N

Gameplay

N is a downloadable free game with 500 levels(!) in which the player controls a ninja in an attempt to navigate through various levels. The main objective in each level is to get to the exit door, which requires hitting a switch to open. There are many hazards that stand between the player and the exit (described below), as well as a running time limit. Levels are organized into "episodes", each of which contains 5 levels. The player is given 90 seconds at the beginning of an episode, and the time carries over throughout all 5 levels. There are often gold pieces in levels that the player can collect, and each piece of gold collected increases the remaining time by 2 seconds. Any time the player collects via gold is also carried over throughout the episode. As of the latest version of N, version 1.4, the game contains 100 episodes, which is equivalent to 500 levels.

N is light on controls. The left and right arrow keys move the player left and right, and shift is used to jump, although these controls can be changed. These are the game's only controls, other than a suicide button that can be used to restart the level if the player is running out of time or gets trapped. Though there are only three controls for the player to use, using those controls in conjunction with the ninja's " Godlike speed, dexterity and jumping powers" allow the player to perform many various feats, however, such as wall jumps and slide slowly down walls or other similarly smooth structures. It should also be noted that the player can die from severe impact, such as by hitting the ground after falling a long distance. A lot of these interactions are due to the game's ragdoll physics engine, which is fairly realistic.

Hazards and Objects

As mentioned above, N contains many hazards and objects that hinder the player in his or her mission.

Hazards

These various hazards appear in N, and a run-in with one of these items generally results in death.

• Mines - these can appear in the air or on the ground, and will detonate on impact, killing the player.
• Zap Drones - these blue octagons come in 2 varieties. The first kind follows a set path, while the second will chase the player if it makes visual contact. When the player 
• " Thwumps" - inspired by the Thwomps from the Mario series, these square blocks are triggered when the player is within sight, causing them to move rapidly. They only move in a straight line, and once they run into terrain, they slowly begin to return to their starting position. Only one side of the thwump is lethal, which is coloured blue and results in instantaneous death

  

  upon contact, and the player can touch the rest of the block safely. This can often provide support to the player, as the player can stand on or cling to these hazards. The player can also die by being crushed between a non lethal side of the thwump and another solid object.
• "Floorchasers" - these hazards sit on the floor, and rush towards the player if they touch the same floor that the "floorchaser" is on. Touching the "floorchaser" results in death. The "floorchaser" constantly moves slightly faster than the ninja at top running speed
• Chaingun Drones - these gray spheres move about the level, and fire an arc of bullets at the player if it makes visual contact. It takes the drones a few seconds to power up, and being hit by the bullets results in death.
• Laser Drones - these clear spheres move slowly about the level, and fire a thin, red laser beam at the player if it makes visual contact. It takes the drone a few seconds to power up, and the laser remains active for a time after it is fired. Touching the laser results in death for the player.
• Gauss Turrets - these stationary turrets attempt to follow the player's motions with a targeting reticule and fire depleted uranium at the player, which, though it fires at light speed, the targeting reticule is obsolete, often shooting at where the player would have been one second ago.
• Rocket Turrets - these stationary turrets fire homing rockets at the player once visual contact is made. These rockets track the player until they hit a wall or the player, the later of which results in death. Only one rocket per turret is allowed in the level at a time.

Objects

These other objects can appear in levels, and generally aren't directly harmful to the player.

• Standard door - a player can pass through these at any time.

• Locked door - these doors require the player to collect a switch before they open, thus allowing the player to pass through.
• Trap doors - these door do not appear until a switch is hit. Once they appear, they cannot be passed through again. Their respective switches are often hidden behind gold to lure the player into trapping themselves in a dead end.
• Exit door - going through this door completes the level, but a switch must be obtained before it can be opened.
• Switches - there are 3 kinds of switches - one for each of the 3 above door types. They vary slightly in size.
• One way platforms - these platforms are solid on one side, but can be passed through from the other. They can act as either pitfalls, walls, or platforms. Enemies, however, can see and move through them from both sides.

