Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory I (ReBirth 3)

The localised English release for Hyperdimension Neptunia ReBirth 3 has come out for Vita... I'm excited to play it as soon as possible.

This particular Neptunia game involves Neptune being stuck in the 1980s. As I saw the anime adaptation first this is the chapter I am most looking forward to learning more about originally from the games... as specifically this is the part that includes Plutia/Iris Heart and Peashy/Yellow Heart.

Though I'm a little disappointed though that Nepgear is no longer a main character (she had a major role in ReBirth 2) as this quirky character profile shows from Idea Factory's website.

Steam PC version now available:

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Holy crap this is already out? I think I must have been hiding under a rock the past few weeks or something.

You need to catch up!

Then we can Nep-Nep like there's no tomorrow!

Up to chapter 5..

It's a very charming story. Difficulty seems to have ramped up - I've had to grind so much. Tempted to use the perk to make enemies weaker but refraining for now..

Some cute CGs so far:

Testing Nepgear's creation allowing Neptune to "mind-dive" - Nepgear's reaction is hilarious:

Nepgear meets Plutia! Both are Planeptune CPUs, so they're both confused..

Somewhat tense showdown with Noire and Blanc in their CPU forms..

Nepgear makes her appearance after missing Neptune for a very long time - because as we know, Nepgear loves Neptune very much! As usual the running gag is Noire makes a great landing cushion...

Peashy has been introduced but haven't seen Yellow Heart yet..

Hmmm... I may end up passing this one up actually, it sounds like it's almost exactly like HDN: V. But before worrying about that, I still have Rebirth 1 and 2 to finish, as well as Action U. There's also the Blanc game coming up at some point that I'm stoked for.

Ah yeah - I never did play the original PS3 versions - Re;birth 1-3 is my first foray into the games!

Action U is a bizarre hack & slash... the costume break mechanism is so peculiar!

Heh, it's not so peculiar if you've played any Senran Kagura games, which I'm pretty sure it took inspiration from. In fact, I beleive some people behind Senran Kagura worked on Action U. I'm not one to dislike fanservice generally, but I am happy that they toned Action U down in comparison to the Senran Kagura games, I don't want Neptunia to end up focused totally on fanservice.

Had to look up the Senran Kagura series as I've never played them... looking at it yesh, those female ninjas look a little seedy.

In comparison I do feel Neptunia truly has adorable fan service.

Now up to Chapter 6. After Iris Heart beat Arfoire up and gave child IF nightmares... team Planeptune has to work hard to help get Neptune and Nepgear back to their real timeline.. this scene really made me laugh:

Yeah while I do like all one of the Senran Kagura game I've played, it certainly is a bit seedy, though I do quite like a couple characters~

Ah yeah I remember that bit, I love some of Plutia's lines. Out of curiousity, do you play with the Japanese or English audio?

Despite what I said previously, I decided to get this for the PC after all. Even though it's not too much different than victory, I like the idea of being able to make my own gifs from it... Especially for the dance video~

Up to Chapter 8 now.. Compa and IF are all grown up... ten years have passed and we all got beat up by Yellow Heart. And now pushing towards Eden.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised how the events unfolded... so many parts of Re;birth 3 were in the anime adaptation. They did add a new twist to certain areas but for the most part, a good chunk of it was similar.

Out of curiousity, do you play with the Japanese or English audio?

I play with the Japanese audio. I tried the English audio for a little and... I wasn't very fond of the voices. Neptune's spontaneous and ridiculous lines just didn't resonate well with me in English. Overall, the dialogue is so much more energetic in their original Japanese lines.

There are only a handful of English anime/game dubs I'll go for, and they're usually reserved for more serious titles where English works better.

Even though it's not too much different than victory, I like the idea of being able to make my own gifs from it... Especially for the dance video~

Can you elaborate more on this project? I recall you mentioned it awhile ago. When can we expect to see it?

I listen to the Japanese audio as well, the voices just overall sound better and more fitting. I think the only games I've ever played with English dubs at times were disgaea games, and anime wise the only ones off the top of my head I've watched dubbed were death note, Code Geass, and Infinite Stratos.

I dunno if I'd really call it a project, just going to be making gifs of whatever strikes me as good material for them as I play through. Since I have Shadowplay on my graphics card it will be pretty easy to do as I play through regularly.

You can expect to see gifs of lots of facial expressions as well as for some special skills, idle animations, and of course some things from the dance video. If anyone has any ideas for something they'd like to see a gif of let me know and I'll do it.

As for an ETA... well I also bought Fallout 4 so that will be competing for my time as well. Maybe within a few weeks, maybe longer, it all sorta depends.

You can expect to see gifs of lots of facial expressions as well as for some special skills, idle animations, and of course some things from the dance video. If anyone has any ideas for something they'd like to see a gif of let me know and I'll do it.

Awesome... well anything with the Planeptune CPUs gets my vote... especially Nepgear and Purple Sister.

As for an ETA... well I also bought Fallout 4 so that will be competing for my time as well.

My brother is addicted with that game... truthfully I am hesitant in playing it, it does look addicting..

And now for a general update .. reaching the climax (I think) !

Our dear CPUs manage to find Anonydeath and discover the machine giving Yellow Heart such tremendous power... and unsurprisingly, Nepgear is tempted by Anonydeath's circuit board bribe...

