Perfect World Games revealed on August 8 a special preview program for version 1.3 of “NTE: Neverness to Everness”, which hits players on August 19. The new feature will feature the playable characters Zankou and Rinko, as well as a large volume of content, such as the new “Stardust Reserve” region, beach volleyball, treasure hunts with jet skis and construction work.
The game “NTE” is a free open-world RPG available for PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android, set in a supernatural city. In it, players act as “anomaly hunters” at the Avon antique store, exploring the metropolis of Heterocity to contain and resolve unusual phenomena that arise.
In the main story of version 1.3, the plot deepens, going back in time from version 1.2, “Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Nights”. The plot reaches its final chapter with the protagonists facing the criminal organization Letra Escarlate, which has obtained anomalies linked to the past, present and future. In addition to Avon members Rinko and Chaos, a new character named Nisha will make her appearance, and the climax promises performances from well-known characters such as Xun, who will finally show her true strength.
The first new character implemented in version 1.3 is Zankou, a member of the Scarlet Letter. In Chapter 4 of the main story, she is the mastermind behind an incident and has a deep connection with Avon, calling Daffodil her “big sister”. Her supernatural abilities allow her to transform into the appearance of other people, and with her right eye, the “Eye of Confusion”, she can influence emotions, wills and create illusions and “illusory spaces”.
In combat, Zankou acts as a main attacker with curse attributes, switching between two states: “Reality” and “Illusion”. She is effective in inflicting and spreading the continuous damage “Mental Erosion” and, in the Illusion state, increases the continuous damage applied to enemies, being a character focused on causing prolonged damage.
Still about Zankou, she can enter a “ghost state” even within the city, which makes it possible to escape surveillance and persecution. This ability can be useful in missions such as “The Footprint Robbery” and during escapes from the police.
Full coverage: Latest News (EN)
Special features have also been added for in-town interactions with Zankou. As she is imprisoned after the main story of version 1.3, there are no conventional encounters or reunion episodes. However, by increasing her “obsession level” (not affection) with gifts, players can challenge her to a “fight to the death.” Even trapped, she will appear as a ghost, available for activities such as carpooling and room sharing.
In the second part of the update, Rinko, a member of ETD’s 6th Platoon, becomes a playable character. Rinko is an enigmatic figure, with rambling thoughts, but who intuits the essence of things and has the function of identifying targets and searching for clues. She and her alien partner, Sada-chan, maintain a relationship of mutual trust, despite constant arguments.
In battle, Rinko is a spirit-type character, specializing in explosive damage and bonus attacks. She has the ability to sense her opponents’ “radio waves” and “synchronize” with them, summoning Sada-chan and other allies to deliver “synchronized attacks”. Her ultimate ability allows her to synchronize with up to three allies simultaneously, including reserve members, making her a character who shines in teamwork.
In the city, Rinko can use the movement skill “Pop”, which employs Sada-chan’s evil spirit arm. With it, you can shoot like a slingshot, float and fly around Heterocity, adding new ways of exploration.
The limited-time panels will feature Zankou and Nanari in the first half, and Rinko and Jun in the second. They are scheduled to take place from August 19th to September 9th and September 9th to September 30th, respectively. Gacha attempts will be shared between panels, and participation in the skin giveaway event will be transferred from the panel of the same name.
In version 1.3, the area under construction in the northwest part of Heterocity will open as the new “Stardust Reserve”. This vast region is ideal for driving, taking more than 10 minutes to complete an entire loop on the ring road. In addition to settlements, terraced rice fields, off-road mountainous areas and various rally tracks, a “tracking photography mode” will be added, allowing you to capture images while driving. The Stardust Reserve promises to be a paradise for players who have honed their drifting skills.
Another activity available for the summer is “Stars Volleyball”, a 2-on-2 beach volleyball game. Each character has strengths and weaknesses, making choosing the right opponent crucial to victory. Starting with “Beginner Matches”, stages of greater difficulty are unlocked as players win.
A new vehicle, the “Tide” jet ski, will be introduced at sea. It allows high-speed movement and jumping over water. In addition, content such as water races and treasure hunts will be implemented, where players will search for pieces of wood in specific areas of the sea, shoot harpoons at them and bring them to shore. Collected Wood Chunks can be exchanged for Funs. The sea, which used to be used for swimming and fishing, will now also be a place to earn money riding a jet ski.
Other new vehicles include the “Southern” beach buggy, the “Nostalgia” bicycle, the “Kanno Masami Residence” independent house and home gardening content. Additionally, a new urban feature called “Urban Development”, where players will be able to participate in construction works in the city, will also be implemented.
Follow: all about game update
In “Urban Development”, players will have construction missions such as loading and unloading materials, transporting them, digging foundations and leveling land. They will be able to operate a variety of heavy machinery, including excavators, road rollers, dump trucks and forklifts. The assessor, who previously managed a cafe and drove a taxi, will now be involved in manual labor on construction sites.
In the combat section, a limited-time event called “Orbital Escape” will be available. This is survival content similar to “Vanguard Survival”, requiring players to combine random upgrades to repel large numbers of monsters that attack from all directions over a limited period of time.
Other new features include a “random outfit” function, which automatically swaps characters’ outfits for those they already have, a tool to hide the user interface, and a minimap for “The Great Paw Robbery.”
Additionally, the revenue limit of 1 million Funs earned each season in “The Footsteps” will be replaced by the new “Project Million” system. This system will allow players to consume a common limit on various content, including idle income from “Stars Valley” and “One-Shot Auction”.
The main story reaches its climax with new lands, jet skis and bicycles. Activities in Heterocity will increase significantly in version 1.3, including beach volleyball, home gardening and even construction work with heavy machinery, enriching the overall game experience.
“NTE: Neverness to Everness” is available for free on PC (through platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store and Google Play Games), Mac, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android. Version 1.3, “Stars Returning in the Misty Moonlit Night”, is scheduled for release on August 19th.