Initially showcased during a Nintendo Direct last year, Neon White left many fans of Ben Esposito's Donut County in awe. Its unusual structure was a clear departure from the indie developer's previous works, garnering attention from various media outlets interested in learning more about the upcoming title. The game's appearance during Summer Game Fest last week revealed June 16 as its release date, making every speedrunner's dream come true, though slightly earlier than anticipated.

Developed by Angel Matrix and published by Annapurna Interactive, the purveyor handling the release of Stray next month, Neon White draws inspiration from various genres and turns them up to 11 within literal seconds. As a first-person shooter with ubiquitous puzzle-platforming sequences and visual novel elements, the game tells a story of a colorful group of assassins chosen by God to relieve Heaven of an untimely demon infestation. Members of this group, known as the Neon, are select individuals whose violent pasts have earned them a spot in Hell upon departing the earthly plane.

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To make amends in death and eventually ascend to Heaven by slaying the less sentient demon brethren, players take on the role of White, a Neon whose color is indicative of his appearance. While climbing the stairway to Heaven one level at a time, White has the opportunity to learn more about his masked fellow assassins in a hub called Central Heaven, accessible between action-packed demon-hunting sequences. Since the story plays out like a visual novel within the area, players can interact with other Neons and befriend them as the plot progresses.

Screenshot depicting gameplay within one of the levels, as seen in Neon White.

In contrast with the easy-going setting of Central Heaven, Esposito referenced speedrunning videos when designing the core gameplay, which clearly influenced his puzzle-like execution of levels. With a focus on allowing players to surmount obstacles with the help of triggerable parkour mechanics, the game's symbiotic, fast-paced rhythm ensures that each level lasts between 10 seconds and 2 minutes. Although the median time rests under a minute, previous experience with speedrunning is likely to contribute to faster level completion.

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Thanks to the short level design, Neon White has high replay value. By honing their speedrunning skills, players can decrease the overall completion time and reap ample rewards in the process. At the heart of the game lies a unique weapon and ability system represented by cards, which promotes quick decision-making due to its interchangeability. Though a single utility card serves as a weapon and an off-hand ability, its effects are mutually exclusive. Depending on the player's preferred approach, keeping the card lets them utilize its offensive properties, whereas discarding it activates the temporary ability it houses.

Screenshot depicting White gifting a perfume to Red, as seen in Neon White.

While abilities are crucial to seeing the levels through as fast as possible and will undoubtedly appeal to aspiring speedrunners, some players might want to explore out-of-the-way areas to satiate their curiosity. In these secluded sections lie hidden prizes, ready to be gifted to the supporting cast in Central Heaven. Bolstering White's friendship with contenders will unlock memories of his past life, additional dialogue, and brand-new levels to complete as side quests, which not only revolve around particular themes but are visibly tougher than their campaign-related counterparts.

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Aside from rather distinct gameplay features, Neon White prides itself on humorous connotations in the narrative department. Despite the seemingly serious predicament the protagonist and side characters have gotten themselves into, players will find the story-driven downtime smooth and intuitive, without forced or perceivably awkward peer-to-peer interactions. Building on the game's remarkably buoyant mood is an easily recognizable soundtrack, handled by none other than the punky electronic music project Machine Girl.

Players familiar with Supergiant Games' Hades or Atlus' Catherine will notice marginal similarities between Neon White and those titles, as the upcoming hybrid shooter adapts some of their mechanics to its overworld design. Those who gravitate more toward motion picture and anime entries might notice some semblance to the premise of The Matrix or Death Parade and the like. Either way, the short adrenaline-fueled sequences that support multiple ways of completion and skippable narrative breaks ought to accommodate any speedrunner's approach without putting them at a disadvantage by cramping their play style. Neon White is currently set to release for the Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows, but PlayStation and Xbox ports might become available at a later date.