Neverness to Everness preview – “An exhilarating, anything-goes RPG, but with an ongoing identity crisis”

by

  • The freedom the open world offers is exhilarating
  • Combat isn’t as fluid as the RPG it’s seemingly trying to be
  • Theming isn’t quite coherent just yet

In simpler terms, during my carefree Tales of Destiny days as a wide-eyed ten-year-old, I would only feel slightly rebellious by secretly venturing to a secluded cave away from the usual path, stubbornly ignoring the next town the story suggested I should go to.

In the realm of Neverness to Everness, it’s almost certain that one will turn into an outlaw. So, as you venture into the vibrant world of Hethereau, it’s wise to psychologically prepare yourself for a life fully immersed in criminal activities.

Everyone’s calling it an anime GTA

In my aforementioned Tales of Destiny act of anarchy, the exhilaration of taking on enemies far stronger than I was – and getting beaten to a pulp within seconds – was an absolute thrill, because even though I’m the most non-confrontational person in the world, it’s fun to feed my (non-existent) rebellious side every once in a while.
In Neverness to Everness, you’re encouraged to cause chaos to add even more colour to the already vibrant city, as you’re free to do literally whatever you want across its open world.
Well, in reality, there is
weight you’ll have to carry along with you, as you’re tasked with investigating Anomalies that are literally turning the world upside down.
While the main protagonist felt typically vanilla to me, the supporting cast shines not only with their character designs, but also in combat. Skills are flashy, animations are top-notch, and enemies look hella cool – especially that unbeatable police boss that you’ll have to face when your Wanted meter gets too high.
Even the themes and aesthetics feel very much like it’s trying to be something it’s not. In ZZZ, for example, there’s a clear music-based theme running throughout the RPG, from the lo-fi beats to the record disks littered across the currencies, items, and menu elements.

In this place, the assortment of cassette tapes and symbols doesn’t seem to follow a clear narrative or central idea – it’s more like a collection of eclectic elements rather than a deliberate representation of a unified theme by Neverness to Everness.

Although the oversized takoyaki restaurants and the tofu store reminiscent of Initial D add charm, they only seem to increase the sense of perplexity. Trying to encompass everything, it paradoxically results in becoming nothing instead.

Currently, the liberty it provides is unprecedented – you could even stroke a friendly stray Shiba Inu playing on the sidewalk, by the way – yet, this too is weighed down by a profound identity dilemma.

Is it aiming for a game where you can purchase luxurious apartments and speedy vehicles (which it certainly could be), or does it prefer to embrace the style of Grand Theft Auto with its expansive open world? Does it want to deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience similar to Zenless Zone Zero, with intense combat, or is it more inclined to push the dramatic elements of urban life to the foreground, minimizing battles and missions in favour of the city’s ominous atmosphere?

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but wonder: Will the expansive world of Neverness one day claim a unique identity as Everness? Only future developments will reveal the answer. But with its breathtaking scope and potential for innovation, I remain optimistic that it will find its footing and eventually bring us an anime-style Grand Theft Auto experience.

Despite the current issues with the beta version, it undeniably shows promise and I hope it quickly gains stability so I can swiftly return to my recently adopted criminal lifestyle.

Read More

2025-07-21 16:18