  

• Bounce blocks - these white blocks are solid objects on all sides, but they move slightly if the player touches them. They then quickly snap back into place, and can fling the player off of them. Like the one way platforms, enemies can see and move through bounce blocks from all sides, though depending on the layering of the enemies and the blocks.
• Launch pads - these thin pads rest on platforms, and hurl the player out from them when touched. They are very forceful in their spring effect, and can potentially cause death to the player if hurled directly into a wall or other solid object. Falling from the height reached by this effect can also result in death. However, these objects are generally meant to help the player reach higher platforms.
• Gold - these small yellow pieces can be collected to increase the player's remaining time limit. Each piece collected adds 2 seconds to the clock.

NUMA

Level Editor

N supports its own custom level editor, nicknamed "Ned" ("N-editor"). This can be used to create levels using the pre-existing objects and hazards, or can be used to alter the game's code slightly. For example, drones can be made to be stationary, or launch pads can be made into teleporters through various tricks (these can be found on Metanet's official forums). User levels can also be submitted to NUMA (the official N User Maps Archive), where they can be rated and added to other players' user levels list.

User Levels

N comes with 152 standard user levels, which are stored in a folder with the game, in a text file that contains each levels individual code. When players finish their custom built levels, they are given the code for the level, which they then put in to the text file, with an accompanying name author and genre. When players add NUMA levels, they simply copy the level data from the website to their user level file, then refresh the user level list in the game.

High Scores

Users are able to submit their high scores for any level completed in the main game through their  NUMA account, where the top 15 scores for each level and episode are available for all users to view replays of. Users can also submit replay data for user levels in comments for each level online, which players can input into a box available in the user levels menu, which automatically replays the users run through of the level. 
 

Levels

Version 1.4 comprises a total of 500 levels divided into 100 Episodes-- a lot of the level titles are either puns or homages to other games and/or popular media.
Note: Episodes 80 through 89 feature solely user levels, handpicked by the game developers and included in the game's last known version.
 

Episodes 00-09	Episodes 10-19	Episodes 20-29	Episodes 30-39	Episodes 40-49
Episode 00 the motherlode cloud city all about thwumps "the box, the box!" lockness Episode 01 cavern like happy little puppies little dipper slides steps Episode 02 square stairs shaft..s who's sick of thwumps? chasm (don't) go for the gold Episode 03 burgertime platformpuzzle rise over run deosil blast doors Episode 04 room full of gold factory wall jump frenzy the long way curvaceous Episode 05 trench run bamboo forest filthy tramps pac ninja castle/basement Episode 06 artifact 2 industrial zone space battle pagoda-ish the gauntlet Episode 07 vertworld step lightly hunted mainframe rocket arena Episode 08 attractor plan plan plan artifact cloud city 2 gauss arena Episode 09 launch pad arena complex dodgem industrial zone 2 keep on tryin'	Episode 10 long jump hold it don't look down ditched balcon Episode 11 frogger cityscape 2 strata mod superliminal Episode 12 simpleton les islots A pyramined you'll die if you try lowrise Episode 13 acrophobe cloud city 3 cliffhanger crosshairs leap of faith 2 Episode 14 revolute bunker fool's gold the two towers industrial zone 3 Episode 15 artifact 3 hunted 2 crypt picturesque mined over madder Episode 16 shaftastic hallowed stimpack judgement call ndiana jones Episode 17 armoury timing cache longest yard hanger Episode 18 change the channel marge lucy in the sky pit of dispair bgarth la matrice Episode 19 superliminal 2 les islots B highest height the shaft quad damage	Episode 20 get down nexus deku descent surf Episode 21 bulbous alien skate park greedo evac I love gold Episode 22 tunnels spelunking sumo faces pathmatics Episode 23 unsuperimpossible npunzel lab choose your own sarlac Episode 24 pity hide and seek viaduct bare-hunting pitcher plant Episode 25 deep freeze aux terminal leap of faith rocket run slippery slope Episode 26 haste claustro stick the landing constructive industrial zone 4 Episode 27 isthmus outpost flightpath suicide mission agonizing Episode 28 domestic disturbance covered plummet death star bespin Episode 29 crossfire hounds skating the edge bomb shelter patrol	Episode 30 delicate barba breathing room blockhead jag Episode 31 deco choisir permission to die rashomon n-tropy Episode 32 hunted redux upc mimetic mazemerizing multipath Episode 33 perpendiculous suspended stratego veenamos snikes soar Episode 34 cushy job globular dynamics go for self system core fugitive Episode 35 crag piece of the cake research facility superliminal 3 monument Episode 36 neural net data base np complete planding makes plerfect gun dream Episode 37 scud fallout shell game cubish exploit Episode 38 interdictor alone and easy target assembly line ternary stress test 1 Episode 39 prismatic bezel deliverator crabbed and claw-like tower of long mistakes ext. tower of long mistakes int.	Episode 40 brinks blepharitis orbital station mine-ox tensor Episode 41 plateau sawtooth dicey station grudge match Episode 42 tri again electric avenue gothic ctf_death blame yourself Episode 43 eruptive evolve caterpie evac 2 rob n hood Episode 44 phospholipid bilayer reticle easier than pie your wit is a hindrance superliminal 4 Episode 45 blern! inca tooth skin manimal lust skeksis Episode 46 glutny adrenachrome desolated shootist scramble Episode 47 flubitis cacti said skills insurmountable daunting Episode 48 dance daredevil stasis control rage-ohol Episode 49 value system sanctum deceptive cagey fury

