AKIBA'S TRIP: Undead & Undressed
- May 26, 2015
- ACQUIRE Corp.
- 16h median play time
Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed does a great job of introducing a franchise to fans and giving them what they want. Fun.
In AKIBA'S TRIP: Undead & Undressed, explore Akihabara while battling and stripping "synthisters," vampire-like beings. Use various weapons and uncover their weakness by exposing their skin to sunlight. Experience a thrilling adventure with unique gameplay mechanics in this action-packed RPG set in a lively district of Tokyo.
Reviews
- The recreation of Akihabara is incredibly detailed and immersive, making players feel like they are actually in the real location.
- The mix of visual novel and 3D beat 'em up gameplay is unique and entertaining, with a humorous story and engaging characters.
- The game offers a high level of customization for characters, weapons, and clothing, allowing for a personalized experience.
- The combat system can feel clunky and repetitive, especially when facing multiple enemies at once.
- The PC port suffers from technical issues, including a 30 FPS cap and poor keyboard/mouse controls, making it difficult to play without a controller.
- The story, while humorous, is relatively shallow and may not appeal to players looking for a more serious narrative.
- story554 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Akiba's Trip" is generally viewed as a mix of cliché and humor, revolving around a quirky premise where players battle "synthisters" by stripping them to expose them to sunlight. While some players find the narrative entertaining and appreciate its comedic elements, others criticize it for being shallow and repetitive, with many side quests lacking depth. Overall, the game offers multiple story paths and endings, providing some replayability, but it is not considered a standout feature compared to its gameplay and setting.
“The story is pretty good, the combat is new and unique, and since there's multiple endings there's a bunch of replayability.”
“The story is enjoyable and all and the first hour or two feel great.”
“The story is good (especially the anime within anime section), if rather cliched - so don't expect anything really surprising.”
“The story is not very serious and only really gives you general guidance on why you're just beating the sh*t out of people.”
“I would argue that gameplay should not be sacrificed in favor of main/side story content; there is not much to be gained on that aspect either since the main story plays straightforward and side stories are fetch quests with no interesting plots.”
“The story is as short as the storytelling is shallow, the graphics are terrible, the framerate is terrible, combat is fun but very repetitive with many recycled enemy types and the game is full of a bunch of little miscellaneous bugs that are anything but endearing.”
- gameplay217 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and clunky mechanics, particularly in combat. While some appreciate the unique stripping mechanic and humor, others criticize the lack of depth and variety in gameplay, leading to a tedious experience over time. Overall, it offers a blend of fun and frustration, appealing mainly to those who enjoy its quirky premise rather than polished gameplay.
“Unique gameplay and surprisingly fun to play.”
“The game is strange no matter how you look at it, but besides its oddity, the gameplay and story are both great fun.”
“Gameplay-wise, Akiba's Trip is first a beat-em-up, and then an RPG.”
“I would argue that gameplay should not be sacrificed in favor of main/side story content; there is not much to be gained on that aspect either since the main story plays straightforward and side stories are fetch quests with no interesting plots.”
“The controls are unresponsive, and the fighting mechanics are crude and unsophisticated.”
“The gameplay is tedious, wonky, shallow, and barely functioning, and the flow of the game is painful in general.”
- humor184 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in "Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed" is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky, tongue-in-cheek style that pokes fun at otaku culture and anime tropes. Players appreciate the game's absurd premise, hilarious dialogue, and a variety of comedic elements, including funny weapons and stripping mechanics that are more humorous than sexualized. While the humor may not appeal to everyone, particularly those sensitive to fanservice, it is generally well-received for its lightheartedness and charm, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre.
“It's a fun experience with multiple different (and sometimes hilarious) weapons, lots of jokes and humor, and a great story to go along with it.”
“The game has a rather humorous overall tone, and is filled with an impressive amount of shout-outs and references to Japanese pop culture and actual locations within Akihabara.”
“Honestly, this game is a joke... filled with more jokes and context which combined together created a fun, hilarious, and entertaining game.”
“The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
“The attempts at humor often miss the mark, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- graphics120 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are average at best, often resembling those of older consoles like the PSP or PS Vita. While some appreciate the anime art style and colorful visuals, others criticize the low resolution, poor frame rates, and technical issues such as screen tearing and pop-in. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience despite some redeeming qualities in the art direction.
