Developer: Compile Heart, Silicon Studio
Publisher: Idea Factory International
Platform: PS4 (VR compatible)
Tested on: PS4
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR – Review
Neptunia is a name we have heard many times before on the site, with the franchise about the CPU goddesses ranging from very traditional RPG games, to more modern ones to even brawlers that provide fast paced action. This time Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is released for the PlayStation 4, which is actually a rerelease of an older game, but with the addition of VR elements. We were eager to see how this rerelease would fare, and even though this one was tested without a VR kit, we were curious to see these so-called VR elements being added to the title.
Story
The story of Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is actually a bit on the peculiar side, even given the series’ history. In this rerelease of Megadimension Neptunia VII, you’ll be able to play through the three different storylines involving the new dimension Neptune lands in after discovering an old battered game console but the actual story breaks the fourth wall as the game’s characters are now aware of you, the player, and what you have done for them. The VIIR version, which includes VR sequences with the characters who come visit your room, is about the four goddesses now being aware that there’s a dimension outside of their own, where a player directs what they do, and has saved them multiple times in the past. The actual storylines of the original VII game are now considered as a memory to refresh the player’s mind of what he has done. If you don’t like the VR portions of the game, and just want the latest version of VII you can just idly sit through the VR sequences (with or without headset) and enjoy the original game, which is actually three smaller Neptunia games, all having to do something with one another in a certain way.
Graphics
The portions of the original game look fairly pleasing to the eye, but as always, the Neptunia games are pretty, but never wow you. The characters are all neatly detailed, cute and have that typical Neptunia vibe, be it the 3D rendered models, or the 2D models during the conversations. The actual environments do the trick, but they feel a bit empty and bland. The cinematics however are neatly done in this rendition and add a qualitative aspect to the game.
You’ll notice that the VR portion of the game has a lot of simplistic details, but again the characters are very appealing to the eye, and even though we did not have a VR kit at our disposal at the current time for this particular title, it was an overall pleasant experience to wade through. Overall the Neptunia games always look appealing, and charming, but they never scream out ‘next gen’ which is something you can either live with or can’t cope with. Fans of the series can expect more of the same, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Sound
If you have played any of the Neptunia games before, you’ll know that the sound design is superb. You’ll have a fairly varied soundtrack, that is quite upbeat and also has a few rock influences. The voice acting however is what steals the show. The biggest part of the game is voiced by voices you’ve probably come to know already if you have played a fair amount of the series. The cast that voices these titles is simply outstanding and does a great job in bringing the characters to life, making the game a fun and entertaining experience in the sound department alone.
Gameplay
In its core Megadimension Neptunia VIIIR is still an RPG game with fairly classic mechanics as its foundation. The VR portion however is a bit more fan service, as it allows you to ‘interact’ with the goddesses, which is simply gawk at them, listen to them speak, answer a few yes or no questions and enjoy the flow. So you’ll probably stick around for the rerelease of Megadimension Neptunia VIII rather than the entire VR experience.
The mechanics of the Neptunia games have remained the same over the course of time, safe for the first entry, which was truly following the traditional format of old school RPGs. In this game, you’ll still have turn based combat, but you can move around freely within a small bubble. If you can reach an enemy, you can link attacks together to perform a combo, or opt for special attacks or abilities. This is pretty much the equivalent of an old school Final Fantasy game with a little bit of free movement added to the mix. The movement can be important to avoid attacks, or to make sure not all your characters get hit at once. Other than that, there are different tactics available, depending on which characters are in your vanguard or your rearguard, allowing the player to mess around with different tactics a bit. That being said, a lot can be done with just the basic and special attacks already.
It’s no surprise that this game, just like the previous games, follows a fairly linear path, in which no actual free roaming is possible. Of course dungeons do have a few secrets, but outside of the dungeons, you’ll simply move around on a map to select the next location where you have to go, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as you’ll be able to dive right into the action after story components or side-conversations.
Conclusion
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is a fun new rendition of Megadimension Neptunia VII, which is a bit more than what the original game offered. While the VR portions of the game are more a gimmick than an actual piece of gameplay, they are a nice addition to this package and they are simply adorable to wade through. Underneath the cute added VR sequences there still is a great Neptunia experience to plow through in the form of three different (shorter) Neptunia games. If you’re into the series, and you missed VII the first time around, then why not just pick up the VIIR version instead as it has some extra content embedded into the package.
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