Read Only Memories: Neurodiver Review – A Long Awaited Memory

Read-Only Memories: NeuroDiver Review

It feels almost like a lifetime since I first played 2064: Read Only Memories; I was first drawn to its pixelated aesthetics. The cyberpunk detective adventure struck a chord with me in many ways, and it has left a lasting impression on me ever since. Between that initial playthrough and the release of Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, much has changed in both the world and myself. And although it has been a long road, returning to Neo San Fran has certainly been exciting to make some new memories.

But while many of these memories were fond ones, I have been left very conflicted by my overall experience. Neurodiver is a game that I desperately want to shower with praise because of what the original game means to me. I want to talk about how it hit all my expectations and shattered through the ceiling and into the sky. Because there is a lot to love within this game, what it does well, it does exceptionally well. But ultimately, I cannot deny that my time with Neurodiver has left me feeling a little bittersweet in my reverie.

Introduction to Read-Only Memories: NeuroDiver

Neurodiver introduces us to Luna Cruz de la Vega, or ES88, to use her official alias. ES88 is an esper agent working for a research organization known as MINERVA. Through her psychic nautilus-esque companion, the titular Neurodiver, she can dive into the minds and memories of others. By honing in on this talent, ES88 hopes to help others recover their lost memories or even help them overcome deeply damaging traumas. For now, though, she’s been tasked with tracking down a rogue esper known only as ‘Golden Butterfly,’ who is sowing seeds of corruption and mind fog throughout Neo-SF.

Read-Only Memories: NeuroDiver Gameplay Analysis

If I can describe the narrative of Neurodiver in one word, it would be ‘fun,’ and this leisurely vibe flows through most of the experience. Neurodiver seldom dwells on sour moments for long, focusing on more uplifting feelings for most of its runtime. Unfortunately, I think that is a little bit of an issue overall; to me, the narrative never hits any emotional peaks because it keeps things light and breezy. Any emotional depths feel shallow and aren’t given enough time to breathe or develop into something compelling.

What doesn’t help this is the game’s brisk pacing; chapters are far too quick for my liking, and there is little room for additional development for ES88, the expanded cast, or even the world itself. I wanted to learn so much more about ES88’s history and the mysterious world of espers, and I especially wanted to learn more about the android deuteragonist of Neurodiver, GATE. When I first began playing, I was excited to see what insights I’d uncover, but unfortunately, this never came to pass.

Exploring the Story of NeuroDiver

As they are, the characters in Neurodiver are still fantastic, though, and it is one of the game’s overall strengths. ES88 is a fun and vibrant lead with buckets of personality; she delights in shouting elaborate catchphrases during missions and has a delightfully adorable crush on GATE. Her penchant for magical girls and generosity make her an exceptionally easy heroine to love. GATE acts as an ideal foil for this, being the more complex, more straightforward type in comparison, but through several pivotal moments, you can see a side of her that is much more human.

The side characters are all very likable, too, and there are even some welcome familiar faces from 2064 within the crowd. I wish they were present for more of the story, but seeing characters like Lexi and TOMCAT again made me smile. But again, even this strength feels undercut by a sense that, if the narrative were a little longer, these elements could have been much more significant. There are some characters new to this game that I expected would be major players, but they just aren’t given enough time to shine and just left me wanting more.

The fact that I’m sitting here, eager for more, is a testament to how fun the story is when it wants to be and how excellent the characters are. And I wouldn’t want Neurodiver to turn into something darker than it is; I think it could shine even brighter if the shadows of its narrative were given a little bit more screen time.

Memories of Diving: The Mechanics & Gameplay of Neurodiver

The narrative will always be the key draw of visual novels, but Neurodiver attempts to explore some interesting gameplay mechanics. Ultimately, it doesn’t completely hit it out of the park in this regard, either. While 2064 was a more open-ended adventure game, Neurodiver sticks to a more linear structure. It brings to mind games like Ace Attorney, but you are more or less strictly bound to whatever area you find yourself in until you find the way to progress. I do miss the more exploration-heavy nature of 2064, but I can appreciate the need to keep things more focused. You are always where you need to be, so there is never any moment where you are trying to figure out where you’re supposed to go.

The game begins when you use the neurodiver to dive into a character’s memories. Here, it would be best to clear corruptions within their mind by gathering environmental clues. Solving these puzzles doesn’t feel incredibly well fleshed out, though; there is only a tiny selection of corruptions per chapter, and the solutions are all somewhat vague. You’re supposed to pick the objects in your inventory that correspond to the piece of memory you are trying to access, but it all just came across as incredibly nebulous to me. You also get very few items to work with, so it’s not hard to guess your way through specific segments. It just fails to be mentally challenging or engaging, and there’s little satisfaction in figuring out a solution.

As a gameplay mechanic, I think it is a good concept, and I can imagine a world where it is used for some genuinely brain-scrambling puzzles. But here, it is just not exceptionally well executed; it isn’t dull, it’s simple enough to keep you engaged, and it isn’t obnoxiously obtuse. Mechanically, it all works fine, and I can see a unique idea budding in there somewhere; it just misses the mark for me. Pile on some frustrations with difficult-to-spot items in the environment, and it feels like more work could have been done to make the game design here genuinely compelling.

Graphics and Visuals in NeuroDiver

Things are definitely more positive when you look at the game aesthetically; however, vibrant designs and environments are everywhere you look, and the pixel art is exceptional to behold. Taking cues from Super Famicom and PC Engine games, they certainly give the game a retro flavor, but they’re distinct and modern enough to stand on a higher level. There’s not a single boring-looking screen, and there are so many fun details to poke at and examine. When it’s simply fun to take in the details of the world, you know a game is doing something right.

In terms of the soundtrack, it also pays homage to old titles. It’s a strong showing all around; the same can be said for the vocal talent. ES88 is the critical standout, as you’d expect. Daisy Guevara does a fantastic job injecting her with enthusiasm and boundless energy, as well as being stellar in the moments where the story does choose to veer into strained territory. Amber Lee Connors does a great job as GATE, making her deadpan and flirtatious demeanor even more distinct.

Neurodiver is stellar and makes the whole experience exceptionally memorable in terms of audio and visual presentation alone. It’s clear that a lot of love and care has been put into Neurodiver’s aesthetics, and given how distinctive 2064 was in this regard, it’s no surprise that they’ve triumphed here as well and excelled beyond their past efforts.

Conclusion: Is NeuroDiver Worth Playing?

There is a lot to love in Neurodiver, and I feel as if my time with it has been a net positive overall. It has a fun, upbeat story, and many lovable characters are in every corner. The gameplay concept is strong, and the visuals are, without question, absolutely top-notch. But it’s hard not to feel a little disappointed; I think that’s partly a problem with my own heightened expectations, but there are portions of Neurodiver feel lacking and poorly handled to me when I put all of my presumptions aside.

I would still say that Neurodiver is a worthwhile experience, especially if you loved the original game, though. Revisiting this world and its characters is the delight I was hoping it would be, and I’m thankful for all the new memories it has given me. However, when I look back on it in another five years, I’m more likely to linger on what could have been.