NeverDead's shooter mechanics are very standard. Bryce can hold a weapon in each hand, and from there it's purely a point-and-click affair. The swordplay is different, and more exciting to boot. You must hold a trigger and move the Right Analog Stick in the manner in which you want to move the sword. Swinging all willy-nilly is not the way to go; there's a definite rhythm to it, and adhering to it results in more powerful attacks. On top of that, Bryce is powerful enough to carve up just about anything: pillars, statues, you name it. It's fun to kill enemies with all the collateral damage.
Innovation is a wonderful ideal, but the idea is only part of it. If the idea isn't implemented properly, none of it matters. That's the root of most of NeverDead's problems. Bryce's physical immortality is not nearly fleshed out enough in the context of gameplay. There are some good ideas at work, but Rebellion didn't go far enough to keep the game from becoming stale after the first hour. That means most of the campaign is made up of very similar sequences of running, gunning, being gibbed, and regenerating.
Mutilation in NeverDead is inevitable, and happens often. When Bryce is maimed, he must go to the missing appendage and roll over it to assimilate it back into his body. This is a bit harder when all you have control over is his head. Combat scenarios in NeverDead are rarely content to pick Bryce apart slowly; more often than not, his body is simply blown apart. This often results in body parts being scattered everywhere. It's insanely frustrating to navigate an entire room full of debris only to have a monster scatter your parts again once the head reaches the torso. You could wait until the regeneration timer dings and simply sprout the necessary parts, but that takes time. Luckily, one pickup makes things a bit less aggravating. A certain potion allows you to instantly regenerate regardless of how many parts you're rolling with.
There's an ability customization system linked with an experience system, but like the rest of the game, it isn't fleshed out enough. You can purchase and slot new abilities, but most of these abilities are nothing more than power and speed upgrades. The absolute best of the abilities is Explosive Limbs. Do yourself a favor and save up for that one.
NeverDead features some novel ideas and a handful of interesting mechanics. However, the game built around those ideas and mechanics fails to live up to its potential. Furthermore, the story and characters don't do enough to get you invested. Is NeverDead entertaining? Yes, in small doses. Is it worth $60? No. If its price was half of that, I would give it a modest recommendation.
