Neon Clash -Echoes of the Lost- Review (Switch)
From courier to mafia boss
Publisher: Voltage Inc
There are some stories and love interest types that I really hope make their way to Otome games that I can play (cough cause I don’t have a good enough phone to play the mobile games) and a mafia theming is one of them. Particularly having love interests (or LIs) that are mafiosos. So when I saw that AmuLit revealed an Otome game with the code name “Neon Mafia” it immediately got filed as a game that I for sure want to play (which was a little over two years ago, oh my gosh I didn’t even realize). Granted, I was a little bit hesitant especially after hearing about Red Bell’s Lament and how its structure was similar to even if Tempest (which I own but haven’t played yet). That may not seem like a good reason, but I kind of want to see how I like even if Tempest’s structure first before getting another game with a similar structure. Like, if I like this one then I’ll probably like that one. Luckily, I actually looked on the game’s website where it implied it wasn’t structured like the AmuLit’s past two games and it was confirmed by those that played the Japanese release. So, I eagerly waited until Christmas Day where I can open the best present of all: a game in my favorite genre, an Otome Visual Novel.
Neon Clash also turned out to have grabbed a couple of firsts. It’s my first Amulit/Voltage game that I’ve played. It’s the first game I finished in 2026. It’s the first Otome Visual Novel that I played and finished in 2026. And finally, it’s going to be the first game review I write and post in 2026. I can’t be happier that Neon Clash happened to take up all of these firsts for me!
Well, anyway, it’s time to get into my review! I am going to keep this review spoiler-free, but if I feel the need to discuss anything spoiler-y I will mark it as such. Oh, and Neon Clash does have a different structure so this review will also be a bit different than how I usually do things for Otome Visual Novels. This game also has names in Last Name, First Name order and since the mafia families go by the boss’ last name I’ll refer to them by their first name unless I’m specifically calling them by their full name. Well, with that all out of the way let’s get into it and see if Neon Clash -Echoes of the Lost- was worth the excitement!
Neon Clash -Echoes of the Lost- follows Liu Kroa (which you can change her first name, but I’ll refer to her by her canon name) as her life is going to be turned upside down. Kroa lives in Kumyo, a country which may on the surface seem great, with all of the neon and seemingly becoming a prosperous empire again, however when you look closer you see all of the cracks that have been building up over the years. The wealth disparity has gotten even larger over the years, the majority of citizens in Kumyo live in poverty while only a select few live in absurd wealth oblivious to said poverty. It’s so bad that people live without hope and are barely hanging on. What’s even worse is when you look into the man ruling over Kumyo: Zhuo Biying. He only made the country worse with each passing year that he remains in power. Kumyo has many mafia families or gangs running around, but there are three big families. And you know which one is the biggest? The Zhuo family. Yep, it’s an open secret that Zhuo is also a mafia boss for one of the biggest mafia families in Kumyo and he is probably the scummiest in terms of how they’re affecting normal citizens. He amassed his fortune thanks to selling highly addictive drugs that are also trendy to the youth and his mafia is particularly brutal as you can be targeted just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. It also certainly doesn’t help that Zhuo is able to avoid justice thanks to his wealth and power assuring that he has full control over the government, the royal family, and the media.
However, Kumyo is on the cusp of change. This brings us finally to Kroa, her story, and how she ends up affecting future events. You see, it’s a bit personal for Kroa. About 11 years ago there was an event called the Taozhe Tragedy. Kroa actually comes from a mafia family, known as the Liu family, which actually held a lot of respect in Taozhe (which is the district they had control over and were based in). However, one day Zhuo launched a one sided massacre where nearly everyone was slaughtered. Those that managed to survive either left or hid. However, unbeknownst to Zhuo, the Liu boss had a daughter. A daughter that he and his wife entrusted to his brother to hide, protect, tell her about and raise her until she turned 12. That girl was Kroa. She never did end up meeting her parents or learning more about the mafia life past the few things she remembers her Uncle telling her, but she still managed to make sure to keep moving from place to place. Even when she lost her Uncle shortly after the Taozhe Tragedy to the Zhuo family, she kept living. And now, she’s an underground courier who delivers anything and doesn’t ask what’s inside as long as the client pays. She also has a special ability unique to her.
