Super Neptunia RPG

Super Neptunia RPG is a side-scrolling JRPG that reinterprets the Neptunia series within a 2D framework, blending platforming elements with turn-based combat. The game shifts away from the traditional 3D structure of the mainline titles, resulting in a streamlined adventure with a distinct visual identity. Its tone remains comedic and self-aware, using familiar characters and meta-humor to anchor the narrative.
The story follows Neptune, who awakens in a new world with no memory of her past. This alternate setting is governed by a group that enforces strict rules about game creation, shaping the plot around themes of creativity, control, and rebellion. The storyline is lighter than previous entries but maintains the franchise’s typical interplay of parody, references, and character-focused scenes.
Exploration takes place in 2D environments where characters run, jump, and navigate platform-like stages. Each region includes treasure spots, enemies roaming the field, and simple spatial puzzles. While movement is straightforward, the side-scrolling format supports a clearer sense of progression and provides a distinct rhythm compared to the more open layouts found in other Neptunia games.
Combat uses an active-time system where each party member is mapped to a face button, allowing instant activation of attacks or abilities once their gauge fills. Party formation and elemental strengths influence performance, and positioning on the battle line impacts effectiveness. The system rewards timing and resource management while remaining accessible for players who prefer faster execution.
Character progression includes unlocking new abilities, equipping stat-modifying items, and experimenting with formations that enhance synergy among party members. Each character retains traits consistent with their main-series personalities, and their skill options align with those themes, providing both familiarity and mechanical variety.
Presentation is one of the game’s standout features. Detailed 2D character art, stylized backgrounds, and expressive animations define the visual style. The soundtrack combines light, upbeat tracks with more dramatic themes during key story moments, maintaining tonal consistency with other Neptunia entries. Voice performances support the comedic pacing, giving scenes recognizable energy.
Super Neptunia RPG offers a different take on the franchise by applying its humor and characters to a 2D exploration and ATB-inspired combat system. While simpler than the mainline titles in structure and scope, it provides a cohesive and visually distinctive experience. For fans of the series or players seeking a lighter JRPG with a side-scrolling format, it delivers a focused and approachable adventure.

Surprisingly I enjoy it despite the mixed general reviews. Probably the best story ever told in Nep games imo.

Good vibes, played this while listening to gangsta hip hop music....although get it on sale?

Short and easy game didn't need to grind at all, normal gameplay it's 10-12h if want to complete everything could be 15h+
The game feel pretty confusing with a lot of backtracking at the begining but it's okay once get used, after get somewhat strong or get decent weapons you mostly will spam a button and/or use items constantly
I would recommend to get it on a sale not worth full price
6/10

