In terms of news I never expected I would be writing, not only is there a g??ame adaptation of a severely niche ?anime, but its title is �unsurprisingly, for an anime �very, very long.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom -Pirates of the Disturbance- is scheduled to release on November 28, and publisher Idea Factory International has announced the gam??e’s limited edition, which features a slew of bonus goodies. 

Included in the limited edition is a steel game case, an official hardcover art book, an audio drama and official soundtrack, a reversible cover sleeve, a collector’s box, and an exclusive trading card. The audio dramas are available with Japanese audio, but there will be a link to an English translation PDF that fans can refer to. In addition, the soundtrack will feature 19 tracks found across the game’s world. Interested players can pre-order the li??mited edition on October 25 at 10 a.m. PDT / 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST. 

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom -Pirates of the Disturbance- continues the story as told in the anime and follows Catarina Claes, reincarnated in the world of an otome game called Fortune Lover as the game’s doomed villainess. 

In this next chapter, Catarina and her brother Keith are set to board a luxury liner called the Vinculum when it’s attacked by pirates. It’s then she remembers these incredibly familiar events sound oddly like a fanbook for Fortune Lover. 

This expansion to the anime series is set for ?release on November 28 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

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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 release of a powerful new mobile phone, known as the "rPho??ne" �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 characters, and the obligatory photo mode.

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

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ChrisEvansIUnderstoodThatReference.gif

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? seen, 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>

Asuka and friends are m?erely guest stars in Neptune’s latest escapade, which sees Gamindustri re??imagined 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 titl??es. 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 game 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, play??ers 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 combo 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-targeting system were more reliable. Or if it were easier to cancel out of combos and Ninja Art Sk??ills.

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 & Cream Meditation mini-game, which use??s 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 players with anything other than a mindless hack'n'slash. All the characters more or l??ess 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 celebration of t??wo 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 s??een 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 thro?ugh the fantasy zones of Gameindustri, taking down waves of enemies a?nd 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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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 tit??le, 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 assist 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 ta??ke to the skies next year.

//twitter.com/IdeaFactoryIntl/statu??s/1448846094041894918?s=20

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Japanese-centric publisher stream returns

You might remember that during the months and months of E3's 2020 live stream showcases, (which I dubbed "Endless3" because I'm a talented man), the New Game+ Expo made its debut presentation - a special stream featuring a glut of news and reveals from Japanese-centric publi??shers such as Arc System Works, NIS, Aksys, Natsume, and others.

And it looks like the show is set to return, although this time?? you won't have to wait until the summer, as New Game+ Expo 2021 will be taking place as soon as next month, March 4 to be ex??act. Not all of the previously featured studios are returning, (SNK, Spike Chunsoft, and WayForward are among the missing names), but 10 studios will be on-hand to showcase some of their 2021 wares.

Tune in to the official Twitch channel on Thursday, March 4 at 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 17:00 BST and check out some of the colorful titles gracing PC and console platforms later this year. The full list of attendees for New Game+ Expo 2021 is as ??follows:

• Aksys Games

• Arc System Works

• GungHo America

• Koei Tecmo

• Idea Factory International

• Inti Creates

• Natsume

• NIS America

• Playism

• PM Studios

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A good Nep these days is hard to find

Idea Factory International has announced that Neptunia Virtual Stars will be arriving on PC via Steam, alongside its PS4 edition, when the action-adventure RPG wings its way westwa??rd sometime in 2021 on PC and PS4.

Originally released in Japan this past summer, Neptunia Virtual Stars (or VVVtunia) sees our favorite CPUs enter a brand new virtual realm, where they encounter, and then team up with V-idols MEWTRAL in a last-ditch effort to fend of the imposing might of the Antis invaders, who are bringing chaos to the planet Emote. Video ga??m??es.

Neptune Virtual Stars features a cast of series regulars such as Nep-Nep, Vert, Blanc, and Noire, but also crosses over with legendary "real-life" V-idols who you may know from streaming brands such as Hololive, ReVdol!, Horror Academian, and upd8. Is "Korone" one of those?.. I'm so old, I'm so, so old.

