48836847_p0.png
[Hide] (1.1MB, 1048x1048) 112099688_p0.png
[Hide] (7.9MB, 2428x3439) There seems to be this persistent idea going around on the subr*ddit and possibly other sites that the NEXT forms were only a temporary power up that needed the Gold Towers/Gold Third to function, or some similar excuse as to why they can't return. In VII, there is nothing that implies the NEXT forms are anything but permanent parts of the CPUs' repertoire after achieving them. The Hyper Share Crystal was made from Shares and "Gold Third Energy", but it's important to note that "Gold Third Energy" is just Shares transmitted through the Gold Towers into a form the Gold Third could receive and use. The Gold Towers were nothing but an adapter. In essence, the Hyper Share Crystal is just a really strong, glorified Share Crystal that essentially "jumpstarted" potential that the Goddesses always had in them. And after the NEXT forms are achieved, they can be accessed at will provided the Share requirements are met. Hate to come off like a shounenfag (even though I admittedly kinda am), but basically, think Super Saiyan 2. Once Gohan achieved it and held it the first time, he could access it at will as long as he didn't become to rusty and out of shape. Hell, the Neptunia manga reinforces the comparison with a gag.
So why did the NEXT forms not return? Probably mostly laziness on Compa's part, realistically speaking, but honestly, I think Compile Heart kinda regretted making the NEXT forms from the get-go as they shook up the power scale too much for their liking. The NEXT forms definitively make the Goddesses qualitatively superior to the Candidates and CH has always tried to push and reinforce the idea that the Candidates have at least equal standing with the Goddesses, and the entire existence of the NEXT forms undercuts, not to mention the fact that it puts them on a powerscale such that they should wipe the floor with most threats easily. If Neptune actually remembered she could go NEXT Purple in SvS, she might have beaten Arfoire on her own or at least not jobbed and got kidnapped. Then SvS doesn't happen or can't be a Nepgear story like they want it because Nepgear is a passive pussy who NEVER steps up unless Neptune is out of the picture. So evidently, they'd rather pretend the NEXT forms don't exist, and have gone as far as to make new Goddesses to represent the ninth gen of consoles just to avoid having to give new forms to the Goddesses again, despite all the questions that raises.
>>9302
This is a bit more involved than my idea. I basically had Rom and Ram (representing the Joycons) transform into attachable parts for Blanc (representing the main console), giving her a form that has both physical and magical power as well as durability with the only weak area being speed (as the Switch lags behind its competitors significantly in sheer processing power). Also, the Labo would be an armory of special weapons for her, because the whole idea was to be like a creative soapbox.