Little Nicky (video game)
A Game Boy Color platformer based on the Adam Sandler film.
In 2000, Ubisoft and Digital Eclipse released a Game Boy Color platformer based on the comedy film Little Nicky, exclusive to North America. Players control the half-demon, half-angel Nicky, using his demonic powers to complete 24 levels drawn from the movie. The game also includes five minigames. Critics gave mixed reviews, praising the visuals and mature themes while offering varied opinions on the audio and gameplay.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Digital Eclipse
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Designer
- Lionel Rico
- Producer
- Yves Guilemot
- Vincent Minoue
- Mike Mika
- Programmer
- Adam Rippon, Mike Mika
- Artist
- Luc Verhulst, Tom Lisowski
- Composer
- Robert Baffy
- Released
- December 23, 2000 (NA)
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Little Nicky is a side-scrolling platform game. The player controls the half-demon/angel Nicky, who can use demonic powers such as possession and flaming belches. These powers are initially locked and must be unlocked by filling a meter, which is done by standing near a source of heat. Standing near heat also increases movement speed and jump height, but staying too long temporarily disables demonic abilities. The player has four health points; losing all health costs a life, and losing all lives results in a game over. The 24 levels are based on events from the film. Most require reaching an endpoint or completing a task, such as collecting objects. Three levels feature a boss fight, including one where the player must make five basketball shots before a timer expires. Five minigames are available outside the main game: fishing, darts, a shooting gallery, pineapple throwing, and "Satanhead", which lets the player create a face from parts. Darts supports two-player turn-based play on a shared system, and "Satanhead" can print results using a Game Boy Printer.
Development and release
Digital Eclipse, which had previously developed handheld Game Boy Color versions of NFL Blitz 2000 and Tarzan, created the game. Ubisoft published it in collaboration with New Line Cinema to promote the film Little Nicky. Adam Sandler served as executive producer through his company Happy Madison, and he, along with actors Allen Covert and Steven Brill, contributed minor vocal work. The game was announced at E3 2000 on May 13, 2000, via a short video featuring Sandler, and was released on December 23, 2000 exclusively in North America.
Reception
Critical reception was mixed, according to GameRankings. Many reviewers considered it a quality handheld title that made good use of its license. Johnathan Dudlak of Pocket Games found it highly entertaining, while Ethan Einhorn of Electronic Gaming Monthly called it astoundingly good. Frank Provo of GameSpot described the play experience as unpleasant but noted other presentation aspects were well done. Gameplay was the most divisive element. Level design was generally praised for varied and engaging challenges, though Craig Harris of IGN felt some levels were too difficult with many enemies and obstacles. Einhorn thought the game was too short, while Provo criticized jerky hit detection and slippery movement. The heating mechanic and demonic powers were seen by Harris as adding depth, but Provo wrote that the powers, aside from required levels, served little purpose. Sound design drew mixed opinions: Provo called it poorly sampled, highlighting the heavy metal soundtrack and Sandler's voice clips, while Dudlak and Einhorn labeled it high quality for the system, with Harris describing the audio as super clear and the best part. Visuals were praised, especially character animations and environment details; Provo called the environments hilarious and a great film representation, and Einhorn compared animations to hand-drawn cartoons. Some noted visual glitches like sprite flickering. The use of risqué and low-brow elements was seen as a highlight. Einhorn praised it as a great adaptation, Dudlak found it genuinely funny, and Harris and Provo appreciated its implementation in minigames, with Harris noting the gory darts theming and Provo joking about the "Satanface" activity.
More in Ubisoft Games of the 2000s
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