 
 

Episodes 50-59	Episodes 60-69	Episodes 70-79	Episodes 80-89	Episodes 90-99
Episode 50 a space oddessy blue ridge corporate center cave-man jimmy sands of time spite Episode 51 strive DNAw yeah! it's a trap stalag might the lowest highest point Episode 52 citydefender shark's in the water.. our shark pillory think different patience Episode 53 black black ender zalem disembark ruined Episode 54 chevron belt chomplor it's not pharaoh iron clad _what_ of steel?! kessel Episode 55 the ringer highdive deathtrap knifedge for the love of gold Episode 56 gattaca escapades docking mechanism mantissa rorschach Episode 57 secondary relay superliminal 5 heuristic algorithmic stronghold scaffold Episode 58 hooligan status dilated misstep stress test 2 hazardous Episode 59 wtf?! scrumtrulescent the enrage-o-tron stalag tight n-ervous breakd	Episode 60 boo-urns shark sandwich the spoon doesn't even exist zappa platitude Episode 61 strugs chickeny dendrite diagony 1 oldschool like aztecs but new in other aspects Episode 62 mount nermal chambre sufficient conditions squared whomping Episode 63 gas balls sphere of existence comms scamper diagony 2 Episode 64 lax A chunnel shelled phase III carbonite Episode 65 n-trapment pride cometh nautilus a clockwork lemon son of pit of despair Episode 66 avalon phase II system shock graduated kill-inder conniption fit Episode 67 lax B phase IV smismar flying circus sibilant s Episode 68 skelly cognition junction crampon paroxysm Episode 69 tricksy necessary conditions apoplexy frisk slippery trip hazard	Episode 70 hampered w00tTeen74 constellation clung phase I Episode 71 mux pop quiz, hotshot mick jagged primary reactor solaar Episode 72 escarpment twitch city telemetry glynis groglinated Episode 73 around the world in 80 ways frantic chamber of sneakrets pokeyman persnickety Episode 74 the incredible lightness of being frustrated concealed rush acrimony zenith Episode 75 rational babel waydowntown serenity now bifurcation Episode 76 skipper peaked splickens the many the clamps Episode 77 spitfire enclave workshop study therapists Episode 78 momentous craterrific fodder breen district slitherin Episode 79 tantalizing piqued surprise systematic beach head	Episode 80 Jumping up the Valley Prisoner Inhabitate Full Circle Pipes Episode 81 I aint paying no landing fee Errored screen Ramshackle Shelves 8-pack sky = Limit Episode 82 Leap of Faith hive jinks Longest Lysis Hieroglyphics Episode 83 Gold'N Waffle Genie in a bottle Up Down Bricklayer Between a Rock and a Hard Place Episode 84 opposing forces Coalition The Mooney Suzuki Angular Simplistic Confusion Episode 85 NoEnemies02 pegboard jagged Dodging Bullets Claustrophobia3 Episode 86 Bouncy Blast n ultra 64 Simplistic Pressed for Time Platformula Episode 87 Trap Differences Mitosis remedy High Tech Episode 88 Counterweight Twisted Platforms Allegiance Mother Thumping Impossible Episode 89 something golden touch chainlink Entice Mount Doom	Episode 90 self-inflicted zeb rah subterranean homesick golds chicken bock extremely cross Episode 91 quicky unfinished business shine on, you crazy diamond jinx malloy blastphemy Episode 92 below the root dead ringer baldercrap slurmy slonka righty tighty, lefty loosey Episode 93 the death aquatic fifth column crazappy the pit and the n-dulum elementary nguin Episode 94 ingress stem pylon lest is more rough around the edges Episode 95 bang grand prix options the blurst of times professor bojangles, esquire Episode 96 plus mine-s you know where you stand in a hellhole allsorts gazizza my dilsnoofus back and forth Episode 97 the long and winding road that leads to your death n-key kong beware of the leopard things that go thwump in the night superliminal 6 Episode 98 grind mo' mentum unsafe at any speed it is a most elusive fish quantum n-tanglement Episode 99 elevator to heck explosivo slurms mackenzie the jaws of death thwump you very much

