Tag: Idea Factory

E3 2017: Lick Your Way Through A Living Prison In ‘Mary Skelter: Nightmares’

by Josh Jackson

As most of us know by now, Japanese RPG’s can get pretty weird. Last year alone, we took a return trip to a world where game console goddesses saved the world from the disgruntled spirit of the Sega Dreamcast, and became pop stars who defended Tokyo from the evils of the entertainment industry. But I can comfortably say that I have yet to play anything like Mary Skelter: Nightmares, a new dungeon crawling RPG by Compile Heart that tasks you with leading a party full of gothic lolita versions of our favorite fairy tale heroines to freedom as they fight their way through a living prison. Except they’re hardly the prancing, singing princesses you might be picturing, because their insatiable blood lust leads them to go wild as they soak up the blood of their enemies. What’s the best way to bring them back to their senses? Naturally, you lick them clean.

Trust me when I say that you’re going to to need to get used to the trying act of making these attractive anime girls lick each other, because your success in battle directly correlates with how close they get to losing control. Doing damage, landing critical hits and finishing off strong opponents leads to larger blood splatters. Once one of the girls absorbs a certain amount of blood, they transform into their most powerful state, greatly improving their damage and abilities in the process. If that blood continues to pile up however, the girl will eventually go berserk, forcing her to lose all control and attack friend and foe alike. Licking has the added benefit of healing the affected party member, but when the rest of your girls are tied up with casting support spells, attacking enemy monsters or taking advantage of elemental weaknesses, Jack, your character, has a special weapon that can calm the girls down instantly. Don’t draw too much attention to him though, because if he’s out of commission, there will be no one to control the girls, leading to a game over.

Monsters and blood aren’t the only dangers in the prison, because the prison itself serves as both a lethal opponent and a helpful ally depending on the situation. Each area in the prison is guarded by a boss that hangs around outside the prison walls. These cheaters can attack you from the outside without allowing you to fight back, forcing the team to be on their toes as they dodge incoming hazards during exploration, all while avoiding the traps that the prison itself holds. The benefit however, is that some traps can be used to your benefit. Activating the right ones at the right time can damage the boss, bringing them down to your level and allowing you to battle them with a more traditional turn based system. As you play, the dungeon will also have its own set of desires that you’re asked to fulfill for combat bonuses. For example, if its feeling lustful, continuously licking will satisfy its need for waifu on waifu action. And you thought the showers were the only place that you had to worry about perverts in jail.

What made Mary Skelter stand out to me more than anything was its ability to keep you on your toes at all times. I’ve played plenty of first person dungeon crawlers where traveling becomes a chore after awhile since you can only look at the same walls for so long before it gets old. This game doesn’t give you the chance to get worn out out since you’re constantly under attack. With its unique mechanics, the ability to take characters like Alice, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and customize their classes and abilities to make your custom fairy tale fighting squad, being able to de-level your characters to power up low level classes, and the focus on the dungeon as its own entity, and its easy to see why such an interesting take on the genre has piqued my interest. Besides, haven’t you always wanted to taste Snow White?

Mary Skelter: Nightmare will release on the PS Vita this summer.

The Neplushie Is Our Second Anime Expo Exclusive Item At The Idea Factory Booth!

by Josh Jackson

In our story about the pixel Neptune figure being the first AX exclusive this year, we promised that there was more to come. Following up on that promise, Idea Factory has revealed their second exclusive item for con-goers at this year’s Anime Expo, and it might look a little familiar!

This eight inch “Neplushie” closely resembles the handmade plush that Plutia used as one of her weapons in HyperDimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3 and Victory. Except now, we all have the benefit of hanging it on our keys! So the next time we can’t find them on the way out the door, having the notoriously lazy and irresponsible Nep to guard them will give us an out. It’s better than acknowledging our failing memory, that’s for sure.

As mentioned previously, the exclusive items will surely pop up on Iffy’s Online Store if you can’t make it to LA that weekend, but for all those that can, you better make a B-line to booth 4401!

And that’s not all! IF is promising one more big surprise, and we’ll be sure to let you know what it is when we find out!

Idea Factory’s First Anime Expo 2017 Exclusive Is Pixel Neptune!

by Josh Jackson

Last year, Idea Factory went all Comic Con on us with their exclusive Anime Expo merchandise. This year, we’re getting the slow burn treatment with items being revealed as we approach the convention taking place from July 1-4. Knowing that we could never have enough Nep in our lives, the first item set to debut on the Exhibit Hall floor is this adorable pixel Neptune!

Made up of 140 Lego connectable brick pieces, this mini goddess stands at 2.5 inches, perfect for when you want to low key worship everything that is Planeptune. If you can’t make it to the show, chances are this item will hit Iffy’s Online Store sooner than later, much like last year’s Top Nep hats, the NepuNepu plushies and the NEXT form T-Shirts. But for everyone else, you know where to be when the merch hall opens.

With that first reveal out of the way, what could be coming next? Stay tuned in the coming days as we wait for the next announcement.

Geekscape Presents: The Top 16 Gaming Waifus Of 2016

by Josh Jackson

We owe so much to our waifus, who often give us sad, lonely gamers love when reality shuns us. Pay your respects by checking out our lists from years past!

2014

2015

But anyway, off to the present!

WARNING: Potential spoilers for every game listed. Unless you’ve finished them or don’t care, skip the entries you’re worried about before you yell at me.

2016 has drawn to a close, which means it’s time to evaluate all of the top gaming waifu candidates for the past year. We at Geekscape take this process very seriously, which is why this year’s list has made its way to your screens a little later than in previous years. Because we always aim to deliver as the authority on all things waifu, (and because of how indecisive I am), this year’s list is the biggest one yet! Upping the tally to a massive 16, this year was a fantastic year for female characters, memorable companions and the downright freaky. Ranging from the sweet to the sadistic, the gamers to the inanimate objects, and from mechs to movie stars, here are the top 16 gaming waifus of 2016! But first…

Honorable Best Girls:

Ayane (Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 / Senran Kagura: Estival Versus)

Ayane will always hold a special place in my heart as one of my favorite video game characters of all time. Brought up as an outcast who was forced to live in the shadow of her half sister due to being a child born from rape, her resentment reflected through her relentless tactics as a master ninja. Often aiding Ryu Hayabusa throughout his missions, she’s shined as a co-protagonist in the Dead or Alive series over the years. I’m not the only person she’s left an impression on, appearing in both Dead or Alive Xtreme 3, and Senran Kagura: Estival Versus as a guest DLC character! While she had no prominent roles throughout the year, her growing popularity makes her worthy of a mention. Now if only Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water had released in 2016, that might have been enough to push her into the list proper as a guest in that game as well, but unfortunately, butt bumping and volley ball can only get you so far here.

Marie Rose (Dead or Alive Xtreme 3)

Speaking of Dead or Alive, I can’t mention 2016 without the unprecedented rise of Marie Rose. A newcomer to the DOA scene, she gets a tip of the hat due to her winning a fan poll that not only got her into Xtreme 3, but got her the cover of the game itself! It’s impressive enough as a new character, but considering she’s the only “Justice” character in a game full of “Plot”, it’s great to see such diversity shine through in the formerly rigid world of Dead or Alive.

Elena Fisher (Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End)

Elena *SHOULD* have been on the main list. She’s brave, daring, doesn’t take any crap, and manages to keep a carefree soul like Nathan Drake in line… Most of the time. But boy, did her chances fall apart when she forgave Drake so easily for lying to her about going on another adventure despite the two settling down after all of ten minutes. C’mon, at least punch his face in or kick him in the dick! Anything other than what happened. So we still love you, Elena. Just don’t take any more crap!

Shantae (Shantae: Half Genie Hero)

Shantae is FAR too kind to the citizens of Sequin Land. As their guardian genie, she’s always protecting its citizens for little thanks, to the point where the mayor is constantly trying to fire her. Half Genie Hero is a more personal adventure for the half genie, as she tries to find ties to her mother in the Genie Realm. While it hurts not to put her on the list, she really needs to put her foot down and stop letting herself be mistreated. Maybe we can impeach the mayor? Can you do that to a mayor?

UltraDimension Neptune / Big Neptune (MegaDimension Neptune VII)

More Nep is always a good thing, especially when you have two in one game. This dual blade / pistol wielding version of our 2014 runner up has all the personality of Nep proper, but without the CPU powers. This means as a human, she can age and grow in order to earn her nickname of Big Nep. She can hop dimensions and catch bugs with the best of them,but she’s not on the list because of her convoluted plan to infiltrate the bad guys from inside their group, which in typical Neptune fashion, fails spectacularly. This led to me being forced to fight her outside of non-cannon material, and I NEVER want to have to fight Nep if I can help it. She’s far too precious, and I don’t appreciate the trauma.

And so, without further ado…

16. Iris Amicitia (Final Fantasy XV)

Yes, I know that Final Fantasy XV hammers home the idea that Noctis and Luna are destined to be together, and in a way, that’s true. But for the short amount of time that she’s with you, Iris is much higher on the quality waifu scale than The Oracle ever was. She can’t die in battle, she constantly keeps you healed when your friends are bumbling around taking pictures, she gives you items that distract enemies, and she apparently becomes a bad ass monster hunter, (off camera!) Oh, and she’s cute as all hell!

But aside from her cuteness, she’s a go-getter who takes what she wants. I mean, some might call her a homewrecker for blatantly flirting with a guy who’s on his way to get married, but I call her assertive! In retrospect, considering that Luna was destined to die and knowingly led Noct into a situation where he would also be killed, all under the guise of him getting married to her, he was better off with Iris. Even if that meant having that asshole, Gladio, as your brother in law. And you know what? I felt more than justified when I took a picture of her to admire in the afterlife to distract me from being stick with Luna for all eternity. And she’d be much higher on this list if she had more screen time.

15. Those damn stained glass mirrors (The Last Guardian)

The Last Guardian could be an insanely frustrating game to play, mostly because Trico was literally programmed to only listen to your commands when he felt like it. But there was one thing that your dog / bird / snake… thing, would stop in its tracks for. Those stupid stained glass mirrors!

Your character claims that Trico was “scared” of them, but when’s the last time you saw someone blow kisses out of fear? Much like when your best friend meets that new girl, these are constantly getting in between your bro time with your companion. However, it might be a bit of an overreaction to cope with this new life change by shattering your competition into a million pieces, but it’s not like anything else makes sense in the game. Besides, if you saw Trico make that kiss face where he grows lipstick with his pink eyes, you’d do what you could to make it disappear as fast as possible.

14. Chun-Li (Street Fighter V)

Let me start out by saying that without Chun-Li, there probably wouldn’t be a waifu list. As the first character I picked in Street Fighter II back when I was five years old because of how unique she looked compared to the otherwise all male cast, she became my very first “main”. I also ran into my first “rage quitters” in the form of high schoolers that would poke me as a distraction until I lost to Sagat because I kept beating them in our matches.

Anyway, I would love nothing more to strap a rocket onto the self proclaimed “Strongest Woman in the World” and launch her up the list simply because she’s still my primary pick in Street Fighter V all these years later. But with all things considered, she’s pretty terrible in the game’s story mode, constantly getting beaten by characters she should be able to handle. Hardly fitting for a character of such caliber, but at least she enjoyed the top tier for awhile!

13. Mai Shiranui (The King of Fighters XIV / Dead or Alive 4 Last Round)

It pains me to put Mai above Chun-Li because she’s the antitheses of everything Chun is. Mai was also the first lady of Fatal Fury, but rather than being noticed for her martial arts skills or interesting backstory, she’s mostly known for her uncontrollable breasts that may or may not be independently living entities. (En-titties?) Anyway, I won’t let my personal distaste for her character get in the way of the scientific process of determining the top waifus of the year, and Mai had an incredible 2016. As one of the characters leading the revival of the King of Fighters franchise, her strong loyalty to Andy Bogard still holds true. But while being a character in an ensemble fighting game may not be enough, being a guest character in Dead or Alive, a game that might not exist in its current form if Mai never “busted” onto the scene all those years ago, helps things come full circle in a way. Not to mention that she’s always been fun to play!

So enjoy your time in the spotlight, Ms. Shinarui. You’ve earned it!

