Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a spin-off from the 3DS franchise and exclusive to the PlayStation Vita. It is a hack and slash game with a huge focus on fan service, so you can expect a large dose of breast physics and the stripping of clothing as you do more damage to your enemy. The game also boasts an all-female cast. The game actually has a fun, smooth and fluid battle system. You chain together strong and weak attacks into combos, which can be combined with aerial attacks, slams and three different "modes" for each character.
The battle system can get repetitive since in a lot of battles, you just need to mash the attack button, even on higher difficulties. The game never gets that challenging. Each character has a Normal Mode which has the widest range of attacks. Then there's a Shinobi Mode where the character changes costumes and can use Ninja Arts. Ninja Arts are special powerful moves, with characters having three different ones. This mode comes at the cost of more limited attacks but higher combo chains.
Finally, there is Frantic Mode where the character strips off most of their clothing to boost their speed and attack power but at the cost of decreasing defence. They can chain unlimited normal attacks and is great to clear out hordes of enemies but can be risky to use against powerful characters. Once you change form, you can't change back until you finish the mission. As you fight against characters you will strip off layers of clothing. You can strip up to two layers leaving them in their underwear. The final layer is stripped off if you defeat them using an Ultimate Secret Ninja Art which is actually quite satisfying when you pull it off.
Characters also gain experience from hitting enemies and are able to level up, increasing their stats and unlocking more of their combo tree. The main story focuses on four Shinobi schools, which are set in the present day but the shinobi are now hidden from public view, hiding in plain sight. Each Shinobi school has a five-chapter story and they all tell the same events from their different perspectives. Basically, a Battle Royale has been initiated and if a school defeats another during this, they get the right to raze the school they had beaten.
Each school's story branches out to their characters' backstories and other elements in addition to the Battle Royale and it manages to convey sad backstories for each of the characters. Despite the focus on fan service, the plot is surprisingly dark and interesting. Each school has five playable characters and you'll be alternating between characters per chapter (there are usually five levels per chapter). It takes around three to four hours to finish a school's story mode.
Learning about each character's motivations is neat since whereas the player in one story will be fighting another as enemies and thinking that they are pure evil, when they get to the enemies' point of view, they understand where they are coming from and sympathize with them. You can replay story missions without going through the story cutscenes if you wish, which is a great feature. Story is told via text and dialogue, voiced completely in Japanese, like a visual novel.
Unfortunately, levels can get tiring when you're forced to fight waves of the same generic enemies before the boss appears. The same enemy types keep coming back which is fairly boring. Enemies can crowd around you and especially annoying are the more powerful ones who can stunlock you or have unblockable moves. In addition to the school's story mode, each character has five missions specific to them, which is more lighthearted and focuses on their unique personalities, traits and insecurities.
The character stories are usually funny, although it's surprising at how much sexual references are within the dialogue. The still images are also very suggestive. The graphics are cel-shaded and looks great. Environments, like the no-name enemies, are fairly generic. Finally, Shinovi Versus packs in a multiplayer mode that you can either play via wifi or ad-hoc. There are there modes, Deathmatch (normal fight against others where you gain points), Strip Battle (destroy clothing on enemies for points) and Panty Battle (collecting the most underwear, which falls from the sky and you can beat them out from your opponents).
An appreciated touch in the multiplayer is that you can set AI bots within these modes and even if you only play against these bots, they are a lot of fun. Overall, Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a niche game but if you like fan service (or don't mind it), then the game is actually very enjoyable and a lot of fun. The story is better than expected, combat makes you feel overpowered and the game packs a fair bit of content.
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