NSuccess

Published March 5, 2008

N+ is the kind of story we all hope to see more of in gaming. A small time independent developer cobbles together a brilliant game, publishes it online as a free Flash-based title (originally called just N) and gains fame and credibility across the Web, leading to industry-wide recognition and an eventual publishing deal for Xbox LIVE® Arcade. That's grass roots development at its best.

Gold is good, fast is better.

N+ for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a vastly more expansive, feature-rich version of its earlier counterpart, N. It includes hundreds of new, often brutally challenging levels, cooperative and competitive multiplayer over Xbox LIVE, saved replays, a level editor, and of course, Leaderboards and achievements.

N+ for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a platforming treat for the ages, and a game whose very genesis is worth celebrating.

Physics Platforming

N+ represents the platforming genre in its purest form, with each level demanding careful, precise navigation of classic 2-D environments with the now famous spritely ninja avatar. The twist here is that ledges, walls, falls, and ramps all influence the sophisticated, game-changing physics engine that powers your friendly ninja's ground speed, jumping height and distance.

While easily understood, the physics engine adds a dimension of precision analog control to the proceedings that requires careful skill for even the simplest platform navigation. Suddenly, timing your jump is less important than timing your momentum.

Sooo many mines!

Run up a ramp from a few feet away and jump, and you may score respectable distance, but do so with a full head of steam from across the map and you'll launch dramatically further. It's a simple and logical addition to the platforming genre, but one that radically changes the nature of gameplay.

Of course, our ninja hero will face more difficult obstacles than hard to reach platforms. Brush up against a mine, leap into an electricity-charged robot or dwell too close to a sentry laser, and it's Gamer Over. It's this combination of head-scratching environmental puzzles and relentless enemies and traps that gives N+ its old-school difficulty and retro charm.

Ninja Levels Galore

The good folks at Slick Entertainment in conjunction with Metanet Software have produced literally hundreds of levels for N+, all of them classic examples of physics-powered platforming, but with the game's remarkably intuitive Level Editor, you can flesh out your own creative challenges.

Because N+ is by its very nature a streamlined, 2-D platformer, level creation is quick, to the point, and easy to understand. Its uncluttered presentation allows you to get to the heart of the matter right from the get go, complete with all the objects, traps, and enemies you've come to know, love, and fear.

My brain hurts just thinking about it.

Ninja Tips

The way of the ninja does not require absolute solitude, so allow me to offer a few tips for players in need of a bit of platforming guidance.

• Tutorial I say!: Many players will leap head first into the first few levels of N+, but allow me to caution you to play through every single tutorial level before braving the great challenges ahead. Whether it's learning the basic physics principles at work, learning to control your momentum, or how different enemies react to your presence, every tutorial level is downright necessary for beginners.
• Freefall, then grab: If you press against a wall while falling, your innate ninja skills will slow your fall. This is a great tool for survival, but remember that you can free fall next to a wall at full speed, and then press against it only at the very end to keep from splattering on the ground. In a game that prizes speed, this can shave precious seconds off your time.
• Slow climb: Wall hopping left and right between two walls can certainly speed up your progress, but when necessary, slowly ascend a wall by jumping up against it time and time again.
• Gold addiction: Collecting gold will better your time, but only to a certain point. Grab what you can in the natural course of completing a level, but don't go so far as to waste time by painstakingly tracking down every last bit of gold.
• Level recon: You're granted a preview of every level before you begin, so take the time to examine the map in front of you and plan your attack before pressing A to start. Even a few seconds of preparation can save valuable time.

N+for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a platforming treat for the ages, and a game whose very genesis is worth celebrating as a welcome and refreshing achievement for indie developers everywhere. You can of course see what all the fuss is about yourself by downloading the free trial version from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Article by Ryan Treit