Much like the old 1980s arcade cabinet games, you *will* die....a lot. And just like those old games you'll keep reaching in your pocket for another quarter. This game is frustrating and has a steep learning curve, but holy hell I can not put it down. Despite all of this it is FUN. It is a thinking man's arcade game. It doesn't take a tremendous amount of twitch skill, but it will punish your carelessness. At the same time the game rewards you handsomely for your creativity and curiosity. If you are clever, you can get through the game without firing a shot. But why would you, when you can absolutely positively blast every motherfucker in the room? ....and blast the room itself into smoke and vapor. That's where the 2020s comes in. Despite it playing like an old arcade game, it has a more modern RPG-like elements to allow you to grow. You start off incredibly weak, yet grow incredibly powerful. This can be done via just raw upfront damage and immunities, or through a more clever stack of abilities and spells. Most games do their damnedest to nerf and discourage creative exploits, whereas Noita welcomes every dirty trick with open arms. I'm only about 130 hours into it, but I suspect I will still be learning things 2000 hours later. Pile on top of that the simulated pixel behavior, which is great....or horrible, depending on which side of it you are on. Ironically it was the pixel simulation that got me interested in the first place, but it is the depth of the gameplay that really has my attention now. TL;DR: One of the best games I've bought in years. Worth it at full price, even as I throw my mouse across the room.
