Neptunia developer to kick off the year in style

Compile Heart, the Japanese developer behind the relentless Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise, has announced that it has a grand reveal planned to kick off its new year. The announcement will be made in the January 19 issue of popular publication Weekly Famitsu, though no further details ??were announced.

At this point, we can do little but speculate, but given Com?pile Heart's seemingly endless ability to repackage the cheesecake universe of Nep-Nep and friends into almost any genre, we can only assume that the residents of Gameindustri are getting set to embark upon another colorful and go??ofy adventure.

The most recent title in the series, Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters launched in Japan in the spring of this year, and is headed west next month �just in time for this new announcement, in fact. Convenient. Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters will launch January 2023 on PlayStation and PC platforms, and will be the first title in the series since 2018's Sup??er Neptunia RPG to feature a fully localized English?? dub.

Compile Heart teases announcement for January issue of We??ekly Famitsu [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

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Doing it for themselves

If you feeling a little lacking in Hyperdimension Neptunia goodness, then you'll be pleased to hear that Idea Factory has announced recent spin-off Sisters VS Sisters will be getting a western localization in 2023. The most recent chapter in the Neptunia series launched in Japan back in April of this year.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvwExZrrgrk

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters sees the land of Gameindustri besieged by an oppressive new force, known? as the "Trendi Outbreaks." Guided by the rele??ase of a powerful new mobile phone, known as the "rPhone" �all the subtlety of a fucking brick through a window �it is up to NepGear and her friends to restore peace and order to both Planeptune and GameIndustri at large. But with many of the kingdom's more powerful goddesses away on another assignment, do NepGear and her pals have what it takes to save the day alone?

Sisters VS Sisters will see the player lead a team of Neptunia superstars into battle against the Trendi Phenomenon. Defeat enemies, level up and evolve your heroes, learn new moves, combos, and chain attacks, and take on an array of sub-missions discovered through the popular social media website "Chirper." Of course, fans can also look forward to ??a lot of fun comedic dialogue, a heavy emphasis on character accessorization, unlockable charac?ters, and the obligatory photo mode.

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters launches in 2023 on PlayStation and PC platforms.

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Video game franchises crossing over with one another has been a celebrated part of the industry for almost as long as there has been one. The earliest example I remember is Battletoads & Double Dragon, which saw a few rentals in the Andriessen household back in the early �0s. But the origins of this practice go back years before Rare popped out that memorable brawler on the NES. Games like Super Robot Taisen, Konami Wai Wai World, and Alex Kidd in Shinobi World were early pioneers of the concept, laying the groundwork for future franchises like the Vs. Capcom series, Super Smash Bros., and Kingdom Hearts.

Some crossovers seem almost inevitable, like Battletoads & Double Dragon or SNK vs. Capcom. Others are more out of left field. Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars belongs in the former category. These two franchises, linked by frequent developer Tamsoft, have pretty much been on a collision course since Neptune appeared as a guest character in Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash. Given how many spinoffs and side games both franchises have see??n, it was only a matter of time before we got a proper pairing of these two niche series.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars (PS4, PC, Switch [reviewed])
Developer: Tamsoft, Idea Factory, Compile Heart
Publisher: Idea Factory International
Released: April 19, 2022 (Switch)/October 26, 2021 (PS4)/May 11, 2022 (PC)
MSRP: $49.99

Actually, “proper pairing�wouldn’t really be the words I’d use to describe Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars. To me, the idea of a “proper�pairing would mean that ideas and concepts from both franchises are used to create something that can satisfy two distinct fanbases that might not necessarily overlap. While I’m sure the Venn Diagram for the fans of these two series comes pretty close to forming a perfect circle, those who favor Senran Kagura’s structure and side activities might be a little disappointed with what’s on offer here. This really isn’t Neptunia x Senran Kagura as much as it’s “New Neptunia Game featuring the Girls of Senran Kagura.�/p>

Asu??ka and friends are merely guest stars in Neptune’s latest escapade, which sees Gamindustri reimagined as Gamninjustri. In this world, inspired by ancient Japan, two warring kingdoms �Heartland and Marveland �agree to set their differences aside as they face a far greater threat that could spell doom for the entire world. The only way to save the day is to join forces and grind their way through a handful of short levels populated by a sparse number of enemy combatants. Players start off with access to the four heroes of Heartland �Neptune, Vert, Blanc, and Noire �but it isn’t long before they’re joined by Marveland’s greatest ninjas in the form of Asuka, Homura, Yumi, and Miyabi.

