Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The core of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s gameplay lies in its blend of narrative decision-making and action-oriented combat. Players step into the shoes of Shinji Ikari at moments of crisis, choosing dialogue options that can subtly alter the flow of events. These choices, while not branching into wildly divergent storylines, influence Shinji’s morale and how NPCs react to him in subsequent cut-scenes. This system adds replay value, as selecting different responses can lead to new exchanges and insight into the pilot’s fractured psyche.

Combat sequences pit Shinji in Unit-01 against a newly emerged Angel whose attack patterns must be deciphered on the fly. When the Angel unleashes a beam or grapples with the EVA, the game pauses briefly to prompt button combinations that correspond to defensive or counter-offensive maneuvers. Success depends on recognizing visual and audio cues drawn straight from the animé: a glowing aura signals a charge, while a particular chime indicates an imminent physical strike.

As Shinji has lost his memory early in the scenario, the gameplay also incorporates puzzle-like segments where you select correct answers from multiple choices to jog his recollection. These moments serve both as a narrative device and as a gameplay break from the intense fighting. You’ll find yourself retracing conversations from earlier cut-scenes to choose responses that feel authentic to his character, blending fan-service familiarity with genuine engagement.

Accessibility is a mixed bag, however. As a Japan-only release, menus and text remain untranslated, so non-Japanese speakers may struggle with nuanced dialogue choices. The controls themselves are straightforward, mapping defense, counter, and special EVA moves to the standard button layout. Veterans of mech action games will appreciate the responsive joystick input during real-time combat, though newcomers might need a few battles to get comfortable with timing-based commands.

Graphics

Neon Genesis Evangelion leverages cut-scenes produced by Gainax, preserving the distinctive art style and fluid animation of the television series. Many cinematic moments are lifted directly from the original episodes, giving the game an almost episodic feel. In-engine transitions are smooth, with dramatic pans, dynamic lighting, and EVA power-surges rendered in crisp detail that faithfully evoke the late-90s look of the animé.

In combat, 2D sprites of Shinji’s EVA and the attacking Angel stand out against multi-layered backgrounds that depict NERV’s subterranean hangars and Tokyo-3’s battered cityscape. These backdrops use parallax scrolling to give a sense of depth as the EVA charges forward or recoils from an enemy assault. Special effects—sparks, energy pulses, and particle bursts—are straightforward but impactful, emphasizing the raw power clash central to Evangelion’s dramatic style.

The interface adopts the series’ iconic green monochrome monitors for status readouts, warning lights, and briefings. Health bars, synch ratios, and weapon indicators appear in transparent overlays that never obstruct the action. The overall palette is muted and industrial, punctuated by the bright violet and orange of the EVAs, which keeps your focus on the mechanized protagonists amidst the gloom of spiritual warfare.

Character portraits during dialogue are hand-drawn in the animé’s original aesthetic, complete with expressive line work and subtle shading. These stills periodically animate—eyes blink, mouths move—creating a living comic-book effect that heightens emotional beats. For fans of the series, this marriage of gameplay and high-fidelity visuals will feel like stepping into a “lost” episode brought to life.

Story

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s game narrative positions itself as a standalone episode nestled within the series’ timeline. It begins with the abrupt arrival of a new Angel, whose sudden assault on Unit-01 triggers Shinji’s alarming memory loss. This premise allows both newcomers and franchise enthusiasts to witness key relationships—Shinji and Misato’s cautious rapport, Rei’s quiet support, and Asuka’s competitive edge—recontextualized through Shinji’s amnesia.

As Shinji stumbles through blank slates of his past, his friends, concerned for both his well-being and NERV’s security, station Asuka in Unit-02 to go head-to-head with her comrade. The dynamic tension between Asuka’s brash confidence and Shinji’s shaken self-doubt becomes the emotional core of the story. Every fight against enemy forces or Asuka’s challenges draws on familiar series themes: the burden of piloting the EVAs, the fragility of human connection, and the search for identity amid existential threat.

Gainax’s cut-scenes weave original animation with repurposed footage, crafting a narrative that feels both fresh and comfortably recognizable. While the game doesn’t dive as deeply into the metaphysical or psychoanalytic elements that define the TV series, it touches on them enough to evoke Evangelion’s signature ambiance. Key plot beats—Shinji’s internal struggles, strategic discussions in NERV HQ, and sudden Angel reveals—are paced like a televised episode, complete with cliffhangers before major battles.

There is a satisfying arc to Shinji’s journey: lost memories, rediscovered purpose, and gradual reconnection with his comrades. Although resolution comes primarily through combat victories and a final flash of recollection, the emotional resonance is genuine thanks to strong voice acting and well-timed musical cues from the series’ score. For fans longing for any new Evangelion storyline, this episode-in-game form is a welcome expansion of the universe.

Overall Experience

Playing Neon Genesis Evangelion feels akin to discovering an unbroadcast installment of your favorite mecha drama. The seamless fusion of interactive gameplay with high-quality animation brings a cinematic quality rarely seen in mid-90s Japanese exclusives. Battles are tense, story moments are heartfelt, and the game’s structure offers a balanced mix of action and character development.

Despite the lack of an official localization, the package remains approachable for series devotees willing to navigate Japanese text. The intuitive combat prompts and recognizable story beats help bridge language gaps, allowing non-Japanese speakers to engage meaningfully with Shinji’s plight. Collectors and import gamers will appreciate the game’s rarity and nostalgic value as much as its in-engine presentation.

Replayability stems from branching responses during memory-recovery segments and slight variations in Angel behavior across playthroughs. Even after you’ve restored Shinji’s memories, experimenting with alternative dialogue choices or mastering every defense-counter combination offers fresh challenges. While the overall length is comparable to a feature episode, the depth of its mechanics and narrative interplay extends the experience well beyond a single run.

In sum, Neon Genesis Evangelion delivers a focused, emotionally charged adventure that honors the spirit of its source material. Its engaging gameplay, authentic visuals, and compelling “lost” episode storyline make it a must-have for hardcore Evangelion fans and collectors of classic Japan-only titles. Newcomers with an interest in mech anime will also find it an accessible—and memorable—dive into one of the genre’s most influential franchises.

Retro Replay Score

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