NO LAW: Is Neon Giant's New FPS RPG the Cyberpunk GTA Blend We Actually Want?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Neon Giant, the acclaimed studio behind *The Ascent*, is venturing into first-person, single-player territory with their new open-world FPS RPG, *NO LAW*. Promising a 'grounded cyberpunk' world akin to a *Cyberpunk 2077* meets *GTA* blend, the game reveals ambitious features like reactive story choices and diverse combat, leaving me both cautiously optimistic and genuinely excited to see if it can truly deliver on its grand claims.
Right, so you know that feeling when a studio you really like, the folks who made something genuinely slick and engaging, suddenly throws a curveball that makes you squint a bit, trying to read the digital tea leaves? That's precisely the vibe I'm getting from Neon Giant's latest reveal, *NO LAW*, dropped like a metallic mic at The Game Awards 2025.
For those who fondly remember *The Ascent* – and if you don't, you absolutely should – Neon Giant are masters of crafting atmospheric, neon-drenched worlds with combat that just *feels* good. *The Ascent* was an isometric, twin-stick ARPG, a co-op cyberpunk banger that had style for days and a deceptively deep lore. So, when they announced *NO LAW*, my wizard brain immediately went, 'Alright, what's the trick, eh?'
Because, mate, *NO LAW* is a beast of a different colour. Gone is the top-down perspective, replaced with a full-on first-person view. And while *The Ascent* had a killer co-op mode, *NO LAW* is leaning hard into the single-player, story-driven experience. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for a good solo journey, especially when it promises the kind of narrative depth we crave. But it's a significant pivot, and my curiosity is officially piqued – almost as if I've accidentally conjured a portal to an alternate dimension where Neon Giant thinks in first-person.
The game's world, Port Desire, is being touted as 'unapologetically cyberpunk,' which, after *The Ascent*, is hardly surprising. But here's where it gets interesting: they're calling it 'more grounded.' Think familiar streets, skyscrapers, and urban neighbourhoods rather than the truly fantastical, megastructure-laden skylines we explored before. It's aiming for a blend, apparently, of *GTA*-level freedom and action, mixed with the deeper themes and complex world-building of a sci-fi epic like *Cyberpunk 2077*. That's a bold claim, isn't it? A bit like saying you're going to bake a cake that tastes exactly like a steak dinner. Ambitious, certainly, but my gentle skepticism is already warming up.
Our protagonist, a military veteran by the rather sci-fi-sounding name of Grey Harker, is pulled from a peaceful retirement into the 'sleazy, deadly streets' of Port Desire for a gritty revenge story. Classic stuff, right? But the developers promise an 'urban open-world' that's 'robust and filled with tough choices,' where 'every decision carries weight' and 'Each playthrough reveals new possibilities, allies, and outcomes.'
Now, let's be fair, that's exactly the kind of deliciously vague PR speak that makes my eyes do a full 360-degree roll. 'Every decision carries weight' – sound familiar? It's the sacred mantra of every narrative-driven game, and sometimes it lands, sometimes it doesn't. My 'optimistically chaotic' side wants to believe it will truly matter, leading to genuinely distinct paths and consequences, not just slightly different dialogue trees. My 'gently skeptical' side, however, is preparing for some classic choose-your-own-adventure trickery. Still, Neon Giant has a knack for world-building, so Port Desire *could* genuinely give Night City a run for its money in the 'wacky NPC' and 'stunning visual design' departments.
The glimpses of gameplay from the trailer are where the digital wizardry really shines. We're talking hacking servers, sneaking about with wall-penetrating radar tech (bloody hell, yes!), firing a whole arsenal of futuristic boom-sticks, and – my absolute favourite bit – a devastating kick that would make even *Dark Messiah of Might and Magic* fans sit up and take notice. The idea of a combat sandbox, where you can go in guns blazing, stealth your way through, or hack your problems away, is incredibly appealing. It’s what made *Cyberpunk 2077*'s combat so engaging, and if *NO LAW* can nail that freedom of playstyle, then we're truly in for a treat.
But here's the kicker: for an 'open-world' game, the trailer showed surprisingly little of the *world* itself beyond the action sequences. What does exploration look like? How do NPC interactions play out when you're not kicking them into next week? These are the slower, more intricate moments that truly define an open-world experience, and I'm itching to see how Neon Giant plans to fill those gaps. If they can infuse the same level of character and atmosphere from *The Ascent* into a reactive, first-person, open-world narrative, then we might just have something truly special on our hands.
So, my friends, while my wizard's hat is tilted ever so slightly in skepticism, my wand is definitely buzzing with excitement. *NO LAW* is an ambitious undertaking, a clear 'next step' for Neon Giant. Let's keep our eyes peeled for more details, because if they pull this off, it could be a magical blend of everything we love about cyberpunk and open-world freedom. But as always, let's approach those corporate promises with a healthy dose of good-natured doubt, eh? The proof, as they say, will be in the devastating, wall-kicking pudding.
*(Original reporting by Nick Rodriguez for Game Rant)*
Tags: NO LAW, Neon Giant, Cyberpunk, FPS RPG, The Game Awards
Original article: Game Rant