I didn’t mention this yet, but some people in Kumyo have a special tattoo called a Frayglyph which is a manifestation of your potential that got awakened during another event that happened years ago. There are three main Frayglyphs that correspond to speed, strength, and technique (which seems to be tied to having the best eye sight and maybe aiming). Those that had a Frayglyph appear on them allow them to have superior strength/speed/technique and are referred to as Dragons/Swans/Thunderclaps. Kroa, however, has a unique frayglyph. She can use psychometry which allows her to read the thoughts and feel the feelings trapped inside objects or places that she’s touched. However, the heavier the thought or emotion is, the more emotional recoil she’ll receive which is not good when she’s running away from mafia goons. And actually, she uses her psychometry to help her escape or gain information.
Anyway, Kroa was just doing what she usually does: delivering packages and dodging any mafia goons going after her. However, little did she know that her life was about to change as her best friend Meimei calls her to hang out. The day goes without a hitch until the end where they end up in the middle of a three way conflict. Luckily, Meimei was able to get away, but Kroa isn’t as lucky. Or is she as she ends up getting saved at the last minute by a man named Gante Lowd. Lowd has been looking for Kroa ever since the Taozhe Tragedy so the Liu family could be revived and when he saw the gun Kroa has, a white gun with pink accents named Dilu which can only be wielded by the true Liu family heir, he knew he found the woman he’s been looking for. Krow, at the time though, refused as she doesn’t seek revenge and believes it would be impossible anyway. Though it does spark something within her. Which then roars into a flame as something truly devastating happens that pushes her to revive the Liu family after all.
Kroa sets her sights not only upbringing down Zhuo Biying, but also the end of living aimlessly, reviving the Liu family and Taozhe to how it was in the past, and bringing about a peaceful and free world akin to a true Shangri-la. And if that means there will be a lot of loss and bloodshed, well so be it. If the enemy won’t back down, then she won’t either. And thus starts Kroa’s journey from a lowly underground courier to a mafia boss that her parents would surely be proud of.
I really liked the story here. It does take Neon Clash a bit to get going, as you do need to learn about the world, the lore, and get settled in as a mafia boss; but man it really gets going. There may only be 6 chapters, but you’d be surprised with how many things happen in just one section of a chapter. I really liked the way Neon Clash was structured and the way the story was told. Each chapter is sectioned off into parts and I think it does a great job at breaking things up, both giving you some relief if you need it (as the game does get a bit heavy at times) and it also serves as good stopping points. I do also really think everything flowed really well. I was honestly quite surprised with how quickly some things happen, like they’d be planning to do something in three days, time skipping to that day, and while it’s a bit surprising there isn’t downtime it still flowed really well. I also did find the action scenes to be well written too, even though the sound effects may not have exactly matched what the text says. The game is also pretty mature, with characters not shying away from cussing, a lot of blood and death, and implications of what Kumyo citizens risk happening if they happen to take a wrong step. I really loved seeing Kroa grow as a mafia boss, noticing subtle hints, having things revealed (especially the ones that are connected to a certain character), and seeing how everything ended up falling into place at the end.
I honestly was ready to talk about some critiques that I had, ones that I had before playing and in the middle of my playthrough, but by the end they all pretty much got resolved. Like, I personally didn’t think that it felt like Kroa was flirting with all the LIs at once. Kroa’s relationship felt pretty natural with the LIs. They become friends, care for each other as friends, and could have easily slid into a friends-to-lovers situation if, well, their whole situation wasn’t going on. The chapters also were very natural in how they focused on each LI. It didn’t feel forced and I can see the story playing out the same way if this wasn’t an Otome game. The story just naturally flows to where Kroa would be spending more time with that LI at that time. The whole thing with Kroa or the LI forgetting about their feelings on the other is a bit shaky at times, but I do like how that comes around on Kroa later on. And on that note, I do like how the game’s subtitle -Echoes of the Lost- ended up being incorporated into the game’s narrative.
