Review: Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit

Developer – Repixel8

Publisher – Numskull Games

Platforms – PC (reviewed)

Review copy given by publisher

Rushing past racers in a close contest is one of the best parts of racing. Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit captures that in a futuristic setting where you race a varied cast of characters. Your goal is to be the best racer by upgrading your vehicles to be the best they can be. Drift around turns and activate nitro but watch out for other cars. Don’t be too careless as hitting anything slows you down and might cost you the race.

Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit captures the thrill of fast racing as you speed down the tracks. It’s an easy game to learn and some quick thinking helps you win races. What holds the game back is that none of the modes offer anything you can’t find in other racing games. The racing experience itself is also simple and the upgrades aren’t unique. It’s a decent racing game for some fun but you may not stick with it long unless you are already a keen racer.

There is a Story Mode if you want to start a character’s story but it doesn’t provide much other than racing. The core of the game is racing and the stories don’t give you that much backstory. You simply participate in more races until you finish and then move on to the next character. Your real progress is the number of vehicles you unlock and the upgrades you apply to them. Races gradually become harder but they aren’t difficult to win if you stay on top of the upgrades.

Gameplay is your standard racing with a motorbike or four-wheel vehicle. You race a certain number of laps around a track in a busy street or highway. This means you must carefully dodge other cars while overtaking your opponents. Every vehicle has nitro boosts but you must use them carefully since your supply is limited. Getting 1st place is the goal but do the best you can as there are always more opportunities to win.

The learning curve is short and it’s easy to pick up the game. Even if you aren’t good at racing, the game is forgiving with accidents or hitting other cars. You may not remember that you can drift but it’s not too important if you are a casual player. This makes Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit accessible to players who might not be good at racing games but still want to have fun. You can always improve your vehicle and skills as you continue playing.

There are also several modes to play through and there is a multiplayer option. Racing against friends and leaving them in your dust is particularly fun in this game since everyone is moving at high speeds. Develop your skills through Story or Career Mode before taking on more difficult races as the game increases the difficulty. You have plenty of time to refine your driving skills and get used to the tracks in the game.

One of the game’s biggest problems is that it has a basic driving system that doesn’t change. Apart from earning more money and upgrades, there’s almost no variety to the gameplay. Even the different modes are just variations of the same gameplay experience. Unless you are a completionist or have fun with simple races, you will likely get bored in a few hours. If you already have other racing games, it’s hard to recommend this one because there’s nothing new.

Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit provides a decent racing experience that is beginner-friendly and fun for a while. However, the inability to stand out from other racing games and repetitive gameplay means you will likely get bored faster than normal. While this game ticks all the boxes when it comes to the fundamentals, it doesn’t have much of an incentive to keep you playing. It’s good for short bursts or racing completionists, but may not appeal to the hardcore crowd.