Cue the saucy "group bath" scene.

As with all Neptunia games, the story here is pretty lightweight, with low production values that managed to educe a few chuckles out of me. There is still a heavy emphasis on reference humor throughout, with nods to the game industry, the developers and publishers of these two franchises, and past Neptunia titles. As has been the case with previous games in the franchise, the narrative is wildly overwritten, with no piece of exposition left unsaid. Individual cutscenes can run several minutes and while it is possible to skip over everything to get straight to the action, if you cut out most of the story, you might find yourself with not much?? g?ame left.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3pqewVpvs

I wouldn’t mind sitting through so much story if the combat waiting for me at the end was engaging and worthwhile. Sadly, the action here is rather basic and a mediocre showcase for what developer Tamsoft is capable of. Before each mission, players can choose two characters to take into battle and you can mostly switch between them on the fly.?? Each character has a single-button melee attack and it is possible to start a c??ombo with one character only to finish it with the other.

Characters also have two long-distance projectiles and four Ninja Art Skills that can be loosely chained together for huge damage. Then there is the flashy Shinobi Extreme attack. Fill up each character's attack gauge to unleash this powerful maneuver that you're pretty much going to save exclusively for the various bosses you'll encounter. Add in the Fuurinkazan Drive system, which lets you switch your battle type at will for various short-term benefits, and you have the makings of a somewhat decent fighting system, one that would be a hell of a lot better if the action didn't pause so damn much to annoy players with cutscenes of gates opening and closing. Or if the auto-targ?eting system were more reliable. Or if it were easier to cancel out of combos and Ninja Art Skills.

Like with some past Tamsoft titles, the use of the dodge mechanic is pretty rigid here. If your character is in the middle of an animation, be it when you’re attacking or taking damage, be prepared to wait until it’s over before you can dodge or block any incoming attacks. This wouldn’t be so much of a big deal if it weren’t so easy for enemies to strike you from off-camera, sometimes even through walls. While I was playing through this game for review, I redownloaded MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune as well as Senran Kagura Estival Versus to compare and contrast the action. I found that these titles, both developed by Tamsoft, had a lot more fluidity in both their combat and their movement and that’s something I would have liked to have seen more of in Ninja Wars.

I also would have liked to have seen a lot more content and characters. At just 12 or so hours, Neptunia x Senran Kagura is a brief excursion with some pretty blatant artificial inflation of the running time. You’re going to be revisiting the same few maps often, completing not-so-optional requests outside of the mandatory story missions to grind up your character levels. And you’re going to be doing it with just 10 characters. The four protagonists from each franchise are joined by newcomers Goh the Crow and catgirl Yuuki, and while the representatives from Neptunia and Senran are an obvious bunch of heroes, it’s pretty pathetic other characters from those two expansive rosters couldn’t make their way into the game. Especially considering that MegaTagmension managed to get 15 playable characters in there while Estival Versus had a whopping 34 when you include DLC.

It’s not just the roster that is anemic. Outside of combat, there is very little extra content for players to engage in. For those who primarily enjoy the Senran Kagura series, know the dressing room and diorama modes did not make the cut in Ninja Wars. Also out is the plethora of costume options the series has cultivated over the years. And you can forget about getting a little one-on-one time with the girls. The only additional activity you’ll find here is the Peaches &a??mp; Cream Medit?ation mini-game, which uses motion controls to see how well you can keep the girls balanced on a giant peach. Doing well here will net you buffs in battle, but eventually, you’ll be able to earn tickets that will let you skip the balancing act altogether while still scoring the rewards.

