Analysis of Nikoderiko: The Magical World

VEA Games surprises us with a platform adventure reminiscent of classics like Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country

Anyone who knows me as a gamer knows that the platform genre is my favorite. For example, my favorite saga since I was little is Crash Bandicoot, and when I discovered the existence of this title, it really caught my attention. My fellow writers, knowing my tastes, gave me the opportunity to review this video game, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Nikoderiko: The Magical World is a hilarious platform adventure that pays homage to the great exponents of the genre and does it in an exceptional way..

Great references for a great video game

Nikoderiko: The Magical World never hides its references. The title is almost entirely based on video games like Donkey Kong Country, Crash Bandicoot and Rayman. The title is divided into two distinct parts, the 2D side-scrolling sectionsbased on the saga of the famous gorilla, and the phases in which we must advance in depthbased on those of the marsupial. These two aspects exchange throughout the adventure and in a very natural way. And one of the successes of this game lies in the design of its levels. Behind a simple story where our protagonists must put an end to the plans of the very bad guy on duty, there are hidden levels with numerous and very varied secrets. In addition, more beginner players can rest assured that the difficulty of the title is low. The nightmarish memories of Crash Bandicoot 4 will never be repeated.

The different phases are full of collectible objects such as fireflies, coins, diamonds, the words NIKO or even hidden bonus phases. These collectibles are often hidden in hidden walls or in places that seem inaccessible. It is true that experienced people of the genre will find many easily, but there are very well hidden elements in which you will have to be vigilant if you want to get your hands on them. The 2nd phases are the most numerous and they are excellent. The character control is exquisite. We can jump, hit enemies or hover, to give a few examples, always with astonishing precision. The in-depth advancement phases are those most reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot and are the least numerous. In these, although they are very good, the control, especially in the jump, is a little more imprecise or it is more difficult to know where you are going to land.

Variety by flag

In Nikoderiko: The Magical World, new mechanics will always be added so that it does not become a monotonous game. The game has phases in which we will ride a mount, whether it is a small dragon, a wild boar or a chariot. In each of these phases, the gameplay will change. Each mount will have a characteristic way of attacking or a different jumping mechanic. In addition, The title will feature a good number of final bosses, very different from each other and which, despite their simple difficulty, are very fun and bring new things. at the work of VEA Games. Another aspect that differentiates this proposal from others of the same genre is the possibility of playing the complete video game together. And that’s something that’s been lost in recent times. One player will control Niko and another will control Luna, and while they are virtually identical in terms of control and abilities, it’s a detail worth appreciating.

a magical world

On the audiovisual level, the Cypriot studio did a very good job. The world they managed to create is truly magnificent.. With a very cartoonish appearance, everything we see on screen is recreated perfectly. The two protagonists have a rather nice design and the settings are full of details here and there. As a negative aspect, we can cite the enemies, to whom we could have given a little more personality. They look like standard enemies from any other video game. The game also runs very stable, at least on the Series X, and I haven’t encountered any type of bugs.

The sound part, like the visuals, is excellent. The melodies that accompany us throughout the adventure were composed by David Wise, who has already worked on numerous parts of the Donkey Kong saga.. With this teacher, you couldn’t ask for better.

Conclusions

VEA games and Knights Peak have made with Nikoderiko: The Magical World a perfect tribute for fans of platform video games. Everything this type of video game should have, Nikoderiko: The Magical World has it. Varied levels with countless secrets and collectibles, final bosses, beautiful settings and the inclusion of local co-op. Maybe the title could have used a little more originality, personality or fresh ideas, but everything it does, even if we’ve seen it before, it does wonderfully . An essential title for fans of the genre or for those who want to dive into it for the first time, since its difficulty is not high. We in the Xbox community can’t wait to see a sequel and see how they expand this world with new ideas.