Are you a fan of 90s platformers? Great, because with Nikoderiko: The Magical World, you are in for a treat. Nikoderiko is magical for various reasons, but most notably, it takes you back to a time when the platforming genre dominated video games and your only worry was if you had done your homework on time. If you were like me, it was never done on time because you were up late playing Rayman, Donkey Kong Country, and Crash Bandicoot, three games that evidently impacted the developers making this game. Speaking of the developers, this is the first game from VEA Games, and boy did they come out with a bang!
The Story
In the land of Nikoderiko we join Niko and Luna, a pair of treasure-hunting mongooses who discover an ancient relic *cue Indiana Jones references in cutscene*. However, they are thwarted by the nasty pasty that is Grimbald, who takes the relic for himself and sets ablaze their ship. This sets the scene for our duo to travel to various exotic locations on the island, taking down Grimbald’s Cobring Gems Company baddies and bosses along the way to retrieve the relic.
The Game
Straight off the bat, we are sort of thrown into what seems to be a Crash Bandicoot alternate universe. Not only does our titular hero Niko resemble him, but the overworld we are greeted with is pure Crash. So we select our level and then it all comes together beautifully and we are platforming the hell out of this thing. We are running, jumping, gliding (Rayman), collecting name tiles (Donkey Kong Country) and other goodies, sliding, and destroying enemies from start to finish in this enticingly enjoyable romp.
All this plays out on a 2D stage until the perspective sleekly and seamlessly slips into 3D, another Crash Bandicoot trope. But, it does it so well. I know what you are thinking – “It’s all been done before”. Yes, it has but rarely does a game marry up its influences into something so expertly crafted with well-designed levels, lots of hidden secrets, and engaging fluent gameplay. Bosses are fun but don’t really take too much trial-and-error to figure them out. The level design is well thought out and appealing all throughout. With each new level, there is something new to encounter. Oh, and there is a minecart level…
Adding to the fun, there are different animals you come across or can summon. These come with unique abilities that help you to reach places otherwise unreachable. Combat is about as basic as it can get, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. A standard attack, a slide attack, and a ground pound. That’s about it! I can’t help but think that more could have been done with combat in two-player mode. Maybe some sort of twin attack for a finisher.
Oh yeah, did I mention the whole game can be played in two-player co-op? I personally think this is a great addition. I was sat playing this with my 10-year-old daughter and we were loving it. Not only that, but it sparked a conversation about older games I played as a kid (which is all I talk about anyway) and we got to play some of them. A nice touch is that you can start the game on your own, and player two can drop in and out whenever they like.
How it looks
The game is a visual treat, full of bright, vibrant colours and fun and interesting character designs. As you dash around the bold and beautiful world, there are a myriad of hidden areas and places to explore in otherwise linear levels. All of this is accompanied by the charming tunes of none other than David Wise. Yes, the same David Wise who composed the original Donkey Kong Country. I am sensing a pattern here.
Conclusion
Nikoderiko is a no-brainer for me. While it lacks new ideas and borrows heavily from its classic counterparts, it stands on its own as a brilliant platformer. So much so, that it could be a spiritual successor to 2014’s Donkey King Country: Tropical Freeze in many aspects. It’s one of those games where I can see sequels happening, and I am here for it! The two-player mode again is a nice touch, bringing the family and sparking conversations about its influences.
Even though it is a bit short, coming in at 7-8 hours, there is tons of replay value in going back and finding all the missing collectables, and there are loads!
Although Nikoderiko is light on original ideas, it is a steal at the asking price of £24.99 on PSN. Nikoderiko is available on all major platforms. Now, if only there was a physical release…