12. Ditto (Pokemon Sun / Pokemon Moon and Pokemon Go)

Despite being an E rated game geared towards children, Ditto is the one that trainers around the world go to when they want a good time. As the most accepting waifu on this list, Ditto can be anything you want it to be. Do you want a beast? Field? How about a Water 2? If you want it, Ditto’s got it, regardless of whether or not you “get along,” or “don’t like each other very much”. This trait is both a blessing and a curse for the purple blob, making its reliability a sought after trait, while its promiscuity is something we’d rather avoid. When you have a waifu who would reproduce with its own kids if given the chance, you might need to be a bit careful around this one, even if you owe your competitive team to it.

11. Arnice (Nights of Azure)

Arnice is a holy knight who ironically became half monster. Partaking on a mission to an isolated land that’s overrun with monsters, she takes up the task of ridding monsters from the land by employing the assistance of monsters herself. But one doesn’t just invade a beast infested land for the hell of it. Arnice uses her strength to protect the one closest to her, who in this case, is her best friend, Lilysse. Often hinted at having a relationship that is more than platonic, their story tilts towards the tragic side, considering Lilysse is a saint who’s destined to be the key to eliminating the blue blood that fuels the monsters by destroying it’s source. Except Arnice also carries the blood of the Ruler of the Night, so doing so would destroy her as well. Knowing that each enemy slain is one closer to her potential death, Arnice marches on, setting her safety aside for the benefit of her friend.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Arnice has one of the best designs out of anyone on this list, so that always helps!

10. E-Sha (MegaDimension Neptunia VII)

Gold Third is a group of four humans that were given power that rivals the Goddesses of Gamindustri. Each one represents a major third party, consisting of C-Sha, (Capcom), K-Sha, (Konami), B-Sha, (Bandai Namco), and S-Sha, (Square Enix). So where does E-Sha come into play? As you learn more about S-Sha’s past, it turns out that she’s made up of two former rivals who fused in order to ensure both of their survival. As a parallel to the stoic and cold S-Sha, (who shares her attacks, design and quotes with famous characters like Cloud and Squall), E-Sha is much more caring and compassionate. After all, it takes a special kind of girl to keep their biggest rival alive when they’re knocking on death’s door.

She was too pure for this world… So she left it.

As an obvious parallel to the real life merging of Squaresoft and Enix to form Square-Enix, E-Sha ends up being an underappreciated member of the cast considering S-Sha’s usually the personality in control. Still, with such a selfless attitude and some hilarious Dragon Quest inspired attacks to boot, we’re making sure that Ms. Enix gets her due.

9. Renka (Senran Kagura: Estival Versus)

Senran Kagura is a bizarre game to explain. As most probably know by now, its premise is to have high school ninjas fight as their clothes come off in creative and absurd ways. Yet, the narrative of each game tends to be more and more serious, somehow asking you to form an emotional connection with these characters as they stand around nude.

However, Renka manages to do a good job making a connection despite her tattered outfit. As one of the new characters introduced in Estival Versus, Renka is the eldest of the three Mikagura Sisters who serve as priestesses with the power to help bring people back from the dead. Competing against the Hanzo, Hebijo and Crimson Squads in the hopes of getting their wish granted at the end of the festival, the trio secretly wants to draw out a mysterious figure who led them to a cave right before their village was slaughtered, leaving them as the only survivors. But when she’s not carrying that uncharacteristically heavy burden, Renka was easily the most fun to play with, using electric taiko drums as her key weapon. When she’s not squaring off with dangerous ninjas, she’s drawing faces on her stomach and dancing to entertain her firework obsessed sister to keep her from literally exploding.

The game leaves that tidbit about the village slaughter and the mystery person up in the air, so I’m hoping we see Renka and her sisters down the road.

8. Lusamine (Pokemon Sun / Pokemon Moon)

Lusamine is someone who loves hard. Way too hard, some might say. So hard that she’ll abandon her children, create what’s surely a multi-million Poke yen dollar research organization, absorb a criminal gang into said organization, and use all of her resources to draw out otherworldly beings that could potentially destroy the planet just for the chance to see the object of her affection one more time. But in the end, after assimilating with a jellyfish monster and trying to kill her son, daughter and their friends, it all came from a good place! She just became a tad obsessed after her researcher husband vanished while investigating the Ultra Beasts. Now that’s real dedication! I mean, who needs THE world when YOUR world is no longer in it?

Thanks, Lusamine. Most people see you as an evil and neglectful villain, but I appreciate you.

7. BT-7274 (Titanfall 2)

Much like Ditto, BT isn’t necessarily a male OR female, so I’ll just draw my own conclusions. Turning the tables as what most would consider from a waifu, BT protects YOU, who is the one that is too pure for this world. It’s a nice change of pace to have your smile protected for once. This abandoned Titan who’s pilot was killed during a pivotal battle quickly takes you under its wing, adapting its abilities to help protect you while either giving you direct control, or fighting alongside you as true partners in arms. As the only waifu on this list that you get to be inside of, BT also doesn’t take kindly to other Titans moving in on you, who has the somewhat concerning habit of tearing their insides out and taking their abilities so it will be everything you might have loved about them. When push comes to shove though, BT cares the most about your well being, which is why it pulls an Iron Giant during the final moments of the game while taking his spot alongside Terminator X John Connor as one of the greatest robot and human ships in all of fiction. But like a long lost ex, it seems like BT will find a way back to you if the post credits scene means anything.

6. Athena Asamiya (The King of Fighters XIV)

The ultimate idol of the SNK universe, Athena has always been one of my favorite characters ever. Once again referencing Chun-Li, Athena was my King of Fighters equivalent, serving as my main for 22 years now. This hasn’t changed in King of Fighters XIV, with such a wide variety of moves that constantly keep opponents guessing. But when she’s not fighting, singing, or hitting fans with Psycho Balls in the face as a contest prize, she has so much more significance. As the reincarnation of the goddess Athena who starred in her own game back in the 80’s, this version of Athena has starred in its follow up, Psycho Soldier, and a lesser known survival horror game. Her profession as a singer comes from her game being the first one to feature vocalized lyrics in video game history, making her somewhat of an icon in the industry.

But that has nothing to do with 2016. What DOES have to do with it is how strong of a fighter she still is after all these years, all without having aged a day. And I mean this literally, since I’m pretty sure she’s been in high school for 30 years now. Either that, or she’s far more interested in fighting than studying.

5. Marie (Splatoon)

It’s unprecedented for a waifu to make this list twice in a row, but Marie earned it. Last year, she landed at the number two spot alongside her partner, Callie. This year, a rift came between the Squid Sisters, asking players to choose between the two for the final Splatfest. When the ink settled and all the kid squids went home, Marie barely edged out her sister to become the ultimate victor. The sarcastic bad cop to Callie’s overabundant good cop took the win graciously, alongside other milestones such as having her own amiibo made and her return announced, (possbily alone), for what would eventually become known as Splatoon 2. Apparently, the final Splatfest was like Highlander, where there could be only one since Callie has yet to be seen. Anyway, I may have voted for the purple squid, but if this Splatfest would have happened a few months later, I would have been Team Marie all the way! But more on that later…

4. D.Va (Overwatch)

Some waifus become waifus because they have incredible personalities, a strong resolve, an undeniable cuteness, or make perfect companions. Others are designed specifically as waifu bait, carefully crafted to specifically appeal to the sad, lonely gamers of the world. D.Va falls on the latter side of that spectrum, and I took the bait hook, line and sinker. She’s a young, attractive professional Starcraft player who’s skills landed her a gig in the South Korean military as one of the only people in the country with the reflexes to fight the perceived Onmic threat. And did I mention she fights by piloting a mech that’s sponsored by Blizzard?

But sometimes, you and your waifu just click, and that’s what happened when I first hopped into that bunny robot and captured my first point in Overwatch. With 53 hours and counting, 440 wins under our belt, and all the obnixious voice lines I could purchase, this is a relationship that keeps on delivering. We did well even in the dark ages of D.Va, when her Defense Matrix wasn’t togglable and her Self Destruct Ultimate killed her if she was in its blast radius, but every since Blizaard decided they no longer wanted to sponsor someone so vulnerable, they used their pull to boost her up. Now, we can protect teammates, eat damage, rush the point and push the payload in ways that surely frustrate our foes to no end. And even without the mech, Zero Suit D.va is no slouch herself, becoming a medium range shooter that can deal the damage quickly. Sure, I may have dabbled a bit with my side chicks like Mercy and Pharah, but I always come crawling back to Queen B.Va when it’s time to get serious. So while “WaifuWatch” has plenty of incredible female characters, making this list was easy mode for the gaming goddess.

3. Uzume Tennouboshi (The Neptunia Series)

As the newest CPU on the block, Uzume already had her foot in the door by being the Neptunia representative for the Dreamcast, one of my favorite consoles of all time. But even without being loved by association, Uzume has something special that even the best CPUs seem to lack. Her combination of toughness, her strong sense of duty, and the fact that in her world, she’s the only goddess left alive while protecting Gamindustri all by herself, what you’re left with is one of the best characters out of any game in the franchise. Alongside her companion / Seaman knock-off, Umio, the two have rounded up the remaining monsters and serve as their protectors while Ms. Tennouboshi does all she can to find a way to restore peace to Planeptune.

Obsessed with all things cool, this attitude hides the fact that she’s a girly girl at heart. As with the rest of the goddesses, her true nature shines through when she transforms into her CPU form, Orange Heart. While she may take up a much sweeter personality, her powerful fists and trusty megaphone still get the job done, and eventually saves her world not once, but twice over the course of the game! When your main antagonist ends up being the bitter version of yourself that formed when people didn’t accept the Dreamcast, it goes to show that your awesomeness can’t be contained in a single body.

Then again, whether or not Uzume survives the conflict is up to the decisions you made throughout the game. But even if she bit the dust in your playthrough, that wouldn’t be the last we saw of Orange Heart this year. Appearing in three different games, this just might be the most appearances for a single character in their debut year! MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune vs. Zombies brought her into the action game realm, while SuperDimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls had her literally square off against Dreamcast in the Vita’s crossover RPG. But no matter how you played as her, we’re really hoping we see the return of Planeptune’s crimson savior again in 2017.

2. Tsubasa Oribe (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE)

Imagine that one day, you’re a normal high school girl who wants nothing more than to enjoy her latest Kiria album while trying to win a talent contest to become a Japanese Idol, all to find clues on the whereabouts of your missing sister. Then all of a sudden, you’re pulled into an alternate universe where entertainment is a source of energy, and you fuse with an ancient Pegesus Knight to become a warrior that protects the world from this Mirage threat under the guise of a singer. Sounds like a normal day in Japan, but this was the start of what would become one of the most creative game premises of the year.

But between traversing dangerous dungeons and teaming up with legendary Fire Emblem characters while teaching them the virtues of song and dance, this game was mostly about Tsubasa’s growth as a performer and as person. She’s klutzy, she’s not the most reliable and she can be a bit dim. But each and every time she was thrown into the deep end in an industry that she had zero familiarity in, she pulled through when it mattered the most. Whether she was asked to become an all star model, a television actress, or star in the latest soda commercial, the pressure of knowing that the world could end if you failed would break weaker waifus.

Tsubasa’s growth makes Tokyo Mirage Sessions a pleasure to play though.

Tsubasa isn’t a weaker waifu. Even if that meant she had to endure verbal abuse, face down towering monsters and fight side by side with those she looks up to, she always found a way to push through. Even when that included learning how to be seductive by talking to a stray cat. And in the end, she stood tall as a peer next to titans of the industry, all while fighting alongside Caeda, her high school friend, Itsuki, and by extension, Marth, to put the Shadow Dragon down once more. But what’s most impressive about Ms. Oribe is her ability to be laugh out loud hilarious, incredibly sincere and extremely dedicated, to the point where it felt so rewarding to finally see her come into her own as an artist. Seeing her go from her debut performance:

To her final performance:

It feels like the culmination of a long journey that you took alongside her, even if she technically went from an unknown to a national superstar in a few months. With all this considered, I had a hard time deciding who would be numbers two and three on the list, but with these factors in mind, Tsubasa’s perseverance more than deserved to stand above all the rest. Well, all except one.

We’ve counted down fifteen incredible waifus, showing that 2016 had no shortage when it came to some fantastic female, (and not so female), characters. But there can only be one who sits on the top shelf, so this year’s Best Girl deserves nothing short of an introduction worthy of Hollywood. So here to present our winner is 2015’s Waifu of the Year, Nepgear.

