Nova-111
- August 28, 2015
- Funktronic Labs
A unique blend of action and puzzle-solving that knows when to poke fun at itself.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreNova-111 is a single-player Science Fiction Real Time Strategy game with good mechanics and graphics. Players pilot a spaceship, fixing space-time and searching for lost scientists in a quirky sci-fi adventure. Gameplay features innovative turn-based and real-time combat, mind-warping puzzles, strategic battles, and upgrades for your ship, utilizing science as your greatest weapon.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Wii
Wii U
Xbox
Reviews
- Nova-111 features a unique blend of turn-based and real-time mechanics, providing a refreshing and engaging gameplay experience.
- The game is visually appealing with great art style, charming humor, and well-designed levels that encourage exploration and clever problem-solving.
- It offers a fun and relaxing pace, making it suitable for players of all ages while introducing new concepts and abilities throughout the game.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth in its core mechanics, leading to a less engaging experience over time.
- Some players find the difficulty level to be too easy, especially in the earlier stages, which may not appeal to those seeking a more challenging puzzle experience.
- The narrative is minimal and lacks depth, which may leave players wanting more in terms of story and character development.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed game is characterized by a unique blend of real-time and turn-based mechanics, offering a rich and engaging experience with clever interactions and a variety of introduced mechanics. While some players appreciate the polished presentation and fun core mechanics, others feel that the level design detracts from the overall experience, preventing the innovative gameplay from fully shining. Overall, the game is noted for its charming visuals, witty humor, and a satisfying mix of familiar gameplay elements.
“The real-time and turn-based mechanics combine in super weird and interesting ways.”
“Nova-111 is a fantastic puzzle action adventure game with a world that's built with care from its beautiful colors, rich in-depth quirky gameplay to its witty humor.”
“In the case of Nova-111, that certain aspect that more weight should definitely be given to is the level design, which is, unfortunately, downright disappointing for what is, otherwise, a fine piece of software, and that because it doesn't let the innovative turn-based-meets-real-time gameplay really shine.”
“Nova-111 is a clever, albeit brief puzzle adventure romp, featuring an intelligent fusion of setting and gameplay elements.”
“The mechanics are deceptively simple but the interactions between objects are rich and the potential for clever play is very high.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant colors, charming art style, and polished execution, contributing to an engaging visual experience. Reviewers highlight the impressive landscapes and clean animations, noting that the aesthetic quality enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics, the artistic design remains a standout feature that captivates players.
“Again, though, big props to the graphic designers who worked on the game, as that part is really well executed.”
“The graphics on this game are amazing.”
“Clean graphics with great animation.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and look like they belong in a last-gen title.”
“The environments are bland and uninspired, making exploration feel tedious.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its charm and cuteness, enhancing the overall experience alongside its polished art style. Players appreciate the witty commentary and clever integration of humor with gameplay mechanics, making for an entertaining and engaging adventure. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the cerebral challenges presented in the game.
“Great art, cute humor, delicious puzzles.”
“Not to mention a lively sense of humor and polished art style.”
“The phase-shift and time manipulation have been done before, but Nova-111 wraps it all together in a charming and humorous package that should provide you with an evening or two of decent entertainment.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as catchy and well-suited to its style, though some users suggest longer loops could enhance the experience. Overall, it is praised for its excellent sound design, contributing to the polished feel of the game alongside its artwork and controls.
“Put simply, the game is excellent all around with fantastic artwork, controls, sound, and music.”
“The art, music, and levels are very polished, and doing simple things like bonking walls feels satisfying.”
“Excellent sound and music design.”
“The music is catchy, but it could use longer loops; however, the short style matches the game well.”
“The art, music, and levels are very polished, and even simple actions like bonking walls feel satisfying.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story in the game is minimal and lacks depth, with players feeling little connection to the plot or characters. While levels are well-designed with challenging layouts, they do not encourage exploration or provide meaningful narrative context, leaving players with a sense of detachment from the overall experience.
“Each level is carefully designed - whether through dead-ends and tricky pathways to cross or find during rescue missions, or through enemies to get around, manipulate, or destroy.”
“The story is barely there at all.”
“I know plot and characters aren't incredibly important for this type of game, but I appreciate caring a bit more about progressing.”
“Enemies are simple and just trade blows with you; there is no 'rock, paper, scissors' balance to the combat, and the levels don't encourage exploration with visual or audio feedback.”
Critic Reviews
Nova-111 Review
Quite frequently in the industry, certain elements turn out to be far more important than all other ones combined. In the case of Nova-111, that certain aspect that more weight should definitely be given to is the level design, which is, unfortunately, downright disappointing for what is, otherwise, a fine piece of software, and that because it doesn't let the innovative turn-based-meets-real-time gameplay really shine. All is not lost, though, as Funktronic Labs' debut product has proven that, as a developer, it dares to try out new things and implement them quite nicely, therefore, their next project will hopefully be something more than just a decent-to-good game.
60%Nova-111 Review
A unique blend of action and puzzle-solving that knows when to poke fun at itself.
80%Nova-111 Review
Nova-111 is an enjoyable turn-based adventure game that manages to impress with its refreshing controls and charming art style. Though it does have some flaws, such as a lacklustre auto-save feature and a cumbersome amount of abilities, you'll be hard pressed to find a weirder and more brilliant tribute to the men and women who changed the world through science.
80%
