Gaming to Go: N+ (p2)

In case you've never given the original Flash version of N a go, here's a brief recap of how the gameplay works. You're a ninja. A fast one at that, who can wall jump, slide down walls, etc. Your limited lifespan means every level is a rush to the exit door, a task made a little more complicated by the inclusion of a door switch, traps, and the occasional ninja-destroying robot. You'll have to hit that switch in order to open the exit, though you'll also be able to collect gold pieces along the way, which will increase the amount of time you have remaining to get out alive.

And that's it! Let it not be said N is a complicated affair, though anyone who has been drawn in by the devious level design and satisfying challenge will agree that it doesn't need to be one. N+ takes that gameplay and ports it pretty well to the DS's dual screens, giving you all of the ninja goodness on the go. Rather than giving you a set of levels to work through, N+ opts for an episodic approach, letting you tackle episodes of five levels at a time. When you consider the sheer number of levels available — think over two-hundred — and add on to that the optional level editor, you'll soon realize that for such a simple concept, N+ provides a lot to do with your precious time.

Simply put, it's fun. And fast fun too, the best kind for a gamer on the go. Putting a time limit on each episode is ample motivation to get through each level as quickly as you can, though the gold pieces do allow room for mistakes. Even so, death will come often, though it's as simple as a button press to start the level over and jump back into the action. The lack of any real death penalty puts the emphasis on speed, forcing you to put your skill to the test and try to get through the level even faster than the time before. The result is a distilled kind of gameplay that might not be well-suited for long stretches of gaming, though it's ideal for the times when you want an entertaining way to pass a few short minutes.