So without further ado, the 2016 Waifu of the Year goes to…

1. Eleonora Yumizuru (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE)

What can I say about Ellie that can encompass how beyond exceptional she is in almost every way? In battle, she’s a powerhouse who can use her expert archery skills to instant kill entire fields of enemies, even when caught in a normally difficult Savage Battle. Story wise, she acts as a mentor for her less experienced peers despite being slightly younger than they are age wise. And there aren’t many people out there that can provide better advice when it comes to all things acting, considering that she’s a consummate professional who takes her career aspirations very seriously.

You see, Ellie is often misunderstood, with her no nonsense attitude often mistaken for the stereotypical “tsundere” trope often found in anime and games. But much like every aspect of Tokyo Mirage Sessions, it takes these cliche ideas and adds enough depth to make you really feel for these characters. Ellie might be the best example of this, as you get to know her through your mock “dates” as she prepares for more romantic roles. Unforunately for her, she stands out in Tokyo as a biracial actress, which makes her feel uncomfortable in her own skin. As someone with comes from a mixed background, this resonated with me far more than I ever expected from a silly game about singers fighting demons. But something about her interactions felt so real, because it’s not like being biracial even hinders her. She’s not discriminated against… In fact, it’s implied that she gets more opportunities because of how “beautiful” and “unique” she is. Hell, even the character designer said she was his favorite character to design since she has this air of beauty and elegance about her. But the experience doesn’t have to be negative or malicious to make you feel like an outsider. Sometimes, it’s when you know that the person isn’t trying to hurt you that hurts most of all.

It’s hard to explain without living through it, but just knowing that someone sees you as different because of something you can’t control just makes you feel… Wrong? Always on the outside looking in? So she works so hard to become recognized as an actress to the point where she’s obsessed with Hollywood. Because she sees Hollywood as a land of opportunity with so many different kinds of people that she’ll just be “normal” once she becomes a big Hollywood actress. Not half Japanese and not half Scandinavian, but just an actress. So she drinks their smoothies, she accepts nothing but perfection, and she won’t allow herself to ever be second best. And yet, through all of that, she always takes the time to lift those up around her to be as great as she wants to be, even if that means she has to push herself harder. When you wrap up her side missions and you see her dreams come true, finishing the battle against the Mirages so she can star in her Hunger Games knockoff in Hollywood with no regrets, I was so proud to see success for this fictional girl that I had known for about 30 hours.That’s not just top waifu material, but top character material, so while Ellie is admittedly relatively unimportant to the main plot, her path to acceptance and the eventual realization that home lies less with where you are and more with who you are with is one that will stick with me for a long time.

I’ve been struck by cupid’s arrow. <3

Part of the reason why this article is later than in past years is part of me felt weight under the idea that this entry was more than just a silly waifu blurb, and was instead a deeply personal attachment that I don’t think I’ve ever felt in any form of fiction before. Because I saw myself and some of my own life experiences in her struggles, so I feel like I’ve been there before.  Looking back… I think I did as well as I could have! So here’s to you, Ms. Yumizuru. Here’s to hoping we meet again down the road.

So there it is! After a full year, more games than I’ve played in a long time, and 5000 words, here is your 2016 waifu of the year! To celebrate this grand occasion, here’s an extended cut of Dream Catcher, the collaboration between Ellie and Tsubasa where the pair do their best Callie and Marie impressions to the tune of Splatoon‘s Calamari Inkantation.  The top two waifus of the year dressed as 2015’s runners up singing a song reminiscent of the final boss theme from 2015’s game of the year? What better way to send us off?

Special thanks to the talented FantasyGodiva, who put this extended cut together. Make sure you check out her channel for even more videos and walkthroughs!

Share your waifu picks below and tell me how much you hate my list! I’m not scared, I’ll protect my waifus to the death.

So Tsubasa, Eleonora… Play us off!

The First Screenshots For ‘Cyber Dimension Netpune: 4 Goddesses Online’ Are Here!

by Josh Jackson

It’s been a long time coming since we first talked about the reveal of Cyber Dimension Neptune: 4 Goddesses Online, the latest spinoff in the ongoing Neptunia series. Plugging the girls into a beta test for Vert’s favorite MMORPG, 4 Goddesses Online, sounds great enough on its own, but after seeing our first glimpses at the CPU’s in their new roles, a peak at the game play, and the game’s gorgeous Unreal 4 debut.

Apparently taking some pointers from games like Sword Art Online, 4GO gives players control of their favorite goddesses as they traverse a simulated MMORPG in a single player setting. From these screens, it seems like the game play should be a huge departure from any of the games before it, showing off what can potentially be a real time battle system. From the game play standpoint, the Sword Art games have improved greatly since its rough debut, while other games with similar combat systems like Xenoblade Chronicles and Final Fantasy XII have refined this style of RPG for years. I have my fingers crossed that Compile Heart and Idea Factory take cues from these titles to make Cyber Dimension the best game in the series yet, especially after some recent spinoffs that turned out kind of iffy. (Get it!?)

And let’s be honest, if the game play possibilities alone didn’t have us excited, then the new looks for the girls is more than enough to do so. Noire as a Dark Knight looks especially great, with Neptune as a Holy Knight, Blanc as a Priest, and Vert as an Enchanter rounding out the main cast. I must say that they suit their new roles well, which is making me all the more anxious for the debuts of the CPU Candidates in their 4GO classes. 

Check out the screenshots, as well as the first teaser trailer below! Cyber Dimension Neptune: 4 Goddesses Online will arrive in Japan on February 9 exclusively for the PS4, meaning that we’ll probably get it sometime in August. Man, if there was ever a time to import…

 

Pre-orders For The ‘Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls’ Limited Edition Are Now Live!

by Josh Jackson

Do you love Neptunia as much as we do? Do you love waifus? Do you love pillows!? Idea Factory has us covered with the SuperDimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls limited edition, which is available for pre order now!

Ahead of the game’s October 18 release date, Vita owners are going to find plenty of ways to show off their IF love. Aside from the game, the package comes with the soundtrack on two CDs, a full color 28 page art book complete with character bios, a reversible cover, and an awesome collectors box featuring Hatsumi Sega. Most importantly, the double sided pillow case will let you snuggle up with whichever version of IF you want! So whether or not you want to cuddle with regular waifu, or make your dreams come true with the Dream Fusiom form, all it takes to fit your preference is a flip to the cold side of the pillow.

The limited edition is making us even more excited for a game that was a highlight of our E3 experience this year. With new protagonists, firms, and the ability to change classes, the last month is going to be the hardest to wait for. Pre-orders are open here for those who need a cuddle buddy, so let us know if you’re planning on picking this up!

‘MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies’ And ‘Trillion: God Of Destruction’ PC Beta Tests To Start Ahead Of Their Fall Steam Release!

by Josh Jackson

Following the trend of recent Vita releases by Idea Factory International, the publisher has announced that two of this year’s handheld releases, MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies, and Trillion: God of Destruction, will be released on Steam this fall. To give players a head start while making sure the games are performing as intended ahead of release, players are now able to sign up for the online beta tests.

Running from September 5 to October 9 for Trillion, and September 9 to September 25 for Zombies, there are a few requirements before you’ll be considered. First and foremost, you’ll have to love waifus of the moe variety. Officially, you’ll need:

  • A working PC with a reliable internet connection.
  • An active Steam account.
  • To agree to the Closed Beta Terms and Conditions.
  • To be 18 or older.
  • To include the following information in your application.
  • ο  Operating system:
  • ο  Operating system bit-system (32-bit, 64-bit etc.):
  • ο  Processor:
  • ο  Ram:
  • ο  Graphics card:
  • ο  Sound card:
  • ο  Steam username:

If you recall, Trillion is the unique strategy RPG / dating sim where you’ll lead an army of demon anime girls into battle against a monster that needs to be progressively worn down from its devastating trillion HP total. The more you woo your girl, the stronger they’ll become. In Zombies, the crew from the Hyperdimension Neptunia series gets placed into a school overrun by zombies, bringing back the action game play from Neptunia U and bringing multiplayer along with it; a first in series history.

If you want to give either game a shot, sign up here for consideration. Then make sure to come back and tell us what you think!

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ For Steam!

by Vince Jimenez

Megadimension Neptunia VII is easily the best Neptunia game yet. With noticeably higher production values, this game shines at what its good at. The music, the gameplay, and the visuals all excel. The frame rate is impeccable, staying at a steady 60 FPS . There is some fanservice as like the previous titles, but it’s very mild, and after the first few hours it should not be seen as anything more than an afterthought or for comedic relief. This makes even more sense  once you consider the entire leading cast is made up of strong females and the entire society within the game is pretty much matriarchal.

To start with, Neptunia is part of a very niche genre and series about the console industry and the war between the various companions that dominate it. There are an infinite number of dimensions, each with its own unique history, but they all revolve around different versions of the console war between Sega, Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox. In the game they’re given the names Planeptune, Lowee, Lastation and Leanbox respectively, being named after their most successful, current flagship console systems.

Megadimension Neptunia Steam Screen 1

Your typical spats between patron goddesses.

MDN VII is the sequel to Hyperdimension Neptunia (HDN) Victory, which itself is the sequel to HDN Mk2. A word of warning, going into this game first will cause some of the greatness of it to be lost on you. As it is a sequel to two previous games, references will be missed. Also, having a solid understanding of Japanese culture and anime in general, especially their expressions, will go a long way to enjoy this game more.

As we move on, VII can be easily describes as  the pinnacle of the Neptunia series so far. As time goes on, these games have only gotten better and better, and this one clearly stands as a standard when it comes to the improvements made between games. The graphics are great (played it completely maxed out, though the game wasn’t too demanding), areas that are dark look grungy and areas that should pop with color do and rightly so. The game is pretty massive, with three different intertwining stories in one  package and a huge cast of characters to choose from. In addition to the returning party members, each new character is also based on a different real world game console or game series, each of which is introduced throughout the multiple story lines. Further highlighting the changes made to how the story progresses the game does not the typical RPG flow of following the events and move on to next chapter. For example, in the G arc, we can choose between the four goddesses and develop their story, which is the only way to use certain characters, (like Noire’s campaign being the only one in the G arc with her sister, Uni, for example).

Megadimension Neptunia Steam Screen 3

K-Sha, the Konami inspired newcomer, uses Contra and Metal Gear Solid inspired attacks instead of Pachinko balls.

The gameplay is where the game really shines. Now that you are able to destroy and break of parts of enemies, the turn based combat requires you to think strategically and to plan your attacks. Some of the characters can transform during battle to give you an added boost of power and new moves you can use to to dispatch foes. In more detail, the cards at the upper right corner of the screen basically stated the order in which the enemies/heroes will attack in, while combat itself has some added elements to it. First off, during your turn, each character had a range in which they can move. This allowed you to position yourself around an enemy, attacking their flanks or their rear. Doing so increased the accuracy and damage dealt by your attacks, which is essential in some battles, especially early on when the difficult was significant. As for your attacks, you have your three basic combos. Rush Attacks, multi hit moves that are good at building the EXE gauge, (which I’ll get to later), Power Attacks, which grant increased power at the cost of the number of hits, and Standard Attacks, a mix of Rush and Power. You can have up to 5 attacks in a row, but this is determined by your weapon. There is a great deal of strategy around this piece. Each character has a different set of combos, and each combo may or may not come with a combo trait which, if satisfied, guarantees it’ll hit and be a critical strike. Figuring out which weapon to use for which character and which skills to set in which order in the combo adds a massive amount of complexity and depth to basic attacks, (not to mention this could mean the difference between life and death).

Megadimension Neptunia Steam Screen 5

The improved gameplay is the star of the show.

In addition to combo attacks there are also skills. These can be buffs, heals, resurrections, debuffs, or straight damage abilities. Some have AoE, some are linear, and some are single target. Some are elemental and some physical, which might be better to use depending on the situation. There is a wide range of abilities that you will find yourself using even late into the game because they fill many different roles, and no role ever really becomes useless. Then there are special ultimate attacks, called EXE Attacks. There is an EXE Gauge that fills with each hit you take and each hit you do. The more hits, the faster it fills. Rush attacks fill this the quickest since they have the most hits. A lot more can be said about the combat, scouting and (the weakest) crafting, but for the sake of length, I won’t. The combat system in the series has come a very long way since the early days, so newcomers to the series or those who only played the first few will know that the combat system has been greatly improved. This is the title to play if you want to get into the Neptunia series if you’ve never done so before.