Super Neptunia RPG is an unusual but intriguing entry in the long-running Neptunia franchise, and it marks one of the few times the series has been handed over to a Western developer, Artisan Studios. Unlike its more traditional mainline predecessors, this installment takes the form of a side-scrolling role-playing game with hand-drawn visuals, platforming elements, and a combat system that mixes turn-based mechanics with real-time decision-making. The shift in style alone makes it stand out, and while the game certainly carries the quirky personality and meta-humor the series is known for, its execution is uneven, leaving an impression of both fresh experimentation and missed opportunities.
The narrative follows Neptune, who, true to series tradition, begins the game suffering from amnesia in a mysterious world. As she journeys forward, she discovers a society enthralled by the dominance of two-dimensional games and guided by an oppressive regime seeking to eliminate the growth of three-dimensional titles. This tongue-in-cheek premise fits perfectly with the franchise’s meta-commentary on the gaming industry, while also providing a new backdrop for Neptune and her companions—familiar faces like Noire, Blanc, and Vert—to band together once again. The story balances humor with moments of sincerity, delivering plenty of witty banter, fourth-wall jokes, and playful self-awareness that fans of the series expect. At the same time, the amnesia trope is a safe choice that doesn’t push narrative innovation, but it provides a workable framework to reintroduce characters and slowly raise the stakes.
Where the game draws the most attention is in its presentation. The art direction is colorful and distinctive, with backgrounds and character portraits brought to life in a richly stylized 2D format. Artisan Studios worked closely with series illustrator Tsunako, ensuring that the designs retain their iconic look while benefiting from the hand-drawn approach. The environments feel painterly, often beautiful in their detail, and lend the game an identity separate from the 3D visuals of other entries. The animations, while charming, sometimes lack fluidity, but the aesthetic as a whole is one of the game’s clear highlights and a testament to the artistry behind it.
The gameplay, however, reveals a mixed bag. Combat uses a system where players can switch the party leader to change formation, with each character specializing in a particular role such as physical attacks, magic, support, or healing. Action Points are spent to use abilities, and exploiting enemy weaknesses is key to building momentum in battle. On paper, the system encourages flexibility and tactical thought, but in practice it can feel simplistic, particularly early on when skill options are limited. Fights often devolve into repetitive sequences until more abilities open up, and while the mechanics eventually grow more engaging, they never fully achieve the depth or complexity that tactical RPG veterans might hope for. Outside of combat, the game incorporates light platforming, environmental puzzles, and side-quests, though these can be hindered by imprecise controls and tasks that fall into repetitive fetch-quest territory.
Performance issues further dampen the experience. While the visuals are attractive, technical polish is inconsistent across platforms. Players have noted sluggish inputs, frame rate drops, and occasional bugs that disrupt combat or traversal. Jumping and platforming in particular can feel stiff, making exploration less enjoyable than it could be. These problems don’t render the game unplayable, but they contribute to a rough-around-the-edges quality that contrasts sharply with the care shown in the art direction and character design. For a game so focused on presentation, the lack of smooth execution can be disappointing.
Despite its flaws, Super Neptunia RPG has a charm that is difficult to dismiss. The humor and personalities of the cast carry much of the experience, and the creative decision to experiment with a different format for the series gives it a distinctive feel. Longtime fans will likely appreciate the opportunity to see beloved characters in a new light, with the hand-drawn style breathing fresh life into the franchise. However, newcomers or those looking for a polished, mechanically rich RPG may find the game too shallow and technically unrefined to fully satisfy.
In the end, Super Neptunia RPG is best approached with tempered expectations. It is neither the most polished nor the most ambitious role-playing game, but it offers a colorful and entertaining detour within the Neptunia universe. For those invested in the series’ humor, charm, and characters, it provides a fresh, if imperfect, way to spend time in its quirky world. For others, it may feel like a curiosity rather than a must-play, enjoyable in bursts but unlikely to leave a lasting mark outside its dedicated fanbase.
Rating: 7/10

