Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER (Switch) Review

Jordan clicks and reads his way through this cyberpunk adventure follow-up, Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER, coming to Nintendo Switch on May 16, 2024.
#review #nintendoswitch #gameplay #readonlymemories #neurodiver
Join our Discord!
/ discord
Support this channel and our site:
/ nwr
Visit the motherland:
www.ninwr.com

[@peanuthead5280]

I absolutely loved ROM: 2064! I loved the characters, the sense of humor, the exploration, the puzzles, the drama, etc. I'm even replaying it just to relive the experience. So when I heard Neurodiver was finally making it's way out I couldn't wait to play it. I couldn't wait to revisit the art style, the music, the social conversations and more. Unfortunately that didn't happen
I was extremely disappointed. It had so much potential that it was building up to just to end as soon as it was getting good. It was way too short for how long it was delayed. It pales in comparison to 2064.
Also, it really doesn't feel like a point and click. I was prepared to interact with the world, have a map, and be able to use spoiled milk on stuff again... but this game wasn't that at all. You could only view things not touch, talk, or use. It was like a visual novel with very limited dialogue options. It allowed me to take note of spoiled milk but there wasn't anything else I could do.
The conversations in this game were super shallow and the cast of characters were less charming and more corny. Not enough characters get fully developed. I was very interested in crow and seeing more of Tomcat showcase their hacking skills.
It was nice to see old characters again like Jess, Lexi, Turing, and Tomcat, but It felt so surface level. I thought they'd come into play for the new cast missions, but they're just there for random flashbacks. I was especially disappointed with Turings return. He literally assisted in the robot awakening and became the spokesperson after the whole 2064 incident, but in neurodiver, he hardly mentions it and is only shown as a plant loving sidekick. He doesn't even mention the other main character who he spent so long with solving mysteries.
There was hardly any gameplay at all. The only thing you can really do is enter people's memories, look around at items, and pick random items to try and solve the fragments. I was expecting to go on adventures using Lexis skills, Jess's connections, Tomcats hacking, Turings previous experience, Lunas psychic abilities and Gates combat skills. But we hardly see anything happen as far as gameplay. Gate ended up being useless because the neurodiver was never in any danger or threatened.
I'm hoping they have something else lined up to follow up this game since it ended with " until next time." However, that seems really unlikely in the near future. I'm not sure if I just went in with the wrong expectations of it being a cool continuation of 2064 or developing in that world, but this just wasn't what I hoped for.

[@r_latham]

Trying to take in the measured criticism in this review. But the word ”brevity” is like a one word ”10 out of 10” for me at the moment!

[@ninjagaiden86]

Bit disappointed by this game