

But these paragraph-long writings are concise and provided in an unclear order. As you progress, you’ll unlock additional diary entries, which touch on topics like isolation, depression, and grief. NeverAwake’s only real blemish is the game’s rather ambiguous exposition. But in execution, the game employs a filter to provide a dreamlike visual aesthetic, so you’ll barely notice any seams in Rem’s character model. Sure, the hardware isn’t pushing around too much geometry.
#Neverawake series#
On the Series X, the game offers 4K/120fps performance without waver. When it comes to performance, NeverAwake is fantastic. While the game’s campaign is mostly linear, there’s a wealth of assists and upgrades to ensure you don’t reach an impasse.
#Neverawake upgrade#
If a stage is too much of a challenge, you can spend a few souls for a one-time firepower upgrade called “oversoul”. If twin-stick shooting is too much for you, you can have Rem fire at targets automatically, so you can concentrate on dodging. But since each tool takes up a different amount of space in your restrained inventory, you’ll confront some tricky dilemmas.īut that’s not the extent of NeverAwake’s flexibility. Or perhaps, you’d prefer to outfit Rem with a backpack that increased the number of souls dropped by opponents, speeding up the pace of already fast-moving stages. Here, the combination of i-frames and your gunfire can help you evade a wave of boss-issued bullets, while an Invisible Coat grants invincibility after taking damage. Other items allow Rem to use here weapon while dashing. Of course, there are a multitude of other perks that can be purchased with your supply of souls. Depending on your play style, you might want to boost your secondary by collecting souls, having it gradually refill over time, or regenerate by taking damage. What’s interesting is the amount of customization here. Here, you can outfit Rem with a shield ring that allows her to withstand more hits, earmuffs that magnetically attract souls, or lipsticks that recharge your special weapons. As you play, the game persistently reminds you that new upgrades that can be purchased, augmenting the output of each gun.įurther customization is found in the accessories suite, with NeverAwake posing some of the inventory management dilemmas of a role-playing game. The former are elevated armaments that range from firework-like bursts that radiate around the young girl, a procession of hard-hitting rapid-fire shots, and even a shotgun-like tool. As you progress, lead character Rem unlocks new secondary weapons and accessories. This object can shield you from adversaries, but you’ll need to pepper it with projectiles to get it to release enough souls to clear the zone.īut NeverAwake’s partiality for item collection isn’t the game’s only characteristic feature. Occasionally, you confront stages with a giant floating crystal. These generally operate the same way by accumulating enough souls you will emerge victorious. And if you don’t accomplish the first time you venture through each auto-scrolling stage, you’ll repeat the level, facing slightly tougher opposition.Įach world has three different boss fights. Instead, you’re typically tasked with collecting enough souls to complete a stage, which are dropped by defeated enemies. The goal of most levels isn’t necessarily obtaining a high score or defeating every last on-screen foe.

Pleasingly, the game’s mechanics are every bit as unique as its aesthetics. Here, you’ll survey an inventory of fears that range from bland tasting vegetables, monstrous dogs, to the tormenting tools of dentistry.

Each of the game’s 80 stages positions you inside the subconscious of a young girl, who is trapped in a deep state of sleep. Visually, the game is distinctive, with sizable sprites and bosses that habitually fill the screen. NeverAwake is a twin-stick shooter set in a world of surrealistic dreams.
