Neon Chrome
- June 7, 2016
- 10tons
- 9h median play time
Just when I thought I had played enough twin-stick shooters.
Neon Chrome is a top-down cyberpunk shooter with procedural generation, offering a challenging experience in a dystopian future. As a hacker, you remotely control disposable soldiers to fight against the Overseer, while upgrading abilities and weapons to enhance your chances of success. Each playthrough is unique, with varying layouts, enemies, and events, adding high replayability value to this action-packed title.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a satisfying mix of twin-stick shooting and RPG elements, allowing for character progression and upgrades.
- Vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic with excellent graphics and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- High replayability due to procedurally generated levels and a variety of character classes and weapons, keeping each run fresh and exciting.
- Can become repetitive over time, especially with similar enemy designs and level layouts despite procedural generation.
- Some players may find the lack of a dodge mechanic and the AI's behavior to be frustrating at times.
- The game may feel grindy as players work to unlock upgrades and progress, which could deter those looking for a more casual experience.
- gameplay111 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its addictive nature, engaging mechanics, and satisfying combat, particularly in the twin-stick shooter genre. Players appreciate the variety of weapons and upgrades, as well as the balance between strategy and action, although some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with a good mix of fun and challenge, making it appealing to fans of roguelikes and action shooters.
“The gameplay is addictive, with that quality of making you always want to play just one more level.”
“The gameplay is fun, and there's a good variety of weapons and upgrades to unlock and use throughout the game, which can be used to cause a cacophony of chaos and carnage.”
“Excellent combat, interesting and complicated floors to explore, a great visual and audio presentation, and just good gameplay and polish really make this a game that any fan of roguelikes or twin-stick shooters should have a look at.”
“The game is also quite violent, with enemies frequently exploding into a puddle of blood and gore, so that combined with the poor story and repetitive gameplay made it feel like an endless stream of pointless violence.”
“The graphics aren't brilliant and there are some pretty poor design choices in the game mechanics which make it difficult for me to recommend the game.”
“Just make sure that you watch the gameplay video before purchasing, because you will be grinding through a lot of the same types of levels.”
- music91 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and fitting synthwave soundtrack, which complements the cyberpunk aesthetic and enhances the overall experience. However, some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive after extended play, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, while the music is a highlight for many, its limited selection may detract from long-term enjoyment.
“You can just vibe to the nice soundtrack as you cruise through the game.”
“The music is fantastic.”
“A twin-stick shooter and cyberpunk lover's dream with absolutely fantastic music.”
“The only negative thing I can say (because I'm a music producer myself) is that the OST is pretty old after just playing for 1 hour. I can help you guys out with the music if you want something else!”
“The only repetitive part of the game is the music.”
“My only gripe with the game is the soundtrack...there are very few background tracks that play and it can get monotonous.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as colorful and fitting the cyberpunk aesthetic, though opinions vary on their quality, with some finding them basic or mediocre. Many players appreciate the smooth performance across different hardware, while others note that the visuals may not be top-tier but are still enjoyable and enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game's art style and atmosphere receive praise, particularly for their nostalgic 80s influence, despite some criticisms regarding simplicity and design choices.
“The graphics are crisp and colorful, the controls are easy and responsive with a PC-compatible Xbox controller, and it is just very satisfying overall.”
“The aesthetics are spot on.”
“It has top-notch visuals, well-responsive controls, and high replayability.”
“The graphics aren't brilliant and there are some pretty poor design choices in the game mechanics which make it difficult for me to recommend the game.”
“I watched the gameplay video and was unimpressed by the simple graphics.”
“I am not a huge fan of the graphics and the randomly generated offices and laboratories can sometimes feel a bit random indeed.”
- story56 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered simplistic and minimal, often feeling repetitive and lacking depth, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the basic cyberpunk narrative and its execution, many find it insufficient to engage them fully, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, the story serves its purpose but does not elevate the gameplay, leaving it feeling like just another title in the genre.
“The storyline is executed and told very well - with aspects of the Matrix tied into it, there is a very in-depth story to be found if you bother to look past all the bullets.”
“It has an interesting storyline that does an impressive job explaining 'respawning' in a futuristic world.”
“Add in a dystopian future storyline that's delivered to you in a nice organic way and you have Neon Chrome.”
“Definitely recommend if these are things you enjoy in a game, with the only downside being that there's not really any story to speak of.”
“So much potential but it immediately becomes 'just another one of those games.' When what little story there is decides to show up, it's just annoying because it effectively pauses the game.”
“The story is about as thin as you can get and still call it a story.”
- replayability47 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its procedurally generated levels, diverse weapon and upgrade systems, and multiple character classes, allowing players to experience varied gameplay with each run. Many users highlight the addictive nature of the game, with endless customization options and a strong local co-op experience contributing to its replay value. However, some players noted that the replayability may diminish after mastering certain builds or strategies.
