Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars

Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA was a pleasant experience and nothing too crazy happens. It can be a delight to fans but can also disappoint those looking forward to more. Unfortunately, the story was pretty uninspiring and the crossover was more mindblowing than the actual game. It was entertaining and easy to learn though, but if you aren’t a fan of either franchise it can be hard to understand. While the game was an absolute delight, there isn’t enough content to make this the best crossover ever. Hopefully, with Ninja Wars being the start, there will be something more in the future.

Paradoxically, Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is both too long and too short. The ingredients are there to make a surprisingly awesome game, such as a type of sphere grid, tons of different moves and equipment. However, in reality it is largely a button masher that needs far too much grind which artificially inflates the length. Overall, it was surprising how good it actually was, and there is hope they make a second one.

Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars doesn’t have much meat on the plate in most respects. There isn’t much depth to the action, and it’s over pretty quickly by the standards of Senran Kagura and especially Neptunia. The only area where it really goes beyond adequate is in the charming character interactions and amusing script. It would be nice if there was a little bit more here to enjoy, but I think for the fans of the brands, it’s enough. Those not already invested in either series will want to give this a pass, however.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a fun action game for fans of the series, but a lack of variety holds it back from being truly great.

In some ways, Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a little disappointing: a mash-up like this should aim a lot higher than what this one does. But missed opportunities aside, Ninja Wars is an enjoyable enough game, with characters that are as lovable as ever, a hefty dose of the humour that both series thrive on, and some downright hilarious moments where they collide. It may not be the dream collaboration it should be, but Ninja Wars is still a worthwhile outing for any Neptunia or Senran Kagura fan, especially with the convenience of a Switch version.

Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars on NIntendo Switch is a competent port of a game that itself feels like a missed opportunity. If you skipped the PS4 version to play on the go, this is one of the better Compile Heart ports on Nintendo Switch. I just wish the game itself did more justice to the Senran Kagura franchise.

Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is a good action RPG, but it has a slow pace and dated mechanics. Maybe it's a good game for those who don't know the two franchises, but not for those who have played the previous ones.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but like any game like this, it gets old before too long.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a fun yet formulaic anime beat-em-up. However it blurs the lines of both franchises, and might not offer enough of either franchise’s core experience to please their fans.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars looks ambitious and indeed sets high expectations under the form of a platforming hack and slash that looks good and can rightfully boast about its comical dialogues. Where Ninja Wars falls short though is in fulfilling all its ambition, and the game's disappointing lifespan and feeling of repetitiveness make this an effort that could have gone much further but which doesn't achieve what its expectations set out.

Tamsoft has been making Hyperdimension Neptunia and Senran Kagura games for a long time and knows exactly how both franchises work. However, Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is not funny story wise and the gameplay feels terrible. It's a shame this project wasn't entertaining at all, because a crossover like this could give fans a big game to play.

If the idea of sitting through up to an hour of pointless chit-chat before you can get into a bout of entertaining action doesn’t put you off, then you might get some enjoyment out of Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it doesn’t strike a good balance between story and gameplay. And the story itself isn’t worthy of taking up so much of your time. Still, as Switch ports go this is a good one, and the additional difficulty options are very welcome.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a solid, fun hack-and-slash that doesn’t take too long to finish and looks gorgeous while you’re playing it, but it never reaches the heights of some of the classics from either franchise. What's here feels polished, but a lack of extra modes and features will be disappointing to fans of both series. Still, the game's charm lies in the Neptunia and Senran Kagura characters and their interactions, with writing that delivers great, unexpected punchlines that help give the game some focus. If you are a fan of either series, this is definitely worth playing despite its lack of depth. It just might be one to wait for a sale before picking up.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a shallow action game which will appeal to the most visceral fans of these franchises.