N (2005)

"Just might be the greatest game ever created."

I usually play games for about a month, then sell or delete them, because either I've beaten it so many times, or that it just lost it's replay value. There are few games I've played that I continue to play after long periods of time.

N happens to be one of them. It's amazing how a game so simple, can last so long.

The Gameplay: Most importantly, in all games, is gameplay. First off, it's 2D. Second, you can run, jump, and wall kick. That's it. Sounds simple, right? Well it's not.

Even in early levels, you have to use your mind to figure out the best route to the exit with out getting blown to bits by one of the clever enemies in the game. Sometimes it's not about thinking, but just pressing the jump button fast enough to escape from something such as a missile.

As the game progresses, it gets tons harder. Even the first few levels will take even hours to do, let alone think of harder ones later. My one complaint about this is that sometimes a single level that should take only 30 seconds is so hard that it could take hours upon hours.

The Graphics: Simple. Very simple. Your character is a thick stick figure resembling a ninja. The color of your ninja can be chosen given you've beaten some levels. The enemies range from blue octagons with a dot in them to a black semi-circle.

The background is all light gray, where the foreground is a darker gray. It hasn't bothered me, but I could see how that background could get annoying after a while. They should have had an option to change it.

Overall, the graphics aren't the greatest, but that takes nothing away from the game. In fact, I think it adds to it. A game like this shouldn't have amazing graphics. This also makes the game a very small file size, so even horrible computers like mine can play this game with hardly any lag.

The Sound: Like the graphics, the sound is very simple. You can tell when an enemy sees you by certain sounds, and there's no music to confuse or distract you.

The Replay Value: Some games are good enough just to play through again and again, while others need gimmicks. This game, however, has both. There are enough levels, in fact, around 450 or 500 of them, to keep you getting the highest score you can (yes, you can compete online for high scores).

Put aside the main game, and there is a level editor. You can do whatever you want in the level editor and then submit them online on a site called NUMA. People can play each other's levels, rate them, and record demos if them playing it. This greatly adds to the replay value, seeing how there are virtually unlimited maps you can play.

Possibly the greatest thing about the game is that it's free. That's right. Free. You can download the file in less than a minute for free, and you automatically get the 450+ levels and the level editor, with access to NUMA.

Overall, this just might be the greatest game ever made. It's highly addictive, highly replayable, and free. Definitely download this game. It will most likely be worth the minute you wasted downloading it.

10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/15/05