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Neeeeep, Ne-Nep, Ne-Nep, Ne-Nep-Nep-Nep

Hey NEPNEPS, Do you feel like you need some Nep to Nep you through this coming weekenep? If so, then Idea Factory has got you covered, as Hyperdimension Neptunia: the Animation is now available to purchase and stream via Steam.

Joining the gaming platform are two feature-length compilation episodes, as well as the 2019 OVA Summer Vacation, which is making its English sub debut! All of the above episodes are presented with original Japanese voice tracks, with subtitles available in both English a?nd traditional and simplified Chinese, and will run you around $15 USD each.

Alternately, fans can purchase the Hyperdimension Neptunia: the Animation Exclusive Bundle from the official Idea Factory store. This package includes Steam codes for all of the released episodes, plus five exc?lusive wallpapers, for around $45 USD. If you'd planned on picking up all of the anime episodes anyway, this is probably your best option.

Hyperdimension Neptunia: the Animation is available now on Steam.

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It's the stream that lets you keep all your equipment from the last one

With no E3 this year, the gaming community has had to make do with a hodgepodge of different streams, surprise reveals, and sudden announcements that have kept the writing staff of Destructoid on its toes. Some shows have been w?orth the wait, others not so much. We still have several more to go, but for my money, the New Game+ Expo stream has me the most excited. NIS America, Atlus, Spike Chunsoft, Inti Creates; these are some of my favorite publishers/developers, and to have them all in one show is worth taking a vacation day from my actual job to enjoy.

The organizers are promising new reveals, announcements, and updates? for upcoming projects. With the ??variety of publishers participating, there's no telling what is in store.

So sit back, relax, and find out the games some of Japan's finest gaming companies are bringing our way. And if anything catches your eye, be sure to stay tuned after the showcase for a full day of streams featuring so?me of the games and publishers featured in th??e show.

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Still better than Reaction Videos

Well, this is a new experience. Compile Heart has debuted 10 minutes of footage taken from the next entry in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, VVVTunia - which is headed west on PS4 as Neptunia Virtual Stars in 2021.

The novel twist here is that the VVVTunia is itself being played by two more virtual characters. Upd8's Hibiki Ao is controlling out the action, while being hosted and cheered on by "virtual YouTuber" Ilheart. While I wrap my old man head around this meta-beyond-meta concept, check out the gameplay footage the video below, courtesy of... Ilheart... I guess?

Gameplay begins at 05:28. Be warned, the first 20 seconds of this video are pretty intense.

Neptunia Virtual Stars will see Nep-Nep, Vert, Blanc, Noire and friends visit the digital universe of EMO, on a rescue mission to save and protect a squad of Virtual Idols who reside there. As opposed to the typical Hyperdimension Neptunia JRPG format, Neptunia Virtual Stars is more of ??a str??aight third-person action-adventure, as demonstrated in the above video.

Okay, so I may have been a little glib at the top of the hour, but still... Virtual YouTube celebrities live streaming video games... Back in my day you had a bag of Monster Munch and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors an??d you were thankful for it. What a time to be alive.

For those of you who prefer your marketing in the more traditional sense. Compile Heart has also released a new five-minute trailer, which you can check out below.

Neptunia Virtual Stars launches on PS4 in Japan July 2, and will head west in 2021.

Neptunia Virtual Stars: 12 minutes of gameplay [Gematsu]

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A whole day of games

The summer of gaming streams is going full steam as we head toward the back half of J??une. There are still many big presentations to come, including shows from Ubisoft, EA, CD Projekt Red, and more. Of course, the one I'm most looking forward to features none of those publishers and most of the Japanese developers I love.

New Game+ Expo is happening next week, and today, organizers revealed the streaming schedule for the June 23 show. It kicks off at 8:00 am PST with a showcase featuring games from Sega, Inti Creates, Id??ea Factory, and more before switching over to streams from several publishers.