“As I mentioned earlier, the upgraded graphics are really impressive.”
“The artwork is fantastic, though, which comes as no surprise given that the character art is designed by the same Watanabe Akio whose work you may be familiar with from the Monogatari series.”
“What saved Akiba's Trip for me was the light-hearted visuals, the depiction of Akihabara and mayhem, the chaotic brawls that, even flawed, managed to be challenging, entertaining, and funny sometimes.”
“The graphics are not great, and will be an eyesore without a resolution and anti-aliasing mod.”
“Locked at 30fps, no 1440p support, awful screen tearing without v-sync, terrible pop-in, and you can't change any of the graphics settings in the game menu.”
“Awful port of an awful Vita game with awful upscaled PS2 graphics and a shoddy framerate to boot.”
- music93 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as fantastic and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness of certain tracks and the presence of in-game commercials that detract from the experience. Overall, while the music is often described as catchy and well-integrated, issues with volume control and copyright claims have also been noted.
“The sound and music are amazing.”
“The music is fantastic, and the ambient sound ringing through the town of Akiba as you rampage around really makes the game feel like a bustling, living city when it comes to the atmosphere.”
“Music is great and I caught myself humming along to some of the songs that played while I guided the protagonist around Akihabara.”
“That being said, most of the time you won't even be hearing background music.”
“The music wasn't bad by any means, but it was mediocre at best.”
“I also recommend finding your own music, as the soundtrack of the game is rather plain, and the combat music is especially bad.”
- replayability54 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its multiple story paths, various romantic interests, and numerous endings that encourage players to explore different choices. New Game+ features and unlockables further enhance replay value, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate branching narratives and character interactions. However, some players noted that while the game is fun, its overall replayability may vary depending on individual preferences and play styles.
“The new game+ unlockables give a ton of replay value with the multiple endings you can get.”
“The inclusion of branching storylines, with multiple potential endings, adds replayability.”
“The different paths you can take make the game replayable, and each story arc is just amazing.”
“Replayability is pretty low, but I gotta say it was one of the few games that kept me playing till the end; much fun while it lasted.”
“The game has branching story paths which gives replayability.”
“As for replayability, there do exist several endings depending on your reputation and actions.”
- monetization38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, primarily focusing on the presence and impact of advertisements. While some players appreciate the immersive experience created by the in-game ads that reflect real-life Akihabara, others criticize the removal of specific ads that contributed to the game's originality, leading to a less engaging environment. Overall, the game avoids traditional monetization methods like DLC and microtransactions, but the heavy reliance on advertisements—both in the environment and during loading screens—has sparked debate among players regarding their effectiveness and enjoyment.
“The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players into spending money.”
“I appreciate that there are no pay-to-win mechanics; everything can be earned through gameplay.”
“The absence of DLC and microtransactions makes for a refreshing experience.”
“The only downside is that some ads displayed on the buildings and flyers have unfortunately been replaced, mostly by the Hellbound & Debriefed posters.”
“Now looking at the TV ads in Akiba is boring; you just see the same three ads repeat since they removed a lot. This matters a lot because you're going to be roaming the streets all the time while looking at the ad TV.”
“Game advertisements are everywhere; I felt like this was a game just for advertising other games. There isn't a corner you will turn where there isn't one.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players find it tedious and overwhelming, particularly due to combat issues and glitches, others appreciate the grinding as a fun and integral part of gameplay that enhances customization and skill development. Many note that grinding is necessary for leveling up and maximizing gear, but it can become repetitive, especially in later stages of the game. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding seems to depend on individual player preferences and tolerance for repetitive tasks.
“Lots of customization, collectibles, and not too grindy.”
“Tried giving it a fair chance, but this game is honestly very tedious.”
“After 3 hours the grinding in the gameplay became too overwhelming.”
“This game crosses that with its combat system that is so tedious I can't enjoy fighting.”
- optimization21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting poor performance, low framerates, and various glitches, particularly on PC. While some players experienced decent performance with occasional stutters, the overall consensus is that the game feels like a poorly optimized console port, leading to frustrating gameplay issues that detract from the experience. Many reviewers are hopeful for future patches to address these optimization concerns.
