Nikoderiko: The Magical World review - A charming new platformer emerges

If you’re a fan of the platforming genre, you’ll assuredly find a sense of homecoming in the delightful Nikoderiko: The Magical World. This is a title which, yes, unashamedly borrows from its genre forebears but that’s, in a way, a strength. You see, platformers dominated my childhood - and I always felt comforted knowing that the genre had a timeless appeal. And yet while that’s true, the success of Astro Bot being prime evidence, so too have many of the platforming greats become stranded in purgatory.

But that’s where Nikoderiko: The Magical World comes in. Let’s face it, the titular character is practically Crash Bandicoot reincarnated and while Vea Games won’t particularly win any points in the originality department for that, this will assuredly fill the Crash Bandicoot-shaped hole left in the hearts of many platforming fans. With a fifth instalment in the beloved series reportedly having been cancelled, Nikoderiko: The Magical World is a worthy successor. Boasting well-designed levels, challenging boss fights, and entertaining co-op and mount systems, there’s plenty here to set Nikoderiko apart whilst tapping into those genre tropes you know and love.

In terms of its story, Nikoderiko: The Magical World offers your standard platforming fare. The game follows Niko and Luna after they discover that a primordial artefact has been stolen by the evil Grimbald. This, naturally, sends them on a world-spanning adventure which will take the duo through a number of unique biomes as they attempt to put a stop to Grimbald and his Cobring forces. I have to say, while the story won’t blow you away, it’s brought to life via some charming voice acting that injects this predictable tale with a wonderful sense of warmth.

Take a look at Nikoderiko: The Magical World in action below.

It goes without saying that Nikoderiko: The Magical World contains all the usual platforming fare. You’ll slide, jump, swing, and spin your way through a variety of side-scrolling and 3D levels. But it also features a couple of unique quirks that set it apart from its competitors. You’ll most definitely, at some point, have completed a platforming level involving a mount. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back had Polar, Super Mario 3D World had Plessie … you get the idea. While Nikoderiko: The Magical World has its own mount-based levels, so too does it allow users to summon a mount at any time.

You see, Nikoderiko: The Magical World’s collectable currency - glowing orbs you’ll collect during levels - can be exchanged for mount uses at the island’s camp. There are several creatures to choose from, including a crocodile and toad - each with their own unique powers. For example, the crocodile - one of the game’s earliest unlockable mounts - can gobble up an enemy and spit them out to take down another.

I’m hesitant to give too much away, as you’ll acquire additional mount options as you progress through the story but it’s a wonderful way of adding a sense of originality to what is a game that is elsewhere pretty heavy-handed in showing its inspirations, while also ensuring replayability. For the most part, many of Nikoderiko: The Magical World’s levels can be completed without a mount but it’s undoubtedly fun to try them. You may be able to best enemies that previously proved troublesome, or access areas of the level you never knew existed.

Credit / Knights Peak

It’s that last point that I want to focus on, because Nikoderiko: The Magical World doesn’t simply offer a straightforward trip from point A to point B. Each level will feature four letter tiles - N, I, K, and O - and locating them isn’t always straightforward. Certain tiles will be easily viewable, but perhaps require you to venture back when you’ve unlocked a mount. Others will lie at the end of an alternative high-risk, high-reward path. Some collectable items are simply hidden behind false walls, prompting eagle-eyed players to explore every nook and cranny.

This is all something I found incredibly engaging. Naturally, if you want the path of least resistance, you can follow the road most travelled, but there is an incentive there if you want to make the most of your time with Nikoderiko: The Magical World - and letter tiles aren’t the only rewards that await you. Several mini-games are also hidden away, from ‘Collect The Stars’ to ‘Find the Key’. Both task you with completing a task within a short time limit, rewarding you with a collectable or currency should you succeed. If you don’t seek out a level’s excursions, you’re denying yourself these hidden pockets of fun.

There’s no real reason not to opt for the risky approach. I played the game on ‘normal’ - the highest available difficulty - where Niko had three lives, or ‘hearts’. You’ll likely find top-ups throughout a level but should you lose all three, it’s no major stress. You don’t have to start the entire level again. Instead, you’re simply sent back to the last checkpoint which is yet another thing I appreciated. Platformers require precision and while that’s part of the charm, so too can it oftentimes feel grindy. Despite this safety blanket, I still found myself stuck at a couple of checkpoints for longer than I would’ve liked, but I can only imagine my anger if I’d been sent back to the starting line every time.

Credit / Knights Peak

Nikoderiko: The Magical World is, on the whole, accessible in its level of difficulty. I wouldn’t say there’s anything here that demands that pinpoint decision you’ll find in the early Crash Bandicoot titles, although Nikoderiko’s boss fights come close. For the most part, this is a game that holds your hand but Vea Games really said, “You’re on your own kid,” when it comes to those boss fights. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not talking about Elden Ring levels of difficulty but I’d be lying if I said that some boss fights didn’t take a double-digit number of attempts, but that also actually is a major win in my book.

I want a platformer to challenge me and while Nikoderiko: The Magical World predominantly delights through its encouragement of exploration, the precision required during boss fights injected this laidback game with a much-needed added layer of challenge. Certainly, it’s nice to cruise on through but so too is there joy in screaming, “Are you kidding me?!” at the screen when you think you’ve finally thwarted a boss, only for it to spawn a second phase. Yes, that happened in Nikoderiko: The Magical World.

I should also add that you can play the entirety of this game in co-op and while it’s not a feature I’ve been able to try, I can see the appeal. Having Luna by Niko’s side simply feels right, and it’s fun to laugh at your friend’s misfortunes during a platformer. This is something we all know.

Credit / Knights Peak

Nikoderiko: The Magical World may not reinvent the wheel, but it certainly does enough to stand on its own two feet. Whether the developer’s were counting on the visual similarities between Niko and Crash Bandicoot to generate chatter, I do not know but if that’s the case, I only wish they’d believed in their own vision as this is a lovely, well-rounded game that needn’t rely on imitation. With its inventive mount system and challenging boss fights, Nikoderiko: The Magical World has enough unique gimmicks to hold its own against competitors. If it’s a solid little platforming adventure you’re after, you won’t feel disappointed picking Nikoderiko: The Magical World up.

Pros: Varied level design, challenging boss fights, light-hearted fun

Cons: A little safe, needn’t imitate Crash Bandicoot quite so much

For fans of: Crash Bandicoot, Astro Bot, Super Mario Bros. Wonder

8/10: Excellent

Nikoderiko: The Magical World is out on 15 October on PlayStation 5 (version tested), Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.