From caccd81c3eb7954662d20cab10cc3afeeabca615 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 11:23:08 -0600 Subject: initial commit --- blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org | 83 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 83 insertions(+) create mode 100644 blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org (limited to 'blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org') diff --git a/blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org b/blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e69a5ad --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org @@ -0,0 +1,83 @@ +#+date: 2020-12-28 +#+title: Neon Drive: A Nostalgic 80s Arcade Racing Game + +* Game Description + +[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/433910/Neon_Drive/][Neon Drive]] presents itself as a simple arcade-style game inspired by the arcade +race games of the 1980s, yet it has managed to take up hours of my life without +much effort. The game description, directly from the Steam page, is intriguing +enough to entice anyone who's been looking for a good arcade racing game: + +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +Neon Drive is a slick retro-futuristic arcade game that will make your brain +melt. You've been warned. From beautiful cityscapes and ocean roads to +exploding enemy spaceships, Neon Drive has it all. +#+END_QUOTE + +* Gameplay + +The game holds true to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrofuturism][retro-futurism]] style, including chrome female robots, +pixelated arcade machines, and [[https://teddit.net/r/outrun/][outrun]] aesthetics. + +Each level of the game is shown as a separate arcade machine. Each arcade +machine lets you play on Normal, Hard, Insane, Practice, and Free Run. To beat +each arcade, you must reach the end of the level without crashing your car into +the various obstacles on the course. Basic levels let you move left or right to +avoid blocks in the road. Later levels put you through other tests, such as +dodging traffic or blasting asteroids. + +The game uses synthwave music to keep you on track to make the correct moves by +timing the beats of the songs to the correct moves on the screen. It reminds me +of the early Guitar Hero games, as well as mobile apps like VOEZ - repetition +and staying on-beat is the only way to win. + +* In-Game Screenshots + +Taking a look at the main menu, you can see that Neon Drive plays into every +stereotype you can think of around retro-futuristic, synthwave arcades (in a +good way). + +#+CAPTION: Neon Drive Menu +[[https://img.0x4b1d.org/blog/20201228-neon-drive/neon_drive_menu.png]] + +Once you get into the first level, we see that the choice of car fits right in +with the stereotypical cars of the 80s, like the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMC_DeLorean][DeLorean]] or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F40][Ferrari +F40]]. Each new level comes with new color schemes and cars, so you should never +get tired of the aesthetic. + +#+CAPTION: Neon Drive Race +[[https://img.0x4b1d.org/blog/20201228-neon-drive/neon_drive_race.png]] + +Personally, I love the orange and blue colors used in level 2: + +#+CAPTION: Level 2 +[[https://img.0x4b1d.org/blog/20201228-neon-drive/neon_drive_level_2.png]] + +If you're the competitive type and getting 100% on all arcade machines isn't +enough, there are leaderboards for the regular part of the game, and the +endurance game mode. + +#+CAPTION: Leaderboard +[[https://img.0x4b1d.org/blog/20201228-neon-drive/neon_drive_leaderboard.png]] + +* Other Suggestions + +Neon Drive sits nicely within the well-founded cult genre of Outrun. Other games +that I've enjoyed in this same spectrum are: + +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/233270/Far_Cry_3__Blood_Dragon/][Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon]] +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1239690/Retrowave/][Retrowave]] +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/732810/Slipstream/][Slipstream]] + +Although these games aren't necessarily in the same genre, they do have aspects +that place them close enough to interest gamers that enjoyed Neon Drive: + +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/311800/Black_Ice/][Black Ice]] +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/746850/Cloudpunk/][Cloudpunk]] +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222680/Need_for_Speed_Heat/][Need for Speed: Heat]] +- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1019310/VirtuaVerse/][VirtuaVerse]] + +Of course, if all you really care about is the arcade aspect of these games, you +can check out the [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/400020/Atari_Vault/][Atari Vault]] or any of the other classic games sold on Steam by +companies like Namco, Atari. For something like Nintendo, you'd have to settle +for buying used classic consoles or delve into the world of emulation. -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2