A High-Octane, Plane-Shifting Cyberpunk Shootout
In the world of video games, ‘cyberpunk’ seems to be the new ‘zombies’, at least if we take it by judging the sheer amount of games that adhere to this particular aesthetic.
That’s the case too for Neon Inferno from Xenovia Interactive and Retroware; a cyberpunked, retro feeling, pixel art shooting game, to boil it right down. With an interesting twist on the shooting gameplay, can this game be the one to lift my cyberpunk weariness, or is it just going to be another also ran? Well, let’s head to the future and see what is occurring, shall we?
Well, just for a change, we are playing an anti hero, if you like. We are a hitman or hitwoman (hitperson?) for the mafia, known as the Family. We find ourselves in a dystopian New York City, where warring factions have brought their conflict to the streets, , tasked with carrying out various missions to bring our rule to the fore. There doesn’t seem to be masses of story kicking around in Neon Inferno though – we are basically given a choice of mission, a bit of background if we want it, and then head off out.
Still, we know why we are doing the things we do, but how do we look while doing them? Quite interesting, is the answer, and while the presentation isn’t going to blow your socks clear across the room, it does have a certain pixel art kind of charm. The characters, both the ones we play as and the enemies we face off against, are all very well designed, and the layout of the large levels is always challenging. Part shooter, part bullet hell, part shooting gallery, Neon Inferno always looks pretty good. That is helped by a real fluidity to things, as we try to avoid the many bullets coming our way.
The sound is also quite good, with a catchy soundtrack that is often drowned out by the sound of gunfire, the overriding sound effect you’ll take in during your time with Neon Inferno. Luckily, the gunfire is quite well done, and the groans of our enemies and the exploding when we fell a boss, are also of a decent standard. With a bright and bold (almost neon) look to the graphics, and the sounds to back them up, the presentation is very nice.
Depth of Field
Now, I mentioned at the top of the review about an interesting gameplay twist, and here it is: the run and gun gameplay that Neon Inferno works has another facet to offer. Every now and again, enemies will appear in either the foreground or background of the screen, and with a swift press of the RB button, we can stop running and start aiming into the screen. This adds a bit of spice, as while we are blasting away into the fore or background, we can’t move. You don’t need me to tell you that this, therefore, needs to be done at the right time in order to stay alive. In particular, the bosses seem particularly fond of jumping between the planes, forcing us to follow them in order to keep doing damage.
Bullet Time and Platforming Pitfalls
The rest of the time, Neon Inferno will have you running, jumping and firing in the normal directions, all in order to make it through the levels. In all honesty, the controls for the shooting are fine, but the jumping ones feel a bit clumsy. It isn’t uncommon to fall off platforms, having just failed to clear the gap that you are required to, even with a double jump. You soon adapt and jump as late as possible, but under pressure and under fire, it is all too easy to make a mistake.
Still, Neon Inferno is supposed to be challenging, and the developers have certainly succeeded in that regard. The bosses are a real handful, and learning their attack patterns is vital. As is utilising any chosen character’s abilities to the full. You see, each character has the ability to run and jump, as expected, but they can also dodge, which is vital. In a pinch they can also enter bullet time and actually deflect enemy projectiles back at them. This can come in very handy at certain times.
A Stiff Challenge Wrapped in Neon Chrome
What you should know though is that Neon Inferno’s difficulty level is very much on the hard end of the spectrum. Having initially tried Easy mode, I found it to be nothing of the sort, the other two difficulties seem almost impossible. However, the higher rankings for each level are only available in the harder difficulties, and so to complete the game’s achievement list, mastery will be required.
If it all becomes a bit tricky, it’s nice to see the inclusion of a couch co-op mode. Having a friend along to share the aggro, as well as to double the firepower, is very useful, and this mode works very well. I’m very much of the opinion that cooperative play mostly increases fun levels, so this addition does make me happy.
Neon Inferno is a challenging game with a cracking amount of enjoyment to it. Couch co-op helps, as does the stiff challenge, but that does mean you’ll need to put in the work in order to get through everything it has to offer.
I’m still over cyberpunk, but ignoring that, there is enough of a challenge included in Neon Inferno to ensure it is well worthy of a recommendation. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you how hard it is!
Important Links
Neon Inferno Ignites A Cyberpunk Warzone – https://www.thexboxhub.com/neon-inferno-ignites-a-cyberpunk-warzone/
Neon Inferno: A Cyberpunk Blast from the Past Coming to All Platforms | Release Date Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/neon-inferno-a-cyberpunk-blast-from-the-past-coming-to-all-platforms/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/Neon-Inferno/9NN2ZS6C8BXC
