New Co-Op Steam Game is Like Donkey Kong Country Meets Crash Bandicoot

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Key Takeaways

  • Nikoderiko is a new platformer that blends elements of Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot, available on Steam and consoles.
  • Nikoderiko has levels, music, and gameplay reminiscent of classic platformers.
  • Nikoderiko aims to fill a void left by neglected platformer franchises for genre fans.

As a longtime fan of platform games, especially those from the golden age of gaming, I can confidently say that Nikoderiko: The Magical World has been a breath of fresh air for me. With its charming graphics reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot, it’s as if I’ve stepped back into my childhood living room, complete with the comforting scent of an old Nintendo console.

The Magical World” is a freshly launched platform game that blends elements reminiscent of both “Donkey Kong Country” and “Crash Bandicoot”. You can now enjoy playing this title on Steam, which already boasts an impressive selection of quality platform games. With its addition to the list, “Nikoderiko: The Magical World” further strengthens Steam’s collection of top-tier platform games.

After being launched on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch earlier this year, “Nikoderiko: The Magical World” has now arrived on Steam. While “Nikoderiko” bears a strong resemblance to other platform games and may have some textural pop-in issues and occasional glitches, it remains an enjoyable addition to the genre. With no new installments of “Donkey Kong Country” or “Crash Bandicoot” on the horizon, “Nikoderiko” can serve as a satisfying substitute for fans who love classic platformers.

Nikoderiko is a cooperative platformer that blends 2D side-scrolling and 3D gameplay. Characters Niko and Luna guide players through an array of vibrant levels teeming with perils and adversaries. The game openly draws inspiration from Donkey Kong Country, often evoking the feel of Retro Studios’ Donkey Kong Country Returns. Levels conclude with a fast-paced button mashing mini-game, similar to Donkey Kong Country, and concealed rockets transport players to hidden mini-game stages (instead of accumulating yellow bananas, you gather yellow stars). Animal companions are also incorporated, much like in the DKC series.

Nikoderiko is Inspired by Donkey Kong Country and Crash Bandicoot

Besides all this, the game Nikoderiko boasts David Wise as its musical composer. Known for his work on numerous video game soundtracks throughout his career, Wise has contributed to the scores of the Donkey Kong Country games and Playtonic’s Yooka-Laylee. It’s evident that the developers aimed to honor the Donkey Kong Country series, and they undeniably managed to achieve this with Nikoderiko: The Magical World.

In other instances, Nikoderiko deviates from its Donkey Kong Country influence and draws inspiration from Crash Bandicoot. The game often shifts from its conventional side-scrolling view to a perspective that strongly resembles the rear-view angle seen in the PlayStation 1 Crash Bandicoot trilogy. Despite the apparent lack of originality due to these borrowed concepts, it’s not necessarily a negative aspect. Instead, Nikoderiko effectively fills a gap in the neglected platformer series and is a straightforward suggestion for genre enthusiasts seeking fresh content, particularly those interested in cooperative play.

Although Nintendo hasn’t revealed plans for a brand-new Donkey Kong Country game yet, they are instead bringing back Donkey Kong Country Returns from the Wii and upgrading it for the Nintendo Switch as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, set to launch in January 2025.

I haven’t completed the game “Nikoderiko” as of now, but the parts I’ve experienced have left such an impression on me that I feel compelled to suggest it to enthusiasts of platforming games. The cooperative play feature and its nods to classic platformers make “Nikoderiko” a game you shouldn’t miss if you’re a fan of this genre.

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2024-12-11 22:13