Noby Noby Boy review

Like Linger in Shadows and Flower before it, Noby Noby Boy is a PSN game without missions, objectives, enemies – and some might say a point or a purpose. You’re either going to view it as one of the most addictive titles you’ll play all year, or a waste of money.

Whereas the Katamari games are all about rolling around and crashing over items to make your ball bigger, Noby Noby Boy is about slithering around and gobbling everything up, as well as stretching to gain extra length. The left stick moves the front part of your creature and the right stick controls the back end, while moving both ends in opposite directions stretches its entire body. As your body elongates you can pause the game at any time and upload how many extra meters you’ve added to a persistent character called GIRL. As other players add their growth, she elongates until she’s able to reach new planets. The best bit is you can zoom in along her body and see every player who has contributed.

As a measure of the game’s popularity, the moon level unlocked after just four days, which was well ahead of the fortnight estimate set by Namco Bandai. By the time you read this, we wouldn’t be surprised if Mars and at least one other planet have been unlocked. Other than 12 cheap Trophies, you need to get used to not being rewarded, there’s no score to beat, no way to die or win, and there’s no ‘challenge’. You’re playing it purely for the joy of playing it and that you’re part of a worldwide collective all combining to unlock new content. Still, at only few bucks, what have you got to lose?

Mar 11, 2009