John Wick is often recognized as quite the Renaissance man — martial artist, dog-avenger, and “Fortnite” skin are just a sample of his extensive list of accolades. However, when picturing the infamous bounty hunter, “muse” is not likely to come to mind. That all changes with the atmospheric shoot ‘em up from MGP Studios, “Neckbreak.” Taking inspiration from the Wick series, the bloody title’s recent release on Xbox and Nintendo Switch introduces a new demographic to the (at times) thrilling first-person shooter.
Setting the Stage: Crimson Tide
The year is 2049. Rising from the ashes of a shambled European Union, cyberpunk city Crimson Tide offered promise as Europe’s first “free city.” The New World Order, a pacifist future where all nations can co-exist, was just beyond the horizon. Of course, this was too good to be true. Mega-corps command citizens like puppets. Unopposed gang activity is at an all-time high. Uninvestigated mass killings are an everyday occurrence. Mob violence and corrupt cops perpetuate a violent day-to-day — one you decide to dismantle.
Gameplay Mechanics: A Double-Edged Sword
The game is hard. Well … at least with a controller. Originally released on Steam Early Access in 2019, “Neckbreak” is meant to be a lightning-paced run-and-gun that’s challenging but with a gracious learning curve. It is at its best when sliding through corridors at a … breakneck … pace — your foot is at your enemy’s crotch before you can think. Grasping this instinct is incredibly satisfying, not to mention badass. Armed with a mouse and keyboard, the swift yet intricate actions vital to surviving Crimson Tide are not only feasible but wildly exhilarating. Now on console, this flow state is difficult — sometimes borderline impossible — with analog controls.
As a result, combat occasionally feels starkly one-sided. A considerable amount of balance relies on switching quickly between weapons. When this simple task is performed with the same finger as dodging the oncoming bullet, survival is easier said than done. Similarly, sliding and jumping offer a leg up in combat, but the inability to change direction while midair or grounded makes the actions double-edged swords. And without the ability to wall-peek, taking cover leaves you a sitting duck.
Offensive Arsenal: Pills and Thrills
Where the game lacks defense tools, it makes up for offensive ones. With worker exploitation at the heart of Crimson Tide, top conglomerates provide mandatory performance enhancers for all employees. A variety of these bonus-granting pills are scattered throughout the game, each providing “focus” — a time-slowing buff that allows for easier bullet-dodging and control. Carefully timed pill-popping will make or break a run, making you feel unstoppable in the process.
While the player only feels the effects of these pills while in combat, they have caused devastating reverberations throughout the city of Crimson Tide. The game design’s lack of handholding allows for an immersive self-guided tour of this filth-laden shining star of a capitol. After completing a run, the player returns to their sky-scraping apartment with the option of further exploring the beautifully imagined, synthwave-inspired dystopia before leaping into the fray once again. With some areas blocked off until specific levels are completed, routine romps through the city are encouraged — breaking up the high-intensity action that would otherwise become exhausting.
Immersive World-Building
The gritty, unforgiving nature of “Neckbreak’s” world is further reinforced by the places and people that inhabit them. The player’s destructive dash through Crimson Tide takes them to places such as the Rectum, a sex dungeon where “Mistress” tells you to “come back when the light outside turns green.” Upon re-entry, the player is chased through filthy halls adorned with strung-up corpses by half-naked men wearing animal heads. Moreover, it is rare to interact with someone without getting embroiled in some form of violent confrontation.
In summary, “Neckbreak” offers an intense and immersive experience that captures the essence of a dystopian future where survival hinges on quick reflexes and strategic pill-popping. While its console adaptation may present some challenges, the game’s atmospheric world and adrenaline-pumping gameplay make it a noteworthy addition to the cyberpunk genre.
