Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 Reviews
The Neptunia series has never been stronger with this remake of the first entry. [OpenCritic note: Zack Reese separately reviewed the PC (8) and Vita (8) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
This isn't a bad game, if modest in budget, but its console-based—and occasionally sexist—comedy is pretty niche, and it now finds itself going up against that most dreaded of all competition, the entire PC library of RPGs.
It is delightful to see a developer take feedback on a game and then fix the major problems with its design. A remake forHyperdimension Neptunia was definitely needed and I am happy to report that Re;Birth1 is a success. This is one to look into for fans of anime girls or someone looking for their RPG fix.
[W]hile Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 might not be the best of the bunch that people were hoping to see arrive on the platform, the game is still a good, light-hearted and comical RPG that does a good job of honouring and having fun in regards to the topic of video games, while also being given a wonderful performance boost from PC hardware.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 is a much better game than Hyperdimension Neptunia, but it's still let down by several failings and issues that probably throw up enough barriers for anyone outside of its niche to feel comfortable enough in staying away from it. And, you know, this is a shame; there's still a great game here somewhere, and if you can avoid the over-levelling pitfalls and deal with all the moe then there's something here that will keep you occupied for at least thirty hours and maybe even longer. In many ways the real issue is that the experienced gamer will find it tough to forgive Re;Birth1 for being so close to getting it right ' maybe the answer is to forget about over-analysing how all the mechanics mesh together and just let Neptune take you along for the grindy ride.
I can honestly say there wasn't one moment that I ever thought about skipping the games dialogue scenes. They're just so entertaining, and I can't help but smile when one of the characters makes an awesome reference to a game I haven't played in a while, or maybe have forgotten altogether. I'll go as far as to call this game a must buy, because I know I'll be playing this game for a long time to come.
All in all, Hyperdimension Neptunia is a bit of a tough sell to people today due to its many peculiar idiosyncracies, but if you enjoy the series it is still worth exploring to see where everything stemmed from. In some respects it’s kind of remarkable that a game this odd managed to spawn such a formidable franchise, but I guess it’s testament to the lovely art, the solid writing and the imaginative, satirical setting that people still found things to enjoy here, even if they didn’t necessarily get along with the gameplay.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 is an excellent remake, retaining the quirky parody story of the original Hyperdimension Neptunia while bringing everything else up to date. Enhanced combat, visuals and gameplay systems make for a great portable RPG, while the short dungeons work better on Vita than they ever did on PS3.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 is a very niche focused game that will appeal to a very specific crowd of people, unfortunately I'm not one of them. This certainly doesn't mean the game is bad, on the contrary the battle system and art is very enjoyable. If you can get over the mediocre narrative and annoying characters, then Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 might be worth a try.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1's comedic narration isn't perfect, yet it's a nice change from all those RPGs that attempt being "serious" only to end up being generic. The visuals, which consist of extremely cute teenagers, half-naked goddesses, busty ninjas, gothic lolitas, and other anime-inspired stuff, will put off some people, but will please the rest with how good all these look. Finally, underneath this repetitive hunt for levels and crafting materials, lies something very entertaining that has a nice pick-and-play simplicity and fast pace. It's not the best of the genre, it's not for everyone, but it's also a unique and really fun game.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1's degree of fan service means it probably won't resonate with anyone unwilling to step outside their comfort zone, but beyond that entry barrier lies a laboriously crafted JRPG with tangible meaning behind its story and worthwhile commentary on the video game industry.
There is absolutely no doubt that Re;Birth is a huge improvement on the original, which was an utter mess. It remains a very niche title, but those who are well-versed in Otaku culture will find plenty to like. Battles are fast-paced and stupidly fun, and side quests are enjoyable, although simple. With a fully voiced cast in both Japanese and English, these colourful characters will put a smile on your face throughout the 30+ hours it takes to complete the game, although there is still plenty to be done after you've beaten the story. Nep-Nep has returned better than ever!