- Commandeer a velosphere to the finish line at the end of every maze
- Muster up every ounce of your short-term memory to finish the game
- No respites, race against the clock after three seconds of layout memorisation
As a seasoned gamer who grew up playing games on cereal boxes and newspapers, the Neon Zone has struck a chord with me like no other game in recent memory. With its electrifying synthwave soundtrack and nostalgic neon aesthetics, it’s like stepping into a time machine set for the 80s, but with all the modern conveniences of a smartphone game.
Nothing captures that fleeting sensation of timelessness as well as synthwave – a genre associated with Miami sunsets and vintage race cars, like the Lamborghini Countach. It’s mainly celebrated for its 80s neon aesthetics and great electronic score. It also wormed its way into many media works, and science fiction in particular shares a good chemistry with it. As proof of my statement, look no further than Blade Runner’s Los Angeles and Akira’s Neo-Tokyo.
I share the desire of many to combine the charm of yesteryears with the promise of tomorrow. Indeed, when I listen to Timecop1983 or Wolfclub during my commute, it evokes a sense of nostalgia within me. It also takes me back to carefree moments spent playing games on my cereal boxes or newspapers in my leisure time. For me personally, there’s nothing more rejuvenating and fulfilling than solving mazes among these reminiscences.
So, when the Neon Zone trailer dropped, I knew I had to play it. It melds two of my favourites together, presented in a way that tailors to the smartphone generation plagued with goldfish memories.
The same can’t be said for the naming convention – while some of them make perfect sense like the Arrow and Neon Maze, most of the words felt spontaneously spewed out of ChatGPT. Some maze patterns felt repetitive as well. Case in point – Level 23 and 29.
Regarding monetization, there are two main ways to obtain in-game currency: purchasing level packs and earning Neon Candies by completing levels flawlessly. You can then use these candies to buy new tunes or spend 20 of them to customize your title screen with a retro look. The music in the game has a lively, consistent beat that reflects playfulness. Bendik’s enthusiasm for trying out various musical styles is evident throughout the composition.
The temporal perfectionist
Stars are given when you successfully navigate a maze within a specified time frame. However, achieving this isn’t as straightforward as it might sound. In reality, it’s quite challenging – being slightly late by even a tiny fraction of a millisecond could result in penalties. If your timing for turning isn’t precise, your ball may collide with the wall, consuming valuable seconds that could cost you a star.
Beyond breaking a new time barrier and outperforming your previous attempts, you’ll find engaging competition through leaderboards where you can challenge other players as well. This multi-faceted experience ensures endless fun and excitement.
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2024-11-04 16:18