Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - Hier 03:18

Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos – Review

We are no strangers when it comes to the Neptunia franchise, and we could even call ourselves mild fans of Neptune’s silly antics. Even so, it’s somewhat of a niche series that at times feels as if it’s a bit stuck in the past. Nonetheless, Neptunia has its dedicated fanbase and the main series entries often provide meaty RPG experiences that have tried-and-true mechanics. The spin-off titles typically don’t fare that well, but some of them are rather enjoyable and provide a nice change of pace. We’ve played through some more peculiar spin-offs such as MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies and actually had a lot of fun. Today, however, we are presenting you with a review of the most outlandish spin-off yet, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos. The Neptunia cast has not been sitting idly waiting for their next adventure, as they have seemingly become professional motorcyclists. While the concept of the game was interesting and witty, the execution felt lacking. Story The game starts with Uzume Tennouboshi coming to her senses after being inexplicably enamored by Dogoos, which are slime monsters with an adorable dog face. Even so, these creatures are still considered to be dangerous. After escaping from an oncoming horde of Dogoos, Uzume goes to Neptune’s neck of the woods. She, too, is under the spell of the sentient slimes, and it does take some time for Uzume to break the unknown charm spell. This is basically the premise of Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos, as all main characters of the Neptunia franchise are following the Dogoos’ bidding and it’s clear that the slimy dog-like creatures are planning something very big. It’s up to you to discover what and stop it. Honestly, while the story is very simple, we quite enjoyed it. It felt like a proper Neptunia story, albeit a lot smaller in magnitude. The silly dialogues and the overall concept here probably shine the most when it comes to Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos. Graphics Let’s immediately cut to the chase: Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos’ visuals are very underwhelming. Don’t get us wrong, however, as the main cast members look great, and the visual novel-esque segments look decent for a game where the story takes the backseat. It’s mainly the gameplay that looks as if it was designed with the graphical capacity of the PlayStation 2 or early PlayStation 3 in mind. Everything in the levels looks extremely rough around the edges, textures are almost non-existent, and there are simply so many jagged edges. While the arcade nature of the game allows it to get away with a lot of graphical inconsistencies and quality dips, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos looks too dated for a modern-day console release. Sound All in all, the sound design isn’t too bad. While the dialogues in the game don’t have that much substance, the voice acting is still great. This is often a highlight of the Neptunia games, and it’s clear that the developers didn’t skimp on the quality of the voice acting of this spin-off. The supporting soundtrack isn’t too bad either, but it’s not amazing either. The SFX do the trick, but there’s not that much variety. Gameplay Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos isn’t really what you’d expect it to be. The game isn’t exactly a racing game, as you’ll always find yourself in small enclosed arenas, collecting Dogoos, while attacking or avoiding your opponents. The game is generally played in a 2 VS 2 format, where you are supported by an AI-controlled character taking on two AI opponents. The offset is simple, and the concept is original, but it all feels a bit rough around the edges. Luckily, the game does add a few tactical elements to the mix, making it slightly more interesting than just driving around collecting Dogoos while your opponents do the same. The goal is still to be the first player (or team) to have collected 100 Dogoos first. Your opponents can attack you to steal Dogoos, but you can also steal Dogoos. Not all Dogoos are the same, however, as they all have different stats and effects. Some may increase your size, while others allow you to jump higher. There are also quite a few that come with negative effects, such as slowing you down. You would love to pass on these Dogoos to your opponents, and you can do so by firing negative Dogoos at them. It’s an interesting concept, but the controls are generally quite clunky, making aiming rather hard. There is a certain incentive to press onwards, as you’ll unlock new parts for your motorcycles and cosmetics for the characters. You’ll be able to increase the speed or maneuverability of your vehicles, but most upgrades often come with a downgrade of another stat. This allows you to mess around with your build, as well as those of your AI helpers. It’s a simple but fun upgrade system, and it did add a bit of additional content to this very slim package. Sadly, while the overall concept and gameplay loop are still reasonably enjoyable, the game suffers from a lack of content and an absence of a multiplayer mode. On top of those glaring issues, it feels like Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a title that should have been released two or three console generations ago. We still had some had fun with this bite-sized collectathon arcade battler, but we would have loved a more polished and meaty experience than it currently is. Conclusion Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos does have a few enjoyable elements, but it feels as if the game is still a demo for things to come. The story is enjoyable and the quirky Neptunia cast is as likable as ever, but the graphics look rather dated, and the gameplay loop is a bit too simplistic. The progression system is a nice touch, and it adds an incentive to keep pressing onwards, but again, the limited options here dull down the fun to be had. With a bit of additional polish and more content, this one could have been an entertaining arcade battler but as it stands now, the game feels a bit underwhelming. We can still mildly recommend this one, if you’re a fan of the franchise and if you can pick it up at a hefty discount.