Little Noah: Scion of Paradise was announced and released the same day when Nintendo held their latest Mini Direct. The initial gameplay reveal may have left some viewers scratching their heads as to what this game is. It is a 2D roguelike action RPG platformer that is a mouthful.
Players assume the role of Noah in this game, an alchemist and an explorer in a mysterious new land. Fight through dungeons, collect treasure, level up, and repeat upon death. Little Noah: Scion of Paradise is a standard roguelike in some ways and innovative in others. Here are a few handy starter tips for the next set of foolhardy adventurers out there.
8 Difficulty Levels
Players are presented with three difficulty levels at the start of Little Noah: Scion of Paradise which can be changed at any time. Playing on Easy will decrease enemy HP, give Noah more defense, and resistance to status effects. The Normal level is balanced without any changes to stats and is the recommended way to go as this is a roguelike which should be a little challenging. Hard will increase the challenge further by increasing the enemy’s HP and attack power and lowering Noah’s resistance and defense. It will also make sure healing magic and potions won’t recover as much HP.
7 Explore Before Using A Gate
As is standard in roguelikes, players will be presented with different pathways at the end of a level. Most times players can choose one of two ways before moving on. Before going through a gate, players should make sure they explore the level they are currently on thoroughly. The map is fairly detailed, giving players a good idea of where missing pathways will lead. Veteran roguelike fans may already know all of this but it is important to state the obvious sometimes as a reminder.
6 Test Out The Skill Slot
Instead of attacking herself, Noah can summon creatures called Lilliputs. There are five slots initially mapped to the Y button, which is for the Switch version at least. Using Y will create a string of combos like in most action RPGs.
There is also a special slot for the X button. Putting a Lilliput here will change its attack. For example, Angela on the attack line will shoot out a gust of wind. If Angela is used as a special, they will form a shield around Noah instead. Be sure to test out each new Lilliput in this slot.
5 The Various Currencies
There are two major currencies players should be aware of in Little Noah: Scion of Paradise. Gold is used only for in-dungeon shops. So, if players are hoping to use that gold elsewhere, like on the airship, they need to think again. In death, gold will disappear so don’t waste a good opportunity. Most things will disappear in death besides gold but progression will technically not be lost. Everything gathered will be converted into Mana and this Mana can be used to permanently upgrade Noah. This makes the penalty of dying feel not as harsh in this game as in other roguelikes.
4 Items Won’t Disappear
Enemy drops can be a good thing in video games like if they drop health items. Sometimes players won’t need to heal at that moment but can’t take that item with them, making the opportunity feel like a waste. Thankfully, this game makes sure items don’t disappear if players leave an area. That item, like a healing herb, will stay put until players leave that level of the dungeon. With that knowledge in mind, it’s a good idea not to pick up healing items until necessary or if players plan to pass through a gate. Don’t waste an item to heal Noah for a measly 10 HP, for example.
3 You Can Warp Around
Here is a useful mechanic that the game doesn’t do a good job of explaining initially. Players can warp around the dungeon map without having to pay anything. If that area has been explored then players can warp back there.
This is very useful if players discover a gate room too early or a treasure room before players find a key. The roguelike genre can learn a lot from Little Noah: Scion of Paradise and this might be at the top of the list. Speed is everything in a roguelike.
2 Airship Repairs
The airship is like the skill tree one can find in any RPG. Players can use the aforementioned Mana to upgrade Noah’s capabilities in the field. The first upgrade players should purchase is the potion perk. They should combo that with a flower bed which increases how much a potion can heal. After that grab the Gold Cocco which will bestow a small allowance of money before jumping into the dungeon. Finally, one boost to HP and attack power couldn’t hurt either. From there, the airship upgrades are up to you.
1 Saving And Quitting
This game is a unique roguelike for a lot of reasons. The aforementioned map warping system helps progression a lot as does the saving system. Players don’t need to continue a run until they die to make sure things get saved. If players can no longer play the game, they can save, quit, and return to that exact room the next time things load up. This is not a new idea for the genre but it is sadly not used as much. It’s a good thing to be aware of before fully jumping into Little Noah: Scion of Paradise.
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise was released on June 28, 2022 and is available on PC, PS4, and Switch.