Gaming Reference & Reviews

Neon White WILL turn you into a speedrunner

Developers Angel Matrix have delivered a breakout hit for their first official project in the form of a platformer/puzzle game/fps hybrid, & publisher Annapura Interactive adds another shining notch to their belt alongside other quality titles such as Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Donut County, Solar Ash & What Remains of Edith Finch.

Neon White is the type of game that will speak volumes to gamers who love the rush they get from games like Quake or DOOM Eternal, as it delivers the same kinetic energy & hits of dopamine after finishing a stage with flawless execution. Each level is meticulously designed to be easy to understand on first glance & make the most of the mobility & tools the game gives you to play with. Soul cards also work to spice up your gameplay by providing you with not only a gun to kill enemies with, but also a unique movement ability such as a double jump or horizontal dash that can be used by discarding said cards. The game’s replay value is entirely dependent on how many seconds you want to shave off your time, as the most devoted players could very well spend hundreds of hours optimizing each & every level to pinpoint precision. Even more casual players can very easily get swept up in the speedrunning fever as Neon White excels at not only challenging you to get better with awards based on your clear time, but encouraging you to get better by making the gameplay loop very easy to get into but the skill ceiling monstrously high. Good clear times are also rewarded with collectible gifts to find upon next replay to unlock new dialogue & bonus levels from side characters as well as revealing hints for shortcuts that can drastically improve your time.

Unfortunately gameplay isn’t the only aspect of a good game, & the story side of Neon White is weak at best. With basic writing that doesn’t break new ground in any way, clunky & sometimes cringeworthy dialogue along with vocal performances that range from mediocre to slightly embarrassing, anyone looking for a rich & meaningful story based gaming experience will find little reason to pay this game any mind. The game’s soundtrack on the other hand makes quite the impression being composed by Electronic duo Machine Girl, which could be a large positive if you’re into that kind of music. Even if you aren’t, it’s hard to deny that their sound doesn’t compliment Neon White’s tone & atmosphere.

Graphically, Neon White is a mixed bag with nicely drawn 2D portraits, a minimalistic artstyle & solid character design (at least for the important characters). At the same time, whenever the game occasionally uses 3D models they almost always look stiff & unnatural in motion & posing, though thankfully they are used sparingly. While Neon White isn’t setting any records for graphical prowess, for a game of this kind that isn’t especially important. At a price point of $31.99 CAD it is a justifiable purchase for those who know they enjoy speedrun focused games.

Since assigning a numerical value to art seems somewhat pointless to me, instead included below is a handy list of pros & cons to help you come to your own conclusion