Another place where the game shines excellently at is the music. There are a great number of catchy tunes and all the sound and effects fit nicely with the theme of the game. The songs are designed specifically to match a particular mood or environment. It does well at matching whatever context in which they’re in.

Megadimension Neptunia Steam Screen 4

White Heart showing off her new NEXT form.

The story isn’t going to win any Nebula awards for greatest plot twist. Once again, the game starts out with Neptune getting sucked into yet another dimension, (basically what happened in Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory), and this time, along comes her little sister, Nepgear. They land in what appears to be an apocalyptic version of their world and they need to figure out where they are and how to get back home. Neptune being the lovable Neptune, they set out on their quest bringing with them everything we have come to know and love. With a rather simple premise, and a tad bit of originality, the story is never difficult to understand. That being said, the story seems to is merely there to create a story for the characters to play in, and boy they do play.

First we have Neptune, a quirky, loveable little bundle of energy and joy that can make or break the tension in even the gloomiest of scenes. Arguably, her single greatest calling card is treating the fourth wall like a revolving door .Her younger sister, Nepgear, is one of the stable, rational minded individuals in the story that tries to keep things on track. Unfortunately this often fails and she ends up getting sucked into whatever problems her sister causes for her. However, beneath her seemingly docile, level headed exterior is a full-on gear head that goes bonkers at the sight of machines and robots. Series newcomer, Uzume, joins the girls in this dilapidated environment, and is based off of the Sega Dreamcast. Uzume has a megaphone, as a reference to the Dreamcast not being known as the quietest of systems. Changes in her personality appear as well, in reference to the transition of the games that were released on the Dreamcast from cute and bubbly to sharp and cool, (though that can be subjective). Her transformed state even shares a certain resemblance with that familiar green circle on her chest, referencing the middle of a Dreamcast’s controller. It doesn’t seem like much, but the way those three characters play off each other, and play off the dozens of others that you will encounter, and can add to your party, shows where the true heart of this series lies. Every character has depth to them, even if you don’t see it right away. The story of this game is amazing, not because of the quality, but because it is what every game should be.It doesn’t take itself seriously, and  it’s fun.

Megadimension Neptunia Steam Screen 2

Uzume letting her cute side leak out of her cool exterior.

This RPG is a great start for the summer if you missed the PS4 release. With it’s abundant helping of content, it will keep you occupied for some time to come and if you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll find yourself having a lot of fun.

Final Score: 4/5

Anime Expo 2016: Idea Factory Reveals Their Con Exclusive ‘Neptunia’ Merch

by Josh Jackson

If you’re a big fan of games like the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise or Fairy Fencer F, then you might want to seek out Idea Factory’s booth at Anime Expo this year, since the publisher is bringing more con exclusive merchandise than you can shake an eggplant at.

First off, NEXT Form T-shirts will let you rep your favorite goddess while showing off their new form from the recently released VII. Ranging from Small-XXL, there’s no reason why you won’t be able to display your love with pride.

Next, (get it?), are the Nepu Nepu plushies! This set of four tsum tsums stuffed Nep burritos are incredibly adorable, and almost make up for the fact that we didn’t get those Plutia style plushies from a few years ago.

NepuNepu Screen

If you missed out on any of those hard to get collector’s editions, the booth will also have some copies for their past games, including Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2, Re’Birth 3, Action Unleashed, Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies and VII among others. Like last year, the booth will also be giving away jumbo convention badges featuring games like the soon to be released Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force. And if you have A LOT of space in your room, the booth is holding auctions for some of their jumbo promotional banners. But most importantly, the company added Top Nep baseball caps as a last second addition! Be the meme as you show the world who runs Gamindustri.

Neptune Top Nep Hats

So stop by, demo games like MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death, take some pictures with the Neptune and Tiara standees and pick up some cool stuff while you’re at it. Who else is stopping by? And if you see the dork covered in Neptune gear, it’s probably me, so come say hi!

Here’s A First Look At The CPU Candidates In ‘Four Goddesses Online: Cyberdimension Neptunia’

by Josh Jackson

Courtesy of Dengeki Playstation, the Japanese gaming magazine that typically breaks the latest news regarding the Neptunia series of games, has revealed the CPU candidates for the upcoming Four Goddesses Online: Cyberdimension Neptunia.

Taking place in the same MMORPG that Vert, the CPU of Leanbox, is often seen playing in the main series, each of the girls now hold more traditional RPG job classes as they work to survive in this virtual world. Prior reveals showed that Neptune would be a Paladin, Noire a Dark Knight, Blanc as a healer/White Mage, and Vert as an Enchantress. No further details were known about the cast until now, but we know that when the CPU’s are around, their sisters can’t be far behind. With the most recent reveal, we now know what roles the younger girls will be playing based on some recently released concept art.

Based on the images, it appears as if Nepgear will take the role of a witch/Black Mage, Uni will be a gunner, Rom takes up her sword as a samurai, and her twin sister, Ram, will be the Ninja of the group. Uni makes sense since she’s always specialized in long ranged rifles, but the rest of the class assignments are surprising role swaps compared to the main game. Typically an attacker with light healing abilities, Nepgear going full-on mage is new for Nep Jr. On the other hand, Rom leaving the position of the team’s healer, and Ram becoming a class known for its speed and item usage as opposed to her usual offensive magic attacks, I’m really curious as to how each character will fit into these roles.

But first, we need to learn something about the game, with new pieces of information being few and far between. A release date, platform, or even what kind of game it will be outside of the vague description of a simulated MMORPG is still unknown, but for the time being, we’ll take whatever trickles out.

What are your thoughts on the CPU Candidates and their role in 4 Goddesses Online? Make sure to let us know in the comments!

‘MeiQ: Labyrinth Of Death’ Denied Classification In Australia For Some Reason

by Josh Jackson

While definitely not the worst offenders, Idea Factory’s anime inspired Japanese RPGs have been known to fall on the risque side of the fence in the past. With games that feature young girls that transform into busty goddesses, bosses that have a thing for pre-teens and some gratuitous camera shots as clothes are torn to shreds, it’s strange that this game is the straw that broke the camel’s back in Australia.

During my time with MeiQ at E3, it seemed like one of the most inoffensive games the company has released. Spending most of the play time in first person and battling with Guardians instead of people doesn’t give the game a whole lot of time to be terribly lewd, while all of the characters I saw were lacking in the dreaded fan service department. Nonetheless, Australia must know something we don’t, considering they’re refusing to carry the game in its current state due to its depiction of:

“..matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the  standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified.”

Whoa, what game was I playing?

The board went on to state that the game would be, “…likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult… [featuring] a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not).” The youngsters being exposed to sexual activity doesn’t seem to be much of an issue in other parts of the world, with Japan giving the game a 12+ rating, and the ESRB rating it as T for Teen. Could Australia be onto something, or are they just overreacting? After all, the country has a reputation for being strict when it comes to their gaming censorship, with games like Mortal Kombat, Saints Row, Grand Theft Auto and Hotline Miami having similar issues in the past. If nothing else, MeiQ can join these legendary games as one that’s received this dubious honor, and if controversy really does create cash, this buzz might be for the best in the end.

Source: Destructoid.com

E3 2016: ‘MeiQ: Labyrinth Of Death’ Lets Us Customize Mechs In Trillions Of Ways

by Josh Jackson

If you’re tired of getting your ass handed to you by brutal dungeon crawling RPGs that tend to overwhelm you with powerful enemies, which often creates a situation where the only real challenge it offers is whether or not you can stay awake long enough to level grind to an appropriate level, then MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death is looking like the game that might turn your attitude around. But don’t be mistaken, that’s not to say it’s not challenging. From what I could tell after watching the game in action, it’s quite the opposite. What makes MeiQ stand out however, is its encouragement to let the player customize their Guardians, mech like machines that serve as your first line of defense against the many monsters these dungeons house, without worrying about how a bad combination will cost you hours of progress.

E3 2016 MeiQ Screen 2

Idea Factory’s upcoming RPG looks familiar at first, opting for a first person view as we explore a grid based map, uncovering secret rooms, hidden treasure and tough enemies along the way. Small improvements for genre wide issues such as auto turning so you won’t run into walls as often are welcomed on the navigation front, but it’s when your team starts a battle that the real highlights shine through. Each Guardian is paired with a Machina Mage, a spell caster with her own HP and MP to help take down enemies within a traditional turn based battle system. Oftentimes, the abilities that the mage can use can work better than the Guardian’s can, or a weakened mech might need to take a backseat while being healed by its user.

However, you might want to be careful when using your Mage, because doing so exposes her to potential damage. A key difference between your party members is that a Guardian can be revived. If all of your Mages get knocked out, it’s game over, even if your Guardians still stand. Managing when to use who looks like it will be a major component to how strategy will come into play when braving the most dangerous labyrinths. But if you do screw up and get KO’d, the good news is that there’s no penalty. Aside from being warped back to the beginning of the dungeon, any experience and cash you found since your last save will be retained.

E3 2016 MeiQ Screen 1

Pushing forward and completing these dungeons promises to be worth it though, since beating bosses and finding hidden items are just two of many ways you’ll be able to find new parts for your Guardian, allowing you to customize them in seemingly countless ways. Not just acting as a cosmetic change, each part will alter their abilities, stats, strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to create the perfect party member for any situation. Of course, you have to find them first, which is why I can see MeiQ becoming an obsession for Vita owners over who can build the strongest team of machines. Not to be outdone, Mages can also unlock costumes, including free DLC outfits based on Idea Factory and Compile Heart’s other titles, Hyperdimension Neptunia and Trillion: God of Destruction.

E3 2016 MeiQ Screen 3

As you can see, there will be plenty to discover when MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death arrives for Sony’s PlayStation Vita this fall. Who’s up for some mech building? Let us know in the comments below!

E3 2016: ‘Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls’ Shines The Spotlight On IF

by Josh Jackson

Years of loyalty means something in Planeptune. After being a side character in the very first Hyperdimension Neptunia game back in 2010, IF, (or Iffy as her friends call her,) has moved up from wandering adventurer and guild leader to main character! In Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls, Iffy leads the charge alongside newcomer, Segami, against the Sega Hard Girls as they fight to protect the history of Gamindustri.

E3 2016 SuperDimension Neptune Screen 1

If you’re unfamiliar with who the Sega Hard Girls are, the characters are human incarnations of Sega consoles that have been featured in various manga, anime and game projects in Japan. So naturally, having them integrated into the Neptunia universe is a perfect fit. Seeing as this game is heavily built around the former console manufacturer, the Sega based CPU’s will be the only ones to face off against the Hard Girls. So if you’re hoping to see Vert renew her relationship with Iffy, or even Noire and Blanc return after the release of their own games, you’re out of luck. However, I’m all for Plutia, Neptune, Nepgear and the newest CPU who debuted in this year’s Megadimension Neptunia VII, Uzume Tennouboshi, getting their time to shine. Even if our typical protagonist is a motorcycle this time for some reason.

But Neptune becoming a two wheeled vehicle isn’t the only change coming in this crossover RPG, since the battle system takes on some interesting new mechanics compared to the mainline series. Developed by Felistella, the team behind the excellent Re;Birth remakes for the PS Vita, the battle system looks nearly identical at first. Once you start playing however, longtime fans will notice how much has changed with IF in the lead. The typical Guard Break system has been replaced with a standard set of normal and special attacks. Adopting a turn order system similar to games like Final Fantasy X while retaining the free movement gameplay that the series is known for, who goes first is determined by how much you attack. Each character can attack as much as they want until they fill up a meter that prevents them from acting any further. Going crazy and beating your opponents into the ground might not be the best way to go though, because the more you attack, the longer you’ll have to wait until your next turn comes up. The last thing you want for your adorable party is to become completely helpless while the enemies grind your health to zero.

E3 2016 SuperDimension Neptune Screen 2

As we know, it wouldn’t be a Neptunia game without crazy transformations, and Sega Hard Girls will be no different. The thing is, Iffy never got a cool form like the CPU’s in past games. As the star this time around, that’s all about to change. Acting in battle will also fill up your Fever, which allows you to literally jump up and grab the extra power to perform a Dream Fusion in the middle of a battle, (from a gem that resembles a Chaos Emerald no less.) With Iffy sporting an awesome red jacket to go with her new blonde hair, and Segami being able to take the form of the Sega Hard Girls as the game progresses, (which includes Game Gear, Mega Drive, Sega Saturn and Dreamcast for those keeping track,) the girls will be playing with power when we’re finally able to play through their journey to keep history from falling apart.

