by Robert Workman on Tuesday, April 01, 2008
N+ began life as a free downloadable Flash game on the PC, introducing gamers to a small ninja-like character who avoids hazards while flicking switches and working his way through countless levels. Now the game is available as an Xbox Live Arcade download, and even though it costs 800 points, the equivalent of $10, it's more than worth it. This is one of the best games for the service, period.
Your goal in N+ is to go through each level, locating a switch to open a door and then returning to that door unharmed while collecting gold pieces to keep a time limit from expiring. It starts out easily enough with "point A to point B" levels, but complexity heads north with unreachable ledges, mines that explode on contact and various other hazards, including missile launchers and robot sentries. Your ninja character dies after just one hit and can't survive long falls. This makes the game relatively challenging, but not impossible.
Oh, yeah, this level's easy...NOT!
Gameplay-wise, N+ is a smooth experience. You'll have a blast bouncing off walls, flying through the air and sliding down to safety, while skillfully avoiding projectiles and enemies. If you feel frisky enough, you can also endure the extra challenge of collecting all the gold pieces on each level, just to see if you can do it. Be warned, though – you WILL die often in this game. In fact, one of the game's Achievements is given to you once you lose a certain number of lives.
In terms of design, N+ doesn't go overboard. The graphics are made up of simple sprites, with black-and-white colors and minimal background scrolling. However, the animations are solid, especially when you see your character erupt into a bloody mess. The music is superb, made up of groovy, rhythmic techno beats.
Along with the hundreds of pre-made levels, N+ also gives you the option to create your own using a customized level editor. Here, you'll be able to show off your design prowess to local friends. Sadly, developer Metanet didn't include an option to upload your custom levels onto Xbox Live Arcade for others to try.
At least N+ offers Xbox Live support through multiplayer, and it's not bad. There are two modes here, a versus race and a survival co-op mode. Co-op is tricky, as the camera stays in the perspective of both characters, even if one dies. However, it offers a nice time-wasting diversion from the single player game, in case you need a break from a level that's driving you insane. (Trust us, you'll run into several of these stages.)
Never mind the fact that the same exact game is available for no charge on the Web. Never mind the fact that the game resembles an Atari 2600 game. The bottom line is that N+ is insanely fun, no matter what your skill level. The gameplay is addictive, there's a ton of stages and the multiplayer and level editor will keep you busy for hours. N+ is as close to A+ quality Xbox Live gaming as you can get.
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