Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online

A witty parody of the game industry, Cyberdimension Neptunia 4: Goddesses Online is a wacky RPG with a lot of charm. Set in the world of Gaminsdustri, this game is the continuation of the adventures of the four CPUs into a virtual world.

As you hack and slash your way through the fantasy land of Alsgard, you’ll notice that most of the magic of the Neptunia series is intact in this entry, yet some fan-favorite elements are nowhere to be seen. Despite its flaws, is this title worth getting for Neptunia fans? Let’s find out.

A Casual Epic

For an action RPG, the story is really not the game’s strong suit. The Neptunia series has always differentiated itself from the rest of the JRPGs by including multiple fourth-wall-breaking moments and lots of references to other games and anime franchises. 4 Goddesses Online isn’t the exception.

Here, the four CPU goddesses enter the world of an MMO that’s still in the beta testing phase. Their task is to make sure that everything in that virtual world is working properly and will be satisfactory to the potential players. Along the way, you’ll experience lots of entertaining banter and fan-service galore, which is great if you’re into that sort of referential humor.

Explore the dungeons

The main action takes place in the game’s many dungeons. With the whole “trapped in an MMO” setting, some players might expect the gameplay to be similar to games like Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet. Sadly, there’s very little in the way of player interaction here, even less than in some previous Neptunia games.

To raid a dungeon, players select a main character to play as and three additional companions. This helps to give the single-player mode a sort of MMO feel to it. However, the combat is disappointingly dull, relying on players reusing their best attacks over and over until the enemies are defeated. While this isn’t anything out of the ordinary for RPGs, it sticks like a sore thumb in a game that’s supposed to be an “action” RPG.

That said, one of the most important aspects of the Neptunia series has always been character customization. The new dresses and cosmetic elements will certainly appeal to long-time fans of the series, and the character themselves are very well designed and animated.

The visuals are crisp and vivid, especially since this is the first game in the series that utilizes Unreal Engine 4. This is also the first Neptunia game not to be constrained by the limitations imposed by the PlayStation Vita’s portable hardware.

Goddesses offline

Don’t let the name deceive you: you can easily play the game offline. In fact, this is the main way to enjoy the game’s story. The co-op multiplayer mode feels more like an afterthought. Expect lots of disconnection issues and stuttering if you’re brave enough to try the game’s online mode, as the game’s net code hasn’t been properly optimized by the developers.

Another thing worth mentioning is that this game is shorter than previous Neptunia games. While this might be seen as a disadvantage, it can be an incentive for casual fans who want to try the Neptunia series but don’t want to sink many hours grinding in an RPG.

Pros:

• Cute art style
• Charming characters
• Colorful visuals

Cons:

• Barebones gameplay
• Uninteresting plot
• Terrible multiplayer