#NOITU LOVE 2 DEVOLUTION PROFESSIONAL#

Quirky, cerebral, and above all, highly original, it's a work of genius. Enemies are destroyed by 'joining up' various bad guys with the beam, in a manner similar to a join-the-dots children's book, but some baddies have defensive shields you need to work around and outflank with your weapon. It reminds me somewhat of Jeff Minter's Deflex, but works in a rather different way. The stand-out though has to be the Western-themed shooter level where you take to the skies on a patented Michael J Fox hover-board gizmo, taking out cowboy-hatted Darns with a reflecting laser beam. The Darn, with their insane metallic smirks and witty animations, have a lot of character, adapting their appearance to fit in each game zone вЂ“ for instance the slightly freaky Geisha Darn in the Japan levels. Later stages are designed around different themes, like the mock-Gothic Castlevania-esque appearance of the second level, a stage based on medieval Japan, or the futuristic final chapter (complete with gravity anomalies). Starting in a modern cityscape, the anime-style characters and vibrant backgrounds have a distinctive Japanese-influenced look about them, which will make Treasure or Konami fans feel very at home. Tearing up the place in a flurry of exploding grin-bots, while earning multiple combo-bonuses along the way, is much more satisfying.ДЄnd it's the diversity and graphical variety of those seven stages that really adds to the game's appeal.

Although Xoda can dash through most of the seven levels, bypassing enemies, you won't get much of a stage ranking rating this way. It's one of the zippiest platform run-'n'-gun-style games money can buy. And Noitu 2 has a stunningly fast-paced game-engine to complement its rapid-moving heroine. All considered, you can see that Xoda makes a rather nifty little robot-busting package. You can also unleash a handy 'charge' shot, and create temporary shields to absorb enemy projectiles. You can also build up impressive 'air-combo' bonuses by using the 'quick-dash' attack on successive enemies without touching the ground.ДЄdd to this inventive system her ability to run, duck, wall-jump, grab and throw enemies into each other (very Silhouette Mirage).

Soon you'll be progressing through levels and decimating Darns like a natural born robot-killer. While it takes a little getting used to (the tutorial is essential вЂ“ skip it at your peril) you'll find the method 'clicks' after a little practice. Xoda can be moved around with the keyboard, but left-clicking an enemy Darn will send her shooting across the screen to unleash an attack.ДЄt first, it's peculiar to find yourself zipping across the screen from enemy to enemy, irrespective of your keyboard commands.

Where the game departs from traditional 2D platform fare is with the control system вЂ“ Noitu 2 uses direct mouse control coupled with the cursor keys for movement and attacking enemies. Although the Treasure and Gunstar comparisons apply to the look, feel and inventive multi-directional scrolling style of the game, Xoda's highly effective method of attack has more in common with something like Strider, being a very potent close-range slashing move. Xoda is a grinning Darn's worst nightmare. Appearing throughout the game in a variety of surreal and often comical guises (think along the lines of those humorous enemy animations in the Metal Slug games), their reliance on madcap, over-designed weapon technology is also a good excuse for Joakim to flex his boss-building muscles, as we'll see laterвЂ¦ To cut a long story short, Xoda has been summoned to deal with the resurrected Darn Robot Army вЂ“ a horde of eternally grinning, death-dealing cyborgs. This be-hoodied green whirlwind looks like the product of an unlikely coupling with Link from Zelda and Sonic's hyperactive sister, but she's actually a pretty cool character. Set one hundred years after its prequel, Noitu 2 stars a female protagonist with the unlikely name of Xoda Rapp. For a game designed and put together by one guy, it's simply epic. Noitu 2 is the sequel to his previous freeware game Noitu Love, which was a pleasant NES-like Megaman style platformer, but the advancement between the two games is like comparing the leaning tower of Pisa to the Empire State building.

#NOITU LOVE 2 DEVOLUTION PROFESSIONAL#

His professional CV includes an animation credit for Wayforward Technologies' well-received Contra 4, while his most recent indie game shares the same spiritual bloodline as Treasure favourites like Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier and Silhouette Mirage. Joakim Sandberg is a man who clearly loves designing bosses.

Noitu love 2 devolution