NeverAwake

With beautiful visuals and expertly crafted levels alongside a dash of simple but intuitive gameplay, NeverAwake is a fantastic twin-stick shooter and one I can recommend to just about anyone. And lemme tell you, I haven’t quite liked an on-rails shooter in quite a while. This one is the real deal.

While the levels are varied and challenging, and the story is serviceable for the kind of game NeverAwake is, they weren’t the things that had me blasting through levels to see what was next - it was the excitement of seeing what kind of horrible beastie was waiting for me around the corner. The game excels at turning the mundane into monsters and doing so manages to set itself apart as one of the more unique shoot ‘em ups out there. Add to that some demanding but entertaining boss fights and NeverAwake is a decent (yet depressing) time for any fan of the genre.

Minor narrative gripes aside, NeverAwake is a surprisingly great twin shooter. It's a fun, chaotic and beautifully designed game that's well worth your time. This Indie gem is easy to pick up and difficult to put down; once you start though you'll be glad you did as this could prove to be one of 2023's best console games.

An unusual mix of classic side-scrolling shooter mechanics and twin-stick aiming makes for a thoroughly different experience

I absolutely loved my time with NeverAwake so if you enjoy twin-stick shooters and are looking for a new challenge then I highly recommend it. Plus, the fact that it's as visually stunning and pleasing to the ears as it is makes it even more worthwhile.

A psychedelic and mysterious soundtrack, combined with a bizarre and mysterious visual direction, even when dealing with mundane facts, such as dogs, vegetables and dentists, prove to be the perfect combination for a gameplay that aims to be agile and fluid, always valuing the player's experience.

NeverAwake managed to combine the frantic action of a shooting game with a serious and very touching story about trauma and loss. This, added to its vast content, sharp controls and unique artistic style, makes it a unique piece of its kind.

These issues were minute, however. I still wholeheartedly recommend picking NeverAwake up, even if you’re just moderately acquainted to bullet hell shooters. Its gameplay is actually innovative, in a genre known for rarely experimenting with new control schemes or gameplay loops, and its visuals are just amazing, being the perfect blend of something from Tim Burton and old-school Sega. Even if its story was forgettable and its duration wasn’t that impressive, its core mechanics more than made up for any setbacks found along the way.

In all areas, NeverAwake pushes the boundary of fantastic experiences, and is a must have in the library.

NeverAwake is still a transcendent and shockingly enjoyable adventure. Not only did I get invested in the story of the game, but the gameplay constantly kept me on my toes, and was a balanced challenge. While some may be irritated by the hardcore vibe of the game, I’d say this is a title that almost any gamer can appreciate. Add in the low price, and this is a must own adventure.