Developer: Compile Heart, Tamsoft, Idea Factory, Acquire
Publisher: Idea Factory
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
Tested on: Switch
Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars – Review
We’ve had our fair share of run-ins with both the game-addicted goddesses of the Neptunia universe, as well as the busty ninja warriors of the Senran Kagura franchise. Both series attract a somewhat niche audience, but both franchises are still going strong. Nonetheless, the Senran Kagura series has seen quite a few spin-off titles during the last few years, including a high-pressured third-person shooter and a pinball game. Neptunia, on the other hand, recently released its first 2D RPG, which was also a step away from its traditional 3D format.
Story
Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars has a very simple plot. The world is divided into different nations, and these nations are all in a state of war. Each daimyo vies for supremacy, but as this is a lighthearted game, it often looks more like the nations are having their own silly little fights over who is the strongest. However, two different nations, who are always at odds with each other, now have to work together due to a common enemy. The world is being invaded by the Steeme Legion, and they seemingly have an endless supply of resources and soldiers. It’s up to you, and your allies, to put a stop to them.
The story is presented via visual novel sequences, and these are very nicely handled. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously and Neptune does break the fourth wall quite often during the course of the game. The plot may be paper thin but it is appealing and charming nonetheless.
Graphics
As we have tried out the Switch version of the game, it’s only normal that the game does have a few rough edges here and there. For the most part, however, this title looks quite good. The visual novel portions of the game are of course the prettiest, and these come with different backdrops and feature the characters in the foreground. The story sections feature minimal movements, and we would have perhaps loved a bit more variety when it came to the characters’ different poses. The 3D segments of the game also look bright and colorful, but these are a lot less detailed than the visual novel sections. During combat, you’ll see your chosen character(s) and the enemies you’ll be fighting. Animations here are also fairly simple, except for the skill animations which look fairly impressive. The environments, however, are very empty and lifeless, and this did take away from the game’s charming atmosphere.
Sound
The sound design is fairly good. Most dialogues in the game are voiced, and this adds a lot of charm to the equation. We do regret that not all dialogues are voiced, especially the optional ‘event’ dialogues, as these are also accompanied by proper visual novel-esque story sections. The music is also fairly good, but it takes a backseat when you’re hacking and slashing your way through enemy forces.
Gameplay
Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars may be marketed as a fast-paced action game, but it is also, for a huge part, a visual novel. The game has a heavy focus on its somewhat silly story, and this is a staple for the Neptunia games. This means that throughout the course of this fairly short game, you will go through lengthy dialogues before being able to crush some enemy skulls. The game is very straightforward and the overall mechanics never get too complex. You choose your party of two ninjas and you can swap between them freely during the missions. For each mission, you can change the setup of your party if you so desire.
You do have some gear and skills options, but from start to finish, the game remains very basic. This isn’t a bad thing, as it provides a very casual experience in terms of gameplay and story. We quite enjoyed that we didn’t have to think too much and could just enjoy the whimsical story that unfolded. That being said, we would have loved a bit more actual gameplay and perhaps not as many of the very lengthy dialogues.
Overall, the controls are fairly good. You move around like in any other fast-paced third-person action game, and the game only uses one actual attack button. Other than that, you can swap characters, use special skills, use an ultimate ability, and use your ranged weapons. All the mechanics worked as expected, but we did have some issues with the lock-on system. More than often we would not be locked onto our target anymore, especially if the target used skills that allowed them to teleport. We can understand the logic behind this, but more than often this would also happen for normal targets that just attacked us. This got a bit tedious after a while. Other than that, as mentioned above, the mechanics for combat are very basic, but they are still fairly pleasant nonetheless.
Conclusion
Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a fun crossover for both the Neptunia and the Senran Kagura games. What you’re getting here is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously in terms of story and gameplay. You’ll be presented with a fairly basic action game with a hefty focus on a somewhat silly storyline. We loved the ninja-themed Neptunia experience and even though the Senran Kagura girls were toned down for this title, it’s a fun and short game for fans of both franchises. Just don’t go in expecting a very complex battle system and you’ll certainly enjoy this one.
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