Review: NTE: Neverness to Everness (PS5) – Ambitious Anime Open World Gets a Lot Right

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The game, called Neverness to Everness – but which I’ll simply call NTE – has entered a competitive market on the PlayStation 5.

I remember when Genshin Impact got huge during the pandemic – it really changed things! Suddenly, a bunch of console games started popping up trying to be just like it. They all went with the free-to-play model, which is cool, but then they added those frustrating systems where you basically gamble to get characters, and honestly, keeping track of all the different in-game currencies felt like a full-time job!

This new game, developed by Hotta Studio (a part of Perfect World, and known for Tower of Fantasy), blends the styles of Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves. It’s an open-world game set in a city, and includes life simulation features similar to those found in GTA Online.

I’m just going to come out and say it: this scratches an itch for me.

I’ve always loved games that combine open-ended exploration with realistic simulation, and this one lets you do just that. You’ll run coffee shops, drive a taxi, and work as a secret agent for an organization called Eibon Antiquities, investigating strange occurrences.

This game feels heavily inspired by other titles; its menus are reminiscent of Honkai: Star Rail, and its quests strongly echo those found in Control. It often feels like a loving tribute to its influences.

Honestly, I think the game really nails it when it comes to blending everything together and creating its own unique vibe. It’s a blast spotting all the little references hidden around the city of Heathereau – they’ve got a gorgeous recreation of Akihabara, and even a bar that looks just like STARRY from Bocchi the Rock! It feels really cool to recognize those details.

Many games like this tend to have simple and somewhat awkward visuals, but NTE stands out with a dynamic style inspired by manga, anime, and webtoons. It’s a visually busy experience that keeps you engaged, though it can feel a little chaotic.

This feels very much like something designed for TikTok – it needs to grab your attention constantly, with something new happening every thirty seconds.

Although the game can feel a bit chaotic at times, I really admire the developer’s artistic vision. Like K-Pop Demon Hunters, the art style changes dramatically to reflect a character’s personality, which is much more dynamic than the static visuals you often see in other games of this type.

Honestly, I’m really getting into the story, even though it’s had its ups and downs. Playing as a character with amnesia and superpowers isn’t the most original idea, but so far the game hasn’t gone overboard with confusing backstory. The quests you get early on are actually pretty engaging, which is a huge relief!

You might find yourself looking for a lost child who uses sign language and has gotten into trouble with magically animated plants. Or, you could be sent undercover to a major auction to find a legendary item that will likely be crucial to the story.

The game’s missions feel like mini-stories, and even the weaker ones – like a frustratingly silly romantic plot with an otter who has a TV for a face – are still better than what you usually find in similar games.

Unfortunately, the combat can’t hit the same highs as, say, Zenless Zone Zero.

This game clearly takes inspiration from Genshin Impact, focusing on team building with characters who combine their elemental abilities to create powerful effects. However, the animations aren’t as smooth as those in HoYoverse’s other games, and I don’t find them particularly appealing.

Adding new characters could definitely make the game more enjoyable, but keep in mind you’ll have to use the gacha system to get them. Luckily, the game is currently offering a pretty good and fair gacha experience.

This game is different from others like it because it guarantees you’ll get the character you’re aiming for within 90 tries. In most similar games, you only have a 50% chance, making this a significant improvement.

I also appreciate the game’s presentation. It’s designed like a classic Mario Party board game called Scarborough Fair, where you roll dice and land on spaces to earn rewards.

When the game launches, Hotta Studio is generously giving away several powerful characters, and players can unlock special weapons by defeating bosses for the first time. While this kind of promotion is common with so many games vying for players’ attention, it’s still a welcome bonus.

It’s important to remember that exploring the open world and collecting items through the gacha system are only part of what this game offers; the other part focuses on simulating a life similar to what you’d find in GTA Online.

There’s a lot to explore in Heathereau, including the ability to purchase and manage businesses and properties even while you’re not actively playing.

You can personalize your apartments with furniture and decorations, and invite characters to visit. The game features a lot of fan service, with many female characters changing into lingerie during interactions, but it offers a surprisingly large number of ways to connect with them.

This game has a lot of potential, and feels like a great starting point. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the developers continue to improve and expand it with new activities, businesses, and minigames – the possibilities are genuinely exciting!

The game looks amazing, using advanced technology to make rain-covered city streets feel incredibly realistic. These streets are inspired by real places like Tokyo, Seoul, and San Francisco. You can explore a huge number of buildings, including shops, cafes, and everything else you’d find in a city.

The game features an incredible number of visual details, which is both impressive and a little overwhelming. There’s been some discussion online about whether certain assets were created using AI, but overall, it’s a world worth exploring. Hopefully, the developers will address these concerns and replace any problematic assets if the claims are confirmed.

My biggest issue with the game is that it doesn’t fully utilize the DualSense controller’s features. Also, the menus could be improved to work more smoothly with the controller.

I often get confused by the controls in this game. The way it switches between the analog stick, d-pad, and shoulder buttons feels random, especially when navigating menus. The control scheme really needs to be smoothed out and made more consistent.

The PlayStation 5 controller’s special features aren’t great either. I immediately disabled the adaptive triggers because they feel bad while driving, and I don’t think the vibration feedback is used very well. I do appreciate the light bar, though, as it nicely shows which character you’ve chosen.

I’ve also been frustrated by the inconsistent speed when moving through dialogue. Sometimes you can advance as soon as you’ve read the subtitles, but other times you’re forced to wait for the entire voice line to finish. This is a really annoying problem that seems to only happen in gacha games, and it’s starting to bother me a lot.

It’s important to remember that this is just the beginning. Games like this one are meant to be enjoyed and updated over many years, so while we’re excited about this initial release, it’s designed to grow and get better over time.

Like most games of this type, expect daily challenges and special, limited-time events as the game gets updated. But if you’re searching for a detailed and engaging city to explore, this game definitely shows a lot of potential.

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2026-05-04 21:08