E3 2016 SuperDimension Neptune Screen 3

With brand new worlds and environments to explore, game references that go so far back that even the hardest of the hardcore might miss out on them, and a greater emphasis on exploration to go with the updated battle system, I’m really looking forward to how this crossover is going to play out. Between getting to see IF in the lead role, the Sega Hard Girls making their first non-cameo appearance in a Western released video game, or playing with some fan favorite Neptunia CPU’s, here’s one more reason to be a Vita owner when Fall rolls around. Now, where’s our Vert game!?

Class Is In Session This May In ‘MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies’

by Josh Jackson

Better late than never as they say.

Originally scheduled to release at the end of April, the follow-up to last year’s action spinoff, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, seriously titled MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies, will now signal back to school season on May 10th.

Taking place in an alternate universe where the CPU and CPU Candidates of the main Neptunia games are all students in a school called Gamicademi, Lowee CPU, Blanc, takes center stage as her and her friends decide to make a zombie movie. But when the monsters in their film all turn out to really be the undead, the girls must band together once again to protect their campus, while getting it all on film in the process.

Featuring up to four player co-op, which is a franchise first, MegaTagmension looks to bring the pain with all the hack and slash goodness we found in the Action Unleashed, and cranking it up through the roof with more players, more goddesses, and more enemies to defeat. With newcomers like Plutia, Peashy, Uzume, and the debuting Tamsoft joining the fight, there won’t be a shortage of carnage when the game graduates to our PS Vita handhelds.

Check out our coverage of the original release for screenshots of the Japanese version. Who will you lead to Gamicademi greatness? Let us know in the comments, and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as they become available.

‘Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls’ Is Heading Stateside This Fall!

by Josh Jackson

If you thought that the upcoming MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies was the only Neptunia news to get excited over, Idea Factory had one more announcement for us Vita gamers. Remember that game that we discussed last year that stars support character, IF, and turns Neptune into a motorcycle?  Well, it’s heading stateside this fall, officially titled Superdimension Neptune Vs. Sega Hard Girls.

Developed by Felistella, (the team behind the excellent Re;Birth remakes on the Vita,) SuperDimension has IF and the goddesses of Gamindustri team up with the Sega Hard Girls, anthropomorphic versions of the Sega Genesis, (known in Japan as the Mega Drive,) Game Gear Saturn, and Dreamcast, each of which are goddesses representing their consoles. Created as a collaboration between Dengenki Bunko and Sega, (who came together last year to bring us the manga based fighting game, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, which featured Dreamcast in its story mode), the girls have starred in their own manga and anime adaptations in Japan. Naturally, this premise seems like a natural fit for the world of Gamindustri.

With Neptune tied up as a motorcycle, it’s up to IF to save history itself as the pages of from the Great Library begin to fade away. After teaming up with newcomer, Hatsumi Sega, the two must run, jump and crawl through each era of Sega history to preserve the past. With new abilities like class changing and Fever Time, even Neptunia veterans will have plenty to look forward to when Iffy’s adventure finally arrives.

Woo Your Waifu With These ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia’ Valentine’s Cards!

by Josh Jackson

Have you been having a hard time finding a way to show your waifu how much she means to you? Or maybe you want to surprise your husbando with some thoughtful words, but can’t manage to put sentences together after days of texting in acronyms? Well, Idea Factory has our backs with these Hyperdimension Neptunia Valentine’s Day cards courtesy of their Facebook page.

Featuring the four main CPU’s, IF, Compa, Warechu, the sadomasochistic Iris Heart, dandy Umio, and the newest CPU introduced in the recently released Megadimension Neptunia VII, Uzume Tennouboshi, these cards are sure to warm your cold, weeaboo heart better than any body pillow ever could. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go on an all night raid? We are talking Four Goddesses Online, right? Sadly, the CPU Candidates are nowhere to be found, but promoting underage love might not be what the company is going for… This year.

Check out the cards below and tell us what your favorites are! While your at it, let us know your your waifu or husbando is on this day of love! We’ll only accept the best of the best girls and boys, so choose well!

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’

by Josh Jackson

Despite half a dozen remakes and spinoffs over the last year and a half giving the impression that there was plenty of Gamindistri goodness to go around, it’s been nearly four years since we Nep’ed up some bad guys in the last mainline Hyperdimension Neptunia game. Gaining a following based on its lighthearted take on the game industry while wrapping itself in magical girl anime tropes, its characters often overshadowed its addicting combat, which had admittedly grown stale after remaining mostly unchanged since the second game. Knowing this, making the jump to the PlayStation 4 in its current gen debut is the perfect opportunity to create a new first impression.  Thanks to some much needed changes to the battle system and larger dungeons to go with the series’ trademark humor, this is a goal that Megadimension Neptunia VII largely succeeds at.

Megadimension Neptunia VII_20151110142359

Neptune is back in action.

For the uninitiated gamer who couldn’t tell the difference between a Dogoo and a Pixelvader, Neptunia revolves around the four goddesses of Gamindustri. Neptune of Planeptune, Noire of Lastation, Blanc of Lowee and Vert of Leanbox each rule over their own nation, (analogous of Sega, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft respectively,) while maintaining a friendly rivalry for share energy, a manifestation of the public’s adoration and the source of their power. the girls have since each of which represents a different nation. As the protagonist, (which she’ll be sure to constantly remind you of throughout her fourth wall breaking escapades), Neptune steps aside a bit this time to share the spotlight with the rest of the cast. Split into three smaller stories that eventually converge into one large conflict, this is very much Uzume Tennouboshi’s tale. As the last living CPU of an alternate version of a post apocalyptic Gamindustri, Neptune and her little sister, Nepgear, find themselves transported to this world through a console that’s totally not a Sega Dreamcast. In an adventure that introduces plenty of new characters, multiple worlds and non-linear progression that shines the spotlight on all four main CPU’s, VII proves early on that it’s a huge departure from its prequels thanks to its narrative.

If you’re worried that the game sounds too doom and gloom in the same way the second game was, then fear not. Despite the the dark tone of the first few dungeons, this game finds a balance between making us laugh with its lighthearted and tongue in cheek script while creating a sense of urgency within the scenarios in a way that improves on the games before it. So if you know anything about Neptune and her world, that means plenty of winks to the audience with its parodies of video games, gaming characters, and even the business practices that occupy this hobby we all love so much. New characters like Gold Third, a group of humans who represent Capcom, Bandai Namco, Square Enix and Konami respectively, add even more depth to an already great cast, (especially nods to their company history, like Square’s S-Sha having two personalities after fusing with her former enemy, based on Enix), and the villains manage to be both hilarious and menacing when they need to be. While the fanservice is relatively tame this time around, what other game are you going to find two robot villains who are obsessed with busty blondes, only for one of them to go through an identity crisis after falling in love with the flat chested Uni?

Megadimension Neptunia VII_20151110153013

Meet Umio, the know-it-all fish man who resembles a certain Dreamcast star.

The gameplay has always been one of my favorite parts of the Neptunia series, which is easily the high point of VII. Making sure that the story and cast wasn’t the only part of the game changed, a host of new mechanics debut to turn the game’s conventions on its head. Doing away with its Guard Break system that’s been a staple of the series for years, positioning is more important than its ever been. Bringing back the full range turn based gameplay that debuted in the second game, each character you control can be moved freely within a certain range, with their attacks allowing you to hit multiple opponents at once if positioned right. Enemies now have parts that boost their defense, which will have to be broken off with the new Parts Break system. Standing in the right position, using the right elemental attacks, or flat out overwhelming bulky foes lets you deal even more damage, serving as the only way to beat some especially tough baddies.

To maximize your turns, you’ll have to prepare your combos ahead of time, bringing more strategy into the mix. Each weapon has a starting attack, where up to three additional moves can be mapped to fit different situations. Broken down into Rush Attacks, Power Attacks and Standard Attacks, each fits a different purpose when you’re grinding out those extra levels. Rush sacrifices damage for more individual hits, building up the team’s shared EXE Meter, (which lets the party unleash their most powerful attacks), Power does more damage, but fewer hits, and Standard is a happy medium. Beyond these categories, each individual attack will usually have some kind of perk that boosts its properties as long as certain requirements are met in that turn. For example, one attack might do more damage if your previous attack was a Rush Attack, whereas another will get a boost if you haven’t used a Power Attack yet. In addition to varying areas of attack, individual weapons also have different amounts of total attacks and unique starting attacks, making certain weapons better in the long run, even if they’re not the most powerful. The game makes sure to give you plenty to think about when heading into battle.

Megadimension Neptunia VII Screen 6

But the most impressive change that the battle system has brought is its use of team attacks, allowing your group of four to deliver huge amounts of damage with the right partners. Aside from the SP attacks, essentially your magic skills that pull from a character’s SP Meter, and the EXE Attacks mentioned above, these team ups further show how much the game has grown since its last entry. While team attacks have been in previous games, you could just unleash them anywhere on the map as long as you had the right amount of meter. This time, your whole team has to be positioned around their target in a certain way for them to work. Three member moves usually ask them to stand in a triangle formation that encloses the enemy monster for example, while full party four person attacks asks to create a square. Seeing that field placement so important this time around makes it apparent that the AI has also been improved, to the point where they’ll usually avoid grouping together or move right outside your range. It’s frustrating at times, (in a good way), but it’s good to see that the game is willing to make you work for your wins this time.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of what the battle system has to offer, Giant Battles force you to put those formations to work. As a new type of combat, these fights only allow you to use SP or EXE attacks as you gang up on a towering opponent, surrounding it by jumping from various platforms around the stage. Forcing your team to split up across the field, your priorities will change compared to regular battles since you won’t be able to be near your teammates to heal them without giving up the potential to unleash your most powerful team attacks. Moving at a much slower pace, these fights ask you to become more methodical with how you approach them, which is a nice change of pace compared to the waves of enemies you’ll be used to defeating. Slowing down the combat could eventually wear thin, which is probably why you’ll only encounter these special scenarios a handful of times.

Megadimension Neptunia VII_20151110153022

Some of the special moves look ridiculously cool.

Just when you think you’ve seen all there is to see, the content continues to grow about half way through. In addition to Disc Development, (allowing you to customize equipment to grant various benefits), a few new customization aspects lets you dive deeper into the inner workings of each nation. Saving up money will let you develop your shops, weapon development or publicity, which makes new items available for your group to purchase. Ranging from extra powerful gear to help you do more damage, unlocking unique items that can only be obtained through this method, or raising a nation’s shares to strengthen your CPU’s from each area, there are plenty of rewards to come if you invest in each country. Throwing in the ability to hire NPC’s to scout for secret dungeons and items, their traits that grant certain advantages and disadvantages to being in the dungeon with them, and using cash to build new paths through Route Building, even series veterans will be surprised with how much has changed since the last game.

Oddly enough, the only real flaws that the game has are when it goes half way with the improvements, which becomes painfully obvious due to how tedious these moments are. For one, the map has a bit more life to it since your main character now travels from point to point along the map, rather than just selecting a location from a list. Yet, when you move between dungeons, random battles make their series debut by popping up between areas. One of the better aspects about these games was that it gave you control over whether or not you wanted to battle by placing the enemies on the map, while allowing you to hit them for a pre-fight advantage. When you take that away, you’re adding in one of the more generic, outdated genre mechanics that the game would be better off without. I’m also in favor of the game eliminating auto healing when you leave dungeons and replacing it with having to move to specific headquarters in each area to recover, but coupling this with the random battles means you might get caught off guard.

Megadimension Neptunia VII Screen 1

The four CPU’s in their new NEXT forms.

Moving on to brand new Neplunker mini-game, the overall package would have been better off without it. Simulating the Spelunker exploration games of days past, Neptune and her team will travel through a cave with difficulty that increases as you descend. Using the same combat system for fights, the focus is more centered around exploration, platforming and eventual survival. Except… Neptune was never meant to be a platforming star, which is obvious as soon as you start trying to traverse these stages. Her awkward jumps and clunky movement is perfectly fine when playing the normal game, but when you throw in precision jumping and avoiding traps, it becomes a nightmare to play. To make matters worse, losing all three lives, (which are unique to this mode), results in a game over for the entire game. So if you forgot to save before falling into that pit, tough luck! The post game unlocks make it more bearable, but when you feel like you’d be better off avoiding a feature until after the story is finished, that’s obviously a problem.

