Hello, it is I Novilbees the Pantsbearer. The latest Neptunia series game dropped in the North America region, and my copy came on the very release date. This will be a brief overview of the Collector’s edition and impression of my time with the game.
The Collector’s edition unboxing
This is what the promo image of it from the IFFY’s Online Store. PS4 and Steam versions were available.
Which is a nice promo picture but let’s see what I actually got here.
UNBOXING
Right out of the Box there is the base game, The big Collector’s edition box and a whole Vinyl Record! I have no means to Actually play this thing. My sister took the record player when she moved out. Here is a look at the back of it.
This is pretty neat to me. I think this is the third vinyl in my possession. By no means am I a vinyl collector or Connoisseur mind you. I just happen to have some as cherished items. The others are an Earth, Wind, and Fire Greatest hits collection, and Busta’ Rhymes FlipMode. Anyway I am not opening it since I have no way of playing it right now
Anyway on to the big box!
The Steel case, the CD OST and the Art book, Pretty straight forward stuff here. I tend to avoid looking too much into them until I have played the game a bit though. Since I have spoiled games before looking at the art book that came with them. While I was looking at all of that the Disc had already installed on my PS4. So lets move on to that.
Story synopsis
This is basic plot of the story as summarized as i can do give you. The main cast of the four goddesses of Gamindustri are at their equivalent of E3. RIP E3 you sucked the last decade good riddance. So they are at a special goddess only day and go to play a new vr game. During teh demo they get pulled to the in between virtual world to help save the day. The damsel is an emotion based virtual land that creates content. Being sieged by Obsoletia? An planet of assholes that pretty much just want to ruin everything. They invaded with an army of Antis. Pretty much the opposite of a Stan/fan. They also pulled in VTubers as well so they are in danger as well.
At the start You have the four goddesses and 2 VTubers. I am not sure if they are original characters or are an actual thing. Since there are so many of them nowadays. They all agree to save the world and the other VTubers that have been trapped and get to it.
Gameplay synopsis
The four goddesses all play like a 3rd person shooter. Neptunia has an assault rifle. Blanc has a charge gun that’s very short range but does a lot of damage. Noire’s gun just seems to suck from what I can tell. Unfortunately even with the ability to lock on Noire is difficult to use. If you strafe to sharply left or, right her hair is in the way of you trying to see where you trying to shoot. Vert also has flowing anime hair but, it is not as long and does not get in the way as much since she can fire from a longer range. Speaking of Vert, she is the sniper and sees to be the best go to for her projectile range and the possibility of proccing stuns or paralysis.
The Vtubers all play a bit different, more akin to a dynasty warriors musou style but with less enemies to worry about. One is a sword wields the other is an archer, I am sure the others will play a bit differently but I have not unlocked anyone else yet.
Thoughts so far on the game?
It’s a cute game about beating up Antis to pacify them all while saving virtualand and rescuing the cameo vtubers and other playable characters eventually. Gameplay seems a bit unbalanced, i find myself simply using Vert mainly so far as i mentioned above she can shoot, stun, and paralyze just about anything, and safely fight bosses from a distance.
One of the new mechanics itself are the Boss fights or MV battles, I truly do not understand them. There is a bare sayin what phase you are in red means boss is strong blue means you are strong yellow means ??? I don’t know really I looked at the tutorial screen a few times and still don’t get it.
My other gripe is with the navigation. The minimap in the game is a bit odd. I am very lost already. Since some warps transfer you to other areas and some send you to redo boss fights. Which I also recently learned takes you to a harder version possibly. Maybe I am just lost in this weird techno Tron world of neon outlines also no options to change the mini map display I think. Hopefully the next or upcoming areas are more streamlined and that the new playable characters are cool or make me not just want to Use vert as a crutch. That’s all I got on the game itself.
Reflecting on my time with the series as a whole
I have been with the series since its inception. I struggled through the original game on ps3, and almost beat the second. Luckily my sister took a shine to it. She plays the main RPG ones now and I play the more actiony or odd spin off titles. If you liked Cyberdimension Neptunia 4 Goddesses Online this may be a good pick up for you, that was their previous action rpg game where all the girls played like an MMO class character. My favorite in that one was Uni. She is/was the representative for the PS VITA/PSP (RIP Vita) and was a Gun connoisseur. I believe her class was Treasure hunter in that one. She was the best she used a GUN! Wait, I may be getting confused with Blanc Vs Zombies…
Anyway the series has a lot to offer from standard turn based games, to an idol manager sim, to a strategy rpg, a few musou-esque games, and the last 2 action rpg games Virtual stars and 4 goddesses online.
If you were interested in getting into it from the start don’t worry about playing the terrible original release on PS3 the first 3 games have been remade and I believe they have been pretty good about releasing on Sony Systems and Steam.
Get involved!
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