Neon Abyss Review

The roguelike genre has become a true phenomenon. You have recent games such as West of Dead and Void Terrarium that both show you can still work with the formula in an original way. At the top of the genre, of course, we have Enter the Gungeon and The Binding of Isaac as the throne holders. Now, Team17 comes with Neon Abyss. This game would be happy to join the top of the roguelike games, but for that, it will have to stand out quite nicely. Unfortunately, Neon Abyss acts like a real mimic. It often does the same things as its predecessor, but a little less well. Here is my Neon Abyss review on Xbox One.

COLORFUL ADHD

Well, if you want a story, look elsewhere. Neon Abyss provides hardly any or no story at all. This is not a problem in the end, because this game is all about the gameplay. Like any roguelike, it is easy to pick up, but with Neon Abyss I found out that the game still has some minor flaws. Yes, if you notice that within the first hour of gameplay, you know there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

However, let’s start with what works in Neon Abyss. The game uses an art style that is no longer unusual, but nevertheless, the game looks neat. The detail work is wonderful and the various colors make for a lively presentation. The soundtrack is, of course, also something that gives the game a true identity.

The cheerful tones are pleasant, and the kick of the bass ensures a high energy level. Like West of Dead, Neon Abyss uses a twin-stick shooter mechanic. The major difference is, of course, that this game uses a 2D platform system. You run through the different levels and jump over obstacles while making quick work of the many monsters that crawl around this room.

The guns are well constructed, and each feels quite powerful. I have to say that every now and then they are a bit disappointing in terms of creativity, especially when Enter the Gungeon has such an impressive arsenal. Anyway, when you find the right items, you can really feel like a god.

Many of these items look great and they also customize the look of your character and gun. Here Neon Abyss is at its best, in total frontal war, accompanied by a flashy jacket. Attack is the best defense and when your run is successful, then you really feel like having a roguelike superpower between the fragile monsters. In the attack, Neon Abyss can be really cool. However, things go very wrong in the defense.

MIRRORING BULLETS

The rooms you come across in Neon Abyss are generally small, packed with enemies, and death is always lurking for that one mistake you’re going to make. It’s not so bad in the first rooms, but once you progress, it’s virtually impossible to defend yourself from the incoming damage. There are several reasons for this.

We start with the most obvious, the rooms themselves. They are small and full of enemies that occasionally drive you into a corner with no escape options. In addition, the backgrounds are very detailed, which creates another problem. You just really can’t keep up with what’s happening on your screen after a while.

There is so much going on that it becomes impossible to identify enemy projectiles against your own bullets. The chaos and the compact spaces, therefore, create negative points in the defense. Take note that you should try to use modifications that will do optimal damage and blast everything faster than it can attack you.

Unfortunately, not all items work well with this. Sure, one modification is better than the other, but some of these items can literally kill you. For example, I had a rock that helped me absorb bullets, but it also blocked my own explosive bullets. You also have an egg system in the game, which allows you to incubate eggs for pets.

In addition to the fact that they also look very busy on your screen when so much is already going on, many of these pets are not helpful. Of course, they can combine nicely every now and then, but I especially remember Jack. That clown threw explosives that sent me across the room, right into the clutches of the enemies. Yes, that certainly creates some frustrating moments.

DISTINGUISHING ITSELF

Although Neon Abyss is not very original in terms of roguelike gameplay and elements, it has a lot of content. You can unlock all the content through a permanent progression system, one that we see more and more in these types of games. You can unlock bonus rooms and they are a lot of fun, I must admit. You can also pay some coins to play a mini-game. This is a pleasant break in the otherwise chaotic playing style.

You can also save up for new characters. Each character has a different mechanic, such as an avoidance maneuver or an extra heart. Have they copied Isaac? Maybe, but it makes for a good variety. You can also buy all kinds of new items and game-related events. However, you will only see most of the content if you plan to spend a lot of hours in this game. After all, a successful run may give you just enough to unlock only one item.

Neon Abyss has it all: the wide variety of enemies, the many guns, and the assortment of items. Although the items often do the same, they are always fun to rediscover in the many corners of the dungeons. Neon Abyss ticks all the roguelike elements but actually doesn’t know how to be creative enough to distinguish itself from the most popular games of the genre at the moment.

CONCLUSION

The gunplay in Team17’s Neon Abyss feels fine and there are enough roguelike elements in the items and guns. However, the combat generally feels far too chaotic in which the player is more dependent on too much luck than skill. Having said that, I kept returning to the busy roguelike. At its core, the gameplay runs well. A lot of content ensures that the player has enough to do, although you have to grind a lot for this content.

Now if you read my full Neon Abyss review, it may sound a bit crude, but that’s why I want to use this paragraph to say that Neon Abyss is definitely recommended! I just simply think that other games of this genre do a little better. But, are you someone who really likes the genre and wants to start a new passion project? Neon Abyss is still on the list of roguelike games that are worthwhile to invest your time in.

Do you want to try Team17’s Neon Abyss? What do you think of my Neon Abyss review on Xbox One? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Are you interested in more roguelike games? Check out our reviews for The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth, Starward Rogue AuGMENTED, Caveblazers, and Dungeon Souls.