"Neverness to Everness," a new sci-fi urban action game, initially captivated me with its peculiar quests and vibrant urban setting. What began as a simple search for in-game tomatoes quickly transformed into an unexpected adventure, revealing the game's unique charm and a cast of eccentric characters. However, as the initial novelty faded, the repetitive nature of its open-world activities and mini-games became apparent. Despite engaging battles and a delightful narrative, the necessity to grind through familiar tasks for progression ultimately raises questions about its long-term appeal as a gacha mainstay.

My journey into "Neverness to Everness" started with a rather mundane task: acquiring tomatoes for my in-game cafe. This seemingly simple errand quickly spiraled into a series of bizarre encounters, including a confrontation with sentient boxing gloves and navigating through 'anomalies'—supernatural occurrences ranging from cursed objects to anthropomorphic creatures blocking my path. These early experiences, filled with quirky boss fights and a whimsical narrative, created a strong initial impression, promising a dynamic and unpredictable urban landscape.

The game's combat system, which involves real-time battles with flashy ultimate and skill moves, offers a satisfying experience, especially when executing well-timed dodges for bonus damage. These mechanics, while familiar to players of other action gacha titles like "Genshin Impact" or "Wuthering Waves," are well-implemented and contribute to the overall enjoyment of the main storyline and "Spinoff" side quests. The variety in boss encounters, often introducing new enemy types, ensures that battles remain fresh and challenging.

Beyond the core gameplay, "Neverness to Everness" shines with its narrative and character development. The plot, described as a series of engaging "anime filler episodes," follows the amnesiac protagonist, Zero, as they join Eibon, a perpetually struggling group of Anomaly Hunters. Led by the unconventional Hitori, and supported by a diverse team including the polite Adler, the energetic duo Nanally and Sakiri, the brilliant Edgar, the stoic Daffodil, and the charming anomaly Tageydo, the cast forms a lovable found family. Their interactions and the episodic nature of the quests provide a refreshing and humorous take on the sci-fi genre.

However, the open world, beyond these scripted encounters, gradually reveals its limitations. While mini-games such as "Owner's Selection" and "Pink Paws Heist" offer enjoyable diversions, their constant repetition for earning Fons (in-game currency) leads to monotony. This grind is further exacerbated by level-gating mechanics, compelling players to engage in these activities to advance the main story. This reliance on repetitive tasks for progression is a common pitfall in gacha games, and "Neverness to Everness" falls victim to it, transforming initially fun activities into mandatory chores.

The game's gacha mechanics, while offering some player-friendly features like free S-Class Arc weapons and purchasable character copies, still encourage continuous engagement through its board game-like pull system. This design can be tempting for players to invest more time and resources, highlighting the inherent tension between player enjoyment and game monetization in the gacha genre. Despite its charming characters and engaging early quests, the game's repetitive open-world content and forced grind make it difficult to envision it as a long-term primary game. The hope remains for future updates to introduce more varied and sustainable content to keep players invested.