Calm Mind
Member
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Why is the Hyperdimension Neptunia series so popular?
- Thread starter Kagoshima_Luke
- Start date
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BigEmil
Junior Member
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Popular where, in Japan?
cj_iwakura
Member
It's way WAY more popular here.
Pellegri Testament
Member
This probably should have been linked so we would stop getting questions like these. The series is fairly popular on Steam (mainly due to deep discounts), while it first got noticed on Vita (it was a dumpster fire on PS3), something that most likely don't even know exists beyond what came out at the beginning of it's life.
https://steamspy.com/search.php?s=neptunia
Amauri14
Member
You, apparently.
What I don't get about Neptunia is the amount of people trashing the games while having played multiple entries of the franchise. Like, those guys actually want to like it or just don't want to admit they have favorable opinions about it?
Guess I'll discover when I eventually play one of them, Steam having the games and the whole gaming industry references/meta stuff make me interested.
Suzushiiro
Banned
The main draw is the characters- at their core they're standard anime archetypes, but they're written competently enough that the chemistry between them (particularly the main four) can carry the series despite the fact that its story, production values, and gameplay is generally mediocre at best.
Grindlefly
Member
Never knew about this. A quick Google later and im interested. How is the ps4 entry?
Suzushiiro
Banned
Megadimension Neptunia VII (as in V2 or Victory 2, not the roman numeral for seven) is generally considered to be the best entry point to the series right now. There are previous games in the continuity that it occasionally references (particularly Neptunia Victory/its remake Neptunia Rebirth 3,) but not to the point where you absolutely need to play them to understand what's going on. If you like that one, then consider hitting up some of the remakes (Rebirth 1/2/3) and spinoffs (Neptunia U, Nep vs. Sega Hard Girls, etc.)
Grindlefly
Member
ughkingdom
Member
Everyone in this thread could be fucking joking and I would have no idea. There are so many entire worlds of creativity and fandom that go blazing right past me that hearing about this series is about 2 steps away from questioning my own reality.
crabhammer
Member
what
MaximumSpider
Banned
I never finished the first game because I just didn't like any of the characters and dialogue. It's not for me and I still regret buying it day one on Vita...
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
They aren't popular, they just have enough of a fanbase and low enough of a production (they turned reusing assets into an artform) to make it worth it.
I don't think they're really popular. They just have a mostly consistent audience, are cheap to make and Idea Factory has extremely aggressive pricing on Steam, with big launch discounts and generally large discounts after a short time and are also regularly featured on sale on various third-party stores.
The first game also had the advantage of releasing on Steam during the time where there weren't that many japanese games releasing yet.
It also helps that the games themselves are pretty decent mid-tier JRPGs. There's nothing mindblowing in there (except their god-tier animation skipping functionality, which every single turn-based game should just be required to outright copy), but they're just... dumb fun? The soundtrack is also pretty good, sometimes even great.
The first game also had the advantage of releasing on Steam during the time where there weren't that many japanese games releasing yet.
It also helps that the games themselves are pretty decent mid-tier JRPGs. There's nothing mindblowing in there (except their god-tier animation skipping functionality, which every single turn-based game should just be required to outright copy), but they're just... dumb fun? The soundtrack is also pretty good, sometimes even great.
hydrophilic attack
Member
boobs
Same reasons why Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Pokemon are so popular. Hyperdimension is a great alternative if you played or are sicked of all the mainstream RPGs already.
They are charming, fun, humorous, accessible, and enjoyable.Character designs are better than what you would get in Final Fantasy(unless you like to play as boy bands). Shame they don't have the marketing or budget behind them or they would sell as well as Persona.
Someone like Microsoft or Nintendo should buy Compile Heart as they are cheap and should fill the void of Japanese RPGs in their lineup.
Heh... Neptunia is anime idol band, so it's not that different in that regard. It's basically you like a full male cast vs you like a full female cast (with Neptunia being more fanservicey).
lolis with big boobs.
whalleywhat
Member
There are certain people who have a really strong affinity for Japanese culture, even to the extent that they disregard the norms of their own culture and embrace things others might find to be odd or embarrassing. I call them Japanophiles, I don't know if there's another word for them.
