Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed (Vita)

01/31/2016 - 10:40 PM - GMT+8

By: Seth Legaspi

A non-canon addition to the NepNep franchise is this Hack and Slash game by the same publisher, Idea Factory. In a totally different non-canon world (yes, this is emphasized throughout the game by Nepgear), our favorite characters are now slaughtering masses of monsters in a much more "efficient" way.

To start with, the game's story-telling is just as wacky as ever, this time; with most of the characters breaking the wall, along with some references to the canon games.

Then... There's this design new design concept that is very reminiscent of Senran Kagura. It was quite questionable, but it sorta added to the 'experience' since the damage also has a visual representation, however, at higher levels, this visual damage is not very proportional to the actual damage done to a character.The game will also provide indestructibe clothes upon doing certain things within the game, thus giving an option for those that don't want this feature. Also, thankfully, else it wil be totally awkward, the cutscenes don't visually represent this too.

Yep, I like how the characters are honest about this game's questionable feature. Heck, it's like that feature was added just for the sake of it, which the characters themselves point out again. I sense a "shot" at this feature and whoever decided to have it inside.

The tutorial is also pretty detailed, and is not very complicated, especially since there are only a few buttons that one will use throughout the game.

The game follows a "quest" like manner of play, where game instances are created when the player chooses a quest that they want to undertake. So yeah, this is not an open-world game...

Then, there are the numbers. The glorious numbers that we look for in a hack and slash game.

My only comment here, is that the monsters don't spawn fast enough, or the map is too big that the monsters don't seem like they're many. There are points where I am just killing them one by one even, and these events within the game were what frustrated me the most. I mean, imagine you're having fun slashing enemies, and hearing the sound effects the come with it, then suddenly nothing... Since the monsters have spawned in far-reach places within that square map...

I mean, just look at the following, notice the red dots on the minimap, and the number of enemies around me. Maybe give the opponents more movement speed too?

Finally, there are the other two game modes: The "Gamindustri Gauntlet", and the "Neptral Tower".'

The Gamindustri Gauntlet game mode is what enabled that flash in my head about what I was missing throughout the game. Boss battles. Sure there were mini-bosses, that were just giant monsters or something, but there are times when you want to fight actual characters, and just "hack and slash" at them(Sorry for the almost pun) . I guess this is what made that final boss battle in the game's story mode very refreshing; there was an actual boss.

This game mode though was a bit too late, since it only gave all those "refreshing battles" after the story mode.

Then, there is the Neptral tower, which actually made me frustrated due to the large map, yet small amount of monster spawns... It's basically the quest missions one has been doing throughout story mode, but as the levels of this tower NepNep and her friends are climbing for lols. (Yes for lols)

Yeah look at that minimap... Thus my frustration. I mean, I know the Vita has limited Memory and stuff, but they could have made these kinds of maps smaller at least...

Yes using Blanc really fit my emotions at this point

To summarize; the game is fun, and once again, the wacky story-telling really helps the NepNep franchise.

I recommend this game for Hyperdimension fans, and for those who want a casual kind of hack and slash. The questionable feature, is once again, optional once one does the things needed to get indestructible clothes, and these things are quite easy actually.

My Rating:
(6/10)

Good Stuffs:

• NepNep
• Lily Ranking is less stressful in this game
• Non-canon, so it won't be totally weird for those new to the series
• The questionable feature (You have the option for indestructible clothes after all)
• Compa Iffy is evil.

Not so good stuffs:

• Will get repetitive
• Gets frustrating at large maps
• Not enough character bosses... The gauntlet feature at the end doesn't count!
• Not enough HDD costume options