Source: http://ds.ign.com/articles/902/90245...

N+ Review

Go for the gold.

August 25, 2008 - The Nintendo DS has loads of animal games, and now it finally has one featuring the coolest animal of all: the majestic Ninja. You might be familiar with the N franchise, which began as a free online Flash game and was enhanced for Xbox Live Arcade earlier this year. The littlest ninja has now made his way to both current handheld systems, and regardless of whether or not you have enjoyed his exploits before, you should do yourself a favor and get to know him. This is one incredible action platformer. Even if you've played N+ on XBLA, the DS version includes all new levels, new modes, and really fits the handheld well.

N+ is a celebration of old school gaming. Without any context or setup, you play as a ninja navigating grey environments in search of gold. If you boiled the platformer genre down to its purest essence, N+ is what you'd get. You move and jump. That's it. The controls are dead on, and the game has a very clean, minimal style. Levels are quite short -- perfect for portable gaming. In each, you'll need to help your ninja buddy make his way to the exit. Various traps and obstacles will get in the way, and there is also that pesky time limit to keep an eye on. Luckily, there is plenty of gold lying around that will add seconds to the clock. The game runs on an impressive physics engine that lets you slide, bounce, and float to your destinations.

The overall map of your current level is displayed on the top screen, while the bottom provides a close-up of the action. This is where the DS design comes in particularly handy, as having that map to glance at above makes navigating some of the trickier levels a bit easier.

Surprisingly, the DS game includes more features than its console counterpart. While the XBLA game had a level editor, it didn't allow users to share their created content. Here on the DS, you can create your own ninja playgrounds and upload them to challenge the world. There are also new competitive multiplayer modes like Tag and Domination. During Tag, whoever is "it" loses time. Domination is a variation on Capture the Flag.

If you played the 360 game you'll notice the physics feel a little different here. They're not bad; they just take a little getting used to. When your ninja explodes, his body parts lack a realistic sense of weight. The sound effects don't pop as well and deaths aren't quite as satisfying, but the new modes and functionality make up for these slight shortcomings. The music for N+ has a very 8-bit, chiptune sound, but the tunes are arranged in modern nerdcore style. The juxtaposition of old school sounds with 2008 production fits the space age retro theme of the game perfectly.

Closing Comments
This is an extremely polished game that fits the DS like a glove. It's got style, grace, and attitude, and it feels good to play. The physics are great, and almost every level is fiendishly clever. It's also one of the rare titles that are presented better on a handheld than on a console. No question, N+ is one of the best DS games of the year.

IGN Ratings for N+ (DS)

out of 10	click here for ratings guide
9.0	Presentation N+ has style, grace, and attitude. Everything from the manual to the menus has been given some TLC.
7.5	Graphics While not a technical marvel, the graphics are easy on the eyes and are very unique.
8.5	Sound Terribly hip nerdcore chiptunes. The sound effects lack punch, but the music will satisfy your desire for 8-bit beats.
9.0	Gameplay Pure platforming, crafted by fans of the genre for fans of the genre. With such a simple premise, N+ really shouldn't be this fun for this long. But it is.
9.0	Lasting Appeal Beyond the hundreds of single-player levels, there are competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, a level editor, and the ability to share and download user-generated playgrounds.
9.0 Outstanding	OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average)