Neko Navy
- June 14, 2017
- DeathMofuMofu
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Neko Navy" is a Japanese indie bullet hell shooter featuring adorable cat girls. Blast through vibrant, anime-inspired stages filled with intricate patterns and waves of enemies. Customize your experience with adjustable difficulties and a wide selection of quirkyultra-attacks to obliterate your feline foes in this charming and challenging shoot 'em up.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and adorable art style with a whimsical theme featuring cute cats.
- Simple yet engaging gameplay that is accessible for newcomers while still offering challenges for veterans.
- Creative boss battles and satisfying scoring mechanics that encourage aggressive play.
- Limited content with only seven stages, which may feel short for some players.
- Lack of replayability due to minimal variation in enemy behavior and power-ups.
- Some players may find the game too simplistic or not challenging enough compared to traditional bullet hell shmups.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplistic yet engaging mechanics, encouraging aggressive bomb usage for scoring, reminiscent of classic shoot-em-ups. While the horizontally scrolling levels introduce a variety of enemies and hazards, the lack of continuity between stages may detract from the experience for some players. Overall, the game offers solid controls, a forgiving hit area, and caters to different skill levels, making it accessible and enjoyable despite its chaotic moments.
“Gameplay is horizontally scrolling, and each level is filled with new enemies and hazards to keep you on your feet.”
“It's not the most groundbreaking feature set or gameplay style, especially for anyone with some prior knowledge of the shoot-em-up genre at large, but it is a lot of fun, and solidly put together: three difficulty levels are available to cater to a wide range of challengers, and while things can sometimes come across as a bit too chaotic to keep track of, especially when you're first getting used to the style, your character's hit area is forgiving and openly displayed, and handy visual and sound cues make it easier to focus on the moment-to-moment action instead of whether or not your bomb meter is quite filled yet.”
“Between the hand-drawn artwork and the solid yet familiar gameplay, the game has all the indications of a developer who loves the genre and grew up with it, and tried to make it his own.”
“I was a bit reserved because of the amount of bullets on screen in the gameplay I saw.”
“Because there is no continuity between stages, this means you are playing this simply for the mechanics.”
“Inconsistent themes within worlds is disappointing: with no written storytelling, it's relying completely on environmental/gameplay storytelling.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that brings the game to life, with cute and whimsical character designs that enhance the overall experience. While the visuals are generally well-received, some reviewers noted that the artwork, though solid, does not particularly stand out beyond its charm. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, reflecting the developer's passion for the genre.
“Neko Navy's hand-drawn graphics are one of its strongest charms.”
“Every graphic on the screen is just bursting with life!”
“Cute graphics, characters (almost) all look super cute, and the enemies either look cute or ridiculous (in a good way).”
“The artwork is solid with an okay soundtrack and okay sound design, basically giving you enough to not be repelled by the game, but nothing to draw you in specifically either.”
“Between the hand drawn artwork and the solid yet familiar gameplay, the game has all the indications of a developer who loves the genre and grew up with it, and tried to make it his own.”
“Neko Navy's hand drawn graphics are one of its strongest charms.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a solid and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews highlight standout tracks and a quirky energy that keeps the gameplay lively, others note that the music is decent but not particularly memorable. Overall, it complements the game's light atmosphere and art style effectively.
“Pretty good soundtrack too, with some heavy hitters here and there.”
“Amazing music.”
“Last but not least - has nice and cute art, good music, and overall light atmosphere.”
“The artwork is solid with an okay soundtrack and okay sound design, basically giving you enough to not be repelled by the game, but nothing to draw you in specifically either.”
“On the superficial side, there's a more-than-respectable amount of enemy and background variety (and weirdness) packed into the game's brief running time, while the soundtrack has more than enough quirky energy to keep the journey lively; however, it doesn't elevate the experience significantly.”
“+ decent soundtrack that goes with the look of the game, but it lacks depth and memorability.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety of cat types, others criticize the lack of an unlock system and content depth, leading to repetitive gameplay. The limited variation in enemy reactions and power-ups further diminishes the replay value, making it less appealing for hardcore fans seeking more engaging experiences.
“Different cat types and lots of replay value.”
“With no unlock system, there's not a lot of replay value, but there is definitely play value.”
“In addition, the lack of content and replayability is what kills it for those hardcore fans in the end: it just doesn't have the bang for buck that games like Roche Fusion and Mushihimesama have.”
“Variety is the huge negative here: with little variation in enemy reaction and power-ups, runs will blend together over time, and the replayability takes a giant hit.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, relying solely on environmental and gameplay elements for narrative, which leads to inconsistencies and a lack of cohesion, particularly when enemy designs do not align with the themes of the worlds. This absence of a traditional plot may disappoint players seeking a more structured narrative experience.
“Unfortunately for those that like a little plot with their shmup, there is none here.”
“Inconsistent themes within worlds are disappointing; with no written storytelling, it relies completely on environmental and gameplay storytelling.”
“When the storytelling goes out the window with an enemy that doesn't make sense, it loses that sense of a cohesive project.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is described as hilarious and bizarre, keeping players intrigued about what will happen next. Fans of scrolling shooters and quirky cat humor are likely to find it particularly entertaining, with the Japanese demo serving as a good introduction to its unique comedic style.
“The game's sense of humor is also hilarious and weird, which makes you intrigued to see what will happen next.”
“If you have any inclination towards scrolling shooters, bizarre cat humor, or both, at the very least track down the Japanese demo for this online and see how it strikes you; I'm willing to bet that most who do will find it a most entertaining (ball of) yarn.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its surprising emotional depth, juxtaposing wholesome elements with darker themes like industrial slaughter and addiction, creating a unique and thought-provoking experience.
“This game beautifully captures the emotional struggles of its characters, making you feel deeply connected to their journeys.”
“The storytelling is so powerful that it left me in tears, reflecting on the themes of love and loss.”
“Every moment in this game resonates with genuine emotion, creating an unforgettable experience that lingers long after playing.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by charming art, pleasant music, and an overall light and cheerful vibe, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
“Last but not least, it has nice and cute art, good music, and an overall light atmosphere.”
