I want to recommend this game, I truly do. But that thumbs down is for a reason.

Neon Drive has amazing potential. It could have been something great, a true recreation of the 80's OutRun aesthetic. But it falls short in numerous ways. It is clear that the developers of this game created something with the intention of simply milking it. Not to create a great game or an art piece.

Firstly, I will admit that visually it is pretty awesome. The maps, although there are only a measly eight of them, look beautiful. The cars, of which there are very few too, look pretty cool and very 80's. Think Countach, Testerossa, DeLorean...

But that's where it pretty much ends. The game is insanely difficult and checkpoints are too far between to really be fair or enjoyable. Sure, I'm not the best gamer out there and I'm sure there is a kid somewhere in Asia sitting behind his Alienware going through every level like its nothing. But that's him.

The cars aren't real but rather the generic knock-off designs like you see in Burnout and Grand Theft Auto. What really sucks is that you can do absolutely nothing with them. They didn't even bother letting you change the color of the cars, nevermind giving them body kits or perhaps special abilities.


The endless mode is especially retarded. Its not even procedural generation or some sort of special map, its just you going through levels 1 to 8 without stopping. I'd also like to add that the levels do at least have some variety. There is always the first stage where you dodge oncoming platforms in a five-lane road. Then, your car turns into a boat, ship, airplane, robot, whatever and a new game mode appears.

The music isn't that great to be honest and what really gets me is that it resets the song for each level when you die, completely ruining it. For most levels the closest you'll get to the "rhythm-based" gameplay is the simple bass sound hitting when you dodge the platforms. Otherwise, there's practically no correlation between the music and the gameplay.

Great idea, inadequate execution. Wait for it to go on sale if you really like it. The cards, backgrounds, badges and achievements at least look pretty awesome.

I want to recommend this game, I truly do. But that thumbs down is for a reason. Neon Drive has amazing potential. It could have been something great, a true recreation of the 80's OutRun aesthetic. But it falls short in numerous ways. It is clear that the developers of this game created something with the intention of simply milking it. Not to create a great game or an art piece. Firstly, I will admit that visually it is pretty awesome. The maps, although there are only a measly eight of them, look beautiful. The cars, of which there are very few too, look pretty cool and very 80's. Think Countach, Testerossa, DeLorean... But that's where it pretty much ends. The game is insanely difficult and checkpoints are too far between to really be fair or enjoyable. Sure, I'm not the best gamer out there and I'm sure there is a kid somewhere in Asia sitting behind his Alienware going through every level like its nothing. But that's him. The cars aren't real but rather the generic knock-off designs like you see in Burnout and Grand Theft Auto. What really sucks is that you can do absolutely nothing with them. They didn't even bother letting you change the color of the cars, nevermind giving them body kits or perhaps special abilities. The endless mode is especially retarded. Its not even procedural generation or some sort of special map, its just you going through levels 1 to 8 without stopping. I'd also like to add that the levels do at least have some variety. There is always the first stage where you dodge oncoming platforms in a five-lane road. Then, your car turns into a boat, ship, airplane, robot, whatever and a new game mode appears. The music isn't that great to be honest and what really gets me is that it resets the song for each level when you die, completely ruining it. For most levels the closest you'll get to the "rhythm-based" gameplay is the simple bass sound hitting when you dodge the platforms. Otherwise, there's practically no correlation between the music and the gameplay. Great idea, inadequate execution. Wait for it to go on sale if you really like it. The cards, backgrounds, badges and achievements at least look pretty awesome.