Neptunia Riders vs Dogoos (Nintendo Switch) Review

Trying new things in tried-and-true series is always a risk. For the very JRPG-centric Idea Factory, attempting to create a motorcycle game was certainly something new. The problem is that this game isn't particularly inspired and feels like they shovelled it out the door. As perhaps a minigame, it would be a short, fun distraction, but considering this is a full-priced title and lasts mere hours, it feels like a slap in the face to fans.

Taking the role of the orange-haired Uzume transported to another dimension, the game goddesses find themselves in a world full of "Dogoos" - slime creatures with simple dog faces. Riding a motorcycle, they decide to fight them all by driving around and collecting them. That paper-thin story is about all that is presented. Gameplay isn't much better.

Players drive around in a very small arena filled with around 100-200 Dogoos, driving into them to collect them behind the motorcycle. Enemies will drive around doing the same, and there are some very, very basic attacks that, if timed right, can knock some away from the enemy. In many regards, it plays like a version of Balloon Battle from Mario Kart, but ironically worse and less polished, despite being the whole game. That's all the game is: drive around a little into the hordes of enemies, and drag them along behind the character until 100 is reached. That's it.

While there are some customisation options, such as new clothes, or changing some things on the motorcycle, it really doesn't do anything. It is window dressing on something completely lacking substance. The story is non-existent; not even the typical hijinks one might expect from the series is present. Each story segment is a few lines about someone being brainwashed by the Dogoos and needing to battle them via bike collecting to bring them to heel.

It's tough to say much about Neptunia Riders vs Dogoos because there is so little of it - literally a few levels where the player drives around the exact areas, doing the same basic things. Again, if this was a very cheap game, it might be a different story, but asking nearly full price for something this basic is an insult to the niche fans.