Now, if you're wondering which games will be shown, the official list of reveals and trailers is still under w??raps. However, this show teaser put out earlier this week should give you an idea of which publishers are bringing new games, which are updating fans on existing titles, and which of them have surprises in store for viewers.

The entire New Game+ Exp??o showcase and post-showcase streams will be available to watch on the event's official Twitch Channe?l.

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Grasshopper will be there too

With E3 calling in sick f??or 2020, de?velopers and publishers around the world are scrambling to find ways to get the word out about their upcoming games. Some, like Ubisoft, are prepping their own individual events. Others, like Nintendo, seem to be content just drip-feeding announcements to fans.

Those strategies are fine, but there's something to be said about having a great big show that brings together some of the finest developers and publishers from around the world. That's why I'm happy Sega, NIS America, Spike Chunsoft,? and more have teamed up for New Game+ Expo, or NGPX. Sixteen publishers and developers from Japan a?nd North America will join forces for a day of streaming on Twitch, revealing new games and giving new information on previously announced titles. While the game lineup is currently unknown, the list of companies participating is impressive.

I don't know which of those logos excites me more. On the one hand, I won't say no to another dope-as-hell trailer for No More Heroes 3. On the other, the possibility of a new Shin Megami Tensei V trailer, however farfetched, is pretty damn enticing. Plus, I really want to see what Harvest Moon: One World is all about.

NGPX will go live on the front page of Twitch starting at 8:00 am PDT on June 23. The showcase broadcast will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PDT and will include first? looks at new titles, trailers, live demos, Q&A, and more. The entire presentation will then be made available on the NGPX YouTube page.

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Nep-PU! Nep-PU! Nep-PU!

There's still a full two months to go before the Japanese release of VVVTunia, the next entry in the beloved Hyperdimension Neptunia series, and Compile ??Heart is yet to speak of a western localisation, but that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy this delightful opening sequence.

The video features the hyper-cheerful track "∞ (Unlimited)," written by Japanese artist Jin, and performed by new VVVTunia idols Me and You, (that's the characters' names, I don't literally mean "me and you"). The vi??deo itself reintroduces us to series veterans Noire, Blanc, Vert and, of course, Nep-Nep herself, while debuting new superst?ars Vice, Licht, Mauli, and Kili - who is "a mood" - as the kids say.

VVVTunia will see our favourite console gals travel to the digital world of "Planet EMO," responding to a distress call from the Virtual Idols who live therein. Eschewing the typical RPG format of previous Neptunia titles, VVVTunia is a third-person action-adventure, featuring direct-control combat and a vast new world waiting to be explored. VVVTunia will also feature dancing mini-game BeatTik, a new "Video Mode," customisation options, and the silly humour that is a staple of the franchise.

VVVTunia launches in Japan on July 2, exclusively on PS4.

VVVTunia opening movie [Gematsu]

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Love Boat

Azur Lane has had a rather rapid rise to the upper echelons of gacha gaming. Once, it was derided as a Chinese "clone" of the Japan-exclusive Kantai Collection. Now, less than a year after its official English release, Azur Lane is arguably bigger than the game it's accused of ripping off. The learner is now the master �/span> of ada??pting fearsome 20th-century warships to the popular "sexy anime lesbian" form factor.

With phones and tablets under its belt, Azur Lane's ship girls have turned their gunsights on a new horizon: the choppy waters of PC and console gaming. Their first incursion comes in the form of Azur Lane: Crosswave.

Azur Lane: Crosswave (PS4 [Reviewed], PC)
Developer: Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Felistella
Publisher: Idea Factory International
Released: February 14, 2020
MSRP: $49.99

Azur Lane: Crosswave belongs to a fine game industry tradition: Taking a popular IP and adapting it into a 3D action game of some sort, not unlike what was done for Hyrule Warriors or Girls und Panzer: Dream Tank Match. In the core mobile game, Azur Lane, battles are conducted via a turn-based strategic grid. Actual combat encounte??rs are done via 2D shoot-'em-up-style scrolling-screen encounters. Pla??yers maneuver their characters through patterns of enemy fire and destroy hordes of enemy sprites.

