Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 142 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 100 out of 142
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 142
  3. Negative: 16 out of 142

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  1. alex_dragon
    Mar 23, 2015
    10
    Amazing game! Its one of the best JRPGS out there, just like trail of the sky etc. which is something i really wanted to play for a long time since i will never buy a console just to play a few games.

    more and more japanese jrpgs will come to the market if people starts to buy them (Since japanese somehow doesnt have interest in the PC platform unless the sales convince them) also,    Amazing game! Its one of the best JRPGS out there, just like trail of the sky etc. which is something i really wanted to play for a long time since i will never buy a console just to play a few games.

    more and more japanese jrpgs will come to the market if people starts to buy them (Since japanese somehow doesnt have interest in the PC platform unless the sales convince them)

    also, don't care about the metacritic reviews, they are very biased and probably haven't finish the game yet. who cares if its a console port? who cares if the story is silly, its fun as hell to play this game and can't wait for more ports onto the pc.

    for more indepth reviews do check out the ones on steam they are better    … Expand
  2. LeafMuncher
    Mar 18, 2015
    10
    When I first saw this on Steam I thought "oh look generic anime spoof game" with some "uguu" thrown in, but DAMN was I surprised. Probably the best JRPG I've played since the PS2 era ended.

    Unremarkable story told very well. I'm usually not a fan of fanservice, but the humour and references to other franchises flow together so well I can't complain. Music 10/10 Combat 10/10 Artwork    When I first saw this on Steam I thought "oh look generic anime spoof game" with some "uguu" thrown in, but DAMN was I surprised. Probably the best JRPG I've played since the PS2 era ended.

    Unremarkable story told very well. I'm usually not a fan of fanservice, but the humour and references to other franchises flow together so well I can't complain.

    Music 10/10
    Combat 10/10
    Artwork 10/10 (The graphics are rather simple but the art makes up for it)

    Only downfall to some would be the need to grind at certain points (early bosses are unforgiving to say the least), but the left button (unsure of keyboard equivalent) lets you skip all combat animations, making even the grinding fast. The combat itself is quite fast paced (besides special attacks, the animations aren't too long)

    Some people had performance issues on release but as far as I know they have been fixed. Runs flawlessly even on my old laptop with integrated graphics (for AMD users just make sure your OpenGL is up to date)    … Expand
  3. SwitSwat
    Apr 12, 2015
    10
    This game takes the best things I like about anime and JRPGs, and puts them all together in one package.

    -Cute characters? Check.
    -Silly story? Check.
    -Occasional lewd humor? Check.
    -Grinding? ... Ok nobody likes grinding, but check.

    If you are a fan of JRPGs and anime, then get this remake of the original PS3 game. It's definite version.
  4. StaticSpine
    Jun 14, 2015
    8
    A very funny JRPG with interesting concept, decent turn-based combat system, a lot of optional content and a ton of cool jokes about video games, anime and corresponding subcultures.
  5. SkyEntertain
    May 13, 2015
    10
    Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 brings an excitement for gamers who liked the Hyperdimension Neptunia Saga. Ton of giggling fan services and fourth wall exclusive breaking by yours truly Nep-Nep. (Neptune). Music reused in the previous games and the battle system being classic, true and easy. With a story that's narrative and entertaining for us to find something either the flat level,Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 brings an excitement for gamers who liked the Hyperdimension Neptunia Saga. Ton of giggling fan services and fourth wall exclusive breaking by yours truly Nep-Nep. (Neptune). Music reused in the previous games and the battle system being classic, true and easy. With a story that's narrative and entertaining for us to find something either the flat level, or the busty level.

