Welcome to Hethereau! The vibrant, atmospheric city you inhabit in this brand new anime-style, open-world gacha game, NTE. But what can you expect when you first take control of the protagonist, Esper Zero, and who are the important people and factions you need to get to know? Let us help you out on your first few days in-game.
NTE: Neverness to Everness throws you in the deep end from the off - you play as an amnesiac who goes by the name Zero. And in true anime game fashion, there's a male and female version to choose from, with a name that's entirely your own to pick. The protagonist's introduction feels particularly mysterious, as they appear during an intense battle between the Bureau of Anomaly Control (more on them later) and a monstrous creature they call the Hypervortex.
You very quickly get to try out the Bureau's Skia, Fadia, and Lacrimosa in some fluid action combat. These short battles really showcase how awe-inspiring each character's different skills and abilities are - and it's immediately clear that each character has a distinct style in battle, whether that be slow, hard hits with an oversized weapon, or slick, smooth jabs that require additional speed.
Not long after Zero's first appearance, a massive golden, godlike entity appears - commanding the very confused protagonist to 'stop interfering' before disappearing into thin air… After these first few introductory moments, it's hard not to be enthralled by NTE, and without a moment to think, Zero is quickly whisked away to our first important location - the Bureau of Anomaly Control offices.
In this impressive high-rise building, bustling with workers and out-of-this-world technology, you get to see the fighters from the game's opening in a more grounded setting, as well as get an introduction to our new best friend, Mint! The cutscenes in this game are absolutely gorgeous, and seeing Mint bounce around the screen with glee brought a genuine smile to my face, which is something that a lot of other games fail at.
You're soon recruited to the Bureau as an anomaly hunter, in hopes that it will jog your memory, and are sent off to my current favorite location in the game - Eibon Antique Shop. Between the Bureau and Eibon, I recommend you scope out your surroundings a little, but be careful if you're low on time, as I've spent hours getting lost and finding stunning new areas.
The open world of Hethereau is massive, and there are so many NPCs to speak to and sights to see. Whether you want to go swimming in the ocean, take a long leisurely drive, or climb to the top of the tallest building and try to reach the furthest point, you're never going to run out of things to do.
If you want to stay a little closer to the main story beat, then I recommend you visit the quaint shops on the main street, pick up some snacks from the convenience store, and maybe pop into an arcade. However, don't worry if you only want to carry on with the story for now; there's so much to do in NTE, it's worth taking your time; we promise you won't miss out on other things!
Once you've taken in the sights, it's time to visit Eibon. This is your main hub for now, and you soon get to meet the ragtag crew who work there. However, this antique store isn't all that it seems, as not only can they sell you curios from a bygone era, but the staff are also anomaly hunters, meaning you get to join them on supernatural quests that normally result in some fast-paced action combat.
Before all of that, let me introduce you to the gang: there's Taygedo, the half otter / half TV hybrid; Hotori, the frequently tipsy owner of Eibon; Adler, a polite, middle-aged gentleman; and Daffodill, Eibon's security. And that's not to mention Nanally, Sakiri, and Edgar, three youngsters who take care of low-threat anomalies.
You may already have chosen your favorite characters from the bunch, but around Hethereau, you're bound to meet even more interesting folks who will join you as you explore the streets, tackle missions, or just hang out at your dorm together.
As you can tell, this city isn't all that it seems. Anomalies roam the streets, Zero still has no idea who they really are, and it's up to you to make all of this make sense. So dive in now and see all this game has to offer for yourself.
To celebrate the game's launch, we're here all week to fill you in even more on anomaly hunting, the vast range of playable characters you'll encounter, and what you can expect from life in Hethereau, including details on apartment customization, vehicle modification, and the unique wanted level system. So download the game and come back again soon to make sure you know all there is to know.
NTE: Neverness to Everness is available to play for free right now on PC, PS5, Android, and iOS. If you want to learn more about the game, you can check out NTE's official website, follow them over on X, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, and join the official Discord.