Crosswave opts to ditch the turn-based strategy aspects for something more akin to a visual novel that has a battle system. Players select battle encounters from an overworld map, then control a party of three "Kansen" �/span> the in-game term for the ship girl characters �/span> on a 3D field, firing their weapons in all directions at enemies? coming from every which way.  Enemies range from normal-sized ships to flying fighter planes to other Kansen themselves, and they lay down patterns of fire that need to b?e avoided.

Each charac?ter has a class that corresponds to a warship hull type. Battleship Kansen like Suruga move more slowly, but pack powerful cannons that deal major damage to armored targets and other Kansen. Destroyer Kansen like Shimakaze and Laffey are speedy and can dodge incoming fire, but they're fragile, and their pea-shooter guns are mostly good for dispatching planes, forcing them to rely on slowly moving torpedo volleys to clear the field. Aircraft Carrier Kansen like Saratoga can launch their own planes to destroy other aircraft and bomb surface enemies. Every Kansen has a unique set of skills to do things like increase their damage output or reload speed.

Between battles, players can change and upgrade their equipment and level up their Kansen's skills, as well as unlock new playable characters. Through use, Kansen can also level up their affection for the player, allowing them to be bound to an "Oath" �/span> read: married, complete with a ring �/span> for additional stat bonuses. A handy Photo Mode allows players to capture the happy mom?ent for posterity and/or s??ocial media clout.

The battles can get hectic, and even exciting, particularly when lots of fire is on-screen, or when doing the tougher "EX" missions, but they always feel short and restrictive. The playable space on each battle map is tiny, hemmed in by invisible borders, and each battle is extremely short, denying players entry into that flow state one experiences when playing shmups. This is a situation where Azur Lane: Crosswave's attempts? to replicate the mobile version'??s structure have backfired.

Short battles are good for a mobile game designed to be played repetitively and in short spurts, but on a home console or PC title it makes for a disengaged, staccato pacing, where players might spend twenty minutes in various conversation scenes, only to load into a 30-second battle. Further, battles don't really escalate in terms of challenge, for the most part. Increased difficulty simply functions as a gate based on a player's progress in upgrading gear and levels. Almost every mission plays out the same way, and with so little time to actually fight individual Kansen �/span> both enemy and ally �/span> feel almo?st identical to play as or fight.

Azur Lane: Crosswave is unremarkable as a battle experience, but it is a well-realized piece of fan service for fans of Azur Lane, which, on balance, might be the more important t?hing.

The narrative isn't particularly complex: Azur Lane's world has four competing nations: The Eagle Union, Iron Blood, Royal Navy, and Sakura Empire, all patterned after a belligerent of World War II. The nations maintain a peaceful but friendly tension between them, as they face a threat from a mysterious fifth faction: The Sirens. Key to their defenses are the Kansen, female androids wielding special weaponry and channeling the spirits of historical warships. When a battle with the Sirens leaves a number of physics-defying glowing cubes scattered about Sakura Empire territory, the n??ations call together a "joint operation" to collect and research the mysterious new resources.

It's a fairly thin excuse to get a ton of characters together and interact, and it does the work: Azur Lane: Crosswave features 29 playable Kansen from all four factions, with 35 more selectable as "support" units in battle, with more still planned via downloadable add-on. Of course, given that Azur Lane's roster of Kansen is more than four hundred strong at this point, a good many girls aren't included. Further, the narrative focus on Sakura E??mpire characters, led by Suruga and Shimakaze, results in a somewhat unbalanced roster in their favor, with the German-based Kansen of the Iron Blood getting a paltry three playable characters at launch (Prinz Eugen, Z23, and Bismarck). That said, many of the fan favorites, like Eagle Union's Enterprise, the Royal Navy's Hood, and more do appear in the game.

Better still, all the Kansen included have full voice acting, and the outfits they practically spill out of are rendered in high resolution. It's a pleasant game to look at, provided you can overlook the fact that Azur Lane's character desig?n sensibilities have always trended towards?? "unsettlingly horny."

