In today’s world, back-up services such as Uber and Lyft have become the leading means of transportation. Using that as a spring board, the Neo Cab is an attractive alternative. It takes something we are familiar with – hiring a driver through the app – and exploring topics that make sense through that lens, such as our relationship with technology and dealing with toxic friendships. The idea of being a pilot and managing negotiations to ensure a five-star rating is enticing, but Neo Cab shines with adding impressive layers, such as the future when people continue to lose themselves in technology.
What does it mean to be a person in a world full of machines? How do you provide a positive change when the world is changing in front of you in such dangerous ways? These are just a few questions in the heart of Neo Cab, and they are part of what makes this game more than just a driver hire. She plays as Lina, one of the few drivers left behind, tries to make a living by working for Neo Cab. Mina is new to this home and is preparing to enter one of her old friends. However, things get complicated when her friend goes missing, leaving Lina looking for clues about her latest endeavors.
Since Neo Cab is a visual novel mixed with survival elements, the game's basic context makes little decisions that add up to your ultimate destination. You do not have to decide which passengers to pick up, but you must also keep on pursuing such things as fuel, money and spiritual well-being. The latter is handled admirably, as you have a threat that tracks your mood and references to different colors. This lets you know that when your feelings are getting the best of you and it may need to take a break. Depending on your mood, some chat options will be available or may not be available. For example, if you are in a good mood, you may fall in love with a customer, but if someone tests your patience, you are less likely to feed it and respect your star rating. If your star rating reaches a certain limit, it stops working, so it's one thing to note.
I like the idea of paying attention to your feelings and making sure you take care of yourself in the vision, but trying to play conversations in a particular situation is frustrating, because your feelings are always pong pong based on the connection too quickly. Even if you play your cards well, it goes down to the luck of the one you take. You could also play some of Lina's role in some way and have this cut-off point where suddenly a random choice was made as a result of a controversial program.
The biggest mistake is how your emotions play out in your conclusion, which sends mixed signals about the state of the emotions you have to be in to get a satisfactory conclusion. Don't expect to get a good ending to your first play, because a little slip can ruin all the communication. I've played around with Neo Cab many times, and that last encounter bothers me because he's set on failure. There is nothing else I can waste about it, but those last moments made it a dark cloud for an experience that I otherwise enjoyed.
The best part of this test is to interact individually with your eclectic riders, such as the number of characters that draw you to the other timeline, and the girl whose mothers are overworked in robotic attire. Since you can take many riders many times, you really get to know them and see their growth through your interaction and advice. With the exception of the couple that felt half-assed, I was surprised at how amazing these character arcs were; they not only provide you with a lot of information about this future, technological world, but they also have a lot to say about health and give you a say in deciding what is important. For one thing, I helped a young industrious woman see what was missing in her life. Otherwise, I let an old man get out of my car to feel alive.
Neo Cab raises a number of questions, crossing something familiar behind the background image. The Chance Agency describes a fascinating world where people all have their own ideas about technology and that they should be part of our daily lives. Neo Cab enjoys being a driver, meeting new people, and trying to raise money and earn a star rating. But it also offers a much deeper experience – one that gives you an inside look. This is why it's especially worth the trip.
