N++

Game review by Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media
N++ Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Challenging, minimalist platformer with stylized violence.

PlayStation 4 2015
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 6+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that N++ is a downloadable platformer with simple graphics and no story. Players control a tiny, acrobatic stick ninja attempting to navigate mazes of hazards. He doesn't fight or attack anything or anyone but can be killed by hazards such as robots, mines, and laser turrets. When he dies, his little stick body is typically ripped into pieces. Lines of color representing blood briefly appear. But the minimalist, stylized depiction of the violence significantly lessens the impact. Cooperative and competitive modes facilitate a positive social gaming experience for up to four players. No online modes are supported, but players will see the gamer handles of other players on leaderboards and the custom names of user-generated levels, opening the door slightly for some exposure to potentially inappropriate content.

Community Reviews

Joer'ct D.
Joer'ct D. Adult
October 23, 2019
age 6+

More to it that the reviewer didn't catch

I've been playing the trilogy (yes, this is the final part of a trilogy) since it came out in 2005. In terms of story, the reviewer got it right. What the reviewer did NOT get right is the multiplayer modes. There is a race mode, and once you enter the exit you can deploy a rocket and steer it in such a way as to kill rival players. The game can get frustrating the farther into it you go as levels start to get harder. Minimalist graphics make this tame for an E10+ rating compared to some E10+ rated games I've played (they should consider reviewing Enter the Gungeon, that started at E10+ and graduated t ok a T rating.)

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

A sequel to a hit indie Xbox Live game, N++ is a minimalist platformer composed of more than a thousand levels set in small environments. Players control a tiny and incredibly acrobatic ninja stick man who lithely leaps from floors to walls to platforms, avoiding all manner of hazards and obstacles, including mines, rockets, lasers, and robots. He dodges these on his way to each stage's exit, which must first be unlocked by touching a button located somewhere within the labyrinth. Players can choose whether to collect gold coins along the way to keep up their ninja's life-sustaining metabolism, represented by a yellow bar at the top of the screen that depletes slowly with time. Stages are gathered into "episodes;" groups of five, each with its own leaderboard. Outside solo play are competitive "races" and a cooperative mode for up to four players, as well as a simple level editor that lets players design and share their own stages with the rest of the game's community. Nearly every facet of the experience can be altered, from the color schemes used for each level to how quickly levels automatically restart if failed.

Is It Any Good?

There's no small amount of pressure involved in making a sequel to a platformer as beloved as N+, which is probably why it took about seven years to arrive. But the wait was worth it. With somewhere around 1,500 levels scattered across all modes -- plus an essentially limitless supply of user-created levels -- N++ ought to sate even its most ravenous fans. And developer Metanet Software didn't fix anything that wasn't broken. The controls, which allow players to control the height and speed of leaps mid-jump, remain just as intuitive, precise, and empowering as ever. After a while, you'll feel like there's nothing you can't make your ninja do -- which is what will keep you trying and retrying some of the game's most difficult stages.

The co-op and race levels make for terrific social gaming. The former require patience and communication, while the latter sees players trying to use enemy robots and hazardous elements to their advantage, timing their activation to cause trouble for rivals. Add in dozens of new color schemes that let players customize the game's minimalist design to their liking and a driving electronic soundtrack that will get you tapping your toes and you have a recipe for a modern indie platforming classic. N++ is a treat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about screen time. Levels in N++ are very short, but it can be hard to stop playing, so what's a good way of ensuring minutes in front of the TV playing a game don't turn into whole afternoons or evenings?

  • Discuss perseverance. Some games are a lot harder than others, but are such games more satisfying to win? Do you find them frustrating? Are you more likely to stick with them if you can play with a friend?

Game Details

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