    Truly a masterpiece for a recreation. This version of the PC Port is even amazing, controller supportable too! Can't wait for Re;Birth2 hitting on Steam in May 19! See ya!    … Expand
  6. magiquone
    May 20, 2015
    10
    An excellent light-hearted comedy that doesn't take itself seriously.
    Average turn-based gameplay with skills and special attacks that are charged through hitting enemies. Standard stuff. Although, it is very fast-paced because it includes a button to skip animations, which helps because the game encourages a lot of grinding and battles, with the button held down, take seconds.
    The point    An excellent light-hearted comedy that doesn't take itself seriously.
    Average turn-based gameplay with skills and special attacks that are charged through hitting enemies. Standard stuff. Although, it is very fast-paced because it includes a button to skip animations, which helps because the game encourages a lot of grinding and battles, with the button held down, take seconds.
    The point where this game shines is the storyline, but more specifically the characters. The main character is a ball of cuteness that makes every situation entertaining, and her antics with the rest of the cast makes the game worth buying for that reason alone. In addition, the localization is top-notch. All of the humour survived through translation (no mean feat) while still remaining faithful to the way the characters are presented - something that has been abandoned in the later entries.
    The soundtrack is upbeat and reminds me very much of older video games, lots of beeps and wails. Some tracks are very forgettable, some are very good. I ended up finding the battle theme frustrating after a while.
    There is a HUGE NUMBER of craftable items using the plan system, numbering in the hundreds. 100%ers will find this game either very satisfying or extremely frustrating.
    The artwork is top notch - lots of high-quality backgrounds and CG events, and the sprites themselves move, which was an idea I wasn't very receptive to at first glance, but the execution was very good. The sprites don't stretch out of proportion like I expected. The art is, however, scaled up from the original vita resolution, so it's not high-quality, unfortunately.
    The port itself ran with a lot of bugs at release - lots of issues with crashing and whatnot. There were a lot of patches brought out to fix this, but there may be issues still for some users. In addition, this game is BEST PLAYED WITH A GAMEPAD. There are controls for two analog sticks and a dpad on the keyboard setup, so unless you have three hands, you'll probably find it difficult to get used to at best and downright awful at worst.

    Overall this is a game I give a "YES" to, and highly recommend purchasing it. I got a solid 92 hours of fun out of it; my first playthrough was 33 hours and there are two endings, a normal ending (basically a non-standard cheerful game over) and a true ending, so sweet it wouldn't surprise me if half the fanbase left the game with diabetes.    … Expand
  7. jayman007
    Aug 22, 2015
    8
    This game was a pure impulse buy during a dry spell where I didn't have much else I wanted to play. Coming in to this game without high expectations just expecting something that is serviceable to tie me over. Surprisingly though, the game was quite good.

    From a technical level, the game is sub par at best. Visuals and graphics are too simplistic, dungeons are plane and the combat    This game was a pure impulse buy during a dry spell where I didn't have much else I wanted to play. Coming in to this game without high expectations just expecting something that is serviceable to tie me over. Surprisingly though, the game was quite good.

    From a technical level, the game is sub par at best. Visuals and graphics are too simplistic, dungeons are plane and the combat though fun, gets drawn out repetitive on the last stretch of the game.

    However, the story was enjoyable and the random humor was right up my ally. To keep it simple, the story is a commentary on the gaming industry and piracy (r4 on the DS) using player characters to identify with each of the main consoles.

    If your looking for a light hearted jrpg with good humor and serviceable game play, give this a try.    … Expand
  8. orangefan
    Mar 22, 2016
    9
    Great game based on art style alone :^)

    Buy on Steam for cheap only about twenty dollars, well worth it just to support original new concepts from Japan.
  9. derkonig6
    Dec 28, 2017
    8
    I am not into JRPG but this game is fun as hell. It has humor,story,lewd and it mixes them very nice together.Great characters! I recommended it to anyone afraid of going into JRPG teritory.

    Would love more graphic customization but I know it's a ps vita port.
  10. Naruto78909
    Mar 28, 2018
    10
    I wanted to play this game but i didnt have a playstation i am glad the made this on pc this game is really funny and has good graphics considering this a vita game the only bad thing is the game is repetitive but this game is very good and has great soundtrack
  11. Sertzu
    Feb 8, 2015
    10
    I can recommend this game to everyone who loves anime/japanese culture/manga and doesn't care that he has to grind to get something!