The writing also comes through, adding plenty of opportunities for every character's personality to shine through via a boatload of conversation scenes and events. The topics range from discussions of the main plot and cryptic hints at the darker aspects of Azur Lane's world-building to just shooting the breeze about sweets. Players that like to explore fanfiction-like "shipping dynamics" will find plenty of fodder as several pairs of characters ??with long histories in the main game find the time to have heart-to-??hearts and work out their beefs.

I mentioned earlier that Azur Lane: Crosswave was like other licensed anime games, but perhaps the game it's most like along that diverse spectrum is an entry from the Neptunia franchise. The focus on characters just interacting, and weighting the content far in favor of that, even at the expense of regular gameplay and narrative cohesion, will strike a familiar chord if you're an experienced Nep-Nepper. In fact, that Neptune herself is playable in-game via a free add-on, and the Neptunia girls were recent?ly added to the core mobile game last year.

In the end, that's the real draw of Azur Lane: Crosswave, rather than its gameplay, which is more of a formality. As such, your reaction to it will likely depend on how receptive you are to Azur Lane itself. Existing fans and open-minded lovers of cute anime girls gabbing will find much to dive deep into, b?ut everyone else is probably better off taking some shore leave.

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

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Sing along with me... Neeeep! N-Nep!

Compile Heart has announced the next game in the cult anime adventure series Hyperdimension Neptunia. The bizarrely titled VVVtunia will be coming to the PS4 platform in 2020, according to a report in the latest issues of Dengeki PlayStation and Famitsu.

As reported by Gematsu, VVVtunia is a spin-off title that will see Neptune (accompanied by some of the Gameindustri gals including Blanc, Vert, and Noire) come to the aid of a group of virtual idols whose homestead of Planet EMO is under attack from the villain "Anti." VVVTunia will be an action-adventure title, as opposed to the standard JRPG format of the mainline Hyperdimension Neptunia games.

A selection of in-game features has been hinted at, including a video mode described as "a step up from Photo Mode," a dancing mini-game, and the expected slew of costumes and customisation options. VVVtunia's release will coincide with not only the franchise?'s 10th anniversary, but also the 25th anniversary of parent company Idea Factory. More details are expected later this week.

VVVtunia is in developme?nt for PS4 in?? Japan, and is expected to launch in 2020.

Neptunia game VVVtunia announced for PS4 [Famitsu / Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

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Waiting in the wings

A month on from announcing that JRPG Dragon Star Varnir would be making its PC debut in September, publisher Idea Factory has revealed that its dragon gals will need a li?ttl?e more time to get their scales in order.

As announced on Twitter, the fantasy adventure has been pushed back a month, and will now be arriving on the PC platform via Steam sometime in October. Idea Factory has noted that this extra time is to allow for "better optimization", which ?is never a bad thing. As a side note, the publisher confirmed that the PC version would contain all of the "original art" not found in the PS4 release.

Dragon Star Varnir is the story of a young witch hunter, Zephy, whose life is saved by a coven of dragon-loving witches. Now imbued with powers beyond his c?omprehension, Zephy must help the girls prevent their extinction at the hands of an oppressive regime: The Empire of Imperial Order.

Dragon Star Varnir is available now on PS4 and?? arrives on PC in? October.

Dragon Star Varnirâ„¢ heads to Steam October 2019! The release date has changed from September to October for better optimization.

Add it to your wishlist today!//t.co/gQ84ZCoP3V

Check out the newsletter here!//t.co/ei3VrJAVT9 pic.twitter.com/FktJ8BS36q

— Idea Factory Intl (@IdeaFactoryIntl) July 22, 2019

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See how the Nep gets made

This week saw the western release of Super Neptunia RPG, the first game in the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise to be developed ?in the west, crafted by Canadian outfit Artisan Studios.

Publisher Idea Factory has released a video featuring footage of the Quebec-based developer, giving us a look at the work that went into the latest adventure, which sees the incomparable Neptune and her pals battling both amnesia and an army of enemies across Gameindustri. Super Neptunia RPG puts a new 2D spin on the series, which is usually typified by?? 3D third-person action.

