This may reveal my opinion early but I’m disappointed that I didn’t get around to playing this till now. The new gameplay style made me think Spike Chunsoft couldn’t put together a good action game set in the Danganronpa universe. Turns out I was wrong. Like any good despair inducing game you need a good setting. From the opening moments the game quickly introduces Komaru Naegi who is a very normal girl who happens to be caged in a apartment for most of her life. One day a Monokuma accidentally releases her and she gets thrown into a world of constant chaos. After being given a weapon that can destroy the Monokuma robots things just keep spiraling out of control while eventually getting put into a life or death situation by some kids called the warriors of hope. With her only ally being a psychotic killer named Toko Fukawa it very much seems like an impossible task to escape from Towa City.
That is a basic synopsis of the plot but it really doesn’t show you how well this game weaves its way through all the different characters to create a unique experience. Each character you meet has a unique personality that is either used for comedic effect or add on to the limitless amount of intrigue that could keep you guessing till the credits roll. Unlike the previous two games this one doesn’t rely on a classroom full of murderous intent so they were able to tell a different kind of tale while keeping plenty of horrible moments that really sap the will of both of the main characters. Going on this journey isn’t going to lead to happy sights which is part of the charm of the Dangaronpa series. Yet like the rest the gameplay remains the weakest link.
Each section of the game is set up in a similar way. Starting off you’ll be in third person mode with Komaru who uses a hacked megaphone to defeat anything that stands in her way. Although she only gets to use one weapon it has 8 different shot types. They all aren’t used only for fighting like the move power that is mainly used to activate machines or cause cars to start up on their own. Other types like paralyze assist in combat by stunning foes. If using the hacking megaphone isn’t enough it is possible to switch to Genocide Jack (Toko’s alternate persona) to slice up foes with her scissors. She plays more like a beat em with two types of attacks. Although this mode is more like a super since it has limited use thanks to a bar that slowly drains while you have it active. Both characters have a really basic moves and it really only doesn’t get boring thanks to some good level design.
Not focusing entirely on shooting things all the time saves this game from becoming boring quick. None of the different Monokuma designs will test your reflexes. In Between the action scenes lies a healthy number of puzzles. Many different rooms have a arcade machine that gives you a task to compete. Usually it requires you to defeat every enemy at once which must be solved with one of the different bullet types. Traditional brain teasers also appear in the form of riddles that must be solved by examining the environment. Add in some cool bosses and some character development to create a game worth playing.
So at this point it is obvious that I recommend this game. Yet it comes with one important factor. You must have played and liked the previous Danganronpa games. Going into this cold could work yet knowing the nuance and backstory to the characters your meeting adds a whole new layer to an already dramatic experience. If the grim universe isn’t something you like then this won’t be worth playing at all since the combat is lackluster at best.