    The only negative point that I have about this game is that it was WAYYY too short! :D

    I can also recommend that you buy all dlcs as well because they make the game even more fun!
  12. JeffreyTey
    Jun 23, 2015
    7
    This game has pretty good graphics. It definitely appeals to the JRPG enthusiasts. Also it has a lot of nostalgia factors by featuring your favourite game companies and consoles as characters.
    But if you look at it objectively, it has a very weak story that is downright dull and boring. Gameplay is mediocre and becomes relatively easy to complete the game after the 3rd chapter by grinding    This game has pretty good graphics. It definitely appeals to the JRPG enthusiasts. Also it has a lot of nostalgia factors by featuring your favourite game companies and consoles as characters.
    But if you look at it objectively, it has a very weak story that is downright dull and boring. Gameplay is mediocre and becomes relatively easy to complete the game after the 3rd chapter by grinding on whales.

    Overall get this game if you are a huge JRPG fan and love cute girls.    … Expand
  13. xDaudex
    Jul 24, 2015
    7
    Pros:
    Comedy
    Character design
    Difficulty

    Cons:
    The game in general is very repetitive
    Combat doesn't change much throughout the game.
    Lots of grinding
  14. Dynasma
    May 8, 2016
    0
    Awful rpg. Ridiculous difficulty curve, -grindfest- no strategy at all just grind, mediocre battle system, poorly designed dungeons( just enter grind and out again, pretty much sums up the whole gameplay), outside story events only reason to visit dungeons is to grind or gather items, abysmal pc controls,annoying voice acting even for moe standards.
    Pretty much one of the worst Jrpgs I    Awful rpg. Ridiculous difficulty curve, -grindfest- no strategy at all just grind, mediocre battle system, poorly designed dungeons( just enter grind and out again, pretty much sums up the whole gameplay), outside story events only reason to visit dungeons is to grind or gather items, abysmal pc controls,annoying voice acting even for moe standards.
    Pretty much one of the worst Jrpgs I have ever played.    … Expand
  15. AngryRoach
    Feb 7, 2016
    0
    Bought the game on black friday and it's probably the most frustrating and awkward JRPG I've ever touched. I barely made it through the game and wanted to give up half way through. Might appeal to horny teenagers tho.
  16. Crypto137
    Mar 31, 2021
    10
    The game is a **** piece of garbage covered in fan service and you know it, but it has soul. Totally recommend desu.
  17. roynoris15
    Oct 8, 2019
    9
    the pro
    the good clunk of references from anime, other games series
    hilarious jokes
    simple turn-based gameplay
    likable characters and creative designs for human form and HDD form
    great soundtrack

    the cons
    DLC unnecessary
    lock on 60fps but can be removed
    the repetitive missions and same items

    I recommend this game if you enjoyed similar games like atelier , final fantasy, fire emblem.
  18. JoshRD
    Feb 5, 2020
    8
    Uno de mis primeros JRPG, ya que el género en sí no me había llamado tanto la atención hasta ese entonces, y tengo que decir que es muy entretenido. Desde la comedia llevada con altas referencias a la industria de los videojuegos, pasando por un estilo de personajes que es de mi agrado, además de una banda sonora que acompaña muy bien a las diferentes situaciones llevadas a cabo a lo largoUno de mis primeros JRPG, ya que el género en sí no me había llamado tanto la atención hasta ese entonces, y tengo que decir que es muy entretenido. Desde la comedia llevada con altas referencias a la industria de los videojuegos, pasando por un estilo de personajes que es de mi agrado, además de una banda sonora que acompaña muy bien a las diferentes situaciones llevadas a cabo a lo largo de la trama. Y si bien tiene algunos DLC que quedan totalmente fuera de lugar, el juego en sí es bastante bueno.… Expand
  19. periculummagnum
    Jun 22, 2020
    4
    For those who want to start exploring the vast fields of the JRPG genre, I have a couple of things to say regarding this game in particular:

    - Neptunia 1 just reeks of bad game design - There are some basic rules each JRPG, no matter how complex it might be, has got to have: а) Difficulty select option (::Not present in Neptunia One::) If the game is plot driven, there might just    For those who want to start exploring the vast fields of the JRPG genre, I have a couple of things to say regarding this game in particular:

