Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed (PC) Review

There is little point in hiding it. Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed (read the PS Vita review here) feels more like an experimental title into this genre than an outright full-fledged game. Like the developer thought it would be a good idea (and a correct one), but didn't want to risk time and resources to "finish" it, resulting in this over here.

Taking place in a non-canon event (it's outright said in-game), this has a very simple plot. Two reporters, Dengekiko and Famitsu, are assigned to write articles about the CPUs and their sisters, and, in order to get enough material and put on a good enough showing, the girls decide to embark on a series of quests in order to show off their skills with the two reporters tagging along.

Sure, there is a big bad villain, but in her own words she just wants to have fun and isn't even really trying to be 'that' malicious about it. Sure, there is a plot but it's clearly just there for the sake of having one as the entire adventure could easily be handled without one. There is another problem, though. This was clearly developed for a portable console, and therefore, everything is offered in fairly bite-sized chunks. So, whereas Hyrule Warriors managed to have huge sprawling maps and a multitude of characters, Action Unleashed has only ten characters, and the majority of the maps are limited to either a single room or a more-or-less straight line. Where a title like Samurai Warriors and its kin have multiple objectives the vast majority of problems available here can be resolved by simply attacking everything continually.

The worst thing, however, is its cast. This came out in 2014, yet it manages to have only ten characters, including the CPU's, their sisters, and the reporters. This means that, out of the fairly large potential HDN cast, there is no Compa, no IF, no Histy, no MAGES, Red, Falcom, Stella, or anyone else. Not even Iris Heart and Yellow Heart, despite being CPU's in Victory, get even a mention. The standard villains aren't around or playable, and they don't even have eggplant foes to torment Neptune with! This is why it seems like so much of a demo or a hesitant first step. The series has a big number of characters that could easily be thrown against the wall with little effort and still been playable, and, with a little more effort, missions could have easily be far more varied. That isn't to say that this had to be a knock-off Dynasty Warriors, but the lack of zeal clearly shows.

With that dealt with… this is far from a failure! On the most obvious note, Neptune and the characters are present and in full-on force. Even if their actions are a bit up-played for the game, even the simple things such as Blanc's relationship with her twin sisters and her protective and caring nature for them, Uni's constant efforts to try and grow closer to her work-a-haulic sister, Neptune's relationship with Nepgear that Vert seems to envy greatly, all are present and all are well-formed. Even the two new additions, though fairly satellite compared to the main cast, are decently solid for what could be expected.

Additionally, the combat itself, while repetitive due to its nature, is enjoyable and nowhere near frustrating and almost never seems to throw unfairly hard missions the player's way. That doesn't change the underlying problem though. While the characters are in their normal, top form, the drought of content and lack of variety are the major hamstrings to this game. The smaller cast does benefit by gaining more screen-time, but it doesn't fix the absence of many of the other series characters - especially when there is even a tournament post-game mode that seems like it would have been perfect for a larger cast!