“Performance was decent, some stutters but very playable.”
“I rate 8.5/10 if / until they fix some of the optimization.”
“Through my 11 hour playthrough, I have not experienced a single crash or performance issue.”
“Poorly optimized, low framerate, tedious combat, and serious glitches (like gamepad and audio not working properly, etc.).”
“It feels poorly optimized for PC and a poor port.”
“The game is pretty fun and interesting, but I'm not very interested in having to restart my game every 10-15 minutes so that I can avoid the stuttering gameplay.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive recreation of Akihabara, filled with anime-themed ads and a lively environment that captures the essence of the district. Players appreciate the heartwarming and humorous tone, which enhances the overall experience despite some gameplay shortcomings. The combination of engaging music and ambient sounds contributes to a vibrant, bustling city feel, making the atmosphere a standout feature of the game.
“You will get to taste the atmosphere of Akiba, complete with all kinds of anime-styled ads plastered on walls and billboards with brands you still recognize even though they slightly altered it (like the classic Wc'Donalds!).”
“The appeal of the game is getting the atmosphere of being in Akihabara, and that also shows in the customization options.”
“The gameplay is tedious, wonky, shallow and is barely functioning, and the flow of the game is painful in general, but the humor and atmosphere are well above par, with many jokes with a wry undercurrent that elevates the entire experience.”
“Now, this may sound like it's a petty excuse for fanservice, and yes, it is - but the game's entire tone and atmosphere is a parody on JRPGs, and this whole setup fits the mood perfectly.”
“The music is fantastic, and the ambient sound ringing through the town of Akiba as you rampage around really makes the game feel like a bustling, living city when it comes to the atmosphere.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game uniquely blends heartfelt and satirical elements of otaku culture, creating an emotionally engaging experience that surprises players with its depth and humor. Many reviewers noted their unexpected emotional investment in the characters and story, highlighting moments that range from heartwarming to heartbreaking. Overall, it offers a wholesome narrative that resonates deeply, making it more than just a typical hentai game.
“The game offers a unique look into otaku/weeb/neet/wota culture that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere; one that feels heartfelt and satirical at the same time in all the best ways.”
“I accidentally became emotionally invested in this game.”
“Shizuka's ending was too heartbreaking for me... :(”
- stability10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, low framerates, and frequent crashes, particularly in the poorly optimized port from PSP. Many players experience serious glitches, including game freezes and audio issues, making the gameplay frustrating and often unplayable. While the PC version runs better than the console version, it still suffers from significant stability problems that detract from the overall experience.
“While the PC version lacks some features from the PlayStation 4 version, the PC version runs great.”
“Poorly optimized, low framerate, tedious combat, and serious glitches (like gamepad and audio not working properly, etc.).”
“This port is so buggy that playing it is an exercise in masochism.”
“Depending on if the game's custom anti-aliasing is on or off, for me it either full out crashes, with 'has stopped responding', or just freezes the game with the music and sound effects clearly playing on loop.”
- character development9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character designs and voice acting are praised for their quality and uniqueness, some players feel that the characters themselves lack depth and are often generic. Although there are emotional moments and engaging storytelling, many reviewers noted that true character development only becomes apparent after significant gameplay choices, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The character designs are great and the dialogues are quite well-written.”
“It's very funny and unique, and I love the character designs and voice actors.”
“The story and character design is very good, a lot of emotional scenes and interesting areas of Akihabara to discover.”
“Character development (this is another one that's just a personal pet peeve. You really don't get to know a character until after you've made half the choices to lead down their path.)”
“The story for the game is average in my opinion, some likable characters here and there but they're very 'generic' and lack real character development.”
“If you can look past the obviously ridiculous premise of ripping people's clothes off, you're in for a streamlined Persona 4-esque RPG experience with Yakuza-style combat, but the character development is lacking.”
Critic Reviews
Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed Review
Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed does a great job of introducing a franchise to fans and giving them what they want. Fun.
80%Pushing the limits of Western taste
A flawed, but enjoyable RPG that pushes the limits of taste in western culture. Over-sensitive gamers of the social justice persuasion will hate it, but for those who are only looking for fun can pick this up and enjoy the humor and setting, and appreciate it for what it is: A piece of otaku fandom.
70%PS3 Review - 'Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed'
70%