Are there certain aspects that I wish got a bit more time? Yeah. Is there one, maybe two, things that I didn’t like or got annoyed at? Yeah. But I can’t deny that the game does subtly build up to everything that you find out towards the end of the game and the story here is pretty solid and engaging to read. The story here is interesting, keeps you on your toes, and I couldn’t stop reading. I really have to commend the writer on sticking with their vision for Neon Clash’s story. I don’t think the story could have worked as well if it was structured like a typical Otome Visual Novel and at the same time I can’t imagine this game without all of the cute scenes you get hanging out with the LIs.
*whispers* I can fix him
Neon Clash has great side characters as well. The writer here really knows how to create lovable characters, characters that are really easy to hate (and yes, I’m including Biying here as well even though he’s an antagonist), and all the shades in between. Though, I’m honestly not surprised considering I’ve really liked the writer’s previous works before. Plus, I get attached to characters easily so this works out for me. They are all written pretty well and it honestly makes you wish you had more time with them. Which, tragically, you can’t as Kroa is busy and the world of Kumyo is pretty brutal. They’re all interesting in their own way, you can see the subtle shifts that they make, you can tell the relations they have with Kroa or with other side characters easily (or suspect they might be connected to another character due to the subtle clues they drop), and you can honestly tell where these characters could have been if the Taozhe Tragedy never happened or if Kroa never decided to revive the Liu Family. Also, if you happened to look at everyone’s character portraits, a lot of them not only look like they can be LIs, but their personality also does as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love the LIs we have, but man there were so many side characters that I went “Why can’t you be a LI too” as Kroa was interacting with them. R in particular, yes that’s his name, was one that I really wished was a LI. There was just something about R that I really loved and made me think “I can fix him” every time he popped up despite everything he ends up doing.
As for our lovely protagonist, I really loved Liu Kroa. She is such a great character not only for the world that Neon Clash takes place in, but also for the circumstances that she ends up finding herself in. She was really interesting to follow and you can’t help but root for her. Kroa is definitely a character that you could have easily messed up, but she turned out to be a flawed, but wonderful, character that you honestly can see her flourishing into a great mafia boss. Even when she wasn’t going to revive the Liu mafia family, she had qualities that pointed to her being a good boss. I also really liked how she had a lot to learn. She did end up retaining some of the information her Uncle told her when she was a kid, but at the end of the day she never was a part of the mafia so it would be weird if she was suddenly good at it. I really like how you see her struggle, make mistakes, grow, take advice from other characters like Lowd, and even at the end of the game she still has some more growth to do. She also does have the fortitude to be in the mafia world and I really like Kroa proved even herself wrong. Not to mention that she definitely carries aspects that you hear characters saying about the old Liu family and you can honestly see her achieving her goals after the credits roll.
Neon Clash, of course, has choices that will periodically pop up as you’re playing to determine what Kroa says or does. There are two different categories of choices, though, with both of them being displayed differently to differentiate them. The ones that are displayed normally like you’d expect are ones that will determine whether or not you get Affection Points with the LI once you’re in their chapter. Not every choice will have a chance to grant Affection, but of course whatever you choose will only alter the next line or two (which can sometimes recontextualize the next scene). Affection is then used to determine whether or not it’ll let you continue on to the True Ending or steer you into their Sad Ending if it’s too low. There are Sad Ends for all of the LIs individually and one for the game as a whole.
The other type you’ll make doesn’t come up as often, but does give off the vibe that it’s an important choice due to how it’s displayed (both in a diamond shaped box on either side and selecting it is you “aiming Dilu at it”). These choices determine your Influence, or charisma as a mafia boss, as you have to think “what would a mafia boss do”. This determines whether or not you trigger a Bad Ending at specific points in the story, which there are a couple of here.
All in all, I’d say the majority of choices are pretty easy to pick which one you should be picking; with a few being a bit tricky as it could be either or.