    - Neptunia 1 just reeks of bad game design -

    There are some basic rules each JRPG, no matter how complex it might be, has got to have:

    а) Difficulty select option (::Not present in Neptunia One::)
    If the game is plot driven, there might just be a chance some players would want to experience the narrative without too much trouble or senseless grinding in this case.
    The plans that are present in the game do not make the game easier or harder, yet the boss fights become a complete chore.

    b) Well designed enemies and dungeons (::Not present in Neptunia One::)
    This is where it gets ridiculous. There are so few original enemies in the game, that you will fight the same lazily done cliched 3d models of slimes, flowers, gross hairy slimes, and space invaders (yep, those exact pixelated sprites from the original game) over and over again! What's more, it feels like at some point the developers just gave up on coming up with original ideas for your regular fiends and made these: a green PIPE (!), tetris blocks (!!), and a regular 2d PICTURE from some visual novel (!!!) . I mean COME ON, how lazy or maybe even bored with his own creation can a dev possibly get?
    To a Neptunia Re;Birth 1 state.

    The same goes for the dungeons, which not only are increadibly small and simplistic, but are repeatedly used throughout the game not even once in 'new locations' ! And guess what, they reuse some of them in Nep-Nep 2! Wow, that's rich.

    c) A proper tutorial, that explains every aspect of the game systematically (::Not present in Neptunia One::)

    In Neptunia the tutorials are presented chaotically, with no sense of making a complete system that you can refer to each time you struggle remembering something like... enemy types, for expample, which are not so obvious due to b.1) bad functional art desing in that regard and b.2) weird and senseless names which are neither puns nor some clever/funny references which makes memorizing them a problem. However, you are supposed to know that some magic affects cetrain types of emenies, yet at chapter 3, being lv.21 (almost 15 hours in~) and have already struggled to beat Ganache, I haven't seen a single explanation about that!
    That Ganache do-u-ch-e was my breaking point. It was the apidemy of bad game desing. Insane amount of grinding, bad explanation of basic game mechanics (as if you have already played the game and not even once), very little story inbetween made me stop playing this game now for at least a week. I just can't. The same thing happened to me when I was trying to play Phantasy Star 2. It was a bad experience, but I could give it some slack, since it was released 20+ years ago. This wasn't. There is no excuse for this poorly made game to be out there. Hope, the devs managed to fix some of the issues in Nep-Nep 2.

    / / Aside from general design problems, this is a bad PS Vita port. Have you ever heard of softlocking before? If not, this game will sure teach you how to set an app on the highest priority possible for it not to softlock each time it's your enemies' turn. / /

    As a conclusion, it would be prudent to admit that THIS SHOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE YOUR FIRST JRPG EXPERIENCE! This is one of the most mediocre examples in this gerne that even those adorable heroines could not save for me. Too sad.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Summary:

    + Adorable and well-designed (visually) characters
    + The plot is somewhat interesting

    - No proper tutorial system (half-baked pictures instead which appear long after you find something out if it is obvious and are absent when you actually need an explanation for some basic mechanics)
    - Boring quests (they are always the same. literally the setting, the requirements do never change)
    - Bad dungeon desing
    - Lazy to the point of being absurd emeny desing
    - The dialogues are primitive
    - Bad fuctional desing (enemy classes and their names are at the top-left corner are barely noticable)
    - Poor difficulty setting implementation
    - TOO MUCH GRINDING (no matter what difficulty)
    - Stupid references to the gaming culture even when uncalled for (one of the songs begins with a checkpoint theme from Virtua Racing... is that supposed to be funny?)
    - Technical issues ( *softlocking* )

    P.S Believe me, I sincerely tried to enjoy the game and give it a benifit of a doubt.
    And yes, there are LOTS of intrusive references to the gaming culture present in the game, however, the devilery on that part is so legendarily bad, only a few people would be able to truly appreciate them.    … Expand
  20. Endellion
    Jun 25, 2020
    8
    I bought this on an impulse from a steam sale, one of the better decisions I've made. The game is a typical JRPG including (but not limited to) anime waifu's, risque pictures, fourth wall breaking, fan service, lewd jokes and pop culture references. Pleasantly it all fits together nicely (if a JRPG is your bag).

