Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, PC

Publisher

Retroware

Developer

Zenovia Interactive

Genre

Action, Adventure, Arcade, Shoot-'em-up

Players

1-2

File Size (Minimum)

1.3 GB

Release Date (NA)

Nov 20, 2025

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

Neon Inferno is a cyber punk themed 2D run-and-gun (shoot ‘em up) game that evokes ‘90s nostalgia for side-scrolling arcade games. It’s an entertaining title, but there are a few areas that raise questions.

‘90s Punk Style

The game is set in the future of 2055 in New York City, with a cyberpunk vibe of high technology in a gritty, poverty-stricken environment. Neon-colored lights illuminate the city, alongside flashy advanced technology machines, all controlled by corrupt corporations and a police force working for the greedy. The game draws inspiration from ’90s entertainment like Shadowrun, Blade Runner, and Akira. The soundtrack enhances the dark ambient feel, with orchestrated and heavy metal tracks that complement the cyberpunk style.

The pixel art design of the game captures the retro aesthetics perfectly, resembling an arcade game from the ’90s. Players can shoot enemies in both the foreground and background using multi layers and depth of field perception of parallax designs. This makes it feel more lively and overall a fulfillment of design.

Enemies shoot projectiles of various colors, with green projectiles deflectable by a green-colored blade. Deflecting attacks triggers a slow-motion scene reminiscent of the Matrix, adding retro vibes to the gameplay. Before progressing through the side-scrolling game, players must defeat enemies and dodge missiles from flying aircraft.

Later in the game, performance issues arise, particularly when on the rooftop at Stage 5: Night of the Hunters and beyond, causing frame rate drops that can be problematic, visually noticeable on a PlayStation 5 Pro console. A patch may be released to address these issues.

Comes With a Challenge

Players can choose between two characters, Angelo or Mariana, who have identical movesets with minor design differences. They are assassins for the “Family” syndicate, taking missions from Don Venatori to combat the corrupted city. Players can complete missions in any order to progress through the main story. Its interesting storyline adds a dark tone to its futuristic and mafia-style scenario, complementing gameplay as well.

When first playing, players may feel overwhelmed by the amount of movement, enemies, and learning the game’s mechanics. It is highly advised to start on Novice difficulty until you understand the game. Once familiar, you can increase the challenge by trying a more difficult mode. Doing so will change the number of enemies on the screen, alter the projectiles so they cannot be bounced off, and adjust a few other details during gameplay.

Each stage feels distinct from one another. While the goal remains to move right to a new scene and reach the end, the designs for each scene are well-crafted and varied enough to make each level unique. At the end of each stage, a boss awaits that requires additional effort to defeat. Whether it’s a motorcycle chase or a battle against a foe in a mecha suit, each stage and boss battle are fun and enjoyable, even if you need to die multiple times to understand the enemy movements. Once you grasp enemy movesets and your gameplay mechanics, it becomes more enjoyable and rewarding when you succeed.

After defeating a boss, you receive a score based on how well you completed the mission. Scoring is determined by factors such as clear time, collateral damage, and civilian casualties. Any harm caused to civilians, whether by you or the enemy, results in a penalty. This can impact the amount of money you receive to purchase weapons, upgrades, and your overall star rank.

The star ranking is based on the difficulty level chosen. Novice or Medium difficulty allows a maximum of three out of five stars. To achieve a five-star rating, you must play at least on Hard mode. It can be a challenging process that may affect players’ self-esteem. Providing guidance on how to achieve a high score, even if only available in Replay mode or as an option, could be helpful. The limitation of stars based on difficulty level is also puzzling. Perhaps adjusting the criteria to earn five stars based on difficulty would be more logical. 

If your health bar is depleted at any point during the game, you will receive a game over screen with the option to replay from the last save point. In more challenging levels like Arcade mode, you only have one credit and no continues. If you are struggling with a stage or aiming for a better score, you can use the game’s Replay mode to try again. Starting the game on a different difficulty requires creating a new save file and beginning from the start.

The game offers single or two-player local co-op, with no online support. However, players can complete the story in under four hours. More if you are aiming at 100% completion for your trophy and achievement chasers, good luck!

Who Needs More Tools

The money you earn from your missions can be used before starting a new one. Many items are priced quite high, so if you make too many mistakes on a lower difficulty setting, you won’t earn much cash in return. Players can expect to play with the game’s default, unlimited ammo gun throughout the game.

To switch to a different weapon, players have to press two button commands on the controller, which can feel awkward. Why not use a button that is not already mapped on the controller to make it easier to switch between weapons or at least two trigger buttons to make swapping more simplified while trying not to get shot?

These weapons and upgrades are only available for a short playthrough. New weapons have limited ammo, and non-weapons like the shield can only withstand two hits from an enemy before disappearing. Other upgrades, such as auto-targeting and faster shooting, are also limited. Why not make them permanent upgrades or allow them to be refueled after a mission? Perhaps in Arcade mode, remove this option. If you die with your upgrades already used and before reaching a checkpoint, the game will reset your weapon as if you never lost it. At least you have that going for you.

The Final Chase

Neon Inferno is a neon-soaked cyberpunk run-and-gun indie game with stylish pixel art, layered shooting mechanics, and slow-motion blade deflections. Its steep difficulty and occasional performance drops can cause players to groan. Despite its rough edges, the game delivers a fast and flashy burst of entertainment.

A PlayStation 5 code provided for this review. Neon Inferno available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.