Neon White is still one of my favorite cocktails of genres mashed into a delicious blend of speedrunning, fps, and anime. While initially released on Switch and PC, then later to PS4 and 5, the anime-styled platformer has made its way to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, bringing its unique blend of action, speed, and style to a new audience. Neon White proudly wears its influences on its sleeve, with an early 2000s anime style and aesthetic. It hooks you fast and has you mind-mapping the most efficient path in each of its levels. I was excited to jump back in, having reviewed the PlayStation release back in January of 2023.
Still published by Annapurna Interactive, the game was developed by Angel Matrix, a team led by Ben Esposito, known for his work on “Donut County” and “What Remains of Edith Finch.” Esposito described creating Neon White as a way to explore a more edgy, fast-paced game, stepping away from his previous, more wholesome projects. While Neon White isn’t offensive, it does embrace the campy innuendos reminiscent of late ’90s Toonami programs. Personally, I found the characters and writing nostalgic and funny, but opinions may vary.
For the uninitiated, Neon White is a first-person platformer that integrates shooting and card-based mechanics. You play as White, a damned soul chosen to clear out demons in Heaven through a competition. Each level is a short, intense experience where you must navigate platforms, shoot demons, and strategically use cards that grant different abilities. For instance, a pistol card provides a double jump, a rifle card allows for a dash, and a shotgun card enables a multidirectional blast.
The game’s structure emphasizes short, repeatable speedrunning. Levels are designed to be completed in 20-40 seconds, encouraging you to replay them to find the most efficient path and beat your best times. The sense of satisfaction, when you discover a shortcut or perfect jump, is powerful, and this feeling is amplified by the game’s outstanding soundtrack by Machine Girl, which perfectly complements the high-energy gameplay.
One of Neon White’s strengths is its tight-level design and the fluidity of its movement mechanics. Running, jumping, and shooting feel intuitive and responsive, making each level feel like a challenge for what you can achieve rather than the grind of a Super Meat Boy or Celeste. To clear the level usually only takes a couple of tries for a large chunk of the game. However, the real fun is beating your friends’ scores. The game rewards your repeated improvements by rewarding you with various guides through improving your score, making that tantalizing carrot just a little bit closer. I love this reward mechanism and it’s a great reason to keep the game downloaded for when you just want to do a couple of runs.
The story is told through visual novel segments and follows White as he pieces together his forgotten past and interacts with other Neons. Each character has distinct personalities and backstories. The characters and their interactions are heavily influenced by anime tropes, and the voice acting, including Steve Blum as White, adds to the game’s charm. While I enjoyed the story, it was never as fun as grinding through levels and starting a new chapter.
In my PlayStation 5 review, I mentioned some issues with frame pacing and the brief frame tearing I saw on an early level. I am happy to report that I had no issues with this version. While it’s not a graphical powerhouse of a game, precise timing and mapping your route are imperative and I was happy to see they gave this port the same love as the previous versions of the game.
Neon white captured me just as much as it did on the other platforms. I quickly regained my muscle memory and was able to shoot and slash my way through demons in the Heavenly Plain. Its unique style, tight gameplay, and entertaining characters make it a permanent game on my Xbox. Also, it’s coming to game pass on July 11th, 2024, so, if you’re a subscriber, check it out!
In conclusion, Neon White shows that innovation can be more fun than better graphics or larger maps. It breaks conventions and offers a fresh take on the first-person platformer genre, making it a must-play for anyone looking for a quick game that rewards you quickly and often. Whether you’re striving for the perfect run or exploring the narrative intricacies, Neon White delivers an experience that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking. For now, I hope more of you will play it so I can try to beat your times.