I am a Hero Goddess!
Super Neptunia RPG is a cute game, but it could be better. I've been out of the Neptunia franchise for about half a decade, and I chose this game to get back into it. I finished this game in about 20 hours. Though I ended up having mixed feelings about the game's quality I still generally enjoyed it. I got it as a gift from a friend 6 years ago and only just now got to play it, so the pricing is not taken into account in this review.
Story
The game is set in an alternate universe and not connected to any other Neptunia title. Neptune and the other goddesses wake up with amnesia and must team up to find out where they are and what happened. Neptune makes friends with a woman named Chrome, who remembers Neptune and guides her on her way to win her memories back. Additionally, Neptune finds a mysterious, glowing book (Histoire) and the book glows whenever she meets a new friend. The book is said to be the key to regaining her memory. While exploring the lands, Neptune finds out about Bombyx Mori, an organization that vowed to destroy all the 3D games in the land, because in their eyes, 2D games are superior. Game developers in Gamindustri are oppressed and forced to stop development on 3D games. Neptune and her friends decide to take up the fight with the evil empire and eventually find out the truth behind their actions.
The actual plot of the game is very straightforward and doesn't contain many surprises. This is the kind of story you've seen elsewhere, and it's playing it pretty safe. As someone who has come to dislike unnecessary subversions in a story for the sake of subversions and nothing else, this is pretty refreshing. I enjoy the story's simplicity, and the character dialogue was funny enough to keep me engaged. The game has a bunch of unique characters that were specifically created for this game, Artisan, Filyn, Chrome, among others. I found them entertaining and funny in their own way, and in the case of Chrome and Filyn, they had a backstory which resonated with me as well. The villains of the game are honestly nothing special - you've seen these archetypes before and they're not going to knock off your socks, but they were servicable and made for some decent boss fights.
The biggest issues with the writing I can think of are how the main characters, the goddesses, are portrayed compared to previous iterations of Neptunia stories. Though all of them are still recognizable, there's still some leftover flanderization from the previous entries. Neptune used to have more layers as a character and cared about her friends in HDN and mk2, even if she was still a lazy gamer girl. In this game, she openly admits that she would rather eat pudding and sleep than to save her friend Noire from death row. This has been Neptune's characterization since Neptunia Victory, and while it is not nearly as egregious in this game as it is in RB3 and 4GO, its still there. The other characters don't fare much better. Blanc's obsession with books and reading is turned up to 11 in this game, to the point where she feels genuine withdrawal from not being able to read a book. It should be said though that while these characters lost some of their dimensions from previous games, they still have some funny lines in this game that made me chuckle.
Special praise goes to Chrome and Filyn. To me, these two characters have a pretty moving story and resolution, and I'd recommend playing the game to see where it goes. You might like it. The game's story is fairly inoffensive and not really all that bad, which is rare for Neptunia standards, but I still wouldn't expect this game to be a lifechanging experience if I were you.
Gameplay and Combat
The gameplay is segmented into overworld/Metroidvania style sections and exploration, platforming, and RPG combat. The overworld is on a 2D plane and the entire game's world is a giant maze like in Metroid or in SOTN. If you expect high quality Metroidvania gameplay though, you will be disappointed. You gain a double jump and the ability to jump even higher later in the game, as well as a dash and an airdash, but except for finding some chests and new ways to reach new locations, it doesn't do much else. I saw the platforming being described as bad and buggy, but honestly, I didn't have any problems with it. It's fairly basic, and there aren't really many challenges related to precise platforming in this game, so I really wonder where this criticism came from, as the game's platforming is not very fleshed out and you're never required to be that good at it. It mostly serves as a vessel to get you to places.
There are quests in this game, and this is where I had some issues. For one, I recommend playing this with a guide - I didn't, which is why I missed several quests and achievements, as well as special scenes. I usually don't have an issue with this, except this game doesn't exactly make it very clear where these scenes or quests are, so you're expected to just search the whole map yourself and don't advance the story TOO much. This is pretty annoying, so find a guide somewhere or be prepared for 2 playthroughs instead of one. The quests themselves are nothing special. They're not all that remarkable or memorable, but servicable, and provide some funny lines for Neptune.
The combat is fine. It's not GREAT combat, in fact, it is flawed to a degree, but it was ultimately why I kept playing the game on top of the funny dialogue and cute CGs. The game's combat is action time-based: an AP bar fills over time and you press the corresponding button per character to perform an action. What action it is depends on the characters position and skills you've selected before the battle. Obviously, this means when you first start out with just Neptune, the combat just kind of sucks and you mash a single button to make Neptune swing her sword and that's it. As you gain more party members, you can string up some serious combos, attack enemy weaknesses and set up certain characters with support skills in the back row. It's not the most exhilerating combat experience ever, and even in the Neptunia franchise there are faaar better games with deeper combat systems, but it's not bad, and definitely not as awful as people have said at the time of release.
The coolest thing about hitting the weakness is that it nets you additional AP to act. This means you can string up very long combos and even combine it with the abilities of other party members to create a combo loop. This is very likely the kind of combat that the developers intended for you to have with every significant encounter of the game.
My issues with the combat are how the weakness system works. There is no real way to see what weaknesses the enemies have, so you have to figure them out yourself. That's not an issue, but once you figured out the weakness, you have to remember it, and it's not recorded anywhere. Also, there's non-elemental spells that neither hit the weakness, nor can they be resisted, which often means that I didn't even bother trying to find any weaknesses or go for combos at all. It wasn't until I was nearly done with the game when I managed to string long combos together, so its not even required.
Would I recommend this game?
The game was honestly very chill to play and I liked streaming it to my friends. The story was simple but still fun and engaging because the characters are charming. The Neptunia humor still hits the same notes it always has. As a series veteran, I can see how it can come off as stale and predictable, but the simplicity was pretty refreshing and I liked it. It's not the kind of game that will have me begging for more and it's just an alright game, nothing special, and not even close to being among the best Neptunia games, but it's definitely not among the worst either. I'd say give this one a go if you want a neat and chill 2D game that doesn't ask much of you.

Use Blanc lead and it gets easy going ;)