It’s not every day that a developer tries to combine a fast-paced, forward-moving first-person shooter with a strategic puzzle-platformer that uses cards to dictate action. In fact, it may never have been attempted before, which means developer Angel Matrix is the pioneer of an unusual melding of genres that players will absolutely want to see more of.
Neon White sounds like a concept that’s trying to do too much, and yet it works so well. Some developers may have gamers believing it’s not worth it to take risks, but Neon White is a fine example of creator ingenuity paying off when it very easily could have fallen flat.
Matrix took a massive risk, and though the product isn’t flawless, it’s memorable and provides plenty of entertainment in a fleshed-out world of angels and demons. You can currently find this gem on several platforms but if you’re always on the go, you might want to get it for your Nintendo Switch. Grab some Nintendo eShop Cards from OffGamers here to get yourself sorted!
Who is Neon White?
The titular mask-wearing protagonist has a problem — he has no idea who he is or why he’s suddenly been released from Hell to join others he feels he recognizes in Heaven. He’s a Neon, a hand-selected sinner tasked with trying to clear Heaven of its demon infestation. If he can outperform the other Neons during the Ten Days of Judgement competition, he’ll be granted salvation until the next competition. Or at least that’s what he’s told.
Neon White is a delightfully twisted tale where nothing is ever really what it seems. Writer Ryann Shannon (OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes) seems to pull inspiration from pop culture — like Suicide Squad and Death Note — to craft White’s ten-day struggle. Shannon does a wonderful job of keeping players guessing as small nuggets of truth unravel sporadically through character conversations. And there are plenty of conversations to be had as White can bond with the denizens of Heaven, like Mikey the cat angel, and the other Neons.
Matrix only really needed to get the gameplay right to have a moderate hit, but mediocrity was clearly not the goal here. The visual style and dialogue transport players into a full-fledged anime, complete with all the ridiculousness viewers have come to expect. Though the story isn’t entirely unique and some of the beats have been seen before, how it all unfolds makes it easy to sit through. The only big problem is that every minute characters are exchanging dialogue is a minute not speeding through Heaven, collecting cards, and eradicating demons.
Fast-Paced and Frantic
When first booting up Neon White, don’t expect to understand what’s going on. This isn’t the average first-person shooter, and it’s going to take a moment to get accustomed to manoeuvring through levels. Though it may look like a rail-shooter, players are in complete control of White and can take multiple paths to complete each level. In fact, it’s clear Matrix is challenging players to find the fastest route, and the multitude of recorded speed runs on YouTube was inevitable.
Navigating each level is more than just well-timed button presses and knowing the quickest route. Aiding traversal are Soul Cards found scattered along each path, each one serving two purposes that help players accomplish their two goals.
Though there’s a finish line to each level, there are also demons that need to be eradicated. Before White can complete a level, each mischievous demon needs to be removed from Heaven, and that’s where most of the cards come into play. Soul Cards represent White’s weapons, and each can be drained of its “ammo” to defeat demons. If there’s ammo to spare, the cards can also be used to improve moving through the environment.
One card, Purify, grants White a sticky grenade that can be used to both kill demons and send him flying a short distance. When placed at the right time, these grenades can reduce travel time or help White reach higher platforms. Another card, Godspeed, doubles as a slow-firing rifle and a powerful push forward that sends White flying.
Remembering what each card does can be confusing at first, but the more time spent with Neon White, the easier it gets. There’s little time to make decisions without interrupting the flow, and a wrong choice can leave White without the means to complete his mission.
Does one balance ammo and secondary attacks? Or is it safe to expend firearms for quicker and more efficient travel? How players tackle each level is up to them, but there are wrong answers that can leave someone short on cards and with no way to reach the end gate.
Is It All in the Cards?
Neon White’s gameplay is heavily reliant on Soul Cards, so it stands to reason that the cards themselves need to be diverse, functional, and have a significant impact on the player experience.
Matrix does a surprisingly good job creating a well-balanced system that, at no point, bogs down the game. While a bigger variety of cards would have been nice, what is there does round out the staple armament of a typical first-person shooter, from automatic machine guns to long-range rifles and short-range shotguns.
While Soul Cards clearly depict the weapon they represent, the design is underwhelming considering the game’s overall aesthetic. Card games are usually recognizable by the vivid and memorable art sprawled on each card, but these are a bit generic. It’s not a big detractor from the experience and is maybe more of a nitpick than anything else, but it stands out when up against other vibrant and outstanding visuals.
In fact, Neon White’s overall look is maybe its biggest selling point. Many games try to capture the look and feel of an anime series, but Matrix absolutely succeeds. To the point where one could easily think this is an adaptation of a running anime.
Going with static dialogue panels is always a risk, but the character art keeps things interesting to look at. Maybe most surprising are the voice actors, who work their magic on a frequently cringeworthy script to keep players engaged.
A Hell of a Good Time in Heaven
Neon White takes risks that probably shouldn’t pay off, but they absolutely do. From its interesting story to the well-crafted fast-paced gameplay, just about everything lands. More Soul Cards and a better script could have really boosted the experience, but as it stands, Neon White is a great beginning to what we hope will be the emergence of a blending of genres and mechanics that other developers take a stab at.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Developers: Angel Matrix, Ben Esposito
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
Enjoy the review? want to read more of our reviews? then click right here to be whisked away to the realm of our opinions.
You must be logged in to post a comment.