look at; I've spent so much time admiring the background art and it is very funny at times.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and long loading times, which have persisted since its initial release. Players report that these problems often interfere with gameplay, including level progression and combat mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “The game is buggy, with constant stutters and long loading screens.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Nikoderiko is praised for its heartfelt homage to the platforming genre, evoking strong emotional responses from players, including joy and nostalgia. Despite some criticisms regarding hitbox inconsistencies, the game's visuals, gameplay, and overall heartwarming atmosphere contribute to a deeply moving experience that resonates with players.

    • “Nikoderiko isn’t just another Donkey Kong Country-inspired platformer—it feels like a heartfelt love letter to the genre.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a charming and well-composed soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a joyous and heartwarming environment. The visuals complement the music, contributing to a cohesive and engaging atmosphere that balances tension and lightheartedness effectively.

    • “The music is cute, atmospheric, and generally joyous but not overloaded.”
    • “This game's music is stunning; it fits the atmosphere perfectly. Well done to the composer!”
    • “The soundtrack is bouncy and adds a lot of atmosphere and tension when needed.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally viewed positively, with many players enjoying the challenging stages that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some users feel that once the game is completed and all collectibles are gathered, it may lose its appeal, as certain challenges become easier upon subsequent attempts. Overall, while the replayability is high for some, it may not cater to all players' preferences.

    • “The stages are quite challenging but very fun at the same time, offering high replayability!”
    • “I personally enjoy this kind of replayability, though it might not be for everyone.”
    • “My only complaint is that there's not much replayability once you beat it, especially if you collect everything as you go.”
    • “There are moves that look hard to avoid but really aren't after 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.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding character development, with some players appreciating the character designs and overall aesthetics, while others criticize the quality of the designs and the game's execution. Overall, the feedback suggests that character development may not be a strong point of the game.

    • “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 and one-dimensional.”
    • “The game fails to provide a compelling narrative for its characters, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete and unengaging.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is highly optimized, with players reporting smooth performance and no technical issues during extensive playtime, including support for high framerates up to 144fps at 4K resolution.

    • “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.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut is a action adventure game.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut was released on December 5, 2024.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut was developed by VEA Games.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World — Director’s Cut is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

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