Review Noita. Every Pixel Matters

Review Noita

A warm spring breeze caresses the long anthracite mantle, giving peace and freshness. A few steps away, two huge boulders guard the entrance to a gloomy cave that smells of blood and ashes. From this moment begins our terrible adventure, which will surely end in death. Noita means “witch” in Finnish and perfectly describes the main character: a fragile hooded wizard (or sorceress) who finds himself in front of an unknown place. We will never know what he is doing here and why he is sneaking into the dark depths of an ominous mountain mine, because there is no place for narration in the game, except for vague detached texts. Only pure and merciless gameplay.

The roots of the game stretch back to the early 2000s. Perhaps you remember the flash game Powder Game or its 2013 successor The Powder Toy? These are sandboxes with realistic physics that allow you to recreate pressure, heat, gravity and a huge number of interactions between different substances, and even look at the simulation of a nuclear reactor.

Noita is a 2D representative of the popular pixel roguelike genre. More precisely, roguelike, so that all achievements in a single game are not transferred to the next one. Naturally, no things appear after passing one game in another: wands disappear, and potions and abilities disappear. However, the wisdom and experience of the player remains – in a game where information is very limited, they will come in handy.

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The main focus of Noita is physics simulation. This means that every action has a consequence. The events that follow one after another are realistic and fit perfectly into the surrounding world. A fallen lamp shatters and spilled oil starts to burn, fire burns wood and then goes out, water destroys fire, explosions deform surfaces, and so on.

During a crazy descent in an unknown direction, you will meet aggressive entities. Darkness will not help, because the enemies will suddenly pounce and attack relentlessly. For killing the player rely on gold nuggets, which can be spent upon reaching the next portal. The portal is a quiet place after a level mad storm, allowing you to heal, restore magic, open new abilities, random bonuses and wands.

The magician can move, fly to a limited extent, kick objects, but, most importantly, use the magic that magic wands do. Initially, there will be two of them: one basic and the second more powerful with a limited number of charges. Wands do absolutely everything in this game and are very different from each other. Each of them has slots for spells, delay time in their use, reload, mana, mana regeneration rates and other parameters.

Finding the perfect wand and putting the right spells in it to fight back, given the randomness, will not be easy – there are over 300 spells in the game alone. And in the later stages, powerful options are needed, as the enemies will get thicker, get devastating attacks, and spawn in groups. Therefore, a thorough study of the first levels in search of useful components is the key to successful completion. And, for example, it is worth gaining invisibility, and the game will play with new colors in general.

Another interesting aspect is the use of potions. It is noteworthy that they are not drunk, but thrown to the ground or at enemies in order to achieve positive and negative effects, with all the ensuing consequences. Potions will increase attack power, freeze, turn us into an animal.

Dying, traditionally for roguelikes, will often have to. Every wrong step leads to death. Many of the deaths will be unexpected, some will occur for unknown reasons and with a loud exclamation of “How?”. You will be blown up, poisoned, burned, bled, gnawed, melted, split into atoms.

There are four modes to choose from: an adventure, a daily walkthrough that can be played once a day with a set of random items, a “nightmare” and a practice that allows you to work out. Obviously Nightmare mode is the most chaotic and difficult, and you need to beat the game to access it.

Physics and chemistry combined with pixel art make Noita very dynamic. Graphically, it’s pleasing, and the color palette perfectly shapes the environment.

Sound effects from sound designer Niilo Takalainen (Baba Is You, Broforce) are another strength of Noita. Everything suggests that the wizard fell into a terrible trap and he has little chance of getting out. The same goes for music written in collaboration with the group From Grotto, the intensity of which changes depending on the events. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness are intensified as you progress, including due to the sound palette.

Also interesting is the ability to connect the game to a Twitch account and take advantage of different interactions during a live stream. And Noita is very attractive to the creators of mods, the number of which is impressive in variety.

Diagnosis

Noita is a physics-simulated retro platformer that can be fun even after a lot of deaths, and a very difficult game that requires practice. This is a great source of funny situations with fun and fresh gameplay. And the plot is not needed here – understatement is even beneficial.

However, the lack of progress and the permanent death factor will deter many players from progressing to the end. A large number of random elements and lack of difficulty balance will all too often lead to certain death of the character without any possibility of protection, which will contribute to the loss of motivation.

If you like to challenge a difficult game, improve in it, experiment, comprehend wisdom, do research and knock out a strike in a war with a random number generator in items and abilities, then be sure to pay attention to Noita. Here you can just have fun and not think about the final credits.

Pros

  • All pixels live according to the laws of physics and chemistry
  • Nice graphics and attractive sound design
  • A lot of nuances that are interesting to understand
  • Excellent replay value

Cons

  • A huge number of ridiculous and spontaneous deaths
  • Lots of random items
  • Very high level of difficulty

Questions about this game:

Noita how to heal?

In the game Noita, healing can be a crucial aspect of surviving in the dangerous world of the game. Here are a few methods you can use to heal yourself:

  1. Hearts: The most common method of healing is by finding heart containers. These are red, pulsating objects that can be found in various locations throughout the game. Interact with them to gain additional health.
  2. Healing Potions: Occasionally, you may come across small flasks containing red liquid. These are healing potions. Pick them up and use them by pressing the corresponding button/key to restore a portion of your health.
  3. Holy Mountain: The Holy Mountain is a safe haven found between levels. There are often healing wells located on this level. Interact with the wells to restore your health.
  4. Perks and Wands: Some perks and wands have healing abilities or effects. These can range from healing over time to instantly restoring a portion of your health. Keep an eye out for such items and choose them wisely when available.
  5. Friendly Creatures: There are certain friendly creatures you may encounter during your journey. Some of them have healing abilities and can restore your health if you approach them.
Noita how to use spells?

In Noita, spells are a fundamental aspect of gameplay that allow you to manipulate the environment, attack enemies, and navigate the world. Here’s a general overview of how to use spells in the game:

  1. Obtaining Spells: Spells can be found in various forms, such as wands, spellbooks, or capsules. You can acquire them by looting chests, defeating enemies, or discovering secret areas. Look out for glowing orbs or items with icons representing spells.
  2. Equipping Spells: To use spells, you need to equip them. Press the inventory key/button (usually “Tab” on the keyboard) to open your inventory and view the spells you have collected. From there, you can drag and drop spells onto wands or rearrange them within a wand.
  3. Using Wands: Wands are the primary tool for casting spells. When equipped, press and hold the primary fire button (usually left mouse button) to charge and release the spell. The wand’s stats, such as mana capacity and recharge time, determine how often you can cast spells.
  4. Combining Spells: Wands can hold multiple spells simultaneously. You can combine spells in different slots within a wand to create unique effects. Experiment with different combinations to discover powerful synergies.
  5. Mana Management: Casting spells consumes mana. Monitor your mana bar displayed at the bottom of the screen. It gradually regenerates over time, but using spells depletes it. Be mindful of your mana reserves and use spells strategically.
  6. Spell Modification: Certain spells can be modified by attaching additional spells or perks to them. This allows you to alter their behavior, increase their damage, or add special effects. These modifications are often found in orbs scattered throughout the world.
  7. Learning Spell Recipes: As you progress, you may come across spell recipes etched into the walls. These reveal the combination of spells needed to create a specific effect. Memorize or note down these recipes for future use.