Neptunia Virtual Stars is an intelligent, relevant, topical and timely satire. It does represent a new direction for the series, and is clearly an effort to find a way to stay relevant now that the jokes that previously provided the foundation for the series have lost their relevance. In doing so Idea Factory decided to experiment with the gameplay, and while that wasn't executed to a particularly fine degree, the heavier focus on narrative and the sheer energy of the whole package means that I found it impossible to remain disappointed by the game's rough edges. The rest of it was too much of a laugh-out-loud delight.
Neptunia Virtual Stars is a good game in the long-running series, but does fall short in terms of being a great gateway game. The shooting action is solid and the hack and slash combat is rewarding, but the camera does get in the way too often and the lack of an English dub will make this tougher to get into for newcomers. For longtime fans, it’s a completely different change of pace for the cast and feels like a nice shot in the arm from the norm. It also has a pleasing visual style and uses a far more modern graphical styles than one might expect from what’s normally a low-tech series that isn’t known for pushing visual boundaries. The soundtrack is a lot of fun and keeps you humming and tapping your toes to the songs.
Possibly the very game slated to be greater than VII. A hot take, I know. Neptunia Virtual Stars has a lot to offer and my only real complaint that isn't a nitpick is the lack of boss-specific themes. This game goes back to all the things great about Neptunia. Yet surprise, surprise, critics give it a similar rating to the equally underrated, Original Neptunia game. I'm starting to think verified critics shouldn't review Neptunia games. 10/10, best Neptunia game hands down.
This is a Neptunia spin-off that reminds me a little to 4 Goddesess online, with the difference that this is a TPS. You got on a linear adventure in 3D levels with some little exploration and in vibrant neppynvironments. The game can get tedious after the 10hr but it just last 12 or 15 if you wanna plat it. Very recommendable for Nep fans, but not so much for anyone who dislikes long texts and anime visuals.
Once again, I find myself disappointed in a Neptunia spin-off. I always appreciate Compile Heart trying different things with the series, but many don’t turn out well. I have a sudden urge to replay Producing Perfection, the other game in which the CPUs become idols. At least that game was over in three hours and had a lot of fun moments. The terrible combat ruined most of Neptunia Virtual Stars for me, and when I’m not enjoying a Neptunia game, it just makes me sad. The wait for another good Neptunia spin-off continues…
Nearly everything about Neputnia Virtual Stars just feels like half-assed fanservice for the sake of fanservice. The gameplay – while somewhat competent – feels undercooked, the story is flat out boring, and the presentation doesn’t do much to salvage the first two. The inclusion of VTuber content is dim bright spot, but it’s not bright enough to bring this game up to any sort of recommendation. Prospective players should just skip this one, and Neptunia fans deserve better than this disappointment.
Neptunia Virtual Stars is a tough game to recommend even for the fans. The regular cast of characters remains as engaging as ever, while the newcomers fit in quite nicely. The story is a nice take on parodying the current state of the internet using the unique viewpoint that the series has carved for itself. Beyond the overly long cut scenes, the gameplay is dull despite the variety that the title and minigames try to provide. While this game won't attract any newcomers, hardcore fans might want to dabble with this after a very deep discount.
Very little of Neptunia Virtual Stars makes it a franchise entry worth playing. Simplicity here lacks the success of other entries, instead offering something clunky and dull. Consider this a Neptunia title barely meant for die-hard fans and no one else.
While variety is said to be the spice of life, Compile Heart needs to learn that if they want to make genuinely engaging titles, they need to take a step back and try to make these games more fitting of modern hardware and just more fun to play instead of pumping them out at breakneck speed to appease fans’ on a surface level. Diehard and dedicated fans of the Neptunia franchise who want more of the same may derive enjoyment from this title, but otherwise, you are better off staying away.
As a Nep fan since the very original PS3 game, these "spin offs" have always been either a hit or a miss and NVS is yet another prime example of this, whilst the game is 'okay' it still feels like just another cash in title, the series is desperately in need of a mainstream sequel to VII which is perhaps the best in the series and NVS doesn't come close. As you can expect, NVS is basically aimed 100% at Vtuber scene naturally paid DLC for ones like Kizuna AI.
Combat is clunky at best and once again, feels like Compile Heart had a low budget to work. Music and sound are probably the best aspects of the game and for a near full price game...thats not exactly a compliment, if I'm being honest - this just isn't that good and not remotely worth the RRP, wait for a good sale.
Finally, please!! For the love of Nep, Compile Heart/Idea Factory produce what the fans actually want! And thats a mainstream sequel to MegaDimension.
Edited: A gorgeous game that suffers from having way too much. As mentioned this game looks great! Vibrant colors and a graphics engine that helps it all shine through, unfortunately that's as far as the good vibes go for this one. It's a chaotic mess with too much going on. Even in the game's development as whenever it goes to another character they often bounce around bugging out sometimes. The worst part is the control scheme though. I put the game down for a week and tried to come back, spent about an hour trying to figure out how to press a button in game before just putting it back away. If you've got to catch them all then wait for it to come way down in price, otherwise let's face it most of these games are meaningless and silliness, so you can easily miss picking this one up.
I can't believe that they've gave up the english voice acting for this every other three games were all blurry too bright and the two voices of Noire and Vert were terrible they've just made things up and got them all turned worst since they both took characters from the ones we knew and loved .4 long years now no one likes what it has become.
SummaryThe Goddesses and virtual stars team up to take down the Anti in the music-based hack 'n' slash game, Neptunia Virtual Stars! In a dimension called Virtualand, the virtual planets that exist within it contain an extraordinary ability to produce a commodity known as content. Of these celestial bodies is a tranquil planet known as EMO. Thi...