Neon Inferno Review – A Delightfully Chaotic Cyberpunk Run-and-Gun Shooter

Neon Inferno is one of many games I played during PAX West back in September. Developed by Zenovia Interactive and published by Retroware, this cyberpunk-styled 2D run-and-gun, side-scroller, and shooting gallery game is reminiscent of Contra, Wild Guns, and Metal Slug, three specific titles that heavily inspired the creators.

Recently, I completed Neon Inferno ahead of release and walked away with a few thoughts. Is this game a bona fide sleeper hit or a title worth skipping over? Before I answer that question, let’s dive deeper into this world and explain what you can expect if you decide to try it out.

Neon Inferno takes place in a war-torn, futuristic setting of New York City, where power reigns supreme. Players step into the roles of Angelo Morano and Mariana Vitti, decorated assassins for the family, who are tasked with taking out high-profile targets across the Yakuza, NYPD, and the technical juggernauts known as Pangaea. Their ultimate goal is to eliminate every threat and seize full control of New York City.

If you’re a fan of throwback action movies set in futuristic settings, then you’ll definitely love what Neon Inferno has to offer. The storytelling is very straightforward, with an emphasis on getting you back to blasting enemies left and right as soon as possible. This fast-paced approach to storytelling keeps things interesting and promises a wild ride from start to finish.

One of the first things that drew me to this game was the visually captivating 32-bit pixel art style. The character models, vibrant colors, and flashy animations felt like the perfect homage to classic run-and-gun games. These gorgeous visuals, coupled with the cool soundtrack, perfectly set the tone in this hostile yet captivating world.

I played this game on both PC and Xbox Series X and didn’t encounter any issues. While I have been leaning more towards PC gaming over the last few years, I still enjoy my Xbox Series X and PS5 from time to time when there are actually games to play. Regardless of where you decide to play this game, I can promise a smooth and fun experience across the board.

Neon Inferno’s most addictive feature is the clever gameplay shooting mechanic, which allows you to shoot enemies in both the background and foreground. Each hit job starts with an optional briefing from your boss, Don Venatori, specifying a target that you have to eliminate. Once you start the mission, you are thrown into countless enemy encounters that will test your skills in shooting enemies in front of you, behind you, and within the background of every stage.

You can also duck, jump, double jump, dodge, and deflect green bullets and bombs, except for flashing bullets. When you complete a job, you get a job rating and money based on your performance. This money can then be used to buy other inventory items that can give you a minimal boost of firepower on the battlefield. If you manage to beat the campaign, you can also check out the replay mode, which allows you to revisit certain parts of a mission, or Arcade mode, which grants you only one health bar to get through the game.

While the game was incredibly satisfying to play through, two specific critiques are worth pointing out. For starters, this game currently only offers local co-op gameplay. While I fully understand this is meant to be an ideal couch co-op experience, I think being able to play with a friend online should be an option. I have no idea if this will be implemented at a later time, but hopefully it will.

My other critique is that there are no power-ups or health bars available as you progress through portions of these missions. This means you can expect to die many times and have to replay certain parts, especially if you’re playing solo. Once again, this is a game that is intended to be played with another friend, so you may or may not encounter these things based on whether you decide to play alone or not.

Neon Inferno only costs $19.99 and is an incredible value for what’s presented here. As I mentioned in my previous reviews, we have been showered with several great titles this year, all under $69.99, and therefore, there is no valid reason not to give these titles a chance.

So, to answer my original question, is Neon Inferno a certified cop or glorified flop? It’s 1000% worth your time, especially if you love action-packed run-and-gun games. I strongly recommend playing locally with a friend, as the game can get challenging as you get deeper into the story. This is a solid release by Zenovia Interactive, and I look forward to seeing what they work on next. Neon Inferno is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Let us know if you plan to check out the game in the comments below.

This review was based on a review copy of Neon Inferno for the PC and Xbox Series X provided by Zenovia Interactive and Retroware.