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Pirates are better
The Xbox 360 conversion of N, cunningly entitled N+, was developed by Slick Entertainment, not the original dev team.Don't despair, though, dear readers – Metanet still did all the design for the 300 or so levels. In fact the levels here are just as cunning and mischievous as the levels on the PC version.
In most cases, the console version is the same as the PC version. Your character is still the lovable little stick ninja that does strange dances when he reaches the exit, and the other graphics are just as minimal as the original. The same fluid motion is used too and the game still thrives off of keeping the player constantly charging on, often slipping and bouncing off the environment.
Just like with the PC, the game includes a level designer for you to design your own maps and traps.
For some strange reason though, you can't upload your designed levels to share with other players. This is a shame, since the best part of designing levels is letting other people play them, die horribly and swear loudly at the screen. It also means you can’t take levels from other players, which is an awful limitation.
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There are a few changes – N+ isn't just a console port of the PC original. The first change is the addition of some tutorial levels, which introduce the gameplay and enemies. Don't think that these will be a cakewalk though. While the tutorials start off nice and easy, later tutorial episodes up the ante somewhat and you’ll be itching with frustration again.
As well as the tutorial levels, N+ introduces multiplayer gaming to the mix. Co-op mode allows you to complete a set of specially designed levels with a friend (or stranger, for that matter). These levels usually need close co-operation and communication, which is always tough given the speed the game runs at.
Multiplayer race games are exactly like they sound: first to exit the level wins. Survival is perhaps the most fun multiplayer mode though, and pits you against the clock in a race to gather as much gold/time as possible – and the last ninja standing wins. You can respawn as many times as you want, as long as you have time left on the clock and trust us, you’ll need those respawns.
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Conclusion
So, given that you can download the PC version for free, is it really worth forking out 800 points for N+?Well, since the levels are all new, N+ does bring something new to the console that isn't available on the PC. Add in the multiplayer games, and you get something that almost becomes separate from the PC version. All they share is a letter – the + is unique to the
console version. The console also has the option to change the costume colour of your ninja – although, as we all know, no self-respecting ninja would be seen in anything other than black.There are a couple of little niggles, though. The game doesn't make use of the proportional nature of the Xbox controller – you're still limited to just moving left or right and jumping. Your progress through an episode is not saved, either so if you get stuck on a level and decide to play something else instead, you're forced to play the episode from the start again.
If you remember Lode Runner, or even if you just like classic platformers, albeit with a bit of new fangled physics thrown in, then take a look at N+. It costs nothing to download the demo, after all.
N+ is monochrome; simple yet frustrating and totally addictive. There are times when you throw your controller down in exasperation, but you will come back – so from the point of view of the long-term love you’ll develop for the game, N+ is definitely worth it despite a few flaws.
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