Unfortunately, the game’s biggest issue is one of the most persistent ones throughout the series. Each game has had a bad habit of re-using dungeons, which becomes more and more inexcusable as the games continue to grow. As another half measure, VII does not repeat any of the maps from its prequels, but does re-do the dungeons IN VII! It’s hard to be too upset though, since each one features brand new, much larger areas to explore, complete with hidden paths and breakable items that hide better treasure. Surprisingly, the size increase doesn’t slow down the game at all. Registering at a smooth 60 frames per second throughout nearly the entire game, (aside from a few maps with a lot going on in the background), the game is the most technically sound yet. The character models are still fairly basic, but the visual upgrade is strong enough that it will make it harder to go back to the older games in comparison. Rounding out the areas with an updated soundtrack that contains almost all new songs, it makes it that much more noticeable when the enemies, maps and even bosses are eventually recycled. It’s a step in the right direction, but I’m hoping that future games will go all the way with creating a completely original campaign, especially as they continue to get more and more popular.

Megadimension Neptunia VII_20151110152058

Did I mention the transformations look amazing this time?

While not without its annoyances, Megadimension Neptunia VII is everything a sequel should be. Neptune’s fourth game provides a lenghty adventure that vastly improves combat, exploration and enemy AI, all while maintaining its laugh out loud humor for great effect. Some of the new features feel either out of place, don’t go far enough, or feel cheapened thanks to the continued re-using of assets, but these points are neglegable when you see how this game took everything that could be improved upon and made an attempt at it while staying true to the core concepts that kept fans happy over the last few years. So whether or not you’re a longtime Gamindustri supporter, a JRPG fan who wants to try something new, or even someone who wants some self referential humor to replace all the self doubt and hurt feelings that the genre is associated with, you’d do well to give Neptune a shot.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Here’s When ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ Will Grace Our TV Screens!

by Josh Jackson

If you were losing sleep over the thought of when you’ll be able to play Megadimension Neptunia VII, the fourth main game in the Hyperdimension Neptunia RPG series, then you’ll be able to rest easy tonight. Idea Factory has announced that our return to Gamindustri will arrive on February 2nd!

Joining Neptune and Nepgear as they travel between three different dimensions as they attempt to save Gamindustri from its latest threats, the game is set to feature new battle mechanics, characters, enemies, CPU’s and NEXT forms to keep things interesting. And of course, we can’t forget the humor, game parodies, and crazy personalities the series is known for, which has captivated us enough to place Neptune and Nepgear in high spots on our top waifu lists! We’ve gone full weeaboo for these games, people!

Despite retailers listing Megadimension Neptunia for a February 2nd release for awhile now, it’s great to see some official confirmation, especially if you’re counting the days until your limited edition will arrive. But wait, what am I supposed to play if Gravity Rush HD and Street Fighter V both come out on the same day!? I think it’s time to make some serious life choices.

For more information on the battle system, NEXT forms, or past reviews, check our archives and get all the Nep Nep you can handle, and be sure to check back for all your Neptune news!

 

The Next Generation Of Gamindustri Has Arrived With These ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ Screenshots

by Josh Jackson

Well, it’s early 2016, and that means Megadimension Neptunia VII should be getting an official release date any day now. If you’re anything like me however, you need any bit of Gamindustri goodness you can get to hold you over until we can finally pop Neptune’s latest 4th wall breaking adventure into our PS4’s.

It’s okay though, because Idea Factory has us covered with the latest batch of screenshots from the upcoming RPG, showing off the NEXT forms of the four main CPUs. Inspired by the Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, and whatever non-existent Sega console the designers came up with for Lady Purple Heart’s next gen upgrade, these sleeker, more powerful goddesses show that you can kick all kinds of ass, even when there’s a controller on your crotch.

Check out the gallery below as well as the first batch of battle screenshots and let us know who’s updated design is your favorite! Don’t forget, the limited edition preorders go live today at 10 AM PST! So if you want those posters, that art book, and that sweet, sweet Umio plush, make sure you have your finger on the refresh button for all that sweet Neptune merch. I’ll be right there with you!

Jump Into The Fray With These ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ Battle Screenshots!

by Josh Jackson

While it shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point that the next full fledged sequel in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series was heading to the Western shores, that doesn’t mean we can’t be through the roof excited over playing as all of our favorite goddesses on our PS4’s! Sporting a snazzy new name to go with its current gen debut, Megadimension Neptunia VII is the first full fledged sequel since 2012’s Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, despite numerous remakes and spinoffs to fill the gaps.

Even as a hardcore Nep fan, it’s fair to say that the battle formula between all of the Vita remakes and the core PS3 series, (not to mention different franchises with similar game play like Fairy Fencer F,) is starting to get a little tired, which is why we were as excited as Peashy with Nep’s Pudding when it was announced that the battle system is getting some interesting sounding features. If you wanted to see what this would look like in action, look no further, because this latest set of battle screenshots should give us a clue or two.

Where do I begin? Seeing Orange Heart in action? Those sweet, new moves with all the flash that we’d expect from the girls of Gamindustri! Nepgear with her mech, Nepgeardam in tow, and an army of Umio’s! Does this make sense to you? If not, you’ll have a great opportunity to get caught up when Megadimension Neptunia VII launches for the PS4 early this year. Oh, and if you’re a fan of cool stuff, don’t forget that pre-orders of the limited edition go up at 10:00 AM PST on January 7th!

Here’s What You’ll Be Getting In The ‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ Limited Edition!

by Josh Jackson

If you’re a fan of the Hyperdimension Neputnia franchise like I am, but you’re not following them on their Facebook or Twitter accounts, then you’ve missed the team slowly rolling out the contents of the upcoming Megadimension Neptunia VII limited edition for the PS4. Never ones to hold back on special content, the final count ends up with seven different items for the hardcore Gamindustri faithful, all for an extra $25. Not bad, right?

First, is this PS4 skin featuring the NEXT version of Purple Heart, with the various Gamipics of the cast surrounding the edges. Adding a way to put a personal touch on your Sony console, the color scheme and set up goes really well with the console’s standard layout in my opinion. Check it out for yourself!

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 4

Being able to display your Neptunia love on your console is all well and good, but what about the rest of your room? That’s where the poster comes in, showing Neptune in battle against the latest CPU to join the cast.

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 8

Next is a slipcover and special box for the game, with each of the CPU’s prominently featured on the outside. From past favorites like Noire, Vert and Blanc, to the debuting Uzume, the special design might just be too adorable to handle.

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 2

It wouldn’t be a proper limited edition without a soundtrack or art book, right? Luckily, in addition to the goodies listed above, we’re getting both! The art book shows off character designs and shares brief profiles of each of the featured characters, while the two disc soundtrack features Mr. Badd’s “daughters” from Victory and Re;Birth III on the cover.

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 7

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 6

 

But most importantly, we have to have our mascots represented, and what better way to do that than to bring one of them out in plush form? After weeks of reveals, the final item in this packed special edition is… Umio! This fish with a human face might give us uneasy memories of Sega’s creepy, sarcastic monstrosity, Seaman, but Umio is much easier to cuddle. Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

Megadimension Neptunia Limited Edition 5

As you might know, fans have been waiting on pins and needles to find out what will be included, especially considering previous sets have quickly sold out, only to be flipped for insane prices through second hand markets. If you don’t want to be left out in the cold, make sure to have your refresh buttons ready on January 7th at 10 PM PST! Retailing at $84.99, which is only $25 more than the standard game with so much more included, and this one’s feeling like a no brainer for someone like me who needs everything Neptune.

Has the limited edition convinced you to pick the game up? Share your Gamindustri love with us in the comments below, and be sure to check back with us as more news on Megadimension Neptunia becomes available.

‘Megadimension Neptunia VII’ Is Releasing Early 2016!

by Josh Jackson

After playing through three remakes, three spinoffs, and an anime that roughly puts it all together, it’s about time for a brand new Hyperdimension Neptunia title, isn’t it? And not a spinoff or another remake, (not that there’s anything left TO remake at his point,) but a true, core title that advances the lore of Gamindustri.

Well, it looks like we won’t have to wait much longer! Idea Factory has announced that the long awaited sequel to 2012’s Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory will finally hit the PS4 in early 2016, under the title of MegaDimension Neptunia VII. That’s “V-2”, not 7. You know the Japanese and their wacky numbering system.

MegaDimension puts players back into the floppy shoes of Neptune, who is tasked with traveling across three different worlds to save Gamindustri, complete with new characters, environments, and CPUs. In addition, the game play is said to be getting a much needed overhaul, with the new “Parts Break” mechanic, which lets the goddesses cut their enemies into pieces to lower their attacks, “Giant Battles”, which will take a new type of strategy to win, and NEXT mode, a Next Gen upgrade that gives the four goddesses brand new, more powerful transformations to go with their new outfits. A new dungeon mini-game rounds out what we know so far, which pays homage to Spelunker. However it plays, it has to be better than Stella’s Dungeon in Re;Birth 2, right?

So step aside, Uncharted 4 and Legend of Zelda, because the game of the year 2016 is already decided! Want to know what all the hubbub is about? Take a look at the screen shots and full press release below, then when you’re done, check out our reviews for the Vita remakes and spinoffs here, here, here and here. Did I mention they release a lot of these games?

Are you ready to be swimming in waifu’s early next year? Let us know!

Go beyond HDD mode and take the power of Gamindustri’sCPUs to the next level in NEXT mode! MegadimensionNeptunia™ VII hits North America and Europe in Early 2016, exclusively on the PlayStation®4 home entertainment system in both retail and digital formats! The first PS4 game in the HyperdimensionNeptuniaseries, this installment features new characters, three worlds to save and three stories to play, a new powerful transformation mode, extra features to the battle system, and a new dungeon minigameso you can get all the items you need for you and all of your new allies to save Gamindustri!

G.C. 2015—Gamindustrihas entered a precarious season known as the CPU Shift Period. During this time of social unrest, deprecating rumors about the CPUs have begun to saturate Gamindustri. Neptune and the others worry the citizens will soon call for new leaders to replace the them and that their rule will end. In these critical moments for Planeptune, Neptune and Nepgearmysteriously disappear. Their destination: a divergent world, nearing its catastrophic end, called the Zero Dimension. They encounter the last remaining CPU of this world, UzumeTennouboshi, who is desperately waging a lonely battle against a colossal evil known as the Dark CPU.Will Neptune and Nepgearbe able to work together with Uzumein order to save Zero Dimension from tragedy? So begins a new adventure for Neptune..
Key Features
New Battle Features Characters can link up for stronger attacks, “Parts Break” allows you to split enemies into pieces to lower their stats and disable special attacks, and “Giant Battles” impose limits that will challenge the strategist in you!
NEXT mode A second transformation is now available! You can break those big baddies into bits with NEXT mode, which features new special skills and a new costume for the CPUs!
Three Worlds, Three Stories Three different story modes! Withnew CPUs and characters at your side, you must fight through three dimensions to save Gamindustri!
New Dungeon Minigame! An homage to the classic “Spelunker,” you receive special items when you clear this dungeon under the time limit!

Meet Ukyo, The Final Bachelor, In These ‘Amnesia: Memories’ Screenshots

by Josh Jackson

Would you cross dimensions for the perfect husbando? Amnesia: Memories is counting on it. This upcoming Otome title, (or story driven game targeted towards girls, which didn’t stop me from enjoying it at E3,) puts you in the role of a protagonist who has lost all of her memories. In order to regain what she lost, she must get close to the people in her life and learn more about herself while hiding the fact that she forgot in the first place. And what’s the best way to do that? Date all of the guys!

The latest batch of screenshots present Ukyo, one of the bachelors featured in Amnesia. Like the rest of the cast, this green haired beau will take different roles depending on which reality you want to pursue. So while he might be a love interest in one play through, he can also be a friend or co worker in another! Only by experiencing every reality will you find the truth behind your existence.

In addition to the previously announced PS Vita and Steam releases, there’s some good news for mobile fans out there! Amnesia will also arrive on Android and iOS at the end of August courtesy of Gloczus. Now you can have all your boyfriends on your phone without any of them finding out!

How boy crazy are you? Check out the screenshots below and get your heart racing. Keep an eye out for our final review as the August 25th release date approaches.

