Hands-On With N1RV ANN-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

When Sukeban Games launched their retro-styled bartending/visual novel VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action in 2016, it became an indie and critical darling. The retro graphics style, good writing, and cyberpunk setting all combined to a make something special. Now Sukeban aims to catch lightning in a bottle for a second time with the 2020 launch of N1RV ANN-A.

At PAX South, I had the opportunity to sit down with the current demo build of N1RV ANN-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action at the Ysbryd Games (World of Horror, YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG) booth. The new game moves away from Jill’s story slinging drinks in VA-11 HALL-A (pronounced “Valhalla”) among the gritty streets of Glitch City to the idyllic paradise of Saint Alicia. There players step into the shoes of Sam, who bartends at an upscale bar called N1RV ANN-A. It seems as though life in Saint Alicia is almost perfect, especially as compared to life in Glitch City, but appearances can be deceiving.

For N1RV ANN-A, Sukeban has abandoned the retro-styled graphics in favor of a more modern approach. The new style remains true to the spirit of the first game, but makes it feel like N1RV ANN-A is not only a sequel, but also a remaster. They’ve also made finding and crafting drinks easier to understand and visualize, without removing the fun of actually crafting what you think the patron wants. Intact, however, is the game’s trademark style of humor. In the demo scenario, I found myself laughing at several hilarious lines from the interplay between Sam and her first patron of the night.

“Most games use a big-picture perspective, but what made VA11 HALL-A special was its focus on the characters and their problems,” said Christopher “Kiririn51” Ortiz, co-founder, Sukeban Games. “It’s about getting to know people on a personal level, this time with a shiny new location, more options for drink orders, and more ways to relate to customers.”

N1RV ANN-A is scheduled for a 2020 release “sometime”. Targeted platforms are the Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4, and Steam. For more up to date information, keep an eye on the game’s official website, and both @YsbrydGames and @SukebanGames on Twitter.