Not all gaming mascot characters rise to fame overnight; sometimes they’re left waiting for their time to shine, beginning as support characters then rising to popular secondary characters before finally, after many years of waiting, becoming the protagonist they were originally meant to be.
Noire was quite literally created to represent the PlayStation brand, though it would be a significant wait for fans wanting to see her true power, potential and passion. Noire would finally become the main heroine of her own spin-off title, Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart, in 2016.
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Noire’s Conception
In an interview with the character artist for the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, Tsunako, it is revealed that Neptune was not originally intended to be the main character. Tsunako was working with a different name and theme, with Noire serving as the main protagonist and just three main heroines: Noire, Blanc, and Vert.
She was asked to draw a few other character samples and one which was very well received was Neptune’s original look. This led to the creation of Neptune as a new main protagonist. Largely, due to her popularity, Noire would still maintain a priority role in the series.
‘Noir’ or ‘noire’ is the French word for the colour black. This can easily correlate with both her appearance which consists of jet black hair and coquettish, mostly black outfits. Additionally, her divine goddess title is “Black Heart”. The colour black was chosen for her name and image due to black being the base colour for most PlayStation console systems after the grey PSone.
Due to the SAG-AFTRA voice actors’ strike, Erin Fitzgerald, the original voice of Noire, quit Idea Factory productions before the dubbing of Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online started, and so Idea Factory replaced her with Erica Mendez as Noire’s new official English Voice Actor in every appearance since then.
Noir’s Story: The Raven-haired Tsundere
Noire, also known as Black Heart, is the Console Patron Unit (CPU) of Lastation and a key playable character in the Neptunia franchise. She represents Sony PlayStation home consoles, referenced through her appearance, her processor unit equipment, and some of her dialogue. Due to the Neptunia series revolving around different dimensions, there are multiple Noires throughout the series, though all of them retain more or less the same personalities and core aspects regardless of the setting.
When activating ‘HDD’ to transform into her goddess form, Noire will change in various ways. Her hair will switch to the opposing tone, changing from jet black to a shimmering white, while her costume will change to a plugsuit similar to Neptune’s, though it’s colour will differ from game to game, usually remaining a monochrome tone such as black, white or grey. Noire’s personality also changes when transformed, becoming exceptionally more confident, proud and noble, if a little condescending.
In Noire’s own game, Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart, the goddesses of each of the four nations battle against one another for hegemony over the world, however just as Noire is one step away from complete domination, the goddesses’ powers are taken by an unknown force. In order to save the world from destruction, the four goddesses cooperate with one another with the aim of unifying Gamarket, with an apologetic Noire as their new leader.
In each mainline game in the series, Noire works tirelessly to boost the efficiency of her nation, Lastation, itself a reflection of the Sony PlayStation brand. She is a workaholic, an attitude which prevented her from making friends and forming relationships prior to befriending Neptune, who has helped her open up and socialise. With people now getting to know the real ‘tsundere’ Noire, she has quickly amassed a following of devoted friends and admirers.
Noir’s Relationships with the Neptunia Cast
Out of all the CPUs, Noire is closest with Neptune. It can easily be said that the two of them are best friends despite Noire’s ‘tsundere’ tendencies towards her. Neptune is often shown to be playfully teasing her and giving her nicknames like “Lonely Heart”, a reference to Noire’s lack of friends before they met. They are quite the opposites in personality; Neptune is lazy while Noire is a workaholic, Neptune can be easy to read while Noire is not so open and honest.
Despite the difference in work ethic, Noire is willing to admit that Neptune is her equal. In Megadimension Neptunia VII, they confirm their close relationship, as Noire is willing to fly at mach speeds to Planeptune just to assist Neptune. Neptune also has a knack for learning embarrassing secrets about Noire, such as her love for cosplay, and will tease her about it. Due to both goddesses being part of the main cast, they have gone through a lot together and become very good friends.