...but all are shocked by discovering Yellow Heart's real identity, particularly Neptune.

Moving onto Eden's founding, Yellow Heart makes her stand again... and this is where I'm stuck. Yellow Heart second encounter is BRUTAL and just beating up my party like a sack of potatoes!!

Now I know how Nepgear felt in the anime:

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I think I just need to grind more and aim for at least level 65 maybe. Thoughts appreciated from you, @SanguineTear :

I listen to the Japanese audio as well, the voices just overall sound better and more fitting.

Just bringing this up again as I remembered something and want to write it down before I forget...

Lines that don't translate well to English are those Japanese onomatopeia sounds. Like doki-doki (heart beating sound).

As an example, Rom has that adorable trait where she says waku-waku (how exciting!) and koku-koku (nodding and agreeing).

I noticed this quite often in Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory II. Imagine my confusion when I was looking up Rom's lines everytime she said those sounds, wondering what the heck she was saying:

I don't know how they would dub those in English, but I am certain the novelty would be lost. i.e. Rom is not as cute anymore.

Hmmmmm.... Yeah I cannot recall what my levels/equipment were for that second Yellow Heart encounter. Though I do know I believe my party setup was different, I think I may have used Blanc, Plutia, Noire, and Vert. I'm pretty sure Yellow Heart has lower magic resistance than defense so I focused on using that on her, but I'm not 100%, it was quite some time ago lol.

Yeah those two lines from and Rom are a perfect example of what I mean, they are a big part of why I find her to be super adorable, but they wouldn't translate easily to English lol.

Well I finally beat Yellow Heart and the follow up encounters. Time for my favourite moments up to this point!

The attempts by Neptune and co. to regain Peashy's memory was amusing... In particular I found Nepgear's moment the funniest - Neptune is such a terrible sister by using Nepgear's poor treatment to help Peashy remember..

Yellow Heart sure is well endowed and that sure does make Vert uncomfortable.

The first encounter with the CPU clones was hilarious. Neptune admiring her CPU form.

Neptune saving IF from being kidnapped again... and then the eggplant episode afterwards.

Noire reluctantly agreeing to save Anonydeath from Rei. Neptune rubbing it in as usual.

Neptune should listen to Noire more often:

Heading back to Neptune's dimension because apparently the other CPUs can't win without the main protagonist according to Neptune:

Back in Neptune's dimension with the other CPU candidates... Iris Heart tormenting poor Uni, Ram and Rom.

Confront the "other" Rei, got a funny climatic scene. I have to say, Rei in this chapter is so much more ferocious and crazier than in the anime!

... and Rei flattened me.

Time to grind a little, again.

Oh yes - Uni and Rom are so adorable. I really missed having the CPU candidates since Re;birth 2. Great to see them on this chapter.

I'm really enjoying Re;birth 3. Still not sure if it tops Re;birth 2 though... though I'm biased because Purple Sister/Nepgear is very high on my favourite CPU list.

Ah yes, Rei was pretty infamous as a difficult boss for HDN: Victory, so I'm not surprised that she is hard in Re:birth 3 as well.

I finally have gotten around to playing the HDN games on my PC now, so very glad I decided to rebuy them for it; much more enjoyable on the PC than Vita. Oh and a question, in Re;birth 3 have you happened upon a dance video type of event with Purple Heart and Purple Sister? They had it in the original HDN: Victory, but I'm not sure if it is in this game as well. I'm certainly hoping it is, I have gifs to make.

Oh and a question, in Re;birth 3 have you happened upon a dance video type of event with Purple Heart and Purple Sister?

I haven't seen it yet, is it something you have to go out of your way to unlock at a certain chapter? Now you've got me really curious!

Oh dear... it was something you could trigger very early in the game, like as soon as you had control. It would be difficult not to see it. This makes me think it was not included, and after searching for it on the internet, there are no signs it is included either. This is something you DEFINITELY must see, so I shall show you this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYFevq18dWE

I suppose I shall just have to suffice with making gifs from this video clip, oh well.

This is something you DEFINITELY must see, so I shall show you this:

That was very adorable, thanks for sharing! Yeah it looks like it was only in Victory... was also nice to see Purple Heart's old outfit again. With each new game they really do tweak the CPU outfits a lot, especially the HDD forms.

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Well I beat Rei. Darn tough boss.

Also I just realised how ridiculously long Uni (Black Sister's) weapon is.

And... I got a really unsatisfying ending. The good ending, not the TRUE ENDING. Croire escaped. *sigh*

1 day in original realm = 1 year in other realm. How excruciating for Nepgear who is still stuck in the other world. Neptune you're so cruel and lazy. Your younger sister really, REALLY REALLY LOVES and MISSES YOU!

Unlike Re;birth 2 where you just had to grind your share levels to unlock the True Ending and extra chapters, it seems in Re;birth 3 you have to unlock several side dungeons starting back in Chapter 5. I got a bit lazy with the side dungeons. Oh dear.

Thankfully I do have start of chapter saves, though I'm not overly keen going that far back again at the moment. I'll have to revisit this game a little later. :'(

Ohhhh yeah I really hated the Good ending, it was so unfair to poor Nepgear who already had it tough through the whole game anyways.

So here's the old thread, I see only mentions of the side dungeons, and not how to unlock them. Annoyingly enough, no other source I've found has done a good job explaining it either so that's a thing.