The near-seven minute clip shows us the small team hard at work on Super Neptunia RPG's artwork, character design, animation, music and more, bringing the goddesses and their colourful world to life. As with all behind-the-scenes footage, th?e vi?deo is a reminder of the endless drive, effort and passion that goes into creating even the most niche of releases.

If you want to check out the finished product, then Super Neptunia RPG is available now on PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

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Scaly gals making the leap from console

Idea Factory has revealed that fantasy RPG Dragon Star Varnir?? will be coming to PC via Steam in Sept?ember, following on from its western PS4 release earlier this month.

Set in the mystical world of Valneria, Dragon Star Varnir is the story of a young knight, Zephy, who is sent on a quest to hunt down a band of witches, d?espised by the people for bringing dragons to the land. But after Zephy's life is saved by a band of witches - and a handy dose of dragon blood.

Now, with new found abilities and dragon's blood flowing through his veins, Zephy reluctantly agrees to join the coven in their efforts to survive the wrath of the Empire of Imperial Order, while keepi??ng their own app?etite for dragon's blood in check, lest they fully turn into one of the winged beasties.

Dragon Star Varnir received fairly positive reviews on release, praised for its deep story and interesting blood management mechanics, though some noted that some obligatory fan-service? elements threaten to cheapen the deal. The PC port will feature all of the or?iginal release's content, along with Japanese, Chinese and English subtitles.

Dragon Star Varnir is available now on PS4 and is coming to ?PC in September.

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Meet the gang, bring pudding

While I'm sure many video game fans are aware of the existence of cheerful gaming protagonist Neptune - better known to her friends as Nep-Nep - there are probably still a lot of people who aren't really in tune with the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise; it's world, characters, and lore.

With the western release of Super Neptunia RPG just around the ??corner, Idea Factory has released a trailer offering new fans a quick overview of the world of Gameindustri and ??its lovable Goddesses: Vert, Noire, Blanc and, of course, Nep herself.

The video also gives us a look at Super Neptunia RPG, a 2D action-adventure which sees the CPUs fight their way through Gameindustri after they become afflicted with a mysterious bout of amnesia. New friends and enemies await them on their quest, only adding further to Neptunia's big book of lore.

Personally, I've only played two titles, but I find the Hyperdimension Neptunia series to be a fun and light, if flawed, franchise. Written with genuine good humour and a solid dose of self-referential irony, the Neptunia titles ??are a fun time, even if the gameplay is a little more simplistic than most RPG fans might hope. Put simply, it's hard not to warm to Nep-Nep, her pals??, and their goofy adventures.

Super Neptunia RPG launches in North America June 25 and in Europe June 28, on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. A limited edition set is also available for pre-order over at the official store.

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*your Funky Fresh standards may vary

Next month finally sees the western release of Idea Factory's newest entry in the goofy Hyperdimension Neptunia series. Developed by Canadian outfit Artisan Studios, Super Neptunia RPG se??es Nep??-Nep and pals journey through Gameindustri as they work their way through a convenient bout of amnesia.

Already available in Japan, the North American and European releases are expected to hit PS4 and Nintendo Switch in late June. A limited edition collector's set has been revealed, which will offer the dedicated Neptunia fan a ton of fun goodies.

Purchasers will receive a physical copy of Super Neptunia RPG on their chosen platform, housed in a stee??lbook casing. Also included are a set of playing cards, featuring Nep, Vert, Noire and other series favourites, a double-disc soundtrack,  hardcover art book, and a cute plushie of Nep's favourite, Puddingo! This is all is encased in a fancy collector's b??ox.

The Super Neptunia RPG limited edition set will be made available for pre-order "soon" over at the official Iffy store, priced at around $85. Super Neptunia RPG launches in North America June 25 and in Europe June 28, on PS4 and?? Nin??tendo Switch.

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Neppew-pew-pew

Idea Factory International has dropped a trailer - along with a release date - for the fun-looking retro-inspired shump Neptunia Shooter, which stars the heroes and villains of the popular Hyperdimension Neptunia series.