And really, the lack of commitment I see with the Peaches & Cream mini-game is evident throughout the entirety of Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars. It just feels as though the developers didn't have any interest in? presenting playe??rs with anything other than a mindless hack'n'slash. All the characters more or less play the same, all the requests you accept are more or less the same, and all the maps feel derivative of one another. It's just a run-of-the-mill experience from beginning to end.

There is so much potential in a crossover between the Neptunia and Senran Kagura series that it’s a real disappointment this is the best Tamsoft, Compile Heart, and Idea Factory have to offer. What should have been a cele??bration of two niche franchises that have defied the odds (and critics) to succeed in this industry is instead yet another forgettable spinoff for two series that have already seen their fair share of forgettable spinoffs. Both franchises deserve better, and quite frankly, so do the fans who have done their part to keep them going.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Feel the need for speed January 20

When I was younger, I could watch any amount of dazzling visual effects without any problem. Sitting two inches from the screen playing Super Strobe Master, I was fine. In my later years, however, the old eyes just aren't what they used to be, with games like Dimension Tripper Neptune: TOP NEP really bringing that home.

Yes, the lovable gals from Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise are getting set to take the plunge into yet another classic gaming genre, as Neptune and friends take on the classic "into-the-screen" shmup style popularized by titles such as Sega classic Space Harrier. TOP NEP will see Neptune blasting her way through the fantasy zones of Gameindustri, taking ??down waves of?? enemies and mighty familiar bosses.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIs5K8DenM

Neptune won't be alone on her adventure. Gather enough special coins and she will be briefly joined by one of her faithful goddess companions �offering a little extra firepower to take on the baddies. Weave in and out of obstacles, gather power-ups, and free Gameindustri from its latest bout of tyranny. All well and good, but frankly the above trailer makes my dang head spin.

I personally couldn't imagine assaulting my eyes with ?that carnage for more than 30 seconds, let alone an entire game. Even this video is almost enough to make me put on those glasses that I was prescribed three years ago and have never worn. Good luck to ya. The soundtrack is cool though. I'll just assault my ears instead.

Dimension Tripper Neptune: TOP NEP launches January 20 on PC via Steam.

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Naughty ninjas nearing Nintendo

[Update: Idea Factory International has confirmed that Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is coming to Switch and PC in the west spring 2022. A Limited Edition is now are now available to pre-order from the IF Store.]

Compile Heart has officially announced that its crossover anime adventure Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is to receive a Nintendo Switch port, following on from its previous release on PS4 earlier this year. The Switch edition of the cheesecake action tit??le will launch in Japan in March of 2022. A western localization is expected, but was? not announced.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6NlbW6zDQU

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars sees the two hugely popular multimedia franchises clash in a tongue-in-cheek duel over the franchise's competing combat styles. Neptunia's "Compa" (after developer Compile Heart) takes on Senran Kagura's "Honeypa" (afte??r developer Honey Parade) as the denizens of Heartland and Marveland collide in an intense, violent, and very, very silly action-RPG. Obviously, the two brands are practically made for each other, each sporting its own roster of loud, adventurous characters and wild, slapstick humor. Frankly, it's surprising it has taken ?this long for the brands to meet.

The Nintendo Switch port of Ninja Wars will include all of the content of the original PS4 release, but will also boast additional sub-quests, an "Extremely Hard" difficulty option, and a selection of previously released DLC character skins. Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars will launch in Japan on Nintendo Switch?? March 17?, 2022. It is available worldwide right now on PS4.

