Neon Blight Review (PC)

A machine gunner insists on peppering me with fire, while a shotgun-wielding enemy moves towards me, restricting my dodge options. I take a hit, which pushes my character out of the killing zone and allows me to focus on the opponent that has the longer range. He dies, dropping a key that will allow me to get a weapon at an automated vendor. I then dodge out of the range of the shotgun man and take him out too. I have four guns and a metal detector in my backpack, which means it is high time to get back to the city and think about how much I want to get for them. Once I spend some money on healing, I plan to make another run at a boss.

Neon Blight is created by Bleeding Tapes and published by Freedom Games. I played it using Steam on the PC. This is a cyberpunk-themed 2D action game with store management elements, a combination that might seem weird at first but has charm.

The leading lady of the story is Lara, a former police officer with a complex past. She inherits a gun store and needs to move to Eden, deep under the city, to run it. This area is small, populated with a cast of characters that picks up weapons and offers services. It also serves as the starting point for quests that Lara can pick up to get access to even more guns. The game’s writing is decent, with an underlying current of irony that works well with the cyberpunk setting. The ultimate goal is to get access to a weapon that can change the balance of powers in Eden.

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Lara might first visit the weapons shop she inherited but gamers will spend most of their time exploring the Outer Border. This is a lawless space, filled with different biomes and enemies, where gun harvesting takes place. Some opponents drop a key that forces a dispenser to deliver a weapon. Some enemies drop one when they die. There are also vendors, ready to sell some pretty powerful guns. Lara has limited health, easily depleted in a tough battle. So, the idea is to venture into this area, get some money, secure some hardware, then get back to the city in the flying car and put everything on sale.

Combat is simple in Neon Blight, centered around the variety of weapons and a solid dodge move. It’s a good idea to learn enemy patterns and focus on avoiding hits rather than on dealing damage. Bosses are tough and fast and there’s no shame in repeatedly dying when facing them. The game has a rogue-lite structure, meaning that Lara gets revived, with the loss of what she is carrying.

When players don’t fight in the Outer Border, the focus is on the shop. Setting prices is a little harder than it should be but there are plenty of ways to upgrade the store and make customers more interested in picking up what’s on offer. I like the idea of supplying members of the underworld with the weapons they need to go on their own quests, but I wanted more depth to this side of the game.

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Neon Blight does a good job of taking two separate concepts and merging them into an experience that feels fun and rewarding. I enjoy exploring the border, killing enemies, getting guns and finding out new bosses and areas that aren’t yet accessible. But players might need a little more motivation to keep playing, especially after a few brutal boss deaths. I also encountered some technical issues, including one that meant I was unable to return to the city with a backpack full of weapons.

Neon Blight has a visual style that uses modern and retro elements. I like the personality of the characters and enemies, even if neither aims to be realistic, as well as the way the guns are bigger than they should be and more detailed. The cyberpunk setting is also well-presented, although a little more weirdness and deviation from visual tropes would have been a good idea. I mostly like the sound design, especially the weapon effects and the soundtrack that fits well with the theme.

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