Dust & Neon

Dust & Neon
Developer(s)David Marquardt Studios
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)
Release
  • Mobile, Switch, Win
    • WW: February 16, 2023
  • PS5, XBox
    • WW: August 17, 2023
Genre(s)Twin-stick shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Dust & Neon is a twin-stick shooter video game developed by David Marquardt Studios. Rogue games published it for Switch, Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. On mobile devices, it is available exclusively for Netflix subscribers. Players control a reanimated cowboy who fights against robots.

Gameplay

Players control a dead cowboy who has been reanimated by a mad scientist and sent out to defeat marauding robots. Dust & Neon is a twin-stick shooter using a Western theme. A hub world provides shops and missions. In combat, players must reload their weapon, which include pistols, shotguns, and rifles. They can find new weapons during missions or buy them at shops. Upon defeating foes, players can find money and cores. Cores are used for base-building, such as upgrading shops so they provide better equipment. Money can be used to buy that equipment or power-ups. Bosses are only accessible once players reach a certain experience level.[1] Upon dying, players lose their money and guns.[2]

Development

Rogue Games released Dust & Neon for Windows and Switch on February 16, 2023.[3] Netflix released it the same day for mobile devices running Android and iOS. They can play it for free as long as they maintain their subscription.[4] Rogue Games released ports to the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 on August 17, 2023.[3]

Reception

Dust & Neon received mixed reviews on Metacritic.[5] Hardcore Gamer was initially impressed with the gameplay, especially the reloading mechanic. However, they said it becomes repetitive, does not have any story, and some of the enemies have poor AI.[1] Gamezebo similarly criticized the repetitive gameplay but said it is fun and stylish, and they recommended it to fans of twin-stick shooters.[2] Nintendo World Report felt the core game mechanics overcame Dust & Neon's repetition, and they said reloading made the boss fights more tense.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b LeClair, Kyle (2023-02-16). "Review: Dust & Neon". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  2. ^ a b Green, Freddie (2023-04-21). "Dust & Neon [Switch] Review – Wild West Hero". Gamezebo. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. ^ a b "Dust & Neon". Gematsu. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  4. ^ Nelson, Jared (2023-02-17). "TouchArcade Game of the Week: Dust & Neon". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ^ "Dust & Neon". Metacritic. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  6. ^ Corbran, J. P. (2023-02-28). "Dust & Neon (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2024-03-02.