Game Classification

In NightSky a boy finds a glowing sphere on the beach. He brings it home, but ever since finding it he has the strangest dreams at night. The player acts out these dreams in surreal environments, controlling the ball. The game combines the ambient aesthetics of the Knytt series with the ball mechanic from Within a Deep Forest. Players guide the ball through different worlds, but with more linear gameplay than the aforementioned titles, solving puzzles to progress.

The ball can be moved left or right and using the appropriate speed it is possible to travel over gaps or climb ramps. Levels gradually introduce more difficult challenges often based on physics. The ball for instance needs to ride a cart, pass a windmill or use flippers like in a pinball machine to reach a higher area. There are also two main powers that can be applied to the ball, but these are not available at all times. The first gives the ball a red glow and offers more precise control. The player can brake more quickly and slightly stick to surfaces. The second gives off a blue glow and offers additional speed. Players use it to climb slopes more quickly or traverse wider gaps. In certain section the blue glow reverses gravity (and the controls along with it). The game has an ambient atmosphere and there are no enemies, bosses or any form of violence.

There are eleven worlds in total, each with a different theme and new challenges. To progress the player simply needs to reach the next screen each time. The game is saved automatically, but not after every single screen. Certain challenges are divided over multiple screens (often three) and then the game is only saved after the section is entirely completed. It is possible to misinterpret a puzzle, get stuck, and reset the environment.

There are two difficulty levels. "Normal" is aimed at casual players with minor puzzle elements, similar in difficulty to most of Nicklas Nygren's previous games, while "Alternative" has complicated puzzles, minimal instructions, and demands more thought and precise control of the ball. In both game modes levels are largely the same. [source:mobygames]

Distribution : Retail - Commercial
Platform(s) : PC (Windows)

Links

• http://www.mobygames.com/game/nightsky/