An original, browser-based run-and-gun arcade game inspired by the energy of classic 8-bit and 16-bit action games. Choose a commando, fight across the Verdant Ruin and Iron Citadel, recover weapon upgrades, and destroy the Ashfall Core.

The Helix Dominion has awakened an ancient terraforming weapon beneath the frontier. Nova Vale and Jax Rook are the last commandos close enough to stop it. Break through the jungle line, destroy the Mantis War Engine, breach the Iron Citadel, and silence the Ashfall Core.

• Two playable commandos with different attributes
• Two complete side-scrolling stages
• Pulse, rapid-fire, and spread weapons
• Grenades, health pickups, checkpoints, lives, and scoring
• Raiders, gun turrets, attack drones, and two boss battles
• Directional aiming with matching animated rifle movement
• Generated arcade sound effects with no downloaded audio assets
• Browser-saved high score
• Full-screen mode and a double-click macOS launcher

1. Clone or download this repository.
2. Double-click Play Neon Viper.command.
3. Keep the Terminal window open while playing. Press Control-C there when finished.

The launcher installs the project packages on first run, starts the local game, and opens it in your browser.

Alternatively, start it from Terminal:

npm install
npm run dev

Then open http://localhost:3000.

npm run dev      # start the local game
npm run build    # create a production build
npm test         # build and run smoke tests
npm run lint     # check the source

Built with React, TypeScript, Canvas 2D, and Web Audio. The characters, setting, code, and procedural pixel artwork are original to this project.

Released under the MIT License. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the project under its terms.