Rewards

The main game is sorted into 10 columns, which consist of 10 episodes each, numbering from 0 to 99. When the player completes any given column, they are rewarded with a new color for their ninja, known as "flavors" in the game. The columns do not have to be completed in any particular order, however if the player has "practice mode" activated from the options menu, completed episodes will not count towards a completed column. When the player completes 6 columns, they will unlock " Overclock mode", which allows the player to adjust the game to run at up to 10x normal speed, though it is purely for entertainment and more challenging repeats of previous levels. If the player completes all 100 episodes of the main game, they will unlock "custom flavor mode", which lets the player adjust an RGB slider to create any color they wish.

N Version History

 Version 1.00 - March 1, 2004

        - N release version

Version 1.01 - March 5, 2004

    - fixed game GUI during main menu
    - fixed pausing game resets lifespan

Version 1.03 - March 17, 2004

    - fixed typos in help section
    - added edit/debug mode
    - added editor_manual.doc

Version 1.05 - March 28, 2004

    - fixed editor demo (lower) text box
    - fixed editor delete object bug
    - added editor_manual.txt
    - added esc pauses game

Version 1.2 - April 25, 2004

    - fixed embedded font
    - fixed editor cursor instructions
    - added 100 new levels (20 new episodes)
    - added key config section
    - added save player progress
    - added | accesses debug menu
    - added credits page

Version 1.3c - July 2, 2004

    - fixed blurry text
    - improved post-death ragdoll collision
    - improved enemy AI refresh rate
    - added "shuffled" mainmenu replays
    - added online highscores
    - added internal personal best system
    - added practice mode (no time limit)
    - added unlockable secret mode
    - added deathlog
    - added "boss mode" (lowers cpu usage)
    - added visual quality selection
    - added sound volume control
    - added 150 new levels (30 new episodes)
    - added numpad 0 or Insert accesses object editing in Ned
    - added new episode completion images
    - added new credits page art
    - modified save player progress

Version 1.4 - May 15, 2005

    - fixed highscore submission system
    - fixed personal best submission system
    - fixed previous version progress import system
    - fixed laggy sliders in Configure menu
    - improved "shuffled" mainmenu replays
    - improved highscore replay system
    - improved Ned: gridlines, N graphics, trigger indicators, etc
    - added 150 new levels (30 new episodes)
    - added 50 new user-made levels (10 new episodes)
    - added user levels mode: levels playable in N game mode
    - added user levels personal best system
    - added practice mode (level skip cheat)
    - added unlockable ninja flavours
    - added new unlockable secret
    - added new victory animations
    - modified highscores and timetrial pages (merge)
    - modified password field (hidden with asterisks)
 

Useful Links

• Official Website

http://www.thewayoftheninja.org/
 

• Game Developer's Website

http://www.metanetsoftware.com/