Although you can't seem to walk down the street these days without tripping over a retro-revival of some sort, it's refreshing to see a game that harkens back to play styles you thought were gone or, as is probably more likely, you just simply forgot about. Noitu Love: Devolution feels like a love letter to the likes of Gunstar Heroes, Metal Slug or Contra; yet it's also a romance as per the vision of developer Konjak. While it feels like those familiar arcade romps of yore, then, this game is also decidedly its own thing; it's all the better for it.
Noitu Love: Devolution is actually a sequel, but its connections are explained in the introductory cinematic and, as you'll soon discover, it's all inconsequential in the end. What you need to know is that some smiley robots that go by the name of the Darns have returned, and it's up to a Peacekeeper named Xoda Rap to figure out why they've returned, what they are up to and how they're muddling with time lines. It's all a mcguffin that gives the developer a reason to throw the player into disparate stage themes like western areas or feudal Japanese inspired locales, and quickly forgotten once you get to the real meat of the game – the unabashed rollercoaster ride that is the gameplay.
Rather than relying on gunplay like its obvious inspirations, Noitu Love: Devolution's Xoda Rap is more of a melee girl. You're constantly rushing (or being pushed) forward, and you string together combos by dashing between enemies at a good clip. What makes it interesting is that rather than aiming with an analogue stick or pushing buttons to attack, it's all done via a reticule that appears on screen - you aim with either a stylus on the GamePad touchscreen or with the Wii Remote pointer and TV.
As you move and jump around with the left stick, all the other actions are controlled via motion or touch. If you can find a comfortable position to hold the GamePad in your lap the stylus option works well, though the game feels much more intuitive with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo. There's also an interesting shield you can use to help waylay shots or fire spigots, special moves that help clear the area around you and the ability to grapple hooks; these extra abilities all get used regularly as the game throws you into crazier and crazier situations.
While it won't remind you of its sources of inspiration through its control scheme, Noitu Love: Devolution's flow is straight out of a 16-bit Treasure game. Through its seven levels of pandemonium you'll be briskly trotting along, attacking Darns in huge swaths as they attempt to stop your momentum. The game also includes a bevy of mini-bosses as well as screen filling regular bosses that constantly toss up your strategies in order to bypass their defenses. The screen is constantly filled with explosions, flying debris and a barrage of smiling robots that fill your heart with excitement and joy in equal measures.
Not content with resting on its laurels, each stage is not only a change in scenery, but in its expectations of the player. You'll find something new and exhilarating around every corner, whether it's a sudden boss battle while riding a waterwheel down a steep river, a level inspired by shmups or a grinding gauntlet as you ride an elevator. If you're just looking to go from point A to point B, the game's over quickly; yet anybody with the mindset of beating high scores will find various difficulty levels and unlockable characters to whet their appetite.
Conclusion
Noitu Love: Devolution certainly appears to be a labour of love. It's the type of game that straddles the line between being an homage to a throwback era and reinventing the wheel with its unique pointer driven control scheme. Although originally meant for a PC audience, the transition to Wii U feels natural. The touchscreen method, while interesting, isn't as ideal as an old fashioned Wii Remote pointer. Regardless, Noitu Love: Devolution is definitely worth your time, although your time may be limited to the comfort of the control scheme you choose.
Comments 35
That's nice. I don't see any price in the Overview section so I checked the eShop myself. There's no price there either as it's coming out next Thursday. At least I know we're getting it in Europe.
Edit: Here's a trailer Nintendo uploaded a couple of hours ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twtyDd7HemE
hmm. I think I'll give this a try.
Noitu Love = evoL utioN = evolution
Xoda Rap = paR adoX = paradox
The devs sure like their Sdrawkcab Name trope.
Nice. I'll have to check this out.
Will this game be Cross-buy with the 3DS version?
@HeroOfCybertron Not as far as I can tell, no.
Just the game to polish off a gift card with
@HeroOfCybertron just checked the 3DS eshop and it says that if you get the Wii U version, you get a 50% discount on the 3DS version.
