Welcome to Megadimension Neptunia VIIR – Mechanics, Routes, Visual & Gameplay Guide.

Curious about how VIIR’s updated gameplay stacks up against the classic version? You’re in the right spot at the right time.

Savings

In VIIR, you cannot perform manual saves. Only the auto-save function can save your game. This is an essential feature. If you accidentally click on “New Game” in your main menu, it could wipe out all your saved data. Although I haven’t verified it, a Steam Review said they had experienced this.

The game should save automatically after you do anything. But to be safe… After you’re done, open the menu to return to the title screen (NOT in the Player Room). This will save your game and allow you to exit the application easily.

Story Routes

If you are worried about not being able save manually,

According to my knowledge, VIIR’s true ending is the only story. You can’t get the normal, bad, or any other ending. This could be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel. If you’re interested, I thought I’d mention it.

Visuals

This one will be brief. VIIR uses a new engine and the visuals are noticeably different. It is up to you to decide if this looks better.

R3D Gaming has created this video to show the differences in the game’s graphics. You can watch it if you are interested.

(Note: Frame rate is limited to 30FPS for PS4 and 60FPS for PC).

https://youtu.be/CeCrwmXOogg – [youtu.be]

Personal note: The performance of the PC version is terrible if you leave shadows or post-processing effects. A PC I had that far exceeded the recommended specs struggled to maintain 50FPS, much less a smooth 60. There were many other issues. However… However, I found that disabling these options increases the game’s performance. The game will still look quite different.

The Player Room + VR Visits

This is the only NEW content in VIIR. The Player Room could be your main hub. You can play VII, view VR Visits, and look around the gallery.

It’s important to note that you don’t need a VR headset to experience VR Visits. Your movement will be restricted. You can only look around with your right stick and move very slightly using the left stick. This being said…

The VR Visits are short 3D cutscenes in which Adult Neptune and the 4 Goddesses come to have a chat. These will be an excellent choice for those more dedicated fans of the series. They’re a short, inoffensive cutscene that you can enjoy for a moment. As you progress through VII, you unlock more. Adult Neptune can only be viewed by progressing the story. After each Nepstation section, she usually stops by to chat with you.

These are cutscenes at end of the game, so there’s not much to say. It is a very small amount of content when compared to the rest.

Battle System – AP & PP Basics

This is the most significant change in the game and will fundamentally alter the way you approach combat.

First, a note: Your party enters battle with full HP but 0 SP. This applies to all battles in the game, bosses or normal, so you don’t need to waste any items on the field.

Instead of VII being turn-based combat, where you choose an action and end your turn, VIIR uses Action Points (AP). This means that a character can spend AP during their turn to perform different actions, even multiple actions in the same turn. Or, you can’t spend your AP and immediately end your turn. All the AP that you didn’t use will be added to that character’s next round.

This is also true for enemies who can save AP and perform multiple attacks at once.

Here’s a basic overview of how AP works.

– Characters gain 4 AP when their turn begins. They also gain 4 AP from an ally or enemy. Your party members will also receive a few SP at the start of their turn, approximately 25. Each gauge has a limit on how much you can save, so don’t waste your time if either gauge is full.

– When you choose to defend, an ally’s turn ends. This is the only way to end your turn, unless they are afflicted by a status effect that renders their ability to act impotent. A regular defense costs 0 AP. You can take other defensive actions to end your turn. These will cost AP but will provide some benefit such as giving them more SP at their next turn.

Regular combo attacks cost 2AP per attack. You don’t have to do the whole combo if not necessary. You can choose to only perform the first or the 1st and the 2nd. A full combo would cost 6/8AP. This is especially true for enemies with low HP. Performing more attacks once their HP is at 0 is a waste of AP that can hurt you.

– After you have spent AP to perform any attack your movement range will be severely reduced. So think about where you want to end up before you commit.

– To perform individual skills (such as Neptune’s Cross Combination), you will need to have both the required amount AP and the required amount SP. If you have both the AP AND SP, you can perform multiple skills in one turn.

– To perform cooperation skills (Like Neptune & Nepgear’s “Violet Buster”), all party members must have the required AP & SP. It takes some planning to pull that off. They must also be in the same form (Human, HDD) and in the correct formation to perform the attack.

Next, let’s talk about Pocket Points (PP).

Each character has a certain amount PP. This number indicates how many times they can use an item in one battle. It’s basically how many items you can use. After the battle is over, everyone’s PP is reset to maximum.

Although AP is required to use items, it is usually very little and your movement is not affected after using them. If you have 4 AP, 4 PP, and Neptune has 4 PP, Neptune can use Healing Grass 4 consecutive times to heal your party. However, Neptune will not be able to use any other items during the battle as she doesn’t have enough PP. The right items can help you heal or get buffs, while still being able attack in the same turn. This can also save your AP for the next turn.

Technology Level, Item Rankings, and Crafting plans

Before we move on to the more complex stuff, a small note…

You can sell your items virtually anywhere you like using the menu. Select “Inventory”, then press the left stick and enter “Cash Mode”. Choose which items you wish to sell for credits. You don’t have to visit a shop in order to sell items. This helps you keep a good flow when you buy new items.

You can’t sell items that have been installed by someone else, but don’t be alarmed.

Let’s now talk about Technology Level.

As the story continues, or if you invest into a country, the technology level in that area will rise.

What does this mean? It means that most items sold in shops will have a higher rank. A higher-ranking item usually means it has better stats and effects as well as passive buffs than lower-ranked items, even if they are the same item. To give an example, a rank 4 weapon may have 200 ATK and a +5% ST buff. However, a rank 10 weapon will be 400 ATK with a +15% ST buff. It doesn’t matter what weapon’s exact name is, it will be better if it has a higher rank. It is a good idea for your weapons and accessories to be updated as technology advances.

You can buy new items or use the new crafting method.

VIIR allows you to create new items and improve your gear’s rank. You need plans before you can craft. Plans can be purchased in shops or obtained naturally.

The basic example above shows how to craft the blocks using the ore found in dungeons via treasure box pickups. This is a great incentive to explore all dungeons. You can make as many blocks as you want. These blocks can be used to make Weapon, Accessory, or Costume enhancement items that will increase the rank of your current gear. This can be a great way to upgrade your existing gear if you are unable to increase the technology level or need better stats. Although there is a limit to how many times one piece of gear can go up, it is unlikely that you will exceed it. It’s possible to upgrade your gear hundreds of times. It’s best to upgrade gear that you can keep with you for a while. If you are cruising through the story and continuing to raise the Technology Level, it’s cheaper to wait and upgrade when you reach a slower point.

Also… VIIR, unlike VII, has stats on previously cosmetic-only slots such as Costumes and Accessories. This will directly impact your defense.

 

I hope you enjoy the Guide we share about Megadimension Neptunia VIIR – Mechanics, Routes, Visual & Gameplay; if you think we forget to add or we should add more information, please let us know via commenting below! See you soon!