Review - Neon Inferno

Roberto Nieves
23 minutes ago
6 min read

Developer: Zenovia Interactive

Publisher: Retroware

Available on: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Review system: PlayStation 5

“Abandon All Hope, Ye who enter here.” These are the words spoken by Charon, the Ferryman in the divine comedy, Dante’s Inferno. This depiction of Hell itself is a tale of a man wandering through the wicked and the damned in a quest to save his soul. It's a story that provides inspiration and wonder, and that story is applied in the appropriately named Neon Inferno.

In the fiery streets of a futuristic New York City, two assassins embark on a perilous journey into the heart of the city. One seeks redemption in the material world while the other seeks redemption in the afterlife. In this high-stakes arcade side-scroller action game, Neon Inferno sets a blazing trail in the genre, with a gorgeous presentation and white-knuckle action!

They Yearn for what They Fear For

NYC 2055. NYC is rife with crime and corruption. The NYPD does not protect and serve. Rising sea levels make part of the city a flood zone. The Bronx has seen better days; now it’s a total warzone between organized crime and police. Two assassins step in on a mission to save their own souls and potentially the city. Angelo Morano and Mariana Vitti set out several missions from The Family into the underbelly of New York City.

Neon Inferno is a side-scrolling and gallery shooter set within the cyberpunk dystopia. Players choose from one of two characters and set out through several stages to confront The Family’s enemies on a path of redemption. Players shoot, slash, dodge, and blast their way through hundreds of enemies, mini-bosses, and big bosses.

The Way to Eternal Pain

Neon Inferno has four types of gameplay wrapped into one: Side shooting, melee, bullet-time, and gallery shooting. Side shooting is the typical shooting that has been seen in various side-scrolling arcade games such as Contra. Run to the right, shoot enemies in front, and stay alive. The shooting feels punchy and impactful as most enemies can be taken down in one shot in spectacular fashion. There are various enemies, some tougher than others, and the sheer number of enemies does not make this easy. However, this is just the start.

Enemies can get in pretty close. Fortunately, well-timed melee attacks can help immensely in taking down that one enemy that gets a little too close. Melee attacks do what one would expect, but there's an exciting addition, and that is bullet-time. A timed melee attack can deflect bullets back towards an enemy, dealing double damage to any helpless enemy. However, not all bullets can be deflected. Green bullets are the only bullets that can be deflected. Any other bullets, especially those flashing blue and red, have to be avoided. Hitting the Dodge button or a well-timed jump can help.

Rebehold the Stars

Finally, there is a gallery shooting. Enemies will appear in both the background and upper foreground. Holding the trigger button and aiming wisely, players engage enemies in the background as they're being fired upon. The key to survival is to be aware of what is happening in the foreground and background, using the Dodge button to avoid fire and eliminate enemies quickly.

At the end of each level, players are ranked. Their score and results are based on speed, deaths, and destroying enemies. Players can subsequently upgrade their arsenal with temporary power-ups. One example is using the sword to fire a sword wave. While this can only be used a handful of times, this can give an advantage in a pinch, especially against the various enemy types.

When Shadows Fall

Neon Inferno does not pull any punches. This game is tough. The enemy fills the screen, and the types of enemies are varied and abundant. NYPD tanks, armed and armored tractor trailers, NYPD mechs, cyborgs, armored walkers, and so many other kinds of enemies march onwards to take down players. Neon Inferno doesn’t stop with its surprises and keeps players on their toes until the very end.

Regular enemies can be taken down in one hit, but other tougher enemies will require strategy, speed, and skill to take down. The heavier enemies are tough, and the boss fights are second to none. Boss fights, in particular, are varied, challenging, and multi-phase, meaning that skill and repeat gameplay are the keys to success.

Wisdom is Earned

Fortunately, Neon Inferno has a generous checkpoint system. It's not perfect, but it does allow players to get a feel for the gameplay and take on the more challenging segments. The system isn’t terribly forgiving, however. One segment in The Bronx had me stuck for a small time, involving a derelict building filled with cops and snipers.

Neon Inferno reminds me of those white-knuckle challenges, both at the arcade and at home. The gameplay is tough, but the gameplay and presentation keep the desire to come back aflame. There’s that feeling of being a bona fide badass and conquering enemies that is euphoric and inescapable. Even if the challenge constantly downs players, there is that inescapable reward of trying and inevitably beating the game. It’s a feeling I felt when I would try and play Contra with my sister, and finally seeing the game come to an end. Neon Inferno has that sensation.

It's beautiful

An additional big plus to Neon Inferno is just how much enthusiasm and heart are on-screen. It’s abundantly clear that Neon Inferno is a labor of love and dedication to the genre of video games we all grew up on. Side scrollers got many players into video games, from the action to the challenge. The animation is rich and detailed. The action is challenging and incredible. It’s not just nostalgia that is felt, but a heartfelt tribute to the games that made players. Contra, Metal Slug, Strider, In the Hunt, Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Philosoma, and so many other games put the action in the player’s hands and made unforgettable memories. Neon Inferno is one of them.

Visually, Neon Inferno forges a brilliant visual style with two richly detailed characters and an immersive world. Regrettably, players are not in that world for long, but between the futuristic Manhattan skyline, an underwater midtown, and towering skyscrapers, Neon Inferno visually impresses with tremendous color and animation. This aesthetically pleasing game is accompanied by a remarkable soundtrack.

Music to the ears

Neon Inferno has easily one of the best soundtracks of the year. The expected synthwave high-energy action music sets the stage for the action, but there were absolutely stunning moments interspersed. A dance club level had me wanting to jump out of my seat and groove. One level takes place in a nightclub club and a woman’s vocals echo through the gunfire and explosions. Another level takes place in an opera house, and an opera man's voice bellows through the drama of tracking down an elusive target. It’s a surprising mix of music that works well.

Neon Inferno is just plain incredible when everything comes together. I simply haven't had an experience like this in a very long time, and it feels great to see such a title breathe life into the genre. I could feel my knuckles turn white as I zoned in on the frantic combat, and while I died a lot, there was the satisfaction of rolling credits and besting some truly difficult bosses.

Virtue and Knowledge

Neon Inferno is easily the best arcade game of the year, but there were a few moments where I thought that things could be tweaked. Players have a generous health bar and can take multiple hits, but there’s no way to pick up health. Additionally, the “invincibility time” between getting shot and being able to get shot again is short. This is the moment a character flashes for a few moments after getting hit, adding some invincibility for a few moments to allow players to reposition themselves. I found myself getting hit repeatedly, especially on the harder stages.

The dodge mechanics could have been tweaked as well. I found myself dodging into explosions or bullet fire, but it’s in the later stages that the dodge mechanic can become clumsy. One section has floor panels dropping down away from the player, and as I dodged, I rolled right off the edge, encountering an unfortunate death. I feel there could have been an invisible wall or some kind of slow-motion effect with the dodging.

Behold the Neon Inferno

Neon Inferno is easily the best arcade action game of the year. Its exceptional visual and audio presentation, coupled with its incredible gameplay, make this an action experience everyone should experience. This genre has endured many generations of video games for a reason, and Neon Inferno proves that. What comes next for Zenovia Interactive is anyone's guess, but make no mistake: They have blazed a trail with Neon Inferno.