G.G Series NYOKKI Review - Screenshot 1 of 2

The next title in the G.G series aims to remix a classic arcade game, and it mostly succeeds in achieving that goal. While there are some issues with the way that the main character responds to your controls, there really isn't much else to complain about. G.G Series NYOKKI is a good example of how to pull off a budget arcade game; it has compelling level designs, gameplay that's fast paced and simple, and a refined art direction.

The premise sees players take control of a small snake creature called Nyokki as he explores various environments in an endless quest for more food. These levels all are surprisingly pleasing visually with their "less is more" approach, with each one being symmetrical and sticking to a unique colour scheme. The colours contrast nicely against the dark backgrounds and have a somewhat luminescent quality to them. The music is quirky and original, fitting nicely with the gameplay pace and giving it a bit of character; though it would've been nice to have a bit more of variety in this aspect.

Gameplay is quite similar to that of Snake, the classic arcade game that seems to be available on every platform in existence. Nyokki can be steered by the left and right triggers and holding the "A" button makes him move a bit quicker. While this control scheme works well initially, the ridiculously narrow passageways and hairpin turns of the later levels expose some flaws in the mechanics. Nyokki roughly has the same turning radius as a Carnival cruise liner ship and this makes many turns quite literally impossible to make. There's always more than one way to get to bits of food, of course, but it forces the players to take certain paths through the levels and makes things decidedly more linear as a result.

G.G Series NYOKKI Review - Screenshot 2 of 2

That being said, it's still a pretty good time racing against the clock to try to collect the food as quickly as possible, and the levels are generally very well designed. Layouts aren't overly repetitive and later stages introduce a few enemy types that help shake things up. The nature of the gameplay means that things are always moving forward at a brisk pace and later stages particularly challenge the player's dexterity and reaction times as Nyokki must navigate increasingly more complex mazes. Once you get used to the turning mechanics, there's plenty of fun to be had.

Conclusion

G.G Series NYOKKI is a solid riff on a very familiar game. While it runs into a bit of trouble with the controls, the levels are well designed, decently varied and pleasingly presented. For a budget score chasing game, you'll likely get a lot of mileage out of this one, as the fast paced nature of the gameplay encourages players to try again and get a better score. We'd recommend you pick this one up; while it does have its flaws, you'll likely get more than your money's worth and find yourself coming back to play one more round.