Noitu Love 2: Devolution

About

"Noitu Love 2: Devolution" is a retro-style arcade adventure where you play as Xoda Rap, battling the time-bending mayhem caused by the return of the Darns, a century after their initial defeat. The game features unique mouse-controlled gameplay, super-fast action, and inventive bosses across seven levels, each with unique challenges and multiple boss battles. Offering something for fans and newcomers alike, it has three difficulty settings and additional unlockable content.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 302 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Fast-paced, chaotic gameplay that is reminiscent of classic arcade games like Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug.
Unique control scheme using mouse and keyboard that allows for fluid movement and combat, making it feel fresh and engaging.
Beautiful pixel art and animations, along with a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

The game is quite short, typically completed in under two hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Lack of controller support and the reliance on mouse controls can be frustrating for players accustomed to traditional gamepads.
Some levels and bosses may feel less interesting or poorly designed compared to others, leading to an uneven experience.

gameplay
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The gameplay of "Noitu Love 2: Devolution" is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic action and unique mouse-centric mechanics, reminiscent of classic arcade beat 'em ups. Players enjoy engaging boss battles and varied levels, though some find the core combat mechanics overly simplistic and reliant on mindless clicking. Overall, the game is praised for its vibrant pixel art, solid controls, and replayability, making it a fun experience despite its short length.
- “The boss battles are the real highlights, as not only do they have great designs, but they seem to truly take advantage of the mechanics.”
- “Very fast-paced gameplay that works thanks to thoughtful physics and control decisions.”
- “This is by far one of the most hectic and fun games I've played in a while... the sprites are gorgeous and the gameplay is super addicting.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and is at the heart of the game, but unfortunately is also terrible.”
- “The click to fight mechanic felt a little bit mindless.”
- “There's also a couple mechanics, namely the 'connect the dots gunplay' that left me puzzled for longer than I'd like to admit.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
18%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and energetic soundtrack, which complements the vibrant pixel art and fast-paced gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the chiptune style as a nostalgic nod to classic 90s games, enhancing the overall experience. However, a few opinions suggest that the music may not appeal to everyone, with some finding it less enjoyable compared to other aspects of the game.
- “The strong points the game has are the gameplay, how the game looks, the story, the boss fights, and especially the music.”
- “Classic sidescrolling beat 'em up with a fantastic chiptune soundtrack - 'cause it's always 1993 somewhere!”
- “The sprite work is solid, each stage has its own identity further established by the excellent soundtrack and unique stage bosses.”
- “Too bad I can't spend my money to buy the soundtrack on Steam, but I guess an officially free download is acceptable.”
- “Personally, I find the music style in these games to be atrocious, but if you are a fan of the soundtrack to Street Fighter, you will probably feel right at home here.”
- “The soundtrack is probably what kills this - if it had a better soundtrack, this game could be even better.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming retro aesthetic, combining pixel art with modern gameplay elements. Reviewers highlight the vibrant and colorful visuals, likening them to classic titles while noting their smooth execution and attention to detail. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's nostalgic appeal and enjoyable experience.
- “The pixel art is utterly amazing and creates a style that still stays with me as one of my favorite game aesthetics of all time.”
- “Fast-paced, pick-up-and-play action with a beautiful retro aesthetic.”
- “The visuals remain colorful and dynamic and all-around fun to look at.”
- “The story is boring, and the graphics, while 2D and clean, just aren't up to the standards of classics like Metal Slug.”
- “It isn’t particularly beautiful, but it isn’t ugly either, and it is significantly better than a lot of the 8-bit pseudo-retro graphics indie games floating around the market.”
- “The graphics are really colorful and smooth, like something lovingly pulled out of the later GBA-era games.”
story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
9%
The game's story is often described as nonsensical and bizarre, featuring a convoluted time-travel plot that doesn't require deep understanding, adding to its quirky charm. While some players find the narrative threadbare and short, others appreciate its campy nature and entertaining characters, suggesting that the gameplay and overall experience take precedence over the story itself. Overall, the story is seen as a fun, albeit simple backdrop to the engaging gameplay and impressive art design.
- “The story definitely turns up the camp-factor in a good way, offering a goofy adventure for those who want or just a fun romp for those who don't care as much.”
- “An excellent story, engaging gameplay, entertaining bosses, awesome music.”
- “The game’s story makes no sense; it involves some bizarre time-travel plot which isn’t really time travel… it doesn’t really make any sense, but it doesn’t need to and really isn’t supposed to.”
- “The story is boring, and the graphics while 2D and clean just aren't up to the standards of classics like Metal Slug.”
- “The story isn't anything special.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The game offers high replayability through its ranking system, unlockable characters, and multiple difficulty levels, encouraging players to improve their scores and explore different playstyles. Despite its short length, the variety of challenges and the addictive nature of striving for better performance keep players engaged. Overall, the combination of unique characters and gameplay variations ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to return.
- “The game has a records system which keeps track of your best times along with a ranking system which highly encourages replayability, and trying to get the best time and rank you possibly can is highly addicting and fun; it's a great addition.”
- “You've also got some decent replay value here; you can unlock new characters with their own playstyle, which lets you mix things up a bit, and you can try out the game on harder difficulty settings, do high score runs, etc.”
- “Still, a ton of fun and quite a lot of replayability, with 3 difficulty levels (normal, hard, and hardest, which gets unlocked when you beat hard), 3 playable characters that are all quite unique in style, and a hidden boss.”
- “The game plays well but it's easily beatable in under 2 hours; the 'replayability' comes from trying to get a higher score, and while it plays well, nothing really gripped me enough to go back.”
- “With only seven levels, the gameplay can be very short, especially considering the levels go by quickly, but there are unlockables that give the game a fair bit of replayability.”
- “It's a short game, but it's got a decent amount of replay value.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as unique and abundant, contributing to a fresh and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the creative challenges and nonsensical story that enhance the game's comedic spirit, with numerous funny remarks and scenes throughout. Overall, the game is recognized for its compact design and consistent humor, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The core controls are pretty unique and lead to a fresh experience, and the levels are filled with creative challenges and good humor.”
- “The story is nonsense, but that just adds to the frenetic, funny spirit of the game.”
- “The game is packed with content, funny remarks and scenes, and some very classical aesthetics.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is vibrant and engaging, characterized by a lively social environment as friends gather to enjoy the experience together. The pixel art style and color palette enhance this ambiance, creating distinct and visually appealing settings that contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- “The pixel style and colors of the game complement each other greatly, creating fun atmospheres that are easily differentiated and pleasant to look at.”
- “The gang continues to watch Sonic play, sharing laughs and cheers, creating a lively atmosphere in Sonic's living room.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users feel that grinding in beat-em-up games often leads to tedious gameplay due to damage-sponge enemies, which can be mistaken for difficulty. While some players may enjoy grinding for high scores, it generally detracts from the overall experience.
- “Tons of beat-em-ups mistake damage sponge enemies as a difficult game, but really, it's just tedious.”
- “Might be worth it if you like grinding for score.”