Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3: V Generation Review

Here we are again, with the last of the three PlayStation 4 ports of a PlayStation Vita enhanced version of a PlayStation 3 release. This time around, we’re checking out Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation, which is the upgraded version of 2012’s Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory. Could the third time be the charm, or does this entry suffer from more RE;petition?

The game opens with Neptune and the three other CPUs enjoying a “friendly” videogame. It seems all the trouble in Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation is all in the past, and the Goddesses live in harmony.

This peace doesn’t last long, though, as when Neptune is thrown into an alternate dimension version of Gamindustri, things aren’t quite what she’s used to! First of all, it’s 1989, and she has to contend with the Seven Sages, a group intent on ridding the world of the CPUs. Thus begins Neptune’s quest to rid this alternate Gamindustri of these evildoers and return to her own dimension!

As is the case with all Hyperdimension Neptunia games, the story sequences here are told through text boxes and static images of the characters talking. This time around, these scenes seem to last an eternity, and there are plenty of them to sit through! Of course, you can still expect the series’ comedic nature and real-world references. For me, this was probably my favourite story of the three Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth titles, with some decent character-building (more so than Re;Birth2) and a rather engaging narrative. Again, the sheer amount of fan service wasn’t to my liking, but hey, I know some people are into that!

I’m starting to feel a little like a broken record with these reviews, as once again, V Generation looks identical to the previous two titles. That said, the CPUs and other characters are unique and well-designed, with the 2D artwork shown during conversations being a particular highlight. The 3D models aren’t too bad, either, with plenty of over-the-top battle animations and transformations to see.

As with the previous game, my main issue stems from the heavy reuse of assets. Whilst there are more varied locations and characters in V Generation, you’ll inevitably see the same enemies — albeit with a palette swap now and again — and other assets that appeared in the first two.

On a more positive note, I’d say the soundtrack here is the best of the three titles. There’s a great mix of light-hearted, cheerful tunes with the occasional more sombre tune sprinkled in. Plus, the voice acting, particularly in the English dub, seems a lot better this time around. Some characters are a little flat, but overall, it sounds like a big improvement!

So, aesthetically, the game isn’t all that different from RE;Birth 1 and 2, but what about the gameplay? Well… it’s also pretty much exactly the same! For starters, the battle system remains the same, with the Rush, Power, and Break attacks, although now you’re able to chain up to five moves. A bit of innovation or some new mechanics would have been nice, but this is still a fast-paced, enjoyable combat system that works really well.

As for the rest, you still progress from dungeon to dungeon using a map, which also lets you go into towns and safe areas. Not to explore, mind you, but just to select various options such as shops and new dialogue events. There has been a change in how you find items, though! In past titles, you had to manually press a button to emit a search pulse that would reveal any treasures in your vicinity. Now, you’ll instead need to pay close attention to any strange shadows on the ground. Jumping on these reveals invisible boxes above your character, and hitting them earns you all sorts of goodies.

You’ll also spend a lot of time in menus, changing your party to find the right combination of active combatants and support characters for you. One of the main reasons I spent so much time in the menus is Stella’s Dungeon! This makes a welcome return, with the eponymous Stella now having friends to accompany her into dungeons. It’s still a hands-off mini-game that sees you choosing where you want her to explore and returning later after a set amount of real-world time has passed, but it was always worth doing for the items and gear!

A quirky and comical RPG that pokes fun at Sony, Nintendo, and all the other big gaming companies, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3: V Generation is a game that, whilst not particularly innovative when compared to the previous titles, is still a fun time. Some overdrawn dialogue sequences and egregious reuse of assets aside, V Generation is personally my favourite of the three.