Nakawak: Expanded Color Edition

[h1]Warwick Reviews: Nakawak: Expanded Color Edition[/h1] [h1]Discovering Nakawak[/h1] To be completely upfront I am a member of a large number of indie development Facebook groups. Anxious Neck Games is a fellow member in at least one of those groups. The aim of these groups is to discuss game development yet to be completely impartial and provide quality feedback. What that means is that if a game is lacking in quality the developer wants to know that. Consequently, you can rest assured this review is impartial and is an attempt to offer quality feedback. Furthermore, for those who question the purchase of this product, indeed I did purchase it on Steam throughout its current week long deal. [h1]The Negatives[/h1] Let's get the major downside to the game out of the way immediately. For a veteran gamer, the game is arguably too easy. This won't bother some of you who just want a relaxing gaming experience in the Metroidvania genre that you're familiar with. However, there are others who will feel greatly aggrieved at the simplicity. Some of the all-time classic games in the genre such as La-Mulana are relentlessly difficult and it is often this difficulty that is sighted as a reason for the game's greatness. However, it didn't bother me as much as it may have because it has been a while since I've played a title in the genre. This negative may also be conveyed as a strength as it is, in my opinion, a worthy 'gateway' title for genre newcomers. I'd recommend playing this before playing one of the notoriously difficult games in the genre. The only other negative is that the game seemingly dumps you at the start of the game. What to do? Where to go? No tutorial? Got it. Thanks for that. A little bit more effort at the beginning of the game would make newcomers feel a lot more welcome. However, the game is pretty simple to work out. Walk, aim, shoot. Avoid the obstacles and learn how to jump and shoot. [h1]The Positives[/h1] Everyone loves a good boss fight, right? If you're one of them then Nakawak is a gem. They have been well thought out and really energize the gameplay. This makes them enjoyable and solidifies the game into a whole rather than a mass of disjointed parts like some boss fights have a tendency of doing in other games. The presentation is full of heart. It is downright charming. I really adore the color palette and the sounds. Again, it is decisively clear that there has been a lot of thought gone into it. Nothing feels out of place or willy-nilly. This developer has clearly thought about making each part and how it fits together to make a whole. It makes the game far more enjoyable and robust than what it otherwise could feel like. This is continued with the gameplay controls. I preferred playing this using my Xbox One controller rather than my keyboard. I've been a bit of a sucker for keyboard controls of recent times but it just felt more comfortable with a controller. I do appreciate that other players will feel differently to me on this so it's not a sticking point at all. The game controlled smoothly either way. For such a short game I was taken aback at how delightful this little world was to explore. I certainly wasn't expecting it. I had read other reviews before finally playing the game and so was aware of its brevity. However, to fit in some exploration makes the game rewarding to play. I also enjoyed the regular save points. Again, despite the simplicity, the save points still felt like a carrot to a horse. Get to the save point and continue on. The final positive that I would like to touch on is that the game has room for replayability. I've just started my second playthrough and I can already appreciate the lessons that I learned in my first playthrough. This is a real credit for a debuting Steam developer-publisher. [h1]Steam Features[/h1] I don't believe the game has sold enough to become eligible for the Steam Trading Card program so I'll leave that alone. However, what would really do well with this game is to implement Steam Achievements into it. It's the type of game that would make for smart achievements - achievements on picking up upgrades, reaching certain savepoints, defeating bosses, etc. without being able to be accused of being an achievement spam game. Realistically, this is the only thing that should be implemented if at all possible. [h1]Conclusion[/h1] An easy recommendation is given its price tag regardless of whether or not it is on sale. A buck for a couple of hours of entertainment is very inexpensive. Nakawak is full of charm and is highly playable. It is a credible entry to the Metroidvania genre. However, I hope that the dev makes a more challenging game with his next title. Either way, I eagerly await for it. Congratulations Anxious Neck Games on a gem of an indie game. For those who want a score... I feel comfortable giving it an 8 out of 10 given the price, quality, enjoyment, and all the other related jazz comparative to other games of its type. Ed's note: For whatever reason, my Steam playtime is wrong for this game. It took me several hours to complete.