Other than that, there are some Break Times where you’ll be able to check out Kumyo’s Newspaper, the map, the shop if you don’t want to go to the Main Menu, and the Boss’ Grade. These Break Times come at the end of each chapter and usually in the middle as well, otherwise it’ll just be a Break Time where it’ll ask if you want to continue to the next chapter or exit to the Main Menu. The Newspaper will let you see two articles, one where you only have a title and the other where you can read a whole article. While I’m not sure whether it really fits in a sense that these would actually be published for Kumyo citizens to read, but they do give you some interesting insight on aspects that you don’t see; as well as give you a quick summary of what just happened. You’ll also get to see the map of Kumyo, which includes which mafia family has taken over that part and the landmarks that Kroa will head to and other characters will reference. It even updates as the game goes on and families lose or take over districts. I didn’t know this until after I finished playing Neon Clash, but you can also interact with the map through the various mafia family logos, which will also do a quick summary in what each mafia family went through or did. The Boss’ Grade doesn’t come until the end of the chapter where it counts all of the Influence you gathered and then gives you coins which, in turn, you can use to buy extras in the Shop.
The only thing it’s really missing is a way to save the game haha.
Remember when I briefly mentioned that Neon Clash has a different structure? Well, this is when I’ll finally elaborate on that! Usually, Otome games will have a Common Route that splits off into the various LI Routes. However, here, the game is linear, basically making the bulk of the game the Common Route with the LI Routes being more akin to Epilogues. The game calls them Happy Ends, but I like referring to them as Epilogues since they take place a couple months after the ending. Don’t worry as each LI does have a chapter where they are particularly the focus so you’ll be able to get to know them and gather Affection to determine if you unlock their Epilogues.
So for Neon Clash, I decided to just talk about each LI, what I thought about them throughout the game, and then my brief thoughts on the Epilogues.
Gante Lowd
First up is Lowd and the first time they meet each other is when he happened to be in the area when Kroa was in danger and jumped in to save her. Lowd is the last surviving member of the Liu mafia family massacre and he was even there when it happened. Due to that, he not only suffers from survivor’s guilt, but also holds a thirst for revenge against Zhuo. Nonetheless, he kept searching for the Liu heir for over a decade in hopes that the family could one day be revived. During that time, he took up a cover of being a priest so he’d fly under Zhuo’s radar. While Lowd probably didn’t have to act like a priest, he still did as he took up the task of caring for children that lost their families. Though around Kroa, and especially once the Liu family gets revived, he is in mafia capo mode. Where he is serious, straight-laced, respectful, and protective of the boss. Every so often, though, other parts of his personality peeks through. He is also the only one in the new Liu family that was in a mafia family, let alone grew up in one, so he also serves as kind of like a mentor towards Kroa and the other members. He takes this mafia stuff seriously and expects everyone else too as well. Also, while Lowd may be a Swan, he is still strong and a formidable opponent to those that dare to hurt Kroa.
If there is any LI that really could have benefitted from having a full route, it would have been Lowd. I love Lowd, don’t get me wrong, but I think the fact that he gets focused on first, the dynamic he settles on with Kroa, and his personality really points to him being the LI that would have a slow burn romance. Especially with how he shows his affection through small actions that you may not even notice until someone else points it out. Which then he can’t keep his poker face on haha. But yeah, I loved Lowd and how he just has unwavering trust and loyalty to Kroa; even though he never met her until the events of the game started. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised that the more time he spent with her, the more it reinforced that it was a good idea that he never gave up and it was a good idea to stick with her rather than going to another mafia family. I also love the side of him that he doesn’t show when he’s in mafia capo mode. Like, this man is definitely husband and father material. He cooks, he’s so sweet to the kids he looks after at the church and towards Kroa, he’s protective, and he’s so charming.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention this, but before I start playing an Otome game I pick out the LI that I like the most purely based on how they look. It was tough to pick one for this game, but Lowd came out on top.
