As a platforming game without any actual enemies; a puzzler without any true puzzles, N+ really doesn’t look that interesting on paper. With mediocre (yet crystal clear on the PSP) graphics and a soundtrack with only a couple of decent 8-bit tracks, the game isn't really much to look at or listen to. Yet thanks to its simple premise that rewards master players with unlockable music, level pieces, and character designs, it remains rewarding even when the difficulty ramps up to nigh-impossible levels towards the end.
With all that said, if I had just one single complaint to lob against N+, it wouldn't necessarily be about its repetitive nature, nor its ridiculous latter levels that include more bombs than a WWIII test site. No, my biggest qualm is lobbed against the idiots who decided that it was a good idea to create a game with insta-death levels (in which you’ll instantly die if you don’t start running or jumping immediately when spawned) and make the START button instantly send you back to the title screen. I know how petty this probably seems, but when you spend 15 minutes and 200 lives trying to get past the third stage only to accidentally pause, no wait, RESET the entire level, you'll be tearing your hair out in annoyance in no time. There are no warnings when starting a new game (just like when ending a mission), meaning that you can easily not be paying attention and rewrite your save when you think you're loading your game. Oops! Yeah, that's stupid.
Idiotic menu issues aside, N+ still provides a great value and tons of fun for anyone who picks it up. With over 40 different levels and a near-endless supply of downloadable user-generated content, it's hard to not see the value in such a simple and fun game.
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