Nova-111

A unique blend of action and puzzle-solving that knows when to poke fun at itself.

75%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, optimization

75% User Score Based on 102 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

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About

Nova-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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+14

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

optimization1 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of turn-based and real-time mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
It has charming visuals, a humorous narrative, and well-designed puzzles that keep players entertained.
The game is easy to pick up and play, making it suitable for casual gamers while still offering depth for those seeking challenges.

The level design can feel repetitive and lengthy, with a lack of checkpoints that forces players to replay sections frequently.
Some mechanics and puzzles become dull over time, leading to a less engaging experience in the later stages of the game.
The game suffers from a lack of variety in gameplay elements, which can make it feel simplistic and unchallenging after a while.

gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay of *nova-111* is characterized by a unique blend of turn-based and real-time mechanics, which some players find engaging and innovative, while others feel it leads to repetitive and cluttered experiences. While the game introduces interesting mechanics and puzzles, many reviewers noted that the execution and level design could be improved, resulting in a gameplay loop that can become tedious over time. Overall, the game is praised for its aesthetic and core ideas, but criticized for not fully capitalizing on its potential.
- “Nova-111 is a very addicting game that hooks you with its simplicity but also with the evolution of gameplay the further you progress, increasing its intricacy and challenges that consistently makes you not want to stop playing with how fun the game can be.”
- “The gameplay is both fun, deep, and frantic, the hand-drawn 2D art is beautiful and distinctive, and it's backed up with a soundtrack that fits the mood perfectly.”
- “The turn-based gameplay mixes very well with the real-time elements and at the beginning there are new elements introduced to keep you interested.”
- “Despite the added mechanics and enemies, the game feels very samey very quickly.”
- “While the game is modestly well polished, the gameplay just isn't fun.”
- “I am a bit disappointed, because the game has everything it needs (including unique game mechanics) for a cool puzzle game, it only lacks the right level design.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
23%
9%
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their vibrant colors, charming art style, and polished animations, contributing to an inviting and enjoyable aesthetic. While some players noted minor issues with distinguishing interactive areas, the overall visual presentation is considered well-executed and appealing, enhancing the casual gaming experience. Many reviewers praised the game's unique artistic approach, setting it apart from typical indie titles.
- “Soft colors and pleasing 2D visuals were a correct decision in this case, and the game is extremely inviting as a result.”
- “The art style and animations are great, as is the music and overall tone of the game.”
- “This polish makes the game a pleasure to play, and the entire aesthetic package makes me feel good while I am playing.”
- “Even the art style is worse.”
- “The only complaint I have about the art style is that it was sometimes difficult to distinguish which areas I could move onto and which parts I couldn't, and I'd just end up colliding with it and missing a turn, making my score get higher.”
- “An unamusing game with better-than-average visuals for a platformer.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The music in the game is generally praised for its mellow and catchy qualities, fitting well with the puzzle gameplay and enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, some users noted issues such as the lack of volume control and the abrupt loudness of the title screen music. Despite these drawbacks, the soundtrack is described as excellent and well-produced, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
- “The gameplay is both fun, deep, and frantic, the hand-drawn 2D art is beautiful and distinctive, and it's backed up with a soundtrack that fits the mood perfectly.”
- “Cute visuals, upbeat music, quirky dialogue, and a casual game experience make the game good for the casual crowd.”
- “Put simply, the game is excellent all around with fantastic artwork, controls, sound, and music.”
- “The sudden loud music of the title screen is very startling and there is no volume control, only on/off (same with sound, however, it isn't deafening).”
- “Also, lazy devs could not be bothered to put a music and sound effects level slider in the options.”
- “Three tilesets employed look otherworldly and go well with the oddly ethereal soundtrack, which does admittedly get overwhelmed by all the sound effects when things heat up.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of cute, punny lines and clever references, particularly from the scientists you rescue, which adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. While many players appreciate the humorous commentary and polished art style, some feel that certain jokes, especially those relying on British humor, may not resonate with everyone, particularly non-native English speakers. Overall, the game offers a blend of engaging humor and enjoyable gameplay, though not all attempts at humor land successfully.
- “I found the entire thing to air on more humorous side of things with every scientist you rescue sharing a funny quote with you or outright delving into reference and meme territory.”
- “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.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The story in the game is criticized for being unclear and underdeveloped, with a lack of engaging plot or character depth. Players find the narrative to be tacked on, serving merely as a backdrop for gameplay rather than enhancing the experience, leading to a sense of disconnection from the missions and levels. Overall, the story fails to differentiate itself from other similar games, leaving players wanting more substance and intrigue.
- “Your mission: fix space-time and search out the scientists lost in the aftermath of the universe's greatest science experiment.”
- “I know plot and characters aren't incredibly important for this type of game, but I appreciate caring a bit more about progressing.”
- “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.”
- “Although there's quite a bit of dialogue in the game, the story of n1 isn't that clear.”
- “The story is pretty below-par and even tacked on.”
- “The story is barely there at all.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features a performance ranking system that evaluates players based on their completion time from the very beginning, encouraging efficient gameplay and strategic optimization.
- “The game, from the start, ranks your performance in terms of time.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for frequent freezes, particularly at the end of each zone, and a lack of save points, which can lead to frustrating experiences during multi-stage boss fights. Despite its polished appearance and engaging gameplay, these issues significantly detract from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend.
- “I can't recommend anyone pays $9 for mediocrity, even if it's well polished (but still buggy).”
- “It's a pretty cool game, a turn-based puzzler with some real-time action (falling rocks, some enemies, etc.) and an excellent soundtrack, which would definitely get a recommendation if it weren't for missing volume sliders, constant freezes at the end of each zone (thankfully it manages to save first), and most importantly, not saving your progress until you finish an entire zone (every 3 or 4 levels), which is especially annoying in the final, multi-stage boss fight, without a single save or checkpoint even though they're separate levels, so I didn't bother retrying it, it would've just frozen at the end anyway.”