How did this series get popular?

[LeoNexGen]

Let me put it on record that I like HDN but I'm wondering how a cutesy, low budget series get such a cult following. (inb4 I answered my own question)

OG Neptunia's IMO was a mess. It had a great concept and fun mood but the gameplay sucked. Now look! It has seven main games and 3 spin-offs. It's even popular enough that we get character mods of the characters.

Did the series start taking off when Rb1 was released for the Vita or was it when the PC ver. of Rb1 got released. Because before then, HDN wasn't in the radar.

[meanfactor]

Well I kept hearing about it a lot on random boards (seems everyone has an opinion on it on gamefaqs), so I eventually got interested. Why I didn't pick up the series earlier escapes me, as this series has been right up my alley so far. Pretty much the same things that hooked me on the Disgaea series has hooked me here (we just have goddesses and Waifus instead of demons and the odd angel, and we have turn based action gameplay, instead of turn based strategy).

Neptunia's character's are of course more loveable and even more out there then anyone from the Disgaea series though.

[Lu2]

Satire/humor ,fanservice,funny references.gameplay is realy fast and servicable .
if you grew up with sega megadrive y.ou will be in heaven trust me :D

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Gwen's_Spear:

Did the series start taking off when Rb1 was released for the Vita or was it when the PC ver. of Rb1 got released. Because before then, HDN wasn't in the radar.

For Japan, it was definitely the Vita releases that really gave the series a popularity boost. The PS3 versions kinda slipped by with a reputation of being filled with 2CH references.

I'm glad the series got a second chance to do better with the Vita releases. Even happier for Compile Heart / Idea Factory that such a gamble proved a success.

[naru]

To be honest I have only learned about this franchise's by chance when subscribing to Lost Pause for a playthrough and the episode named "USING NOIRE AS OUR BUTT PAD" popped up the next day.

[DoGy AUT]

Friend recommend me the series, bough Rebirth 1/2/3 on steamsale half a year ago.

After the first 5-10 mins I already died of laughing in Rebirth 1 - too many awesome references.

Loved the lore/characters/music so much that I got all other Nep Nep games on steam.

Watched the anime series, which then became my #1 in fav in my last followed by "No Game No Life" and "Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!".

Saw randomly V-II on it's release date on steam - instant buy, didn't regret anything :D

IF and Compile Hearts are awesome.

[Serah]

yup found the Games because of that Classy Classy Sir"Cough" ( :D) Called Lost Pause
and now i own 4 games of it Damn you Noble :D
<3

[order_pizza]

This series on the PS3 has always been a cult classic for those that gave the game a chance look at. When the rebirth series got ported over to steam it was inevitable that the games would become really popular because of what the Neptunia series represents overall. That being anime and meta references out the wazoo and the internet being how it is just eats it up. There are also some big channels on youtube that recorded themselves playing the Neptunia games. I was an old fan who first played MK2 on the PS3 BTW... Nisa you will be missed and you too Gust.

[Rayxtr]

I loved the first game much more then the second game. It was not perfect but it was my first Jrpg in probably 6 years. I did love the oldskool battle system and the random encounters. And the healing system from the first game was great once you did understand how it worked. The story wasn't that great though and the lack of characters too.

The second game was having much more issues in my opinion. For first Nepgear is the worst MC ever.

[XxMikeyXx]

Originally posted by Rayxtr:

I loved the first game much more then the second game. It was not perfect but it was my first Jrpg in probably 6 years. I did love the oldskool battle system and the random encounters. And the healing system from the first game was great once you did understand how it worked. The story wasn't that great though and the lack of characters too.

The second game was having much more issues in my opinion. For first Nepgear is the worst MC ever.

If you meant the PS3 games, I need to disagree. The first game was all around horrible in terms of gameplay with the story as only saving grace. Mk2 reversed the problem.

[naru]

I don't think Nepgear is a bad MC. It was her writing being so horrendously garbage....

[DiaborMagics]

Originally posted by Rayxtr:

I loved the first game much more then the second game. It was not perfect but it was my first Jrpg in probably 6 years. I did love the oldskool battle system and the random encounters. And the healing system from the first game was great once you did understand how it worked. The story wasn't that great though and the lack of characters too.

The second game was having much more issues in my opinion. For first Nepgear is the worst MC ever.

Why do you think Nepgear is 'the worst MC ever'? I loved her as MC in Rebirth 2, which is basically mk2, right? I know she gets lots of hate for being boring, but seriously, I dont get it. I liked her way better than Neptune as MC to be frank. I dont dislike neptune, but her over-the-top-randomness and inability to stfu from time to time gets on my nerves every now and then. I like her, but i like Nepgear a lot more. And thought she deserved better than the harsh treatment she got in Rebirth3

[DarthRutsula]

Originally posted by DiaborMagics:

Originally posted by Rayxtr:

I loved the first game much more then the second game. It was not perfect but it was my first Jrpg in probably 6 years. I did love the oldskool battle system and the random encounters. And the healing system from the first game was great once you did understand how it worked. The story wasn't that great though and the lack of characters too.

The second game was having much more issues in my opinion. For first Nepgear is the worst MC ever.

Why do you think Nepgear is 'the worst MC ever'? I loved her as MC in Rebirth 2, which is basically mk2, right? I know she gets lots of hate for being boring, but seriously, I dont get it. I liked her way better than Neptune as MC to be frank. I dont dislike neptune, but her over-the-top-randomness and inability to stfu from time to time gets on my nerves every now and then. I like her, but i like Nepgear a lot more. And thought she deserved better than the harsh treatment she got in Rebirth3

It was because no one liked her that they treated her like trash in R3. She whined and complained for the whole time you spend playing rebirth 2. Uni and Ram were better characters imo.

[DiaborMagics]

Alright, I know the majority of people didn't like her as main (not 'everyone' by far though), but most of what I've read was because she was boring. I'll admit she could be slightly whiny, especially at the beginning, but she grew in character and that journey made her a great main for me. I never really see Neptune grow, tho when she does say something serious for a happy change, the other characters often ignore her. I'll admit that too.

I love uni so don't get me wrong, but in my opinion if you think nep gear was whinier than uni, you should replay the game. Okay uni didn't whine as much, but it took SO long for her stop acting ridiculous. I love her and her being tsundere, but compared to nepgear, uni was worse in rb2, in my humble opinion.

They both grew in character though and in essence, I believe that the growth of character for all four cpu candidates was the main purpose of the rb2 story and in that regard especially, nepgear could not have been a better lead. She was perfect for it.
And I get backlash and all that and a joke or two is fine, especially since it's neptunia were talking about, but IMHO (and I'm not the only one to think this), they took firing shots at nepgear way too far in rb3.

If you disagree that's fine of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm just trying to understand why people disliked her THIS much and at the same time I'm failing to do so. Maybe that's my own fault.

[Aven]

There is a severe lack of good JRPGs in the west. That's what made me try it at least. Always looking for a good JRPG...
This series is decent and fun :D

[Valance]

I actually preordered the first game when it came out on PS3 originally. Never watched any let's plays or anything, just wanted a good and interesting JRPG and this filled the craving at the time. I'v loved the series since.