‘Extreme Tag Blanc + Neptune VS Zombie Army’ Gets A New Character; Additional Details

by Josh Jackson

More details have emerged for the upcoming Hyperdimension Neptunia spinoff, Extreme Tag Blanc + Neptune VS. Zombie Army. In addition to Plutia, Uzume and Peashy being confirmed last month, a unique character to this title, Tamsoft-chan, will make her debut alongside the rest of the cast.

Gaining her namesake from the developers of the game, (as well as the excellent Hyperdimension Neptunia U, and the horrendous Producing Perfection,) Tamsoft-chan joins Blanc and her friends after learning about their “interesting” activities while tagging along with Dengekiko and Famitsu. Aside from her love of festivals, (and her apparent hatred of bras,) we don’t know much about Tamsoft at this point. However, if she doesn’t fight with a sword in the style of the developer’s Onechanbara series, I’d be shocked.

Extreme Dimension Blanc + Neptune Vs Zombie Army Tamsoft

What we do know however, is how the rest of the recently revealed characters will fight. Uzume can use up close kick attacks in addition to her megaphone, while Plutia uses her dolls to deal damage, even allowing them to attack on their own. When in her CPU form, her sword grants her long range, making her enemies suffer like only Sadie can. Lastly, Peashy keeps things simple, fighting with close range attacks with crushing punches and kicks. In other words, they’re exactly like they should be.

With the cast growing steadily, Zombie Army is shaping up to be a much bigger game than its action based predecessor. While no Western release has been confirmed, we’ll be counting the days until the announcement hits. Until then, Japan will receive the game exclusively for PS Vita this October.

Source: gematsu.com

Plutia and Peashy Will Fight The Undead In ‘Intense Dimension Tag Blanc + Neptune Vs. The Zombie Army’

by Josh Jackson

Good news for Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory fans! Dengeki Magazine is reporting that Plutia and Peashy, two of the characters introduced in Neptune’s third game, will make their return in Intense Dimension Tag Blanc + Neptune Vs. The Zombie Army, (and yes, that’s the full title.) After being largely absent from the series outside of their debut appearance and its recent Vita remake, it’ll be great to see the Ultradimension’s CPU’s in a full fledged action game. I’m just wondering how sadistic Iris Heart will be this time around…

Following Noire’s lead after the release of the Lastation CPU’s own game, Hyperdevotion Noire, the folks at Idea Factory and Tamsoft decided it was Blanc’s turn to get her own game. Based on the hack and slash game play from this Spring’s Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, (which we showered with praise in our review,) this upcoming title puts the Lowee CPU in the lead role as her and her friends take on a zombie army in a new school setting.

Featuring Blanc, Neptune, Noire, Vert, Nepgear, Uni, Rom, Ram, Dengekiko, and Victory II‘s Uzume in addition to the two new ladies, it’s looking like the upcoming spinoff will increase its roster exponentially. Naturally, this is great considering this game will be the first in the series to allow up to four player cooperative play! With as much fun as we had with U, I’m excited to think how much better Zombie Army will be with all these new additions.

On top of the recent reveal for IF’s own game, how much more Neptune will we get!? We’ve gathered every screenshot released so far, so check out the CPU’s in action below, and let us know which character is your best girl! Intense Dimension Tag Blanc is set for a Vita release by the end of the year in Japan, with a Western release yet to be announced. But come on, we got Producing Perfection, and that game sucked! Surely we’re getting this, right?

Sources: Siliconera, RPGSite.net

Details Surface For The Ridiculously Titled ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia Vs. Sega Hard Girls: Dream Fusion Special’

by Josh Jackson

If you couldn’t tell by reading our site or listening to the Geekscape Games podcast, Idea Factory can really churn out those Hyperdimension Neptunia games. Within the last year, the West has seen six as it is, with a proper sequel AND a zombie slaying spin-off starring Lowee’s CPU, Blanc, on the horizon. And yet, what if I told you that yet another spinoff is on its way?

In Hyperdimension Neptunia Vs. Sega Hard Girls, this upcoming Vita exclusive will put players in the oversized coat of IF, one of the original human, or “maker” characters from the original RPG who has stood by Neptune’s side ever since. This tough, no nonsense guild leader  finally gets a starring role, (and a redesign to go with it,) once the history books of the Grand Library begin to disappear. Altering these stories has the ability to change history itself, so Iffy takes it upon herself to go on an adventure through space and time to get them back.

Not that she’ll be alone on this adventure. As the title mentioned, Sega themed characters will make their appearance to fight alongside IF, namely Sega Hatsumi. This girl with an outfit that vaguely reminds us of a certain hedgehog, seems to be the key to the changes in history between the Sega Hard Girls and the four goddesses of Gamindustri, but how her role will play out is yet to be seen.

Game play wise, details are still murky as to what kind of game this will be, but based on the screenshots released so far, the game seems to be taking a more action based approach, which is perfect for the knife wielding heroine and her tough personality. Whether or not any other familiar faces will appear is yet to be seen as well, but come on, it’s a Neptunia game! It’s practically expected at this point.

Check out the latest screenshots and the official synopsis from Dengeki Online below, and make sure to keep checking back for more information on this and other titles as it breaks.

Source: gematsu.com, Dengeki Online

Story

A grand library that governs all of this world’s history.

If the history books stored there are tampered with, it is said that it is possible to rewrite actual history.

IF, with a certain goal in mind and after a long journey, finally sets foot within the grand library.

However, within that library, an incident occurs and the history books begin to disappear one after the other.

The disappearance of the history books means a loss of real history.

Before her very eyes, history is being lost, and then, the world.

To resolve this incident, IF must journey across space and time on a new adventure.

■ Characters

IF (voiced by Kana Ueda)

Neptunia Sega Hard Girls Sega IF

The game’s protagonist. She’s an adventurer who travels around the world with her trusty motorcycle just trying to find a bit of fun and a brighter future in a modern age where civilization has fallen. She’s diligent, cool, and level-headed, as well as the group peacemaker, but her only flaw is that she suffers a little bit from chuunibyou syndrome.

Sega Hatsumi (voiced by Emi Nitta)

Neptunia Sega Hard Girls Sega Hatsumi

An unidentifiable girl who lost her memory. She goes by Segami, or Segamin. Although she doesn’t remember anything outside her own name, for some reason she shows an uncommon tenacity in changing the history of the conflict between the goddesses and Sega Hard Girls. Although she has the spirit of a leader and is charismatic, she occasionally doesn’t listen to others when they talk, and bewilders her friends with ideas out of left field.

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation’

by Josh Jackson

When I heard that Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory was getting the remake treatment in the form of a third Re;Birth game, I was curious to see how that would turn out. After all, part of the purpose of creating the remakes in the first place was to improve on the first two games by designing them with the game play mechanics of the third title. So when it came to recreating Neptune’s most recent canonical adventure in Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation, the game takes chances with tweaks to the game play mechanics, more plans to create, new story scenes, and larger environments. While it’s reassuring that the game is more than a copy paste job, not all of these updates are for the better.

Our return to Gamindustri is met with complete apathy from our CPU heroines. After enjoying years of peace after the events of the previous games, Neptune and the others have spent their time playing video games all day while neglecting their work, (which hits a little too close to home.) As word of restless citizens forming an organization that seeks to create a world without CPU’s spreads, Nep is finally forced to create some goodwill by getting off her butt and working for the people. As we’ve learned many times over however, work sucks, which is proven since Nep’s questing results in her getting transported to an alternate universe based on gaming in the late 80’s. Now stranded without her CPU powers, Planeptune’s goddess must help Plutia, this dimension’s constantly sleepy, (and secretly sadistic,) goddess of Planeptune, and the alternate versions of Noire, Blanc and Vert, while restoring her strength, fighting off the mysterious Seven Sages who look to rid Gamindustri of the goddesses, and building up enough energy to return home.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 Screen 5It wouldn’t be Neptunia without endless gaming references.

For those who thought the second game was had toned down the humor too much compared to the constantly lighthearted story of the first game, V Generation takes the narrative back to its roots along with its original protagonist. Rarely serious, the story serves as a parody of the game industry from the NES days, with bits and pieces of modern gaming mixed in. One of the highlights of the dialogue aside from the constant fourth wall breaking and gaming reverences galore, (does anyone else remember Fighting Vipers?), is to see how events such as the rise of Sony, the fall of Nintendo, and Xbox’s oversees struggles play out. These scenes are an interesting love letter to those who have been following the industry for so long, acting as a reward for playing in its own right. With that in mind, the experience would be even more enjoyable if more of it was voiced. It seemed like the dialogue here was only displayed through text more often than its predecessors, which was a bit disappointing.

Exploration is essentially the same as its always been, choosing which country you want to go to by selecting it on an overworld map. In addition to obtaining missions through the guild, shopping for items, or talking to the citizens of Gamindustri like in past games, a news based broadcast called the Nepstation debuts to break up the action at the start of every chapter. Usually delivering a humorous retelling of past events, selling bulk items, or offering in game trivia, I found this to be a small, yet memorable addition to the map. Once in a dungeon, the leader of the party plays an even larger role, with unlockable leader abilities that boost the whole party. Special challenges increase stats or award Plans as they are achieved as well, so actions like running or jumping a certain amount, attacking enemies in the field to initiate battles, or even accomplishments in battle like taking damage or landing a certain amount of hits all lead to these boosts, giving players an extra reason to rotate their party and its leaders.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 Screen 4Nearly every action, (or non-action,) will boost your stats.

Game play wise, battles are largely unchanged, but the way special attacks are handled was altered into a different beast,  resembling something more similar to what was featured in the original version of the second game. In this full range turn based battle system, characters move in real time while they position themselves to center as many enemies as they can in their attack range. Each weapon and ability has its own attack area, making positioning vital to achieving victory, (no pun intended.) Broken down into three types of attacks, Rush builds up the EX/SP meter faster with multi hit moves, (we’ll talk more about the meter soon,) Power does more damage, and Break weakens enemy shields, allowing more damage per hit when completely broken. Starting with three attacks for every turn, unlocking EX attacks that trigger based on how full your SP bar is, and using items to synthesize extra attack slots now give each character the opportunity to use five attacks each round.

While this all sounds almost exactly like the previous games, the biggest change comes with the removal of the EX meter and integrating it into the SP meter. In the past, the SP meter was used to pay for special attacks, and was replenished by attacking, using items or leaving the area to recover it in full. The EX meter on the other hand, was a separate bar that was shared by the party. It could only be filled by attacking, and could be used to allow EX attacks, (as mentioned above,) or pay for EXE Drives, ultimate abilities that served as the quickest way to defeat bosses. While this system was admittedly easy to exploit and abused to breeze through tough fights, the new system makes it much harder to do so.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 Screen 3The flashiest attacks now come with a huge price.

While trying to strike a better balance is all well and good, I found that aspect to be the only advantage of the new, (old?), system. With the two meters combined, the SP meter is divided into four segments, which also act as the levels of the EX meter. Using EX attacks drains the meter, while each character gets their own instead of sharing it. Draining the bar at the wrong time will leave your characters stranded with their standard attacks while they rebuild their SP, so wasting it is a surefire way to crash and burn. The reason why this comes off as much more tedious is that leaving dungeons no longer replenishes the bar, forcing you to either use a ton of items, or grind out hits against weaker enemies until it fills. Considering how even transforming now costs a fifth of the bar on top of the EXE Drives and SP attack costs, you’ll find yourself spending more time than you want to fighting for the sake of having fully functional teammates again. But the absolute biggest flaw is that unlike past games, most of the single character EXE Drive attacks have to be unlocked, while the ones unlocked throughout the story are mostly double team moves. While powerful, these attacks use up 50% to 75% of the meter for BOTH characters, making half of your four person party essentially useless against bosses unless that attack was the finishing blow. Even if it is, guess what? More SP grinding!

Once you reach the late game chapters, you’ll be begging for the exploitable EX meter to return too, if for no other reason than to keep yourself from shattering your Vita in a blind rage. While Re;Birth 1 had its share of difficulty spikes, and Re;Birth 2 was a bit too easy for my tastes, this third game literally goes from one end of the spectrum to the other, sometimes in the same dungeon. There’s nothing more frustrating than blowing through all of the standard enemies in a dungeon with one turn KO’s, worried that you’re over-leveled, to getting one or two hit KO’d by bosses in those very same dungeons. I’m all for a challenge when it comes to my games, but I would also want it to build up over time. Re;Birth 3 doesn’t do this, making grinding, item hoarding, or blind luck a must to advance through the late game, a factor I didn’t encounter with its predecessors.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 Screen 1You’ll need those extra attack slots to survive the late game battles.