As you can see from the trailer below, the cutesy title recalls the classic horizontal shmups of the 1980s, as Noire, Compa, Vert and, of course, Nep-Nep herself battle through six stages of recognisable foes, gathering extra party members and power-ups?? along the way, all backed by a cute 8-bit score.

Okay, I don't think Neptunia Shooter is set to bother anyone's end-of-year lists, but it does look like a blast, a perfect game for those weird periods of procrastination when you aren't quite sure what to play. For Neppu fans, it should scratch an itch whilst you wait on the delayed release of Super Neptunia RPG.

Neptunia Shooter launches worldwide on PC May 21.

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Stock up on pudding

After some nagging delays and other such chicanery, it appears that Neptune and her pals are about ready to set off on their latest adventure. Idea Factory International has officially announced the worldwide release dates for Super Neptunia RPG.

The adventure, crafted by Canadian developer Artisan Studios, sees Neptune, Vert, Blanc and Noire battle their way through Gameindustri in a 2D action RPG which seems to recall the M.O. of Valkyrie Profile. The girls have amnesia, because why not? And will meet new and old friends as they ba?ttle hordes of vicious enemies, while also finding plenty of time for dessert.

Like any good RPG, Nep will gain party member on her journey, acquire gear, build stats, switch out weaponry and abilities, and no doubt engage in endless dialogue. Super Neptunia RPG will launch on PC worldwide on June 20. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch editions will launch June 25 in North America and June 28 in Europe. It was also reported recently that the PS4 edition wil??l feature a "modified" scene.

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Neeeep, Ne-Nep, Ne-Nep, Ne-Nep, Nep, Nep

A great man (Occams) once told me the best games are the ones you didn't know you wanted until someone made them... It was something like that. I think. Anyway, I experienced the embodiment of that theory this morning, when I learned that the Hyperdimension Neptunia universe is being adapted into a retro-styled shmup?!

From developer Preapp and Idea Factory International, the terribly titled Neptunia Shooter will see Nep-Nep herself dive into the outer reaches of space and time, battling through six 8-bit inspired stages and facing off against other goddesses in classic horizontally-scrolling shmup action. Defeating each boss will add them to your squad, allowing players to switch between Nep and friends at will for further inter-dimensional ??warfare.

Little more has been re?vealed about the title, but we know it will launch sometime this year on Steam with English and Japanese dialogue options. Looks like it could be a great cof??fee-break title for Nep fans.

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Nep and Co. have something to say

Idea Factory, the Japanese developer behind Dark Rose Valkyrie, Fairy Fencer F and, of course, the popular Hyperdimension Neptunia series, has announced an international press event to be held o??n November 8.

The conference, which is to be held in San Francisco, is the fifth as such to be hosted by the developer. Although there were no specific details, it is expected, given previous conferences, that IF wi?ll use the opportunity to date localisations of their upcoming releases, as well as potent??ially announce new titles.

As pure speculation, titles such as Mary Skelter 2 and Super Neptunia RPG are yet to be released in the West. IF subsidiary Compile Heart is also at work on new IPs Varnir of the Dragon Star and Arc of Alchemist.

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Like Tamagotchi, but an annoying cutie-pie

Idea Factory International has some fun news for Hyperdimension Neptunia fans. The Japanese phone app, imaginatively named Hyperdimension Neptunia: The App, is to be localised for the West.

The renamed Neptunia & Friends app can be downloaded to your iPhone and feature??s Nep-Nep and her close buddies Vert, Blanc, Noire and Nep's alter-ego, Purple Heart. The app can be used to play mini-games, such as a Poker variant, and features character, costume and background customisation options.

Neptunia & Friends will have fu?lly translated text and dialogue, with new voice lines recorded for all of the Goddesses. So you can have Neptune shouting at you to get your lazy ass out of bed. Just in case things sounded far too innocent, the app also features a "Love Love gauge", which you can raise for "a smooch" (Idea Factory's words, not mine.)

Neptunia & Friends launches on iOS on August 29.