In the Ultra Dimension, Noire and Plutia are the best of friends. Before the events of Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, Noire helped Plutia run the newly formed Planeptune. Plutia, however, is not above playfully dominating her best friend when she transforms. While Noire and Plutia’s relationship would weaken upon the arrival of Neptune, partly due to Plutia and Neptune’s similar personalities and also due to Noire’s workaholic attitude towards developing Lastation, Noire and Plutia still get along very well.
Noire trusts her little sister Uni to back her up and is proud of her. However, she will admit in Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, that Nepgear is stronger than her. That all changes in Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory due to Nepgear and Neptune being lazy for three years. As Noire is a perfectionist, she does try to be the perfect older sister to Uni, which only drives the two to do a lot of extra work to out-do and impress one another.
Noire spars with Nepgear on occasions in Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 since Nepgear finds her more reliable as a training partner than Neptune. The two have a friendly relationship, and Noire is grateful to Nepgear for being good friends with Uni. Noire views Nepgear as the older, more responsible sister who has to take care of Neptune. The two get along nicely.
Noire gets along well with K-Sha who once nursed an exhausted Noire back to health and the two worked together after the rewrite of Gamindustri’s history. While Noire was initially upset that K-Sha had hostile thoughts towards Uni, K-Sha helped save Uni after the Order leader poisoned her. However, even after helping K-Sha through her mental breakdown, Noire does struggle to accept K-Sha’s feelings towards her. K-Sha has a deep yet largely one-sided love for Noire. Noire treats her happily as an irreplaceable friend and hasn’t outwardly rejected K-Sha, yet it’s clear the pair aren’t in the same place in their relationship.
Though Jinguji Kei technically has the high rank of ‘Oracle’, she is little more than Noire’s assistant and the two have a strictly business relationship. Despite the fact that Noire was missing for 3 years in the Gamindustri Graveyard, Kei decides to leave things that Noire has authority over to pile up. When Noire returns, she proactively completes all the work anyway. Uni says that is how they usually work and it works out really well, with the two respecting each other’s independence without interference. Kei has shown some concern for Noire’s disappearance in the Graveyard, meaning the two do care for each other.
Noire despises the hacker Anonydeath after he hacked her webcam to spy on her. Noire has tried to end Anonydeath’s life on multiple occasions but has failed, usually due to him being something of a necessary evil by having his uses. Anonydeath has a crush on Noire, and prefers her human form to her transformation. In the end, Noire was forced to rescue Anonydeath but he did feel bad about being indebted. He made it up to her and the other goddesses by using his hacking skills for good instead of evil. In the end, Noire still dislikes Anonydeath and prefers to keep him at a distance, while Anonydeath still likes Noire.
In Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart, Noire explores more personal relationships with the extended cast, including her secretary (the player character) and her growing army of Generals who she befriends. It is implied that this version of Noire soon develops feelings for her secretary which eventually blossom into the beginnings of romance. Additionally, Noire’s quirky Generals will also form strong attachments to Noire, with many including Lid, Lady Wac, and Generia G, attempting to trigger mildly sexualised encounters with her.
Legacy
In the 2011 popularity poll, Noire won first place, beating both Neptune and Nepgear, the two main characters in the series at the time of the poll. She has appeared in every single Neptunia mainline game and spin-off title. After the release of Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart, many dedicated Noire fans would request Noire make a return as a protagonist in future games.
Like Neptune, Noire would also feature in regular crossover events in other games. Images and references to Noire can be found in Touch Shot! Love, Mugen Souls Z, Adventure Quiz Kingdom, Million Arthur, High School DxD New Fight, Trillion: God of Destruction, Aura Kingdom, Ange Vierge, Gun Gun Pixies, Azur Lane, Spelunker World, Houkai Gakuen 2/Guns Girl Z, Date A Live: Spirit Pledge, Shachibato! President, It’s Time for Battle! Maju Wars, Senran no Samurai Kingdom, Sangoku Taisen Smash!, and Artery Gear.
