These days, we’re seeing more games inspired by the classics than not. That’s because they’re tried and true to work with audiences. I mean, 2D fighters, brawlers, side-scrolling platformers…they all work. (With the right development touch, of course.) And Nikoderiko: The Magical World easily falls into this area.
Inspired by Donkey Kong Country and a little bit of Crash Bandicoot, Nikoderiko makes its intentions clear. It’s a colorful throwback platformer with hidden secrets aplenty. It has lots of delightful characters, and even the enemies have a somewhat likable touch. And its gameplay definitely fits into the “old-school” category, right down to using foes to reach higher platforms.
Though hardly the most original platformer, Nikoderiko has cool gameplay. Its challenge is nicely balanced as well, getting particularly tough (but not impossible) in later levels. It also features a vibrant presentation, including another great soundtrack from the legendary David Wise. (Look him up, he’s got a catalog of wonders.)
It isn’t quite as legendary as the adventure games that inspired it. But Nikoderiko: The Magical World is a welcome debut from Vea Games. Hopefully, it’ll serve as a springboard for even more solid titles to come.
Nikoderiko: The Magical World Lives Up To Its Name
The game puts you in the shoes (paws?) of Niko and his buddy Luna. They’re a pair of heroes seeking out a relic hidden in the depths of a lush island. But before they can get to it, they run into Grimbald, a nasty type that isn’t too fond of them. What follows is a journey filled with bonus rooms, memorable characters and other bits of platforming goodness.
It’s easy to see that Nikoderiko borrowed its blueprint from other popular games. It definitely has Donkey Kong Country-ish vibes with its side scrolling. And, yes, there are chase sequences as well, because that’s par for the course. But even so, Vea Games does a notable job with its gameplay. It feels just right when using slide and jump techniques, which come in handy to reach inaccessible areas. And even levels that feel like overdone tropes seem somewhat refreshing, including mine-cart sequences that don’t get old.
Nikoderiko also comes jam packed with secrets. You can collect four letters across the course of each stage, along with other goodies. There are bonus rooms as well, some posing a bigger challenge than others. It’ll take you a good 10-15 hours to find everything. And even then, you can always come back for a good speedrun or two. There’s value here for the reasonably priced $30 package.
Again, don’t expect the most original game out there. Nikoderiko can’t quite top the excellence of Donkey Kong Country’s immense catalog. But for a game inspired by it, The Magical World isn’t bad at all. And it’ll certainly keep you busy, no matter what skills you have in the platforming field.
We’re Digging the Visuals and Soundtrack
Vea Games did a remarkable job with the graphics in Nikoderiko. It looks simply stunning on Xbox Series X, running at a near flawless 60 FPS. That, coupled with the wonderful use of colors and animations, really makes it look like a cartoon brought to life. There are occasional hitches, but nothing that gets in the way of having fun.
The cut sequences also look pretty good, and introduce some enjoyable characters into the fray. They come and go, per usual, but it’s neat to see Vea Games give Nikoderiko a boost of personality. I’d love to see more from this universe with a much larger sequel.
As for the audio, it’s awe-inspiring due to one key component – David Wise. The legendary composer puts together a swell mix of tunes here, channeling some of his finest work. He doesn’t miss a beat, and you may find yourself humming along to certain stage themes. That, backed by satisfying voice acting and sound effects, makes grabbing your gaming headphones worthwhile.
Overall, Nikoderiko hits all the right marks with its presentation. And even on the Switch it doesn’t look half bad. (Though the frame rate is cut down a little, just be aware.)
The Magical World Awaits
Again, if you’re looking for something truly original, Nikoderiko: The Magical World isn’t quite it. It clearly has its inspirations in check, and they’re impossible to miss. That said, Vea Games did a bang-up job polishing it and packing it with favorable gameplay. It’ll keep you busy, and its world is worth exploring. Also, major marks for bringing David Wise back into the fold. The more composing this man does, the better.
It may strike a chord of familiarity, but Nikoderiko will please fans of the genre all the same. In this day and age, that’s still a very positive thing.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Vea Games for the review code! You can get Nikoderiko: The Magical World now for Xbox,PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC!
Want more great throwback platformers? Check out our reviews of Aero the Acro-Bat 2, Abathor and Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel!
