By: RJ (@rga_02)

• Megadimension Neptunia VII
  
• Developer - Compile Heart
  
• Publisher - Idea Factory
  
• PlayStation 4
  
• Rating - T
  

Nep Nep is no longer held back by the power of the cell. This time we get to see Neptune and co. shine in 8 GBs of GDDR5. Compile Heart’s Neptunia series has finally landed on the 8th generation of consoles, but will it offer anything new and exciting other than a fresh coat of paint?

I’ve complained in the past that the story found in Neptunia games is nothing special. They’re like cheap low budget films. I often found myself wanting to mash buttons just to get to the next scene. For the most part, Megadimension Neptunia VII is nothing different than its predecessors. It’s still the same low quality plot that we all love or loathe. However this game tries to be different. The game is divided into separate acts. While each act is a self contained story, they are all interconnected in one way or another. I found 2 of the 3 acts to be a total bore, lacking the essential silliness of the Neptunia charm. However one act left me smirking from time to time, and I thought it was the biggest draw of the game.

Neptunia is well known for its videogame references. Megadimension Neptunia VII decides to take it to the next level by fully incorporating these references not just in the dialogue, but with actual characters based on major Japanese videogame companies - Bandai Namco, Capcom, Konami and Square Enix. I adored all the jokes and references these characters offered. For example, S-Sha (based on Square Enix) was a failed film maker. B-Sha (based on Bandai Namco) loves microtransactions and DLC. Though while most of the dialog is pretty cleverly written, there are some eye roll inducing moments. Such as the acknowledgement of the Neptunia fan base. “When I asked on N-Chan [….] they told me to stop baiting and go back to Neppit.” Props to the localizers for knowing where the the fanbase of this series resides on the Internet.

The battle system of the game is taken from the Neptunia ReBirth games with some minor upgrades. The core system is still there. It’s your classic turn-based combat system which allots a small area for movement. Partner attacks have been refined, with formation skills now based on the position of the characters on the field. So depending on the attack and how many characters you have out in a battle, you might have to set them in a triangle or straight line formation prior to launching their formation move. Another change is the depletion of your EX gauge. Prior games allowed you to maintain your EX gauge throughout a dungeon. In this game however, your gauge will start fresh for each battle. 

One huge complaint for me was that this Neptunia quickly devolves into a heavy grind. The characters tend to get split up a lot, and character levels don’t share across. In other words, you’ll find yourself with a lower level character right after you complete one section of the story. Thankfully you can speed up the grinding process by pressing the L2 button to skip attack animations. For those looking for an easier time with the battles, I suggest using the Disc Dev system. The remake system from the ReBirth games isn’t found in this game so you won’t have that option of setting an, “easy dungeon” difficulty.  

Another modified feature from the ReBirth games is the scout feature. Akin to Stella’s Dungeon found in the Vita titles, you can send scouts to various dungeons to gather up items and money for your party. They also have various effects on the dungeons you chose to send them too. For example, Dengekiko will increase the EXP you get from winning battles by 10%.

As for the art direction of the game, expect to see the same dungeons you’ve seen before. While the game is on the PlayStation 4, don’t expect to be wowed by the look of the game. If the previous titles looked like a PlayStation 2 game, then this game would be a PlayStation 2 game that was bloomed up, like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD. Character designs are still gorgeous though, and I love some of the designs of the new characters introduced in this game. (My favorite being S-Sha.) 

There really isn’t anything groundbreaking with this entry. It’s the same Neptunia through and through. If you can tolerate that status quo then check out this game. If you want something a bit different but still yearn for that Compile Heart feel, I suggest checking out Fairy Fencer F or Omega Quintet. (I highly recommend the latter). Hopefully the next installment will have something that will make non Neptunia fans turn their heads. Until then, have fun jumping like a kangaroo while drunk on pudding with Neptune.