Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
| Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus | |
|---|---|
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Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Tamsoft |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Series | Senran Kagura |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
PlayStation Vita Microsoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Action, Beat 'em up/Brawler |
Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus (閃乱カグラ SHINOVI VERSUS -少女達の証明- Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus: Shōjo-tachi no Shōmei) is the third video game in the Senran Kagura series, and is the sequel to Senran Kagura Burst.[3] The game revolves around three female ninja groups from dueling shinobi schools. The game was released in Japan for the PlayStation Vita on February 28, 2013, in North America on October 14, 2014, and in Europe on October 15, 2014. A version for Microsoft Windows has also been announced.[4]
Plot
Shinovi Versus followed on the story in Senran Kagura Burst, revisiting the conflict between the ninjas of Hanzō National Academy and the rival Hebijo Clandestine Girls’ Academy, while also introducing a third faction, the Gessen Girls’ Academy.[5] In the game's story, each ninja school participates in a competition, called the Shinobi Battle Royale, with another school, during which competition one school's team invades another. The attackers must defeat all their enemies, and if they do so they earn the right to burn the attacked school to the ground.[6] During arcade mode, the game reveals to the player the story of the particular ninja character with which they play.[7] The sequel allowed the player to experience the game's story through four different perspectives.[7][3]
Gameplay
The single-player mode of the game has a roster of 20 characters, 10 from the original game, and 10 new ones.[8] The new playable characters are from the story's Gessen Girls' Private School and the Hebijo Clandestine Girls' Academy.[6] The game included various weapons for the player character to use, including giant pancakes,[9] and attacks consist of both light and heavy versions. Completing the story lines for each of the game's schools gives the player access to Homura's Crimson Squad, a group of playable characters consisting of the character Homura's team from Senran Kagura Burst.[6]
The game also provided an online multiplayer mode in which four players could play against each other; and a two-versus-two online mode in which two teams of two players could play against each other.[2] The competitive multiplayer mode tasks the players with collecting panties as they fall from the sky.[9]
Development and release
The game was developed in a 3D perspective, and increased the playable roster of ninjas to 22 characters.[2] The original Japanese voice overs were used for the localized release, accompanied by English subtitles.[5] A physical edition for the western release, dubbed “Let’s Get Physical”, came with a 144-page book, which contained art and strategy guides, and a disc with 39 musical tracks, in a collector’s box, making it the first game in the series to be released at retailers in North America.[3]
Reception
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The game sold 94,324 physical retail copies within its first week of release in Japan,[11] adding to a total number of 120,000 copies, which included digital sales.[12] The game also ranked as the third most purchased digital Vita game and the fifth most purchased digital game overall on the Japanese PlayStation Network in 2013.[13]
Destructoid's Brittany Vincent wrote that the game "looks and feels great" and that it had "plenty of hack and slash goodness to offer".[14] Niche Gamer stated that the battle system and story were both solid and enjoyable, and that the game remained fun even when the gameplay had become repetitive.[6] Hardcore Gamer warned that, due to its sexiness, the game "wasn't for everyone", and although it found the camera problematic, it appreciated the game's charm.[15] Cinema Blend described it as "worth playing", and wrote that the game was a "competent hack-and-slash brawler" with a lot of content and story, and that the gameplay did require some strategy.[16]
References
- ↑ "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Slated for October 14 in N. America". Anime News Network. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- 1 2 3 Campbell, Evan (2014-09-19). "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Release Date Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
- 1 2 3 Nunnely, Stephanie (2014-05-08). "Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus heads west this fall for PS Vita". VG247. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑
- 1 2 MacGregor, Kyle (2014-05-08). "Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus jiggles to North America this fall". Destructoid. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- 1 2 3 4 Gregoria, Chris (2014-10-20). "Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus Review – Bursting With Excitement". Nichegamer.net. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
- 1 2 Nylander, Kelly (2014-09-19). "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Hits PS Vita on October 14th". Sony Computer Entertainment America. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
- ↑ Ponce, Tony (2012-10-28). "Info dump for Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus on PS Vita". Destructoid. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- 1 2 MacGregor, Kyle (2014-02-23). "Rub your clothes off in Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus". Destructoid. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/senran-kagura-shinovi-versus
- ↑ "Media Create Sales: 2/25/13 – 3/3/13". Gematsu. 2013-03-06.
- ↑ "Senran Kagura Vita sells 120,000 copies in opening week". Destructoid. 2013-03-04.
- ↑ "2013年にPS Storeで販売されたゲームの人気ランキングを各部門ごとに発表します！". Sony Computer Entertainment Japan.
- ↑ Vincent, Brittany (2014-10-14). "Review: Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus". Destructoid. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
- ↑ Carlson, Alex (2014-10-14). "Review: Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
- ↑ Winslett, Ryan (2014-10-14). "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Review: More Than Meets The Eye". Cinemablend. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
External links
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