Pacing Issues
It seems like you hit upon a good idea, but didn't really run with it. I loved the idea of blowing through barriers and switching it up to use them to your advantage. The controls were very intuitive, as well. The graphics were cool, giving it a Tron-like feel to it.
The music was decent and followed the "fast paced" intent of the game, but quickly became repetitive. I had to mute it about halfway through. Without the music, the game seemed much slower. Also, the sound effects were lacking while driving. I expected to hear revving or collision sounds, but it didn't happen. Only the menu still had sound. Maybe the music could play continuously instead of stopping at the level select. More songs would be a plus, too.
What also slowed the game down was the long load times of each level. Each level should flow into the next, with a pause to show any necessary instructions. Taking the player out of the action is jarring and ruins the atmosphere.
The bonuses seemed tacked onto the game. They didn't really affect gameplay. Perhaps if they gave speed boosts or something.
Also, Neon Rider is a but bare-bones. I agree with some of the other reviewers. There should be a high scores list or some other mechanism for driving replays and competition. Another great addition would be a level editor. Even just for your own amusement, but sharable tracks would be even better.
Finally, it seemed like the whole game was a tutorial or training mode. If the last level was the final test, it was way too short. Or maybe there could have been more tests. And then once the last level was completed, there was no reward or recognition.
It just seems like an unfinished game or proof of concept. There's a ton of potential here. I would love to play a version that was updated or redesigned.
