Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus

If you can deal with gratuitous and risqué fan service, then you'll find that Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a good brawler. Even with the lock-on and other camera issues, the combat mechanics are solid offensively but can be bothersome on the defensive side. The story is deeper than expected thanks to the side missions and the ability to play as any student from any faction, so there's plenty of gameplay time to go around. While not exactly a shining example of how to do a 3-D brawler, it is still enjoyable for both anime fans and brawler fans who aren't too demanding.

If you’re looking for a weird anime game that has really fun combat ala Dynasty Warriors than I can’t recommend this enough.

The problem with Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus isn't its questionable, sexual hormone-fuelled visuals, but the fact that there's nothing more than that. Those seeking to see the girls of the - equally devoid of actual entertainment value - anime series fight, bounce, and get undressed, will have a blast. Unfortunately, those seeking a great hack 'n' slasher wrapped up in some cute girly underwear will be quite disappointed… and not from the underwear.

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a simple, frenetic and fun game that is hindered by a mediocre port. It's not a game for everyone, obviously, but if you're in this kind of gameplay and... uhm... other stuff, there's value to be found.

Overall, Shinovi Versus is a game that honestly ended eating up a lot more of my time than I expected it to. The core gameplay is solid, most of the characters are at least likeable, and each one seems to have a unique background story and personality. The soundtrack is really good and it was really nice to see that in battle costume breaks actually affect the out of battle scenes. Probably the biggest issue with the PC port of Shinovi Versus is exactly that; it feels like a port. While the game was really fun and characters likeable, the frame rate drops and the fact that I wasn’t playing it on a Vita, where I would be able to easily set it down for a while, really felt like it detracted from the experience. Shinovi Versus is a solid game that suffers primarily from the extremely niche audience that it caters to. If you’re a fan of boobs, ninjas, and beat ‘em up anime-style gameplay, you’ll like Shinovi Versus, just be well aware where you set up to start playing.

But luckily the actual combat is fun and is designed in such a way that newcomers can quickly get the hang of the combos.

On a whole, while Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus offers more than a dozen hours of content, it doesn’t offer much variety in terms of gameplay. That being said, the visual novel-like storytelling does add enough of an interesting plot and characters that, assuming you're okay with seeing them in underwear most of the time, makes this game worth playing through.

Bursting with sophomoric charm and absurd sexiness, Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus will provoke either cringing or laughter depending on who’s playing it. What it lacks in maturity it makes up for with a refreshing lack of seriousness, and it presents it all in a content-laden game filled with easy, straightforward 3D ass-kicking.

This is a sexy game designed for weirdos, and I’m fully aware of that. It’s also an entertaining brawler, mechanically. Comboing large groups of enemies into the sky is always satisfying, but I do wish I was controlling a model that wasn’t quite so ridiculously sexualised. I think all I can really say is that I had fun with it, and a lot of other people will have fun with it too. I just hope they’re having fun for the right reasons.

Despite my complaints, Shinovi Versus is a game worth playing, but the over-the-top fanservice is not for everyone. Hell, I don’t even think it’s for me…but I don’t regret getting the chance to play this game.