Shift Up's Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Evangelion collaboration fell short of expectations, according to a recent interview with the game's producer. The August 2024 event, featuring Rei, Asuka, Mari, and Misato, aimed for faithfulness to the original designs but ultimately missed the mark.
Where Did It Go Wrong?
The initial designs, created collaboratively by Shift Up and the NIKKE team, were deemed too suggestive by Evangelion's creators, leading to modifications. While the revised designs satisfied the licensors, they failed to resonate with players. The toned-down aesthetics lacked the appeal of the original concepts.
Player Feedback:
The issue wasn't solely the costumes. Players felt a lack of incentive to invest in limited-time characters and skins, especially given the underwhelming design choices. Asuka's gacha skin, the most expensive option, bore too close a resemblance to her standard model.
NIKKE's success hinges on its distinctive style of anime characters and engaging storyline. However, recent collaborations, including the Evangelion event, have been criticized for diluting this identity, leaving players feeling unmotivated. While the game boasts a solid foundation, the uninspired designs and drawn-out event structure proved disappointing.
Shift Up acknowledges the feedback and promises improvements in future collaborations. The hope is that upcoming content will recapture the game's original charm. In the meantime, both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE are available on the Google Play Store. Let's hope Shift Up delivers more compelling collaborations in the future. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of the Wuthering Waves Version 1.4 update for Android.