Sun Maslo
Next up is Maslo and Kroa has a brief first meeting as they run into each other at a hotel while Kroa was aiming to meet with other mafia families and try to strike up any alliances. They’re not able to really talk or hang out until his featured chapter, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t make a great first impression. Maslo is actually a mafia boss, which you wouldn’t suspect just by looking at him, but his mafia family is small and primarily is made up of young people just like Kroa’s. However, their situation is a bit different. The Sun Family is actually a group of close friends that became a mafia family to protect one another after they drew too much attention. They are also under the umbrella of another mafia family, which is the worst position you can be in. Maslo, himself, is a pretty fun guy. He’s pretty chill, easygoing, tries his best on good impressions so Kroa doesn’t think he’s a country bumpkin, likes to tease Kroa, and is pretty thoughtful. He also comes to really trust Kroa with not only his life but the lives of his crew. However, he does hold some darkness within him and turns out to know more about frayglyphs than you’d expect. Maslo also has a unique frayglyph as well, though I won’t reveal what it is.
Man, Maslo is such a fun and sweet character. I really loved nearly every interaction he had with Kroa, it was pretty interesting how the Sun family is really similar to the new Liu family, and I really liked seeing their romance begin to sprout. He really is charming, I really like the dynamic he has with Kroa, and oh my gosh how his featured chapter ends?!? Definitely had me blushing and looking forward to him reappearing. I also really liked how the narrative left what exactly his frayglyph was as a mystery, giving you hints here and there that you can pick up and the game even puts them in a situation where you show that you figured it out. I love how Sun and Liu families hit it off and how they help each other without hesitation. The only complaint I have towards Maslo is that the end of his arc needed more time. It just seemed a bit too quick even in a fast paced narrative like Neon Clash. Which brings me to my opinion that Maslo would have also benefitted from having his own route, but on the story side rather than the romance side.
Sodyk Mun
Mun is next and, oh man, this guy. How do I talk about him without spoiling Neon Clash. Mun and Kroa first meet when she was going around to see if she could strike up any alliances with other mafia families. Mun is the boss of the Sodyk family, which not only is the second largest mafia family in Kumyo, but also the only one that is clean on the business side of things. They make more than enough earnings thanks to their legitimate business, so why would they start an illegal one? The Sodyk family is basically what you’d imagine when you think of what a mafia family should be like and actually Kroa actually spends some time with him to learn more about how to be a good mafia boss. Mun is actually a very popular man, you actually see him on the cover of a magazine before Kroa meets him face to face, and it’s easy to see why. He not only has the charisma, smarts, and elegance of a man of his public reputation, but is also intimidating, adaptable, fearless, and has an unwavering nature that you’d expect out of a mafia boss of his caliber. He commands respect with just his presence alone. However, he’s hiding more than he lets on as you do see moments where his mask slips for just a second, the tiny threads of manipulation, and just how far he plans ahead. He does also share the same goal as Kroa has for the future, but does he share the same vision as her? Oh, and Mun also has a unique frayglyph.
By far, my favorite chapter in the game is Mun’s featured chapter. I also ended up really liking Mun even after the reveal that happens and what happens after his chapter. Like, I know he’s a red flag, but man he charmed me so well. I don’t think I’d be able to snap out of it like Kroa if I was dealing with Mun myself haha. It also helps that he employs one of my favorite tropes and the game was far enough along that he was able to get the breathing room to do his thing. Mun is a really well written character and the way his character evolves is so surprising, but also at the same time makes sense. The writing for him is so subtle, which really works for his character, and you can’t help but look back at his past actions and realize how couldn’t you have noticed what he was doing. I also found the way you get Affection from his really interesting. He loves it when you act exactly as he wants you to, but he also loves it when you employ the same tactics that he does to break away. And, if there was any moment where I can confidently say he started falling for Kroa, it was at that moment.
