There are very few platform games and for one reason or another, not all of them are able to achieve the same success of Crash Bandicoot, Donkey Kong or Sonic the Hedgehog. Nikoderiko: The Magical World presents itself as a love letter to the 90s classic platformers. While the game doesn’t evolve the genre, it manages to capture the essence of those games and offers around 8-10 hours of fun content (depending on the player’s skill).

The Magical Adventure of Niko and Luna

Nikoderiko: The Magical World follows the adventures of Niko and Luna, two anthropomorphic mongooses who must recover an ancient relic stolen by the evil Grimbald, owner of the Cobring Gems Company. To save the island and its inhabitants, the two protagonists must traverse seven unique worlds and defeat each world’s boss. The story is paper-thin and easily forgettable, but the narrative accompanies the player through each level with recurrent dialogues between characters and fortunately they are fully voiced.

There are many similarities with Crash Bandicoot, from the anthropomorphic design of the two protagonists to the magical island and even the level structure, which alternates 2D side-scrolling sections with 3D scenarios. As a typical platform, you will reach the end of each level by running, jumping, sliding, spinning and sometimes even summoning a mount (such as a crocodile), with more mounts being unlocked as you progress throughout the adventure. Each level also offers a mix of collectibles (such as collecting four letters to form the word “Niko”) and secret areas to discover. Replayability isn’t high once you finish the game, but you can always replay each level looking for the remaining collectibles. What sets Nikoderiko apart from Crash, however, is the cooperative mode, which allows two players to experience the entire adventure together.

While playing the game with a friend makes the game slightly easier, it also increases the fun and is highly recommended if you plan to stream the game. You can also team-up with another streamer to tackle challenges together while also creating fun content for your viewers. If you play solo instead, you can choose your preferred character (Niko or Luna) before starting each level.

Nikoderiko Is a Game with Little Personality

It’s impossible to ignore the fact that Nikoderiko takes most of its ideas from the classic 90s platformers that inspired it. The lack of originality could easily disappoint some players, especially those who were hoping to see a new platformer capable of evolving the genre. This is not the case and perhaps Nikoderiko borrows too many elements from the past. The game seems mostly aimed at those nostalgic players who want to immerse themselves in old-school platform atmospheres. Still, the game has lot of content and it’s best experienced when played co-op with a friend.

The game manages to entertain thanks to its excellent pacing and good variety of situations. Each level is well-designed and introduces new type of obstacles that keep the player always challenged. You never know what you can find in each level and this encourages you to continue the adventure.

Visually speaking, Nikoderiko looks gorgeous. The game’s charming art style and colorful worlds immediately draw you into its magical setting. Each world includes different environments and biomes, from mysterious temples in the jungle to abandoned mines and underwater caves. The soundtrack complements the magical atmosphere and it is composed by David Wise, who also scored Donkey Kong before as well Yooka-Laylee and other famous platform games. The PC version is greatly optimized, with only rare glitches and some inaccuracy in collisions that don’t affect the experience.

Overall, Nikoderiko doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but is a solid platformer that is able to capture the essence of the classics of the genre. Even if it lacks personality, the gameplay is smooth and the levels are well-designed, so it’s easy to feel captured by its magical world. If there will be a sequel, I would love to see a stronger focus on the storyline and new gimmicks that can make it stand out from other games in the genre.

STREAMER SCORE

Overall

Performance
Streamability
Audience Engagement
Replayability

Sending

User Review

5 (1 vote)

Summary

Nikoderiko: The Magical World is a delightful platformer that captures the charm and nostalgia of 90s classic platformers. While it may not introduce groundbreaking innovations, it delivers a familiar and enjoyable experience that fans of the genre will certainly appreciate.