➤ NeverAwake, the review of the twin-stick shooter that seems born from a Tim Burton nightmare 🕹

Terrible nightmares, frenetic action and lots of customization in the review of NeverAwake, a twin-stick shooter worthy of your attention.

Any label, as we know, takes time. Classifications exist for the mere convenience of users, and the same goes for video game genres. It is true that there are some that are truly more recognizable than others, and on which we can intervene, such as pollution, to a certain extent. Dual stick shooters probably fall into the latter category: two analog sticks to control the protagonist, rapid fire against every object that moves on the screen, quick actions, a thousand enemies on the screen.

How then to vary the usual dish? How to offer something immediately recognizable in a market now saturated with publications of all kinds, with an undetermined number of video games that each month - due to force majeure - inevitably end up in oblivion, without even a few seconds of glory? Art direction and atmosphere should be the most immediate answers to the dilemma. They certainly are for NeverAwake, developed by Neotro and published on all existing platforms by Phoenixx: what caught our attention, even before the gameplay that still defends itself very well, was the context and the disturbing environment.

Let's find out in the NeverAwake Review, which we completed on Nintendo Switch.

The plot: between nightmares and everyday fears

NeverAwake, the review of the twin-stick shooter that seems born from a Tim Burton nightmare — Here is Rem, the disturbing protagonist of NeverAwake

NeverAwake offers a dreamlike adventure, set in a disturbing dream world; but perhaps it would be more correct to call it a "nightmare world." There plot It is extremely cryptic, a detail that helps keep attention alive until the final credits, although there are no surprises worthy of the name. The protagonist is Rem, a strange entity destined to face hordes of enemies in a world that is certainly not ours. But Rem's story is linked to that of Yuki, a little girl who can't seem to wake up. Imprisoned for some reason by her own nightmares, she will have to wait for her dream alter ego to destroy all the monsters generated by her fears.

In fact, and this is another very original aspect of the production, in NeverAwake we are not dealing with the classics enemies of the genre: demons, aliens, diverse and possible monsters. Each creature in each world proposed by the Neotro developers represents the (very obvious) symbolization of the fears of a simple girl. It may seem absurd, but Rem finds himself faced with giant eggplants, deformed dogs, even some dentists: in short, all those unpleasant aspects of the life of every human being (who likes dentists? and who likes eggplants? ?), perfectly acceptable. awake, but distressing and oppressive when reworked by the irrationality of the dream dimension.

Theme is also the subdivision of levels (around eighty in total) within four macro-areas that then present minimal variations within them. In fact, variety is not the most successful aspect of the production, also due to the continuous recycling of enemies from one level to another; but considering the size of the product itself, these are not significant limitations. The progression is interspersed with small textual mirrors: the latter relate some details, considerations or events related to the sleeper. In this way it becomes increasingly clear what really happened; but the ending (actually split into two different possibilities) is still subject to the player's choices.

Gameplay: a shooter with many possibilities

The soul of NeverWake, it has been said, is that of two stick shooter: Basically an on-rails shooter (sometimes with forks) where the player controls Rem's movements (left stick) and the aim of his firearm (right stick). The rear buttons on the console allow you to perform the special attack, which is wide-ranged and therefore useful for both offensive and defensive purposes, as it can also "stop" some enemy shots (ZR); and the dodge (ZL). NeverAwake is neither among the simplest representatives of the genre nor among the truly prohibitive ones: in reality the proposal is truly balanced, the most accessible levels give way to more complex proposals. But everything can be managed in several ways: either by enabling auto-firing from the settings (which makes it literally a breeze to use) or by unlocking useful upgrades.

This management is very interesting, because it avoids upsetting both veterans and newcomers, making everyone agree a little; everyone can also improve theirs playing style, supported by the numerous customization possibilities present. If an aggressive approach is your thing, then you will need those upgrades that, for example, recharge the special attack based on the hits inflicted on enemies; If you prefer to play cleverly, it may be more appropriate to unlock the third shield, allowing Rem to take one more hit than the classic three (before the game ends). There are many possibilities, and they are unlocked as you progress in the main adventure, spending soul gems, or soul stones... In short, the title is completely in English so choose the translation you prefer.

In fact, the whole is linked to these jewels. game. Normally, a shooter of this type requires you to go from point A to point B eliminating as many enemies as possible on the screen to increase your score: the direction can then be horizontal, vertical or even diagonal. NeverAwake, however, doesn't work like that: to complete a certain level you need to earn gems released by enemies (or present in the game world) until the corresponding gauge fills. Meanwhile, if the level is "finished", we move on to the "second round", that is, from loop 1 to loop 2, and so on. Normally, obviously, a couple of loops are enough to collect all the necessary material; and then we move on. There is no shortage of interesting boss battles, usually every three standard levels, which work in the same way: you have to bombard the gigantic (and dangerous) enemy until it drops enough gems.

Thanks to the extremely small dimensions of the individual levels, NeverAwake lends itself splendidly to "hit and run" sessions; and - but this is a more personal opinion - perhaps Nintendo Switch, due to its portability, is the most suitable console for an experience of this type. On the other hand, performance (including loading times) is not great. We are sure that even a content title like this can be better seen and enjoyed elsewhere. On Nintendo Switch it continues to do its job, without infamy or praise; We always and only talk about the technical sector, we repeat.

Conclusions

Tested version Nintendo Switch digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price 24,99 € Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (8) 7.2 your vote

NeverAwake is a very particular twin-stick shooter, both in mechanics and atmosphere. The progression, all linear, is based on an atypical proposal: it is not necessary to eliminate all enemies, nor to get from point A to point B to complete the level. Instead, you must collect as many gems as possible, until the gauge reaches 100%. These same gems are used to unlock various types of upgrades, useful both to ease the challenge and to customize your play style. We are talking about real elements of a role-playing game, although extremely simplified: objects to equip, reflect on, improve. The Burtonian atmosphere, perfect for narrating the nightmare from which it seems impossible to wake up, finally makes Neotro's product immediately recognizable; The style and artistic direction of NeverAwake, despite all the limitations of the case, therefore constitute an indispensable value. Veterans and casual players can easily give everything we've told you a try. Hoping they don't get trapped in the darkness, like the protagonist.