Nico Adventures: Algorithm

***Nico Adventures: Algorithm*** is an action-adventure video game developed and published by J-Games for the J-Exo. Released internationally in October 2015, it is the tenth main entry in the *Nico Adventures* series, serving as the successor to *Nico Adventures: Paradigm*. It has been released on every subsequent J-Games console.

*Nico Adventures: Algorithm* is the first game since 2007 to not feature Pico as a playable character, and the title follows Nico as he attempts to infiltrate a media outlet, QKN, that is hacking devices across the globe in order to influence their views via targeted articles, many of which contain misinformation, and bring it down from the inside. To do so, he has to gather evidence without garnering suspicion from co-workers, most notably the CEO of the company, Arnold Exchequer. Nico is aided by his close team of friends, Michael, Arch and Alistair. Gameplay sees Nico working inside the QKN headquarters, performing menial chores and keeping a low profile during the working day, and partaking in stealth missions and solving puzzles after his shifts. On some occasions, Nico will be sent out to different locations to report a story: these segments usually involve driving a vehicle and/or fighting enemies. Nico has an apartment in this game which serves as the hub world.

Development of the game began in the summer of 2014. Jay wanted to take the series back to its roots for its 10th installment, therefore Pico was excluded from the game and the levels are small-scale. The storyline was intended to shift away from the fantastical elements of the previous two games and once again place Nico into a serious and grounded situation. Multiple journalists were involved in detailing their jobs and their workplaces as research for the game. The game's soundtrack is composed by Remi Gazel, and the theme song is recorded by Sheryl Crow.

*Nico Adventures: Algorithm* released to positive reviews, seen as a stark improvement to its predecessor. The game's storyline, characters, visuals, soundtrack, controls and level design were all praised, whilst the difference in gameplay compared to previous games was met with mixed reviews. Some believed the stealth elements to be refreshing and unique, whilst others felt the game didn't execute these segments well enough. The life simulation aspect of the game was also met with mixed reviews, with many feeling like they dragged on too long and served no real purpose. The game's story was praised as being highly satirical whilst staying grounded and action-packed, and compared the game to *Nico Adventures: Mystery* as both games are considered slow burns. Many critics felt that Michael, Arch and Alistair had been in the roles they initially assumed in the series for the first time since 2006's *Nico Adventures* and that it felt "nostalgic" to have them there. The game was nominated for a multitude of awards at the 2015 Video Game Awards, winning Best Story and Best Graphics.

Commercially, *Nico Adventures: Algorithm* sold better than its predecessor. The game sold over 15 million copies on the J-Exo, and across all platforms the game has sold over 40 million copies. The game's movie adaptation, which was released in the following year, received universal critical acclaim and remains the highest-grossing *Nico Adventures* film adaptation. The game was succeeded by *Nico Adventures: Contact* in 2016.