That’s not to say that Re;Birth 3 doesn’t have its fair share of improvements. Most prominently, the frame rate in battles and dungeon exploration has been improved to display a smooth, steady pace. Big attacks don’t chug along as noticably, and running through the maps are free of the slowdown that served as an annoyance in the prequels. Ironically, it’s with fixing another past complaint that the slowdown rears its ugly head again. Another long running issue is the amount of reused maps. While this game doesn’t do away with them, new dungeon designs constantly pop up while old ones are expanded with new or bigger rooms, with the ability to expand them further with the Remake system. In fact, while some are reskins, Re;Birth 3 contains more dungeons than any other games in the series by a large margin. However, when the bigger maps show up, so does the slowdown, biting off a bit more than the system can chew processing wise. The same is true with battles, since some feature many more enemies on screen at once. As you can probably guess, more enemies means more slowdown. That’s not to say we don’t appreciate the effort to expand the scope of Gamindustri, it’s just funny that these expansions undue the improvement to the more stable framerate.

Outside of these areas, Re;Birth 3 has also revamped some of its side content, including treasure hunting, creating plans, and the dreaded Stella’s Dungeon scout mini game. Instead of scanning the area for hidden items, each map hides at least one invisible Nep block. Mirroring the exploits of a certain plumber, hitting these blocks uncovers coins to buy items with, while weapons, armor or plans appear in rare instances.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 E3 Screen 1Iris Heart tends to terrify friends and foes alike.

Speaking of plans, there are so many more this time around, bringing the best out of the Remake System. Basically a form of synthesizing from other RPG’s, the Remake System creates everything from new weapons, items, armor, outfits and dungeons, to changing the menu voice, battle music, adding attacks, changing the difficulty, and unlocking solo EXE Drives amongst many other features. On top of the discs that can be burned to create custom perks for your character, and its clear how customizable this game can be, more so now than ever.

Lastly, the Stella mini game from Re;Birth 2 returns, but manages to actually be enjoyable rather than terrifying and tedious. By equipping her with her own armor, weapons and partners to boost her abilities, Stella now climbs the Neptral Tower as she collects items for the party and herself. If you send her farther than her abilities can sustain, she’ll be KO’d by monsters, losing her armor and partner along the way. What helps me maintain my sanity this time around is that good equipment is easily obtainable if you do lose, and partners are recovered in a snap as long as you can reach the floor they fainted on. But most importantly, each map only takes about an hour or two of real time to passively progress depending on how far you are, even in sleep mode. Unlike the dungeons that could take literally over a day at their worst, only to fail right at the end, I would eagerly turn on my Vita JUST to check on Stella’s progress. Considering how much the original was universally reviled, to the point where separate DLC was released to make it manageable, to say this change is for the better would be an understatement.

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 Screen 2You’ll actually want to play Stella’s Dungeon this time around.

When my time with Re;Birth 3 drew to a close, I found myself with an enjoyable, more ambitious effort than the previous games, with some fundamental flaws that keep it from being as great as its predecessors. Victory players will appreciate the expanded story, new translation, improved plan system, new maps and bigger environments. Re;Birth newbies will still find the laugh out loud humor and addicting battle system intact with the third game, with further improvements to Stella’s Dungeon and treasure hunting. Unfortunately, difficulty spikes, a tedious change to the SP Meter, and a story that’s a bit drawn out hold it back. Still, this retro trip through an alternate Gamindustri is one worth taking, and continues Neptunia’s trend of being one of the best RPG series found on the Vita. Want a lighthearted, self aware romp through a video game about video games? You can’t go wrong with Nep! Now, bring on Victory II!

 

tl;dr:

+ Neptune is back with the same laugh out loud humor we’ve come to expect from the series.

+ The game runs smoother than before, with a more stable frame rate in most cases.

+ While some of the dungeons are still repeats, plenty of new maps compliment the old ones, which nearly received universal expansions.

+ Stella’s Dungeon is actually playable!

+ Both the Remake and battle systems feature many more options, and are expanded in ways to keep them as addicting as ever. With that said…

– The new SP/EX Meter mechanic renders EXE Drives nearly useless, forcing unnecessary item or battle grinding to replenish.

– The later portion of the game suddenly spikes in difficulty and suffers from poor pacing.

– While bigger dungeons and more enemies on screen is appreciated, these areas are when slowdown rears its ugly head once again.

– The story drags, with no clear goal or progression from about the half way point through right before the end of the game. Not to mention the villains aren’t all that threatening.

Final Score: 4/5

E3 2015: ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation’ Delivers A Faster, Stronger CPU!

by Josh Jackson

It may have taken three games, but when Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory released in 2012, it’s safe to say that the series finally hit its stride. So much so, that the game play improvements introduced would carry into remakes of the original titles, both of which were great additions to the PS Vita library when we reviewed them over the last few months. While there was plenty to improve on, I went into Re;Birth 3 a little conflicted. At this point, I’m completely absorbed in anything the series can offer, but does the game that the remakes are based off of need its own remake? What can be changed for V Generation to feel different?

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 E3 Screen 2

Based on the time I spent with the E3 build, this version looks to be aiming for the definitive way to experience Neptune’s most recent adventure. Taking place in an alternate Gamindustri that’s based on the console wars of the early 90’s, past characters will look and act different while new ones, namely this alternate Planeptune’s CPU, Plutia. From a game play standpoint, small tweaks have been added to change up the way the game is approached. The returning Remake System will allow the party to add an extra attack slot into their list of commands after finding the appropriate plan for each, while finding treasure through scanning  the environment is replaced by an invisible question mark that Nep hits with her head. Added cutscenes, new scenarios, items to help progress in the Stella Dungeon scouting mini game from Re;Birth 2, the return of Victory‘s stat boosts for performing certain actions and other surprises round out all the new features, while the turn based combat system remains intact.

But more than anything, what’s immediately noticeable is the improved frame rate, which never skipped a beat during battle. While the previous remakes would be  bogged down with some harsh dips when the flashiest attacks would take place, the comparible moves that I  tried in the demo had no such issue. In addition to an upgraded interface with colorful effects during attacks, reworked menus and a rewritten script, it’s clear that the presentation went through as much polishing as the game play, which I can’t wait to experience with the full game!

Hyperdimension Neptunia 3 E3 Screen 1

So if anything, Re;Birth 3 feels less like a remake and more like a remastered version, adding in what worked about its prequels while improving on what didn’t. With the trilogy nearly complete on both the Vita and PC through Steam, there’s no excuse for when the next main sequel is finally released. Luckily for us, the Vita release is right around the corner, coming on June 30th! Keep an eye out for our full review, and tell us what your favorite moments of the series have been in the comments below!

E3 2015: ‘Amnesia: Memories’ Brings Love To The Multiverse!

by Josh Jackson

If you’ve listened to the Geekscape Games podcast, (the number one gaming podcast on the Geekscape Network,) over the last few weeks, you know that the Vita has no shortage of games that involve a combination of dating, waifu bait, and/or uncomfortably rubbing the characters while strangers judge you on public transit. Amnesia: Memories from Idea Factory, is an Otome title, (which literally translates to “girl game”,) that has all of these features, but reverses the roles. As a woman who has lost her memories due to mysterious circumstances, she must piece together her past by building relationships with the five men who were closest to her, but with an interesting twist that will surely help Amnesia stand out amongst the sea of visual novels and Japanese inspired games on the Vita.

Guided by Orion, a strange spirit that helps you on your quest, each scenario starts with selecting which boy you want to pursue. Treated as a type of separate dimension or universe from the other choices, the world is flipped around depending on what you choose. For example, if you decide to chase after one boy in their scenario, one of the other characters might become a co worker as opposed to someone you date.

Amnesia E3 Screen 2

As the story unfolds, you’re tasked with balancing out three different meters that measure your relationships. By keeping affection and trust at a stable level, it will almost ensure that your hidden past will come to light through your interactions. However, if your responses to the text veer too far out of character, your husbando will grow suspicious, which can lead to them figuring out that you lost your memories. While most logical people would use that as an opportunity to fill the person in right then and there, this apparently throws off your guy to the point where he’ll stop helping you, leading to a bad ending. Why this happens will vary from scenario to scenario, but if I was her, I would want to get amnesia too if it meant forgetting my poor choice in men.

All joking aside, the concept of bringing a multiverse into the dating sim genre is one that’s new to me. Then again, my experience in the genre is limited to what came to the West, and while I can woo a pigeon for days, men are something I have yet to conquer. Regardless, the concept of piecing together your past and learning alongside this character by combining the experiences of each scenario is one that I find very intriguing, especially when you consider that Amnesia promises more than 20 endings. I hope you grow attached, because at an estimated 3 hours per scenario, there will be lots of game to uncover here.

Amnesia E3 Screen 1

If all that text starts to wear you out, Amnesia also has a set of touch screen mini games to play with your beaus, the two of which featured were air hockey and rock paper scissors. Air hockey accurately recreates the real date experience, where either the boy lets the girl win, or he’s too drunk to have anything that resembles coordination. The CPU constantly scored on themselves when reacting to a well placed shot, but their defense is usually on point before you manage to get the puck passed them. Rock Paper Scissors on the other hand, manages to be slightly less straightforward in its approach by adding an attack and defend mechanic. If you win or lose the initial throw down, the first person to tap either attack or defend depending on the result gets rewarded. If successful, the attacker gets their point while the defender blocks their score and lives to fight another day. It’s an adorable distraction, but if you want to get down to business, you can just go into the viewer and rub each guy’s shirtless body while he tells you about it! This feature wasn’t available to try, but I was promised that it would be more romantic and less lewd than something you’d find in other titles of this nature. Not sure if the businessmen on the train will notice the difference though.

All in all, I’m always excited for when a developer can bring some new concepts to genres that remain relatively stagnant, so the multiverse mechanic of Amnesia leaves me wanting more. How did the girl lose her memories? Where does Orion come from? Why do the guys refuse to help her if they learn of her memory loss? There are so many questions and not enough answers, which is why I can’t wait to see how it unfolds when August rolls around. Who knows? Maybe this year’s top waifu won’t be a woman at all!

‘Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2’ Delayed On Steam

by Megan Haley

The release date of the newest Hyperdimension Neptunia game has been pushed back for Steam users. On July 2nd, the Playstation Vita port will be available for 50% off the retail purchase price for the first few days, according to a press release from Idea Factory. This will be our first chance to see Nepgear and company in all their 1080p glory

Our own Josh Jackson fell in love with the game when it was released for Vita (read his review of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2). For more info on the Steam release, check out the press release below, and let us know if you’re planning to add this to your Steam collection!

About Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation 20XX – Gamindustrifaces a dire crisis. Shops are boarded up, creators are overworked and starving, and death looms over all Gamindustrimen. But the CPUs refuse to let this be game over for their world!Gamindustri had severed its ties to the chaotic Lawless Realm long ago, and yet… Ever since the advent of ASIC – the Arfoire Syndicate of International Crime – morality has all but vanished. As much as 80 percent of all students are rumored to worship a being known as Arfoire. Parents, despite knowing it to be a poor deity to worship, have gone ahead and allowed their children to do so. Even the governing bodies of the world have turned a blind eye to it, rather than crush the crisis in its infancy. Well, basically, Gamindustri was pretty messed up, you guys. Ahem.

 

Thus did Gamindustri fall into complete and utter disarray. Those who tire of living in this corrupt world are sent to wander the Gamindustri Graveyard, forever lost.

 

Key Features

 

-Gamindustri in 1080! Experience all the humor, turn-based battle, and crazy HDD transformations of Re;Birth2with the sheen of 1080p excellence!

-Four or More for War! Have up to 4 characters on the battlefield, and 4 more on the sidelines, ready to jump in and give their support!

-Stella goes Rogue! Send Stella out to brave Gamindustri’s dungeons in this realtime mini-game and she’ll collect all kinds of treasure for you – you just sit back and eat pudding! Be careful though, because if she dies in the dungeon, she’ll lose all her special gear!

-The World’s your Oyster! Customize the Gamindustri experience with Plans, which allow you to do things like increase/decrease enemy difficulty, change the items you’ll receive from a dungeon, and more!

-Build-a-Sword! Use Idea Chips and Blank Discs to create custom equipment that can open up new worlds of skills for you!