The side-scrolling alien-basher Noitu Love 2 kicks off at Run Lola Run speed, and just gets faster. The intrepid green-clad
protagonist, Xoda Rap, never stops jumping, grappling, and pummeling
culture-clashed aliens, who dress in zoot suits or cactus costumes—which
only makes sense because the game never gives you more than a second to think
about it. The word "GO!" flashes as you keep running across the map or flying
on a gunship beside a rushing train that wants to kill you so badly that it
stops rolling, sprouts legs, and comes running at you.
While the hyper-catchy 8-bit music and wicked pixel
art give the game charm, the key to its success is its brevity. The levels are
quick and action-packed for minimum repetition and maximum punch, with a
smattering of puzzles and just enough henchmen to help you hit high combo scores.
You only need a handful of moves, the best of which is a kind of grapple attack
that yanks you within smacking distance of any alien. But while each level only
takes minutes, unlocking the Easter eggs and scoring a grade above "C" requires
many tries—and you only get seven lives to take you to the end. Like the
game, you have to find precision in excess.