Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls
- June 12, 2017
- IDEA FACTORY
- 20h median play time
Superdimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls is a match made in gaming heaven. A JRPG with some expanded and fun platforming mechanics throughout, this game improves on the Neptunia series model while sending the player on a lighthearted romp through an alternative Sega universe.
"Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls" is a collaboration project between Dengeki Bunko and SEGA, featuring anthropomorphized Sega consoles. Play as Neptune, IF, and other familiar faces in an all-new adventure with 1080p graphics. Customize your team with class changes, unlock special skills, and navigate treacherous dungeons with various actions in this JRPG.
Reviews
- Engaging story with humorous dialogue and character interactions, especially with IF as the protagonist.
- Innovative combat system that allows for multiple actions per turn and introduces new mechanics like Fever Time.
- Visually appealing graphics and enjoyable soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Recycled dungeons and enemies lead to a sense of repetitiveness throughout the game.
- Limited character customization options and only two characters can be party leaders, restricting player choice.
- The game suffers from crashes and bugs, particularly during Fever Time, which can disrupt gameplay.
- story253 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in this game is a mix of humor and time travel, featuring engaging character interactions typical of the Neptunia franchise, though it suffers from repetitive missions and a somewhat simplistic plot. Players appreciate the freedom to approach missions in any order, but this can lead to uneven difficulty and confusion regarding story progression. While some find the narrative enjoyable and filled with comedic elements, others criticize it for being bland and lacking depth, particularly in character development.
“The story is very amusing and fun so far.”
“I enjoyed the story that's packed with humor, with unexpected twists from a different perspective and other characters that really represent the franchise.”
“The writing is filled with easter eggs, but also can stand on its own as a genuine story.”
“The game's story is very simple and repetitive as it essentially entails zipping around different console eras and sorting out whatever needs to be sorted out.”
“The simplicity and repetition comes at a great cost to the game as it can very quickly become a text-a-thon that only serves to make an otherwise interesting and exciting story concept mind-numbingly boring at times.”
“If you come to Neptunia for the story, writing, and characters, there's a lot to love here, but don't expect the actual game part of the game to hold its end of the bargain.”
- gameplay119 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this Neptunia title is a mix of familiar mechanics from previous entries, with some new features like time management and exploration dynamics that add depth. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and innovative, others criticize it for being repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the time constraints and limited customization options. Overall, it caters primarily to fans of the series, offering a blend of fun character interactions and light-hearted combat, though it may not serve as the best entry point for newcomers.
“Interestingly enough, this is a Neptunia game with time management being one of its core gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay is really innovative but still able to keep the core system of combat in a Neptunia game.”
“The gameplay mixes dungeon quests, exploration, customization of weapons and items, and a lot of references to Sega consoles, the other games from this series, and other world references.”
“The gameplay is the same as the other Neptunia games, but some of these gameplay mechanics make me want to rip my brain out and chew on it. If you ignore it, it's a fun game.”
“The game has little to offer besides its plot and annoying gameplay elements.”
“Gameplay is simplified and kind of boring, to be fair.”
- music42 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the new soundtracks and specific themes as enjoyable and memorable, while others criticize the heavy reuse of music and assets from previous titles, leading to a sense of laziness in design. While certain tracks, like the library theme, stand out positively, the battle music is often described as grating or unremarkable. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for many players, despite the recycling of older compositions.
“The music is absolutely gorgeous, and I found that numerous times I was humming the library's theme.”
“The soundtrack is very good, since it's varied and fun.”
“Being a spinoff, it's a bit on the shorter side than the main titles, but still plenty of JRPG hours to dig into, especially if you're going for 100%, and the soundtrack is great as always.”
“Dungeons, music, and pretty much all assets you can think of are reused from older games. There are new soundtracks, but you will run into the same dungeons four times. A few have some variants or more levels to them, but that doesn't help much.”
“Some of the music, dungeon layouts, voice clips, etc. are recycled from past games, so if you've played the others, it might feel a tad lazy.”
“The battle track was grating on my soul, so I always tried to sweep the battle as quickly as possible to defeat the real enemy: the music.”
- humor40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely praised for its absurdity, clever writing, and consistent comedic moments, making it one of the funniest entries in the Neptunia series. Players appreciate the character interactions, witty dialogue, and fourth-wall-breaking jokes, which enhance the overall experience while maintaining a balance between humor and serious themes. Fans of the franchise will find familiar comedic elements alongside new references, ensuring a delightful and entertaining journey.
“I never laughed this much in a Neptunia game; this is the funniest episode. If you want to have a perfect balance between funny and serious, this is probably the game you're looking for.”