    Pros Graphics: Good artwork for the genre. Sound: Passable for the genre.    I bought this on an impulse from a steam sale, one of the better decisions I've made. The game is a typical JRPG including (but not limited to) anime waifu's, risque pictures, fourth wall breaking, fan service, lewd jokes and pop culture references. Pleasantly it all fits together nicely (if a JRPG is your bag).

    Pros
    Graphics: Good artwork for the genre.
    Sound: Passable for the genre.
    Voice acting: Couldn't argue with it.
    Plot: Suitably absurd. Good pacing, doesn't deviate too much away from the plot and the constant fourth wall breaking, references and fan service doesn't derail it.
    Characters: Likeable, covers all the basic tropes you'd expect in a JRPG (although perhaps a bit too many of them).

    Cons:
    Slightly short plot, little re-playability other than to a completionist.
    Very high hurdle for early bosses, requires patience to grind levels for at least the first 2 chapters.
    Other than Japanese (duh) limited voice translation into other languages
    Needs more Noire.    … Expand
  21. Glaceon_Hit
    Feb 21, 2021
    9
    I love it. It gave me what i was looking for. Like a RPG i spent so much time farming and after too much playing continue with lore.

    100 hours total, but 50 hours was farming only ONE enemy, a boss with the high amount of gold just to recieve the achievement of gold. And i like it. Experience, i died with the second boss because i was lvl 9 and she was lvl 14. Then i respawn in the    I love it. It gave me what i was looking for. Like a RPG i spent so much time farming and after too much playing continue with lore.

    100 hours total, but 50 hours was farming only ONE enemy, a boss with the high amount of gold just to recieve the achievement of gold. And i like it.

    Experience, i died with the second boss because i was lvl 9 and she was lvl 14. Then i respawn in the last moment i saved, 1 hour before. Here i understood i must farm in optional dungeons to pass the main quest. So then i was lvl 99 fighting the final boss lvl 45. At least the Colossuem was a real challenge.

    From characters i love Noire, best girl. Then Vert is my favourite DPS. and Neptune recieve some DLC that made her OP. Compa is perfect support.

    Finally the finals, I like the differents finals. And the way you must to find them.    … Expand
  22. Ahan0
    Sep 11, 2020
    7
    I shouldn’t like these games the fanservice and the constant reuse of maps and assets annoy me immensely, but they are kinda charming. If you are looking for a amazing jrpg there are other games
    you could check out but for the price you pay for this in a sale i can’t say i wouldn’t recommend it. I mean i did play it for 40 hours and I enjoyed it. So, if you are looking for a fun    I shouldn’t like these games the fanservice and the constant reuse of maps and assets annoy me immensely, but they are kinda charming. If you are looking for a amazing jrpg there are other games
    you could check out but for the price you pay for this in a sale i can’t say i wouldn’t recommend it. I mean i did play it for 40 hours and I enjoyed it. So, if you are looking for a fun experience with interesting gameplay, fun characters and lots of gaming history references/jokes the yes buy this game, you would probably enjoy it but do keep in mind that it can be frustrating at times.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Riot Pixels
    Mar 19, 2015
    71
    If you don’t mind the game’s somewhat clunky role-playing system, you will enjoy the humorous story that pokes fun at clichés found in JRPGs, other video games and pop culture in general.
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  2. Digitally Downloaded
    Feb 23, 2015
    90
    Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1’s degree of fan service means it probably won’t resonate with anyone unwilling to step outside their comfort zone, but beyond that entry barrier lies a laboriously crafted JRPG with tangible meaning behind its story and worthwhile commentary on the video game industry.
    Read full review
  3. CGMagazine
    Feb 21, 2015
    60
    This isn’t a bad game, if modest in budget, but its console-based—and occasionally sexist—comedy is pretty niche, and it now finds itself going up against that most dreaded of all competition, the entire PC library of RPGs.
    Read full review
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