Here’s a fact about me.  I’ve never liked math.  If I ever became a super villain, there are two ways you could defeat me.  My only two weaknesses are country music and math.  So when I get a press release claiming a game will make me like math, I’m like, “OK, challenge accepted.”  So here’s Nero & Sci.  Nero is a shy lonely little alien who works at a library, and one day while dusting off some old books in the basement, Nero knocks off one of the books and it opens up and all heck breaks loose.  Then Nero meets a little flying jellyfish thing named Sci.  Together they must save the day in this 2D puzzle platformer.  It’s available on Switch and PC but reviewed on Switch here.

To control Nero, you move with the L stick and jump and double jump with the B button.  Another button makes you do a little slash attack to enemies.  Control Sci with the R stick to make it fly around.  Hold down the R2 button to make Sci pick up objects, and the L2 button makes you see into another dimension to find hidden things to help you solve puzzles. A second player can use another controller to move Sci as well.  You’ll move through the 2D stages doing some light platforming, but every so often you’ll be stopped to do a cleverly disguised algebra equation.  So you’ll use Sci’s abilities to pick up blocks with numbers on them to place them where they need to be, or Nero can flip switches.  Sometimes you must view that alternate dimension to get clues to the puzzles as well.  Collect little while balls to purchase upgrades on a skill tree, and apples to give you hints on the puzzles.

Unfortunately, this game did not make me like math.  The platforming is fine, but the puzzles are unintuitive and feel like homework.  The map screen is hard to navigate and I couldn’t figure out if there was a way to save my progress mid level (they are rather long stages, or at least feel that way). And that alternate dimension thing just feels like an unnecessary added step.  I think the only people who will like this game are players who already like math.

Kid Factor:

Nero & Sci is rated E for Everyone with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence.  You can slash at enemies that disappear when defeated and that’s it.  Strong reading and math skills are a must, so this game is best for older kids.  Probably ones who are about to take algebra classes.  It would be good practice, so this game is definitely considered educational.

Tags: Game Reviews