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Stock up on Creme Brulee

Idea Factory have announced that Megadimension Neptunia VIIR, already available for PlayStation VR, is ??headed to PC via Steam this Fall,?? where it will be made compatible with Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets.

Megadimension Neptunia VIIR, which is an expanded edition of 2016's RPG Neptunia VII, features all of the content of the original title, but adds a VR section that allows the player to hang out with some of the games cheerful characters in a 3D environment, supposedly your house. But that can't be mine, as if I can afford such opulent luxuries as a ladder.

Neptunia VIIR launched on PS4 earlier this year, and will arrive on PC sometime in the coming months. VR hardware is not required to play any of the game's content. You can check out the trailer for the PS4 version below.

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You can meet Nep in VR!

Idea Factory have now launched Megadimension Neptunia VIIR on PS4. An enhanced port of 2016's Neptunia VII, this re-release b?oasts a whole new engine, along??side a slew of new features.

The biggest addition, of course, is PSVR implementation. This allows players to enter Gameindustri like never before and can hang out with Nep, Vert, Noire and friends in the all-new Player's Room, an immersive, customisable VR hub. It should be noted that VR is only an option. Everything in VIIR?? ca??n be experienced without wearing Sony's wacky visor.

As for th?e main game itself, the battle system has been tweaked from the original release to include new moves and combos, full team attacks and a second stage of character transformation. The aforementioned new engine gives a new level of fluidity to character movement and improves the overall clarity of the ?game's world.

A new trailer has been uploaded to celebrate the game's launch, which you can check out below. Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is available now for PS4/PSVR.

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Nep-Nep heading to Canada

Compile Heart have announced that the next game in the endless Hyperdimension Neptunia series will, for the first time, be developed by a Western studio. Artisan Games, in Quebec, Canada, will head up the new title, known as Yuusha Neptune (Brave/Hero Neptune).

The announcement was accompanied by a short video featuring team Artisan Studios   speaking of their pride for being asked to be the first ever Western developers to create a title in the cult, comical series. We glimpse very brief footage from the game which, interestingly enough, appears to be more of a platformer in the Rayman sense, than a typical JRPG. This brief shot, however, may not b??e indicative of the full game.

Either way, we'll know more on April 26 when Dengeki PlayStation magazine will be revealing more information on Brave Neptune, hopefully with confirmation of platform??s and release dates. It will be exciting to see what fresh eyes can bring to the beloved series.

Oh, and be sure to check out the video's awesome "Not-Star-Wars" backing music.

Brave Neptune in development at Artisan Studios [Official site]

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Virtual Nep-Nep

Idea Factory International have announced that Megadimension Neptunia VIIR, a modified version of the 2016 JRPG, adapted specially for PlayStation? VR, will be arriving on American shores in May.

VIIR is a re-release of the original Megadimension Neptunia, but includes all new fea?tures to take advantage of the virtual reality technology. This includes a mode where players can interact with the charming goddesses of Gamindustri within a "home" that ca?n be furnished and decorated to your liking.

Megadimension Neptunia released in the West last year to so-so reviews. It is available now on PS4 and PC, with VIIR arriving May 8 in America. As of yet, no date has been announ??ced for a European release.

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Darling it's better, down where it's wetter...

Since its launch back in 2016, Idle Idea Factory's aquarium-management game Abyssrium has been downloaded over 25 million times. The simple clicker title allows users to create life i??n a pocket-sized aquarium filled with hundreds of different breeds of fish, coral and?? decorative designs.

Publisher Flero Games have announced that, along with Japanese developer Polaris-X, they are?? hoping to reinvent the title for the Nintendo Switch. Far from being just a straight port, Flero are hoping to pump up the visuals for the hybrid console, as well as include a variety of new features and experiences not included in the smartphone iteration.

Flero Games director Richard Chang has emphasised that there is no release schedule for the title as of yet, but that the company is hard at work on bring??ing the aquatic experience to Switch owners worldwide. The trailer for the phone version can be seen below.

Brothers and sisters, let the fish puns commence.

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