“Infinite replayability, amazing soundtrack, many ways to customize your game... it all adds up to an addictive experience.”
“Each run is randomized which makes the game extremely replayable, and you get to keep any credits earned to buy weapons, stat increases and other goodies to help you with your runs.”
“The levels are procedurally generated, and that keeps the replayability basically endless.”
“While I still enjoy that kind of game, I prefer games with replayability, choices, and of course satisfactory action.”
“Low replayability.”
“However, with the way the upgrades, unlocks, and replayability go, I would also list this game as RPG-lite.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially when aiming for 100% achievements or facing increased enemy stats. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of grinding and the varied gameplay it offers, many agree that it can become boring after extended playtime. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant part of the experience, with mixed feelings about its impact on enjoyment.
“Oh and grinding for 100% achievements was really, really tedious.”
“It's fun at its core but the longer you play the more boring and tedious it gets, and the game has no ending.”
“The bad: gets tedious and boring after about an hour.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive cyberpunk aesthetic, characterized by vibrant visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that it successfully combines a dark, melancholic setting with addictive gameplay, making it appealing to casual gamers. While some suggest that the atmosphere could benefit from more variety, the overall consensus is that it effectively captures the essence of the genre.
“It has the perfect cyberpunk atmosphere, consisting of just the right kind of visuals combined with a breathtaking soundtrack.”
“The bright lights against a dark backdrop give this game a lot of atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is great.”
“The strong, intense, dark, melancholic atmosphere and setting is the most.”
“The cyberpunk atmosphere actually succeeds at being somewhat cyberpunky (a word? Now it is).”
“The graphics won't blow you away, but the atmosphere and colors will.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly with minimal bugs or performance issues reported. However, some players with lower-end graphics cards may need to adjust settings to achieve optimal performance.
“The game ran well and I never had any issues with bugs or performance, other than some minor occasional jank.”
“The game runs smoothly and handles just fine.”
“+optimization”
“Because of the low performance of my graphics card, I have to change the video settings to medium and turn off some options.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with infrequent freezing reported. However, players have experienced glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as unexpected returns to the desktop and enemies spawning in unintended locations, leading to occasional complete freezes that require a restart.
“Cons: Can someone tell me why the heck it constantly glitches and shows me my desktop or the Steam window during gameplay?”
“Sometimes, it just freezes completely, and even though I can tab through my windows, I have to restart.”
“[*] Buggy; in a very specific level, I got enemies spawning behind walls.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the unexpected sturdiness of the character, which contrasts amusingly with typical roguelite mechanics, particularly the lack of healing between levels. This blend of humor and gameplay design adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The bit of humor in their written summaries adds a delightful touch to the game.”
“Your character is actually much sturdier than in Crimsonland, which is funny for a roguelite, but it fits the format better since you don't heal up between levels.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily based on in-game loot and currency that players can discover, rather than through microtransactions.
“This game features no in-game microtransactions; all loot and money can be found through gameplay.”
“The monetization model is refreshing, as it relies solely on loot and currency earned in-game.”
“I appreciate that there are no paywalls; everything can be obtained through exploration and effort.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should to enjoy the game.”
“I was disappointed to see that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending money.”
“The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency detract from the overall experience and make it feel more like a cash grab.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game's meticulous attention to detail creates a heartwarming emotional experience, enhancing the overall connection players feel with the game.
“When the foundation is this stable, the level of attention to detail is just heartwarming.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“I found myself deeply moved by the story; it evoked a range of emotions that lingered long after I finished playing.”
Critic Reviews
Neon Chrome Review
When all is said and done, when the glow of the stylish aesthetic and the intrigue of the Cyberpunk Orwellian narrative have fizzled out, Neon Chrome emerges as an average, sometimes fun but more often than not generic twin-stick rogue-like with a Sci-Fi coat of paint; it rarely lives up to its explosive promise or explores its thematic potential in any meaningful way. It could be argued that the genre is solely about the mechanics, but with a neglected backstory failing to compliment the reasonable if hardly revolutionary gameplay, it's difficult not to feel a little flat about the experience on offer.
50%Neon Chrome - Blade Runner and Crusader had a baby
Neon Chrome makes good use of the cyberpunk setting, but remains light on story. While the grind is real, the game shows real promise in couch cooperative play. If twin-stick shooters are your thing, you could do much worse than Neon Chrome.
75%Neon Chrome Review (PC)
If you want to understand Neon Chrome, then forget everything you know about top-down shooters. Well, maybe not everything, but most of it. Death isn’t the end of the game anymore; it’s actually the start.
80%