Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER Reviews
Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a game that wears it's influences on it's sleeve, from corny 90s anime dubs to slick sci-fi and even Mexican culture. It's all worn and shown off so proudly that the resulting mix is loud, proud, and unforgettable. I just wish that it was so much longer, because I already miss my time in Neo-San Francisco.
Despite the snags I’ve mentioned, I’m still thinking about Read Only Memories: Neurodiver well after I finished the story. It’s such a pitch-perfect execution on its premise, mixing the worlds of modern cyberpunk with ancient PC technology and western anime fandom. I had a blast spending several hours with these characters and the world they inhabit, and would gladly have spent several hours more. A little more narrative depth and some puzzle guardrails and we’d have a true all-timer on our hands. But as it is, Neurodiver still stands out as a dope slice of niche gaming in a month stupidly crowded with that kind of thing.
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER is a wonderful sci-fi romp with a story that has to be experienced to be believed.
A neo-noir adventure with an overly kooky cast and an obsession with video game references.
Fans of 2064: Read Only Memories already have this game purchased. For everyone else, Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a fantastic slice of pixelated cyberpunk world building, characters, and storyline. Some control choices don't translate as well to controller as they could, but that doesn't stand in the way of the good time that Neurodiver offers.
One gets the sense that adding that little bit of extra context might’ve made Neurodiver feel more Phoenix Wright than the folks at MiniBoss intended. But that wouldn’t have necessarily been a bad thing given that the game always feels as if wants for, well, more context. It’s a testament to the work that was done by MidBoss that the game’s characters, their history with the various conflicts of the world, and the specific psychic damage being done to the Golden Butterfly’s victims that Neurodiver will leave players wanting more. There are just far too many moments where wanting to know more crosses the line into “the game isn’t providing enough.”
A beautiful picture book with an intriguing mechanic that devolves into flavourless surface-level commentary of consent, character, and childlike curiosities. (Review Policy)
A decent game that ends before it begins.
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER revisits the world of Neo San Francisco, presenting new characters and an interesting story to unravel. The voice work and graphics are lovely, though the run time is a little on the short side. If you enjoyed 2064, you'll likely enjoy this stripped-down experience; just be aware that there's less to this outing than its predecessor.
If you're into this style of game, the studio behind it or manga/anime culture and are looking for a jaunt this sequel to 2064 may well be for you!
Read Only Memories: Neurodiver feels like a step back from its predecessor on just about every level. The plot is lacking in intrigue and severely underbaked, while the simplistic gameplay offers little challenge. While it's nice to get further detail on the universe of the series, this sequel severely disappoints.
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER provides a fantastic futuristic experience that we were all too eager to dive into. While we would have appreciated more runway with its brief tale, ES88’s hunt for the Golden Butterfly is well worth a trip down memory lane.
So many parts of Read Only Memories: Neurodiver make me happy: the sound the Neurodiver makes plus its cute little tentacles, a purple heroine, spunky personalities, and a good mystery make the game easy to pick up and enjoy. Players can add a layer of philosophy to the game by digging into the moral questions posed through the narrative, or stay at the surface level. Either way is good. The learning curve is more than reasonable. A lack of accessibility options (including text and control settings) is a bummer, and not something to be overlooked. Still, Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a phenomenal psychic mystery game. It’s one I plan on returning to soon.
If you've already played 2064: Read Only Memories, you may get a bit of a kick out of NEURODIVER, but you'd probably be better served replaying the original, which overshadows its follow-up in almost every way. As likable as most of its cast is, they simply don't get enough time to shine, leaving the adventure of Luna and co. feeling flat and incomplete.
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER is a great narrative game with very interesting themes and an engaging story, driven by both its creative themes and captivating characters that bring the Neo-San Francisco universe back to life.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There were several different ways Midboss could've approached this sequel, likely all of which would've been better than Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER.
I’m still really happy with Neurodiver. It’s got the shine and polish that you wouldn’t have expected, and the interactions and storytelling are excellent right up until the end. It does what I wanted: it gives me more of the world that is Read Only Memories without forcing you to go back and play the first or sit through a rehash of the initial story. It’s got the meat and bones that let it exist independently, and gives me more of a Shadowrun vibe than I would have imagined, though less grim.
The strong foundation sets this title up perfectly. However, with a new team behind the scenes, it had the potential to fall short. Luckily, the writing was strong and I adore the varied characters. Moreover, the visuals capture a sci-fi edge that is magical and zany. Accordingly, though it isn’t perfect, I recommend buying it here! Can you master your skills and become a hero? Relax, read each mind, and piece together the truth.
It’s strange going back to Read Only Memories. There was a time I would have been ecstatic about a sequel. And now that one is here, I’m not sure how to feel. Neurodiver was an enjoyable return to this style of adventure game, but it’s also one that didn’t leave me with any strong feelings either way. I enjoyed what I played, but it didn’t leave a strong imprint on me either. It’s just… fine? Feels kinda anticlimactic. Fitting in some way given how long it’s been. A sequel could only quietly exist and be fine. 2015 was a different time. Read Only Memories hit differently then. It’s still good now, but less impactful than it was then.
As for Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, it’s a very tight, focused experience that’s a lot of fun and has a great style and flair for its setting, and I loved it. I just wish there was more to it.