“The writing and voice acting are pure gold and hilarious.”
“Neptune is especially chaotic in this game, and it's hilarious.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring colorful and cute aesthetics that align with the Neptunia series' style, though they are not cutting-edge, reflecting its origins as a PS Vita title. Many players appreciate the smooth visuals and artistic design, rating the graphics around 7-8/10, but some note limitations such as fixed settings and recycled assets. Overall, while the graphics may not impress in terms of technical advancement, they are considered visually appealing and suitable for the game's playful tone.
“The graphics are very good looking, especially during exe drives.”
“The game has great and beautiful HD visuals.”
“The graphics are simple yet detailed enough.”
“The graphics… well… this is a game originally released for the PS Vita.”
“Don’t expect next-gen graphics.”
“Last but not least: graphics-wise this isn't a cutting-edge game.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it necessary for leveling up and completing achievements, others appreciate that minimal grinding is required to experience the main story. Many reviews highlight a steep difficulty curve that can lead to frustrating grinding sessions, especially for higher-level bosses and certain achievements. However, the inclusion of mechanics to ease grinding, such as auto-kill encounters and easier farming for end-game gear, makes it more tolerable compared to previous titles in the series.
“On the positive side, there are no grindy achievements, and as long as you pay attention to the archive and what dungeons are fully cleared, it shouldn’t take more than 30 hours to 100% the game.”
“Only thing I wish was there was more content in this game; the true end expects you to grind as if there's much more content than there is. The experience stops gaining you levels within a reasonable amount of time really quickly, considering how strong the true end boss is. Grinding is painful long before you get strong enough to defeat them.”
“Then you get to a point where you realize you are going to have to spend the next several hours grinding levels, because if you don't understand what a difficulty curve is, you're in for a rough time.”
“Lily rank grinding is absolutely tiring.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization receives a score of 8/10, with users noting that while the graphics are adequate, the performance can be inconsistent due to the limitations of the re;birth engine. Players have reported issues with v-sync, which can drop the frame rate to 30fps when a stable 60fps isn't achievable, and there is no option to disable this feature. However, the vocal performances in both English and Japanese are praised as being excellent.
“Performance: 8/10 - graphics aren't anything they don't need to be.”
“Vocal performance is on point for both English and Japanese.”
“As it runs on the re;birth engine (based on PhyreEngine), inconsistent performance is to be expected. For example, v-sync switches to 30fps if it can't maintain a solid 60fps 100% of the time, with no option to disable it.”
“The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and performance issues that made the game nearly unplayable at times.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches. However, some users have experienced frustrating soft-freezes that necessitate a restart, particularly after significant achievements like obtaining rare items.
“These soft freezes all require a restart and are especially frustrating if you just obtained a rare item.”
“The game runs well, I only ran into one or two glitches.”
“The PC port is solid too; I haven't encountered any bugs or glitches.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is noted for its interesting design, though the overall story is considered only average.
“The character design is interesting and adds depth to the story.”
“Great character design enhances the overall experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's high replayability due to its multiple endings and the ability to explore different eras in any order, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, using a controller is noted to improve gameplay, making it more enjoyable.
“The game features multiple endings and offers great replayability, allowing you to visit any era in any order.”
“Playing with a controller enhances the experience and adds to the game's replayability.”
“The game offers multiple endings and replayability, allowing you to visit any era in any order, but it still feels repetitive after a few playthroughs.”
“While the game is more playable with a controller, the lack of meaningful choices makes replaying it less appealing.”
“Despite the promise of replayability, the limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a feeling of stagnation after the initial experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates primarily with fans familiar with its characters and lore, as newcomers may struggle to connect without prior knowledge. However, the narrative is engaging enough to evoke genuine feelings, with moments that can elicit tears and a strong motivation to continue the story.
“It's a typical 'nep' story and it even made me shed a tear every now and then. I'm always excited to keep grinding to find out what's going to happen next.”
Critic Reviews
Get on your bike and Mega Drive: Superdimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls review
Superdimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls is a match made in gaming heaven. A JRPG with some expanded and fun platforming mechanics throughout, this game improves on the Neptunia series model while sending the player on a lighthearted romp through an alternative Sega universe.
80%Superdimension Neptune VS SEGA Hard Girls Review
If you're a fan of turn-based strategic battling or just fun RPGs, then Superdimension Neptune VS SEGA Hard Girls is a highly recommended experience. Surprisingly, given the perceived lack of love and support for the Vita in the West, this is actually a great time for RPG fans to own Sony's handheld.
70%Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls Review
77%