Speaking of Treasure influence... I think this game works better when you think of it more as a 2D Star Successor. Comparisons to Gunstar Heroes, Astro Boy, etc. does it no favors since the controls are so different and the gameplay feel doesn't quite invoke that sort of 2D action. NL:D looks like those games, sure, but the the actual gameplay has as much in common with Sin & Punishment, in a good way.
I've always been impressed with this guy's work. If I'm right, this is the same person that made this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0IL66pagbA
I'm surprised he's never tried to turn this into a full game; it's Nintendo-level quality stuff.
Good old wii mote!! Will it ever be beaten
@sandman89 Probably not for pointer stuff and aiming and shooting.
Having said that, VR motion controllers seem to be just as precise and responsive for pointing at and shooting things, if not more so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2db95FA3I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai4MCmZz28o
So there's that.
I was digging what I was reading, until I got to the motion controls / touch screen part. Bummer.
Question, though: does the game support the gamepad's gyroscope for motion controls? I guess that's the only way I could see myself giving it a shot.
@Neo_Yor sigh, that's something at least, but they really should do cross-buy as I'm really not sure which version I'd rather play :-
@Neo_Yor Thanks.
@bofis Yeah I'm not sure which version I'd rather play more either, at least a 50% is better than nothing.
@HeroOfCybertron I guess we can wait for them to post a 3DS review, I'm curious if the graphics are stereoscopic or not, and also if they're on the top screen at all or if everything is down on the touch screen...
Great review, thanks for teaching me so many new words!
Anyone who appreciates the sublime comfort and accuracy of the Wiimote + Nunchuk simply must choose the Wii U version. Like I said before, it's sort of akin to a 2D Star Successor feel. Touchscreen works, but it's not the same.
@ricklongo gyroscope controls sounds terrible. This isn't a first/third person shooter.
I bought both versions, which I'll start in a bit once I decide which version to start with. My money's on the 3DS version, honestly.
Wow. Being a Wiimote apologist myself, this looks like a must-have.
This is an excellent game, I have it on the PC. I highly recommend you guys check out konjak as a developer, his pixel art is beautiful.
I have been waiting a ridiculous amount of time for this one, glad to see it lives up to expectations.
I'm glad it's finally out. I've been looking forward to this game since 2011-2012 when they announced it to WiiWare. I have it on PC, it's the kind of game you never get tired of playing.
I hope Iconoclasts someday reaches the 3DS/Wii U.
@ricklongo I'm actually a fan of Stylus controls on 3DS. Didn't get it on Wii U, but on 3DS you basically move with the D-pad/Circle Pad, jump with L and tap enemies on touchscreen to kill them. It works.
Lefty controls supported.
Bought instantly, as I do for any Wii U game which supports IR aiming with the Wiimote.
Sounds great. It's great to see when developers actually remember that the Wii U still supports the Wiimote. Add to Wishlist...
@ACK
Well, that is a selling point in my book. This, Axiom Verge, Severed, is giving the Wii U something worth it.
Nice review and nice score. But I believe this game can be downloaded for free on the internet, just like Cave story. I should download that version someday instead.
It looks like a really good flash game, reminds me of Alien Hominid. Too soft for a Neo Geo or Genesis game, but I definitely see the connections.
On the eShop, they have a segment where this dev picks out their favorite games. Unsurprisingly, Wild Guns was one of them. On 3DS, they highlight all the Picross e series.
@SaKo No, this is a platforming shooter that uses motion controls. If it can support the iffy wiimote + nunchuck combination, I see no reason why it can't suport gyroscope aiming.
ill get this but it needs the pro controller support!
I'm interested in this. Kinda weirded by the controls. Wish there was a demo for this one to test the controls.
The combat feels like Viewtiful Joe mixed with Sin&Punishment for Wii, and the graphics/animations look like they're coming straight off a fast-paced Neo Geo action game.
@ricklongo: The motion controls can be disabled, instead of swinging the Wiimote to one of the four sides, you can also double tap on the Nunchuk analog stick or Wiimote digipad.
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