Iriscomeback
Member
Re;Birth 1 was okay, but you quickly realise that the two sequels are exactly the same. Never played the spin-offs or the PS4 game.
The games are veeery mediocre but have some good jokes and waifus. And I wouldn't call them popular at all.
The games are veeery mediocre but have some good jokes and waifus. And I wouldn't call them popular at all.
I don't know how the games are selling on Steam, but in Japan I'm pretty sure none of the games have sold much over 100k, with the more recent spinoffs selling less and less due to saturation. So I am not sure if the games are really popular. As someone who has bought just the mainline games and one spinoff on sale, I enjoy some of the humor mainly the video game references. The combat is pretty easy to understand and has a skip feature to help get through grinding.
Gameplay is simple but fun. Dungeons are pretty short (although they repeat A LOT). Characters are enjoyable. The stories never take themselves seriously. Lots of inside-industry jokes and fourth wall breaking.
They aren't games that I'd plunk down $60 for at release but when there's a good sale I've always bought the main games and played them all to completion.
They aren't games that I'd plunk down $60 for at release but when there's a good sale I've always bought the main games and played them all to completion.
Zambatoh
Member
What if I told you that Nobuo Uematsu helped compose the soundtrack for Victory II?
If that was all it took to become the next Square, then Mistwalker would be the current Square instead of making surfing games for phones.
cj_iwakura
Member
Friendly reminder.
One is a miraculous undertaking in localization, the re envisioning of a classic from almost 20 years ago... the other is Neptunia.
One is a miraculous undertaking in localization, the re envisioning of a classic from almost 20 years ago... the other is Neptunia.
Zambatoh
Member
I don't know about you, but Terra Battle is a damn good mobile game. The excellent soundtrack is a plus.
I have no idea. I hardly buy games with the intent on selling them (picky to begin with). These games did not last long on my shelf. Just found it overly repetitive (video gaming, by nature, is repetitive...but not at this level) and boring. The characters, which I was hoping would be the games saving grace in my opinion, did not inspire me to continue on with the series.
Side note: I bought these on a whim per GAF recommendation.
Side note: I bought these on a whim per GAF recommendation.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Friendly reminder.
One is a miraculous undertaking in localization, the re envisioning of a classic from almost 20 years ago... the other is Neptunia.
I mean, you're expecting a suda 51 game to sell, so expectations were unreasonable in the first place. >_> <_<
clay_ghost
Member
Friendly reminder.
One is a miraculous undertaking in localization, the re envisioning of a classic from almost 20 years ago... the other is Neptunia.
They are totally different genre as much as i love Suda games.
Vincent Alexander
Member
I haven't either. I guess we're alpha nerds
Zambatoh
Member
This is still one of the coolest fights to come out of the series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCuCPeRpCw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCuCPeRpCw
pretty done
Member
You should know by now Steam reviews are more worthless than Metacritic user score. Reviews on Steam are mostly just memes.Friendly reminder.
One is a miraculous undertaking in localization, the re envisioning of a classic from almost 20 years ago... the other is Neptunia.
cj_iwakura
Member
The sales numbers are still pretty telling.
Silver Case:
https://steamspy.com/app/476650
7,256 ± 2,548
Neptunia VII:
https://steamspy.com/app/460120
58,050 ± 7,208
pretty done
Member
It's a damn shame but little anime girls sell games
UltimateUnknown
Member
Curious question. Is Megadimension Neptunia any good? I played the original Neptunia game and absolutely hated the gameplay. Have they improved on that aspect of the game in all the iterations?
cj_iwakura
Member
And that is why we can't have nice things. If you try to tell a realistic story with realistic characters, people just don't care as much.
See also: Eternal Punishment's sales numbers.
Yes, the gameplay is much better now. The first one did have really bad gameplay, but they managed to salvage it and improve upon it in subsequent entries.