Neon Knives Testbericht (PC)

Neon Knives’ glow stick masquerade had me eating out of the palm of its hand in ten seconds flat. Even without a wealth of information to enlighten me on the purpose of the game, I soon found myself woven into its abstract ecosystem, fumbling for clues and desperately searching for sprites that looked a little out of the ordinary. Obscured in its pastel-clotted composition, I figured I’d have a tough time making sense of it all—to find a needle in a haystack during what felt like a psychedelic fever dream with one too many moving pieces. And I did. Well, for a short while, at least.

It wasn’t the concept that ruffled my feathers, but rather, the fact that Neon Knives was designed for two players to share the same pad or keyboard. Given that I had a concerning amount of so-called “friends” who had a rather distasteful habit of “accidentally” peeking at the other side of the controller, it honestly didn’t take all that long for the deceptive nature of Neon Knives’ pop art slasher flick to take hold. But, to my surprise, deceiving fledgling murderers was all part of the fun, as was the act of mindlessly smothering buttons and keys in the hopes of tricking an opponent.

The idea was simple: to share a screen with another player, and to engage in quick 1v1 “Murder in the Dark”-like schoolyard games. If you fell into the role of a hunter, then you would need to blend in with the crowd and take the opportune moment to strike. And, to an extent, the victim had a similar role—to utilize the environment to hide, blend, and effectively gain control over the situation before the round came to an abrupt and oftentimes violent conclusion. It didn’t take much to figure that out. It was learning how to spot the needle in the haystack that was the tough part.

On paper, Neon Knives sounded like a classic take on an old-school road trip pastime—I Spy, of all things. Similar in design, the purpose of the game was to spot the playable character in a crowded space, and to fool others into believing that it was, well, just another NPC. And that’s arguably one of the toughest parts about Neon Knives: the fact that you never know who you’re playing. Instead, you receive a vibrant biome, a hunter, and a victim — and that’s about it. It’s your job, as either of the two characters, to locate your vessel and to “blend” in as quickly as possible. It’s a simple concept I’ll admit, yet one that is surprisingly thrilling to sink your teeth into.

Suffice it to say that, the visual effects here can be both and blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you have a stunning world that is teeming with gorgeous color combinations and psychedelic elements. But on the other hand, you have something of an LSD-fueled imitation of a Where’s Waldo puzzle—a feast for the eyes that doesn’t exactly shy away from shoveling art down your throat. It’s a lot to take on I’ll admit, and not to mention an absolute nightmare to solve. And by solve I mean, figuring out where your character is, and whether or not there’s a slight difference in the atmosphere or if you’re overthinking the situation.

Of course, once you begin to wrap your head around the neon-soaked world and all of its candy-wrapped landmarks, Neon Knives soon becomes an absolute blast to sit down and fool around with. Concept-wise, it’s all rather straightforward. Yet, it’s the little things that elevate it here, like its sour-kissed colors, its quirky NPCs, and the simple fact that you share both the screen and the controls with your opponent. Due to all of these things being a part of the blueprint, Neon Knives gracefully finds its place on the frontline as a couch co-op game that’s not only original, but surprisingly creative, too.

Of course, like any couch co-op slasher flick with a gimmick, Neon Knives does have its limitations. For example, the game itself only features a single mode for you to romp through. What’s more, you cannot wage fluorescent wars on a global scale, given that it is, unfortunately, a strict game that caters to local co-op only. And that’s a shame, truly, as it would add a lot of additional replay value to the overall experience. Though, due to the nature of the control system and the simple fact that you share the same pad, I can also see why it opts to keep it local. It’s a shame, but it also makes sense given the circumstances.

All in all there’s an excellent local multiplayer game here that’s as equally beautiful as it is entertaining. Granted, its lack of game modes and online presence does make it seem as if there’s a missed opportunity waiting to be discovered here, doubly so given that it has the potential, the capacity, and the creativity to accommodate more content and a broader audience. For what it’s worth, though, it passes its objective with flying colors — literally.

Let it be said that, while Neon Knives clearly lacks the evergreen appeal and the same online functionalities as a prestigious PvP game, it does offer a brilliant and oftentimes hilarious experience that can leave you in stitches or, more generally, in a shallow grave. To that end, I’d say that it’s an ideal choice for those who want a quick, reliable, and affordable couch-based slasher flick.

Verdict

Neon Knives deserves bonus points for its artistic flair alone, which in itself serves as a bubblegum-coated fever dream that, frankly, you never want to wake up from. Gameplay-wise, it’s a little on the minimal side, as its approach to game modes and evergreen quality, sadly. That being said, it delivers a thought-provoking cloak-and-dagger experience that, thanks to its unique control system and all-seeing format, has all of the original hallmarks of a brilliantly executed PvP game that can keep you engaged for hours.

While the lack of online multiplayer options might be the dagger in the heart here, Neon Knives does make good with its promise to bring a nail-biting couch-based experience to the palm of your hand. To that end, I’d say that it’s more than worth the relatively low asking price. Heck, I’d say that it’s worth it just for the psychedelic diorama alone.