Indie gameNeon Whitewas just released following its showcase at the Summer Game’s Fest 2022. The platformer FPS is a speedrunner’s paradise, featuring fast-paced gameplay and parkour mechanics. Despite being a new release, it already has glowing reviews from PC and Nintendo Switch players alike, garnering praise for its sleek gameplay.
The speedrunning gameplay isn’t allNeon Whitehas going for it though. It also features a great cast of characters — from the titular Neon White to the other assassins, and even the talking angel cats. One could argue that the narrative and character interactions aren’t the focus of anindie gamelikeNeon White, but the fact that these aspects are so compelling just adds to the already enjoyable game.
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The Lovable Characters of Neon White
Neon Whitehas a pretty small cast of characters. There’s the player character, Neon White, and four other assassins named Red, Green, Violet, and Yellow. These assassins were plucked out of Hell to compete against each other for a chance to earn a spot in Heaven. All this was organized by the angels and some cats — Mikey, Gabby, and Raz — that sought to rid Heaven of itsdemon infestation inNeon White.
When players take on the role of Neon White, it quicklybecomes apparent that he has amnesia. This makes him unable to discern who the other Neons are, despite feeling a sense of familiarity around them. And, of course, the other Neons have no intention of revealing their true identity. As such, it’s up to the player to interact with them and find out who they really are to Neon White.
All the player really has to go on are the other characters’ archetypes. Neon Yellow is a hulking but bumbling best friend, Neon Violet is the freaky “alt-girl,” Neon Red is the classy love interest, and Neon Green is the vicious rival. Luckily, the player can collect gifts hidden aroundtheNeon Whitelevelsthen present them to the other characters in hopes of getting more information. And though the angel cats aren’t from Neon White’s past, the player can make friends with them too.
It’s this intrigue that surrounds the rest of the cast that makes the quirky dialogue scenes so fulfilling to unlock.It deepens Neon White’s connection with the other characters while also revealing more about who they were. Plus, the game doesn’t take these interactions too seriously, sprinkling lots of satire and comedy into character interactions. If anything, it makes the game more charming than it already is.
Neon White’sbeautifully drawn character sprites only add to the cast’s charm. Presented in a visual novel format withdynamics similar toPersona 5, the game manages to tell its story without making the interface feel too idle. It also routinely gives players a glimpse of what’s behind each of the Neon’s masks, which is a welcome deviation from the eerie mask designs.
Finally, a bulk of these character interactions are elevated bysome stellar voice acting— from Neon White’s subdued yet still expressive delivery to Mikey’s over-the-top lines. The voiced interactions do well in building the characters, showcasing more of their personality.
This all blends together to make a simple yet engaging story, with plenty of intermingling subplots and character arcs. So, while thespeedrunning and time-crunchingare the stars ofNeon White, these elements are supported by a genuinely fun narrative as well as a great cast of characters. Even players who aren’t accustomed to the fast-paced gameplay will surely find some enjoyment in the character interactions.
Neon Whiteis available now on PC and Nintendo Switch.
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