Noita

Nolla Games is a small game development team consisting of just three developers: Petri Purho, Olli Harjola, and Arvi Teikari. They've developed some games, but this time we'll be talking about their latest game, which even though it's already available to play they keep adding updates and expanding the game. Noita is a sandbox, roguelike pixel art game, taking the sandbox thing really seriously and taking the entire style and genre to a new beautiful level but what is Noita all about? Well, let's see.

About the game

Just like any other good roguelike game, Noita sets the player in a dungeon at the beginning of the game, alone with just a couple of magic wands and a potion. With this starter pack, it is now our mission to work our way down the unknown caves, which are of course procedurally generated. As you progress you'll collect new different wands, new spells, potions, and objects. Each time you progress to the end of a level, you'll be able to select a passive ability to acquire.

The entire game is based on solving problems with lateral thinking, exploration, and most of all pixel simulation. But what is pixel simulation? This means each pixel is assigned to belong to an element or a nature, so for instance if it is a liquid pixel, it has all the properties of a liquid. A water pixel will always try to flow and follow the current and the gravity. Every material and element in this game works with individual pixels and all of them have their own behavior according to their nature. And while this may sound like a really simple concept, it can turn out to be really special and unique.

This whole pixel simulation concept is pretty much what dominates in most scenarios of the game, this is to say that most of the puzzles and magic you'll do will have you constantly considering and evaluating the nature of the elements that surround you. It is an incredible added element to the way you see the game world, and it works wonders in adding a practically unlimited replay value and excellent difficulty balance.

Roguelike or sandbox?

The pixel simulation in the game plays such an important role that it feels a lot like just an element simulation sandbox game. It's pretty similar to a web-based game called Powder Game, which consists basically of just combining materials and working their physics around. But the roguelike element is up to there with the quality of games like Risk of Rain 2 or Spelunky. It is an incredible combination of the best of both worlds.

Noita represents a game experience you rarely get in games, it is the opportunity to explore an entirely original and new way to play. The roguelike elements are challenging, the puzzles are great, the pixel simulation is simply an incredible mechanic.

Pros:

• Beautiful visuals
• Excellent gameplay
• Pixel simulation works like a charm
• Fun to play
• Tons of replay value

Cons:

• Doesn’t retain any progress as you start a new gaming session
• It depends a lot on the random starter pack you get

If there was one genre within gaming that no one quite saw coming, it was the roguelike genre. This brand of gaming experience has become increasingly popular within mainstream gaming culture and despite a mixed to poor reception in over the last decade. This genre has become the subject of many AAA titles of late. Noita may not be able to boast AAA status, however, this indie game that revolves around sorcery, exploration and luck has really captivated those that have stumbled upon this indie gem.

This game plays like other roguelike indie titles such as The Binding of Issac, Rogue Legacy, Hades, Spelunky and Dead cells. Plus, also has sprinklings of inspiration from games like Carrion, Hidden Deep and the Metroid series. This game is a chaotic battle that forces you to learn and adapt. However, is the lesson that this game isn’t worth the strain? We find out in our review of Noita.

A Manic Magic Experience

Firstly, lets focus on the graphics. This game has visual offerings that are rather similar to pixelated indie titles like Carrion. The game takes place in dingy underground environments where exploration is key but can be equally costly. The areas are procedurally generated and for that reason, never look the same. However, due to the limited biomes and assets, the gameplay becomes repetitive as does the scenery. However, that is what we have come to expect from Roguelikes, so we suppose it gets a pass on this front.

The gameplay is really where these games live or die and thankfully, this game is chocked full of fun mechanics, powerups and loot that make each run different from the next. So considering that dying is part and parcel of Roguelikes, that bodes rather well. The action is fast paced, difficult and never holds the players hand. Only hinting at the best way forward and asking you to play and through trial and error, work your way through the content.

For the most part, this is fun and engaging. However, the core issue with this game is that it is far from the refined experiences offered from games like Returnal or Hades for example. The procedural areas can lead to cheap deaths, the enemy’s are scaled poorly at times, grinding is needed more than it possibly should be and as a result, the game does have a drop off point that others within the genre manage to avoid. However, if you can push through, there is rewarding moments to be found here.

The Verdict

Overall, Noita is a flawed gem. The title has fast-paced and challenging gameplay that Roguelike fans have come to expect in the last few years. Plus, the mechanics on offer provide enough gameplay changes throughout to keep the experience feeling fresh.

Pros:

• Unique gameplay mechanics
• Simple and accessible but hard to master
• Exploration is fun and rewarding

Cons:

• Graphics are a little primitive
• Gameplay is unbalanced leading to cheap, frustrating moments