N+
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Developer(s) | Slick Entertainment, SilverBirch Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Metanet Software, Atari |
| Designer(s) | Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade), PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS |
| Release date(s) | XBLA |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
N+ is the console and handheld version of the popular Adobe Flash-powered game, N, which was developed by Metanet Software. N+ for Xbox Live Arcade was developed by Slick Entertainment and published by Metanet Software. Unique versions of the game were also ported separately to the Nintendo DS[2] and PlayStation Portable[3] by developers SilverBirch Studios and Atari.[4] Metanet Software licensed their N IP for this deal, provided single player level design for both versions, and consulted on the project. The Xbox Live Arcade version was released on February 20, 2008 and 3 expansion packs were released on July 23, 2008, September 10, 2008 and October 15, 2008.[5] The handheld versions were released on August 26, 2008.[6][7]
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[edit] Gameplay
N+ (like its predecessor N) plays with only three buttons and the directional pad, used to control a small black ninja. Players jump, dodge, climb and rebound from walls, collecting gold on their way to a level's exit. Each level the player enters has a time limit based on the ninja's "metabolism" which, according to the instructions for the games, gives the ninja an extremely short life-span and a "thirst for gold". Gold increases the remaining time for players, thus being a valuable item to collect. While the player is given infinite lives, death can still come swift and often, a key design feature of N+. Anything that is dangerous to the ninja will kill him instantly. Droids of varying abilities (seeking missiles, flying droids, ground-based droids, chasing droids, laser droids and rapid fire) can kill the player on contact, as can proximity and timed mines, laser and missile turrets, and simply falling from a dangerous height. Other dangers include one-way walls that can trap players and blocks that fall down on players underneath them, similar to Thwomps from the Super Mario series. Often, timing-based jumps or momentum-based puzzles come into play in order to reach the goal, and usually switches are required to open multiple locks that block the way to the door, creating a more complex structure than simply reaching the exit.You can also self-destruct by pressing the y button. The Xbox Live Arcade version of the game features multiplayer and map-editing, while the DS and PSP versions feature map-sharing and new multiplayer modes in addition to the features of the XBLA version.
[edit] Multiplayer
N+ features 3 types of multiplayer play: Race, Survival and Co-operative. Up to 4 players may play together either locally or over Xbox Live. The DS and PSP versions feature multiplayer via Wi-Fi. The DS and PSP version include Tag and Domination modes.
[edit] Development
Metanet Software joined forces with Klei Entertainment Inc. to develop a version of N+ for the Xbox Live Arcade.[8][9] Klei Entertainment created a new division for XBLA games, called Slick Entertainment, which took over the development work for N+. Metanet Software Produced/Published this title, as well as providing all level design and extensive consultation.
An expansion pack for the XBLA version, containing 150 single player levels, 50 multi-player co-operative levels and a few ninja colors were released on July 22, 2008.[5]
Another pack was released on September 11, 2008. This contains 150 harder single player levels, 50 multi-player race levels and 25 multi-player survival levels, along with a few new costumes for the ninja.
A third pack was released on October 15, 2008. This pack contains 150 hard levels, 50 multi-player co-op and 50 multi-player race levels from the original, N, restyled for N+. It also contains some new Halloween-themed costumes for the ninja.
[edit] Reception
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The Xbox Live Arcade version of N+ scored favorably amongst critics, receiving perfect scores from both GamePro and Official Xbox Magazine UK. Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead said "Purely on the basis that it's a wonderful concept executed with no small amount of wit and style, N+ comes highly recommended - at least to those with a taste for such punishing gameplay. It's obscenely generous in the number of levels you get to play with, while the multiplayer modes provide even more incentive to keep playing."[11] 1UP.com's Nick Suttner called the game "a perfect fit on Live Arcade and is exponentially more entertaining to play with a few friends from your couch. The nuts and bolts hold up as fantastically as ever, and the presentation is spot-on; it's all the more tragic that a few correctable details keep it from being something truly special."[10]
GameSpot commented, "Regardless of your jumping skill, platforming history, or dodging prowess, N+ is sure to leave you equally nonplussed and wanting more,"[12] while IGN stated, "N+ is just plain fun to play. The controls feel nice and the levels are creative and addictive."[13]
N+ won the 2008 Popvox Award for Best Console/PC game[14] [15]. GameSpot gave 8.0/10 for PSP and DS versions. [16] In GameSpot's "Best of 2008" the game was nominated in some categories ("Best downloadable content", "Best cooperative multiplayer", "Best implementation of user-generated content", "Best Platformer" and "Best PSP game") but didn't win any of them. It was a nominated for Best Platform Game on the Nintendo DS in IGN's 2008 video game awards.[17]
[edit] References
- ^ Arcade: N+ - Xbox Lives Major Nelson
- ^ The Official Nintendo DS N+ Website
- ^ The Official Playstation Portable N+ Website
- ^ SilverBirch Signs Multi-Platform Development Deal With Atari
- ^ a b "XBLA DLC this Wednesday: N+ and Puzzle Quest". Xbox 360 Fanboy. 2008-07-22. http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/07/22/2x-xbla-dlc-this-wednesday-n-and-puzzle-quest/. Retrieved on 2008-07-27.
- ^ Atari - US - N+ - Nintendo DS
- ^ Atari - US - N+ - PSP system
- ^ Metanet Software N+ development announcement
- ^ Discussion on N+ release onto the XBLA service
- ^ a b Nick Suttner (2008-02-25). "N+ Xbox 360 Review Index, N+ Reviews". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3166645&p=4.
- ^ a b Dan Whitehead (2008-03-04). "N+ Review // Xbox 360 /// Eurogamer". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=93861.
- ^ a b Don Francis (2008-02-25). "N+ for Xbox 360 Review - Xbox 360 N+ Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/nplus/review.html.
- ^ a b Ryan Geddes (2008-02-22). "IGN: N+ Review". IGN. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/854/854335p1.html.
- ^ "New Media BC announces PopVox Awards winners". 2008-05-26. http://popvoxawards.com/?q=new-media-bc-announces-popvox-awards-winners.
- ^ Metanet Software (2008-05-26). "N+ wins! The 2008 Popvox People's Choice Award for Best Console/PC Game". Metanet Software. http://www.thewayoftheninja.org/popvox.html.
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/nplus/review.html
- ^ "IGN DS: Best Platform Game 2008". IGN.com. 2008-12-15. http://bestof.ign.com/2008/ds/4.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-19.
