Game:Â Night Lights
Genre: Adventure, Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also available for PlayStation and Xbox)
Developers | Publishers: Ratalaika Games
Age Rating:Â EU 3+ | US E Everyone
Price: USD $4.99 | EU € 4,99 | UK £4.99
Release Date: November 26th, 2021
Review code used, with many thanks to Ratalaika Games.
Night Lights is a cute and short platforming title with a unique look. Players jump around as a small robot that is trying to bring light back to a world of darkness, and it will need loads of upgrades and heart to do it.
The Gameplay and Story
Night Lights has a pretty basic story. Players get to control an adorable little robot looking for light, and they use a variety of upgrades in order to get around the world. It feels a lot like a Metroidvania, with your adorable robot friend having to complete puzzles, get upgrades, then go back through the same maps again in order to complete them with the new upgrades.
The gameplay is also fairly basic; Night Lights only has a couple of buttons. Move, jump, double jump, and interact are all that the player basically needs. The puzzles involve combining the abilities of the robot along with lighting that changes the world around it. Players need to collect teardrops to open new areas and lightning bolts to extend the robot’s stamina.
The Pros of Night Lights
Night Lights is a game with simplified graphics that are extremely appealing. The tiny little robot you get to control is absolutely adorable, and its movements are smooth and easy. The platforming in this game is on point, and players will be able to solve the puzzles without worrying about wonky controls that ruin a good jump or move.
The puzzles are easy and players can take their time; there is no speed element to the platforming like there is in games like Celeste. This relaxing title is filled with unique little puzzles that push the limits of what the robot is capable of.
Each upgrade has a unique sign, and these signs appear in the world to show what places open up when a new upgrade is found. This slick design makes it easy to make note of where to head next, making sure the players aren’t wasting time trying to get to a place they won’t be able to go yet.
There isn’t a whole lot of tutorial or hand-holding in this game; players are mostly left to their own devices to figure out the world around them. Thankfully, there are tons of environmental clues and hints for figuring out how each of the different puzzles work.
The Cons of Night Lights
There’s not much to dislike about this game; it is incredibly short, which fits with the price point, but it’s sad. The game is cute and fun, and I wanted it to last longer. Overall, that was my biggest gripe with the whole thing.
Conclusion
If you like relaxing platformers, this is a great game to pick up. I really don’t have any complaints about this title; it’s filled with charm, great puzzles, and the world’s cutest little robot friend. The music, the world, and the environmental clues make for a wonderful game.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs UpÂ
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