Zhang Hiyok
Last, but not least, is Hiyok! The way he and Kroa meet for the first time is a bit complicated. Before the events of the game, they actually briefly met, but he’s really the only one where that moment stayed in his mind and actually changed his life. Like literally, he was a troublemaker until Kroa showed him that there were compassionate people out there. He always wanted to find Kroa again and when they met again during the events of the game, both briefly during the three way stand off and on the street where he was able to convince him to treat her to dinner. And man, was he so happy when he learned that Kroa was reviving the Liu family and he joined on the spot. Hiyok loves Taozhe, so much he became a gangster to lash out on the Zhuo family, and he’s wanted to join the Liu family ever since he was a kid. The Taozhe Tragedy really hit him hard, but once Kroa comes around, you really see how much the other residents in Taozhe care for him too. Hiyok is a pretty funny guy, both with just the way he acts and how flustered he gets with Kroa. He’s friendly, casual, impatient, loves food, sweet in how he thinks about others, and has a way of easing the atmosphere and making people relax. That doesn’t mean he has a serious side, however, as Hiyok is a Dragon who seems to be on the powerful side and he turns into a sharper, more subdued, version of himself if he downs strong alcohol. Don’t worry though, as it’s only the strong stuff and the weak stuff just makes him drunk. Which is good considering he is a drinker.
It’s honestly funny how Hiyok ended up being the last LI to get focused on. He’s wanted to be a part of the Liu family the longest out of anyone and it’s so obvious that he fell in love with Kroa at first sight. Even though he tries to hide it. Hiyok is like a puppy dog and I swear I was thinking this before Kroa pointed it out for the first time in her thoughts (and she actually points it out a couple times as he shows more similar qualities haha). He’s also definitely a sunshine character where you can’t help but smile every time he appears and I even found myself smiling as I was looking through my screenshots. Hiyok is a character that is very easy to love and the direction his character goes down really breaks your heart. It’s even worse considering it makes sense for him, and especially for the situation that caused him and Kroa to spend more time together. But yeah, Hiyok is just so endearing and cute in every scene he’s in and I have to say it was a great choice for him to have the last featured chapter. His chapter may have topped Mun’s if it didn’t include the two things that I mentioned I personally didn’t like about the story towards the end of it.
As always, here are my LI rankings:
Mun > Hiyok > Lowd > Maslo
I was planning on doing rankings before and after I played their Epilogues, and then rank the Epilogues themselves, but they more or less turned out to be the same order so I didn’t think it would make sense to. The only thing that changed was that Lowd and Maslo switched places. I love them all, but one of them does need to be on the bottom and Maslo ended up settling there. Meanwhile, while I know Mun probably shouldn’t be first considering what he does, I can’t help but love him the most. In terms of their Epilogues, they’re all pretty good. The only one I didn’t like was Maslo’s, but it still had a few good moments during it that I’m glad I didn’t just skip it. The Epilogues did a good job at tying up most of the loose ends, it was pretty funny how the other characters acted, and it was nice to finally see Kroa get together with the LIs after everything that happened.
Overall, though, I loved all of the LIs here. They are all interesting characters in their own way and I really love the interactions they have with Kroa and the way their dynamics ended up being. They all played off of Kroa very well and it was pretty fun to get to know them as the game progressed. Neon Clash also changes perspectives for brief moments, not only to LIs but other side characters, and they were interesting to be in the head of as well. While I was gathering my thoughts on the LIs, I also just realized that the LIs themselves also contrast one another. They’re kind of like two sides of the same coin. Like Lowd is pretty straight-laced and serious, but has a secret sweet and charming side to him; while Maslo shows his affection more and teases a lot, but holds a serious side and a secret. Hiyok makes for a particularly great contrast to Mun, as he wears his emotions on his sleeve while Mun keeps it close to his chest. A part of me does wish that the LIs got their own route, but a bigger part of me is happy with the way the game handled them.
There are some Extras here, which earlier I mentioned you buy through the Shop with the coins you get through the Influence you gathered throughout the game. I’d say it’s pretty easy to be able to buy all of the Extras after your first playthough. So what does Neon Clash offer here? Well, you’ll unlock some Secret Information which includes the bios for most of the characters (which aren’t as different as the ones you can read on the game’s website) and information on the mafia families that are running around in Kumyo (most of which you do learn while playing but is a nice refresher). Other than that, you’ll be able to read some quick scenes through the explanation of it being CCTV footage. I’d say these scenes are definitely worth reading as they do give you some more insight on these characters and a lot of them were pretty funny. Every character that appeared, excluding Kroa, also get a spotlight which is really nice as well.
