Neon Genesis Evangelion (video game)

Neon Genesis Evangelion, also referred to as Neon Genesis Evangelion 64, is a 1999 fighting game published by Bandai for the Nintendo 64 exclusively in Japan. It is based on the Gainax anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion and the 1997 film that serves as its conclusion, The End of Evangelion. Players control a mech named Evangelion Unit-01 to destroy a race of aliens known as the Angels before they eradicate the rest of the human race. The game is known for its alterations to the source material in order to make its dystopian and unsettling atmosphere suitable for an action game, and features unique endings and plotlines not present in other Evangelion media.

Evangelion 64 was developed by BEC, a company formed as a joint venture between Bandai and Human Entertainment, and supervised by Gainax. The game received mixed reviews, though it was a moderate commercial success. Several critics identified its graphics and cutscenes as being of higher quality than other games on the Nintendo 64, with some calling it one of the system's most technically impressive titles. However, reviewers were primarily critical of its lack of interactivity, reliance on button-tapping sequences, and limited appeal to players unfamiliar with the series.

Gameplay

Neon Genesis Evangelion is based on the anime of the same name, taking place in 2015, where 50% of Earth's population has been wiped out by a catastrophe known as the Second Impact. The organization Nerv assigns three teenage pilots—Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley Soryu—to pilot a cyborg named the Evangelion to destroy alien beings known as the Angels before they eradicate the rest of the human race.