[Via Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

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Doin' it for themselves

Compile Heart has offered up lots of new info for its previously teased new title in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series. Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters is a brand new RPG currently in development for PlayStation platforms, and expected to launch in Japan on April 21, 2022. A western localiza??tion has not been announced as of this writing.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpg4_RAWCUk

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters will, as the title suggests, see the younger sisters of the Neptunia series team up to embark on their own digital adventure. The cute kiddos will journey into unknown quarters of Gameindustri on a mission to save the portable games market, stolen away by the mysterious "MagiPhone." Yep, it's literally a tale of the mobile gaming market destroying the handheld gaming sector... except with a bunch of juvenile anime gals thrown into the mix. If you want to see the handheld gaming market make a miraculous comeback against mobile gaming, now you can. Well, in the Hyperdimension Neptunia universe, at the very least.

Players will guide Nepgear and Uni, as well as Rom and Ram, on this important mission. Explore the world, sync up a??bilities, and engage in real-time battles with enemies and bosses, upgrading the sisters' abilities and building up combos and chain mechanics between the girls. It turns out the silhouettes from the teaser trailer were not our regular heroes and were instead their younger sisters. I guessed incorrectly, as was pointed out in the comments. That's the thing with silhouettes, sometimes you have to guess. That's the thing with guessing, sometimes you're wrong. Apologies for the mix-up �maybe next time don't seek me out personally on?? social media to correct me, though. The comment section is fine.

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters launches on PlayStation platforms in Jap?an April 21.

Hyperdimension Neptuni??a: Sisters vs. Sisters teaser trailer, details, and screenshots [Gematsu / PRTimes]

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Sisters are nepping it for themselves

Last time I checked my calendar, today was A Day, and that means it's time to announce another video game set in the Hyperdimension Neptunia universe. True to form, long-time series developer Compile Heart has dropped both a teaser trailer and a website for the ne??w release, which is to be officially unveiled in the November 25 issue of Weekly Famitsu.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaUHfht-pm8

As teased in the trailer above, Nep Nep's latest jaunt involves "The Next Stage..." in some form, with a teaser trail??er that featu??res four unknown silhouettes �though one of them is likely our gal Neptune, while two of the others look like Noire and Blanc. Accompanied by the Neptastic sounds of blaring digital music, the trailer sees Neptune ascend a staircase, before offering the viewer the message "Sisters, to the next stage..." and the release date of Weekly Famitsu.

Mate, it's Hyperdimension Neptunia, this could turn out to be a JRPG, a dancing game, a shmup, an arena fighter, a pachinko machine. It could be a fucking pro-wrestling game for all I know, (and it would STILL be better than WWE 2K.) All bets are off when it comes to Nep Nep and the world of Gamindustri. Whatever form of fashion this latest release takes, you can be assured it will feature the wholesome spirit, wry sense of humor, and retina-blurring razzle-dazzle that has made Hyperdimension Neptunia one of the most e?nduring franchises of the modern gaming age.

NEPPU!

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Welcome to the Nep Zone... Get Ready!

It's a typically silly bit of news, publisher Idea Factory has announced a new, into-the-screen shmup starring the incomparable Nep-Nep of Hyperdimension Neptunia fame. Titled Dimension Neptune Tripper: TOP NEP, the rail blaster is headed to PC in 2022.

The new title, produced by anime studio Frontier Works, will see Nep don her Super Serious Neptune form in?? order to battle through five distinct areas of Gameindustri, laying waste to waves of enemies and end-of-stage guardians. As always, Nep will not be traveling alone on her fraught flights, and will be able to gather power-ups in order to land a major as??sist from a roster of familiar and friendly faces.

While Idea Factory did not release a gameplay trailer, early screenshots allow for undeniable comparisons to Sega's 1985 arcade classic Space Harrier �albeit with far more giant aubergines. The old-school visuals admittedly look a tad garish on the old eyeballs, but perhaps will be a little smoother in motion. Additionally, the boss characters appear to have neat designs. Hopefully, Dimension Neptune Tripper will offer a fun and lightweight distraction from? far more serious affairs when Nep-Nep and pals take to the skies next year.

//twitter.com/IdeaFactoryIntl/st?atus/1448846094041894918?s=20

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