As for negatives, I can think of a couple. I can see those that are expecting more romance to be disappointed that Neon Clash is very much focused on the story. I didn’t mind, was expecting it, and I do think the game handles it well; but I understand those that would have wanted this to have more romance or be structured like a traditional otome game. I did get annoyed when you get the Terminology button prompt and the game isn’t already on that term, making you select the term yourself. The text is also a tad too small and I personally found the UI sound effect too harsh (and man, do I wish there would be a separate volume setting for the UI cause I still want to hear the sound effects during the game). Oh, though there is this weird aspect where the game overwrites the parameters for the two main endings when you start a new playthrough. So you can’t get bad endings in the True Ending path if you started a new game to get the Sad Ending. Which I’m not gonna lie is pretty weird, but luckily I knew this beforehand since I generally use guides.
This is just more of a “this would be nice” thing, but it would have also been nice if you could check Kumyo’s map at any time.
I heard Voltage localizations can be a bit messy at launch and they certainly weren’t joking. Neon Clash’s localization is great and well done, but it does have a lot of small mistakes sprinkled all throughout (though strangely enough not in the Epilogues). The mistakes I noticed were when there was a missing word in the middle of a sentence and the majority of misspellings were due to a missing letter or adding a letter. Despite that, the game is still understandable, it may just halt you in your tracks for a couple seconds more. I only had trouble understanding the game twice and that’s when it misspelled a location and one of the mafia family’s names as it did make it out to seem like a different location/character. This is also more of a nitpick, but I really hate how it looks like there’s a space after every apostrophe. I don’t know if that’s just the engine or if there is a space, but it bothered me every time I noticed it.
Neon Clash looks and sounds absolutely amazing. The artwork here looks absolutely beautiful here from the backgrounds to the character portraits. I honestly wished we got to see Kroa’s portrait more, especially with the beautiful dresses she ends up wearing and she is really pretty. I loved the look of every character and even the side characters look like they could be LIs in their own right. The men, in particular, have some really nice outfits and poses. I also really liked the fashion. It’s weird, but like it really fits with the world and even the characters. Though, I’m not gonna lie, there are a few characters I went “well that’s a fashion choice”. Like have you seen the full character artwork for Yulong? I thought it was bad from the waist up, but it gets worse once you see more and it made me laugh. The CGs were also beautiful and I love how emotional the characters get. Like, I was not expecting ugly crying here.
The voice actors did an amazing job here as well. They brought their characters to life, really fit with the character’s personality or state of mind, and there were definitely some really funny line deliveries that I was not expecting. It honestly made me wish Kroa had a voice. The soundtrack was perfect, each track was a delight to listen to and they all fit with the location or with what was happening. The sound effects were nice as well. Though, I have to say, that Neon Clash’s OP is the best. The song is great, ends up correlating with the story more than you’d think, I really like the CGs they added a little bit of animation flair to, and man does it make you worry about some of the characters.
Neon Clash plays wonderfully on the Switch, however I did have one save file that randomly got glitched out and it won’t load past the black screen. Luckily, it was early on in the game, it was on a choice selection, and I saved at the beginning of each chapter part so it wasn’t a big deal.
Verdict
What a great way to start off the year! I’m not sure why Neon Clash’s English release got delayed, but I’m kind of glad it did. I was honestly leaning towards not getting this game originally as I know how AmuLit’s past games were structured and I’m so glad I did. I ended up loving Neon Clash more than I expected and it absolutely had a hold on me until I experienced everything I could in the game. The story was engaging and flowed well, the characters are well written, the romances are sweet, and the game looks and sounds amazing. So, yeah, I definitely recommend Neon Clash -Echoes of the Lost-. Trust me, by the end you may find yourself not minding how its structured or that it focuses on the story more than the romance.
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