I really wanted to like this game, but it just annoys me… and that’s because it's difficulty is just an illusion. The game just forces you to wait until you can do stuff, but it does not require you to get good at it, just to be patient... it makes you waste time. I’m not saying this is a bad game, though. - The controls are responsive enough - The graphics have their own kind of charm (I’m not a fan, but they are not bad) - The sound is good enough. I mean… I get it. The game pretends to be a Gameboy Color kind of game or something, right? And in that regard it succeeds; but it’s just not the kind of Metroidvania I enjoy. I like games that let me move as fast as I can as long as I’m good enough; but just the first boss, the piranha-corn-bug-thing… I thought I was missing something but I even checked guides and stuff to be sure and they confirmed what I feared: you just have to wait until it’s safe, then approach, attack and hide until it’s safe to attack again. That’s not a fun boss fight… that’s just a tedious obstacle that I have to get through with patience… I’m not patient. Some people might like that kind of thing… but I grew up with Megaman and when you were facing a Robot Master there were no hiding spots. You either learned how to evade and attack at the same time or you were toast. Honestly, this game is not bad; but it’s not my kind of game… and since I didn’t really like it, I can’t recommend it.

Cute little Metroidvania game, I finished it in one sitting. Took less than 2 hours to complete but well worth it for the cheap price tag.

Nice bite sized metroidvania! It feels wayyy more like classic nes metroid than Vania (not complaining though). Good controls, graphics and music. Took me about 2 hrs to beat. Buy on sale! My only small gripes are: each room can be large so on the map it doesn't show *where* in the room you are, and a couple of the bosses weren't really that great...but these are all minor issues.

7/7/2018追記 いつの間にか価格が引き上げられていたのでこれから購入を考えている人はご注意 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ いわゆるメトロイドヴァニア といってもコンパクトなゲームでアップグレードの数は少なく、高度なテクニックを要求される事もない 被ダメ時の無敵が非常に短いというかないレベルなのでごり押しこそできないが、部屋移動すると回復兼のセーブポイントがあるのでヌルめの難易度 ボス級だと思われる敵のみ異様に硬いが、簡単に対応できる単純な攻撃パターンなので倒すのに時間がかかる程度 一時間ちょっとで終了する程度のボリュームだが値段相応という感じで暇つぶしにおすすめ だったのだが価格改定で少々値上がりした為、セール待ちした方がいいかも

it's a short little metroid style game with saves between most rooms and the text goes by to quickly for me, but the cntrols are good and it only takes a 2-3 hours.

Nakawak is a steel for a buck (I got it half off in a Steam sale) its not a long game by any means I finished it in just under 2 1/2 hours but it is fun and will bring you back to the days of Gameboy or Gameboy Color action platformers. Nakawak is very much like the origonal Metroid or Metroid II with hidden and destuctable walls, and even missles for some reason. :) I wish it told you what upgrades you collect as you kind of just have to figure it out, like I had the double jump and I didn't know it so I backtracked all the way to the begining of the game for no reason, then I looked on one of the guides and it said one of the upgrades was double jump, derp. Also with the alternative shot, I read it in the guide so I knew to try once I obtained the upgrade, but had I not seen it in the guide I would of had no idea that another button was used for it. It would have been nice to have some options like going back to the og black and white it was orgionaly released with or even unlocked once you beat it, it would have given me another reason to play through again. Also fullscreen it doesn't tell you but to go full screen press Alt+Enter, I found this out after I already finished it, also derp. Still with the few gripes I have about it, I hope they make another one.

Surprisingly enjoyable to play. Very old school 8 bit retro style with metroidvania feels. For the price its good.

This game controls like a dream & is not frustrating as he l l. Thank you. RECOMMENDED.

A surprisingly fun Metroidvania-style game, especially for the price point. Full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMs38tr06jI