Danganronpa Ultra Despair Girls: Another Episode is another installment in the Danganronpa series. It is the latest game that takes place between Danganronpa 1 and 2. In this game, you are Makoto Naegi’s sister, Komaru Naegi who has been a prisoner in Towa City. Five children called the 'Warriors of Hope', are hunting down and killing adults in order to create a utopia for kids. Komaru and Toko Fukawa (Genocide Jack) must work together to survive this horrible tragedy.
The game is a major deviation from traditional Danganronpa gameplay. This a survivor horror, third person shooting game as opposed to it's engaging, visual novel style of play. A sensible change in gameplay because this game doesn’t take place in the classroom type setting like the other games. This game is outside in the world after the world’s most tragic event has already happened. While the gameplay has some cool and interesting things about it (it is fun), overall it’s easily the weakest part of the game. It’s not as smooth as other shooting games and the game offers an easy cop out with the use of Genocide Jack, because she cannot take damage (pls nerf).
The game is a major deviation from traditional Danganronpa gameplay. This a survivor horror, third person shooting game as opposed to it's engaging, visual novel style of play. A sensible change in gameplay because this game doesn’t take place in the classroom type setting like the other games. This game is outside in the world after the world’s most tragic event has already happened. While the gameplay has some cool and interesting things about it (it is fun), overall it’s easily the weakest part of the game. It’s not as smooth as other shooting games and the game offers an easy cop out with the use of Genocide Jack, because she cannot take damage (pls nerf).
There are tons of collectables in this game for completionists and personally, I found it replayable. I beat it twice. Throughout the game you can find books, journals of victims and lists of characters "profiles" to read which add to the game’s lore. You can see profiles for characters related to characters we know already and even learn more about some characters.
The character designs are as fun and colorful as always, filled with, “interesting characters”. What I actually mean is bat-shit crazy but I was going to be nice. It’s always fun to see into the psyche and trauma of the insane characters. In this game, that happens to be the Warriors of Hope, the five children who have murdered countless adults in Towa City.
The character designs are as fun and colorful as always, filled with, “interesting characters”. What I actually mean is bat-shit crazy but I was going to be nice. It’s always fun to see into the psyche and trauma of the insane characters. In this game, that happens to be the Warriors of Hope, the five children who have murdered countless adults in Towa City.
Toko and Komaru offer an interesting dynamic in this game. Their relationship and growth were really good. Starting off as the oddest duo in the history of ever because,Toko is… well, Toko and Komaru is a crybaby with absolutely no distinguishing character traits or talent. She's perfectly average. They end up evolving into stronger characters by the end game. It’s fun to see how the gameplay itself captures this growth. In the beginning Komaru is always breathing hard and clinging to her Hacker Gun, even when running. But later on, she doesn’t seem so afraid of the Monokuma’s and she starts standing up straight. Later when she is running, she has the gun in one hand and isn’t holding on to it for dear life.
The Warriors of Hope were an intriguing group of damaged kids but they were still no Junko Enoshima. While Monaca offered the closest thing we’ve seen to Junko so far, even she came up short in that department. The Warriors of Hope were still however interesting and fucking insane. These kids were messed up and it's actually really great to experience such insanity.
The Warriors of Hope were an intriguing group of damaged kids but they were still no Junko Enoshima. While Monaca offered the closest thing we’ve seen to Junko so far, even she came up short in that department. The Warriors of Hope were still however interesting and fucking insane. These kids were messed up and it's actually really great to experience such insanity.
One major complaint I have with this game is the gameplay flow. I find it irritating when games don't let me PLAY the game. Every two steps I take, the game stops, loads and enters various cutscenes. It really ruins the fluidity of playing and can be downright annoying. One thing I particularity enjoyed was the level up system and equipping skills and "Bullet Bling" to the various bullets.
All in all, Ultra Despair Girls was a nice getaway from the traditional style of playing Danganronpa and more importantly the heart and soul of the series is still there. None the less, this is easily the weakest installment of the series so far but it IS extremely fun. If you are a fan of the series, do not write this game off as some spinoff, buy it, play it, love it.
All in all, Ultra Despair Girls was a nice getaway from the traditional style of playing Danganronpa and more importantly the heart and soul of the series is still there. None the less, this is easily the weakest installment of the series so far but it IS extremely fun. If you are a fan of the series, do not write this game off as some spinoff, buy it, play it, love it.
7.4/10