Neo Harbor Rescue Squad: Everything We Know

If you ever dreamed of becoming a paramedic, even if you walk in their shoes for a day, well, here’s your chance to feel the rush. Neo Harbor Rescue Squad brings to your couch the relief of arriving just in time to save a life. It crafts several scenarios that test your ability to multi-task and keep your cool during high-stakes events. 

The scenarios in the game are inspired by real-life encounters. So, you know you’re in for a treat. Before wishlisting, though, be sure to read through everything we know about Neo Harbor Rescue Squad down below.

What is Neo Harbor Rescue Squad?

Neo Harbor Rescue Squad is an upcoming paramedic arcade-style action drama game. It casts you in the shoes of a rookie paramedic, learning the ropes of saving lives. From straightforward missions that only need patching up to more high-stakes ones that require applying your full attention, the game crafts several minigames for your pleasure.

Story

In Neo Harbor Rescue Squad, you’ll control a rookie paramedic, walking in their shoes in a frantic world. You’ll tackle different minigames that challenge you to sprint to action. But every now and then, you’ll indulge in comic relief, as ribs crack open, literally, and accidents become prone to happen. 

As waves of patients steamroll in the emergency room, you’ll engage in a battle-like triage system to manage the overflow. You’ll enjoy wide-ranging minigames to the tune of over 50 types, that call for different treatment strategies. You’ll strive to keep patients’ conditions from getting worse, performing CPR, controlling nosebleeds, using defibrillators, installing bandages, and more treatment measures. Above all, your goal will be to beat the rival fire department and claim the city’s recognition as the best response team.

As the Steam store page phrases it, get ready to unravel “a wild, funny story.” Apparently, the fire department has been more popular. But the more emergencies you take on throughout the city, the more you’ll raise the Rescue Squad’s reputation. Even when faced with difficult patients and the slanderings of news reporter Betty Woo, you must stand firm in your calling to help save lives.

Gameplay

Described as a “paramedic action drama,” Neo Harbor Rescue Squad’s gameplay will merge paramedic simulation with battle-like management systems and story-infused drama. Check out the key features you can expect in the final game below.

• Triage system – In the same way action games manage battles by keeping track of stats like damage taken, the triage system will allow you to monitor your patients’ health, calculating how much damage has been sustained, and how critical the injury is. Using the triage system, you’ll pick cases that require the most attention, giving treatment to patients in a worse state.
• Freedom to switch views – Since there’ll be waves of patients across different scenarios, you’ll have the freedom to switch between different views to manage all patients easily.
• Shields to protect patients from further harm – As you multitask, you can use shields to protect patients waiting for treatment. It’ll help you buy time to strategize your next move, with wiggle room to think through different scenarios. But remember, the clock will still be ticking.
• Ranking system – You’ll be ranked with each emergency. That way, you can focus on improving your skills, including speed, administering the right care, and whether patients’ health improves.
• Dialogue choices – You’ll venture out into the city, interacting with NPCs. This way, you advance the story with dialogue choices to build friendships and relationships with your squadmates.
• Generally, you’ll unravel “a story of teamwork and friendship (and dolphins)” that draws inspiration from real paramedic stories in Asia. But the studio has put a twist on the stories for comic relief. You’ll enjoy over-the-top dramatic tales unfolding through gorgeous visual novel scenes featuring animated characters, expressive voice acting, and a talking dolphin!

Development

BancyCo is currently working on developing and publishing Neo Harbor Rescue Squad. They are an indie studio based in Toronto, Canada, and are most known for hits like Worse Than Death, Home, and Alone With You. As their fourth original IP, BancyCo is incorporating mechanics from popular medical-themed games from the Wii and DS era. 

Moreover, they are working on creating fast-paced, challenging minigames that best depict a day in the life of a real paramedic. The triage system is expected to deliver “the urgency, unpredictability, and critical decision-making” required of paramedics. Yet, the studio aims to still make the gameplay accessible.

Meanwhile, BancyCo co-founder, Nancy Yeung, is contributing to the game’s vibrant locales with inspirations from her hometown of Hong Kong. As a result, the game will feature dim sum shops, amusement parks, and more Hong Kong tropes.

With the upcoming game set to launch on the PS5, we can expect some high-quality visuals with 4K resolution and vibrant color. Furthermore, the DualSense controller will add an extra layer of immersion playing through the different life-or-death scenarios.

Trailer

Check out the Neo Harbor Rescue Squad announcement trailer out now on YouTube. The visuals already look stunning, with popping color and intrigue. The gameplay, too, sure does look fascinating, with potential moments of comic relief. A bit concerning is how much it looks like a mobile game, but, still, it’s nice that we’ll be getting a game like Trauma Center on current and next-gen consoles. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Neo Harbor Rescue Squad is coming sometime in 2024. Unfortunately, the release window is all we know, with the exact release date still unknown. Still, we have confirmation about the platforms you can expect the game to launch on, including the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms via Steam. Editions remain unconfirmed.

While you wait for the launch, you can keep busy by adding Neo Harbor Rescue Squad to your Steam wishlist to be among the first to know when it drops. Alternatively, you can follow the official social handle here to stay in the loop. Better still, you can stick with us to stay up-to-date on all things gaming.

So, what’s your take? Will you be grabbing a copy of Neo Harbor Rescue Squad when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.