NightSky

NightSky

Developer/Publisher: Nicalas Inc.

Release: March 1 2011

Platforms: PC or Wiiware

Genre: 2D Side scroller, Puzzle, Art

Modes, Single-player

DRM: Steam or WiiWare,

DRM free from Humble Bundle

I got NightSky when I got the Humble bundle 4 pack. It was one of the games that helped me decide to get the pack. It's a simple game about rolling a ball through beautiful levels. It does have a story which is about a boy who finds a dark sphere on the beach but it's not much of a story and doesn't add or take away from the experience. The best part is the game-play which I'll get into.

Game-play:

NightSky's game-play is simple. You show roll this dark sphere through environments while solving puzzles. It sounds easy but it can take some thinking as you have to manage moving through levels fast or slow, bumping things and using momentum to travel loops and bumps. You also have to control vehicles and deal with reverse gravity. Each level is made up of 3-4 screens and can take less then a minute to complete if you know what your doing. When you enter the level select menu by pressing escape, you will notice that some levels have a star marker on them. You have to find hidden exits in the levels to get stars which will allow you to complete the bonus world. You will probably spend about 6 or more hours beating normal mode. There is alternative mode which can be made in another game slot. In this mode the levels are somewhat the same but much harder as there are things removed that made your life easier.

This may sound dull and boring but it's quite fun and relaxing. Even when screwing up, it doesn't make me feel angry. For 99% of the game, a mistake is on your part but it's easy to fix and understand what went wrong. It's simple to learn and master. The only troublesome part of the game can be maintaining momentum while going up curves and corners of different sides. You have to be really precise to keep the sphere moving. Overall it's a fun and relaxing game. It has replay value and is a game worth experiencing.

Graphics:

The graphics are primary solid black objects in the foreground that looks alive and detailed. You can see flowers, grass, and leaves moving, Little creatures blinking their eyes and stars twinkling. The background is made up of different colors that give the world a serene yet alien feel. There is just so much details that add to the atmosphere of this game. It feel like this game is a work of art.

Sound:

The music of this game is so serene yet alien like the graphics. It gives you this calm and relaxing feeling as you roll through the levels. Though it can also be very quiet and just be sound effects of the wind blowing or the squeaking of spinning wheels. The music is not loud or overt that it stands out but rather it's nestled into the background that you don't realize it's a separate part of the game. It's done just right.

Conclusion:

Night Sky is a wonderful experience that is worth playing. It's simple to learn and easy to master yet fun to play. The relaxing and beautiful graphics along with the serene music makes it an enjoyable experience. The game is cheap and can be gotten WiiWare or in HD on the PC for $10 on steam. I highly recommend it for anyone regardless of gaming skill. It's one of those games that is good to introduce people to gaming or great for the entire family. The developers did a great job on this and I would recommend checking out their other games.