Oh, high school. For many of us at one point or another, it was a place that we couldn’t wait to escape. But whether it was because of our waning popularity, our dread at the thought of another test or the rejection of the cool kids that flip your burgers nowadays, it’s safe to say that these reasons pale in comparison to the motivations held by the Hope’s Peak Academy student body. After all, the only way to graduate is by murdering a classmate!
In Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, gamers take control of Makoto Naegi, an average teenager who was chosen at to attend this elite campus. Known for educating the “ultimate” students, Makoto’s peers range from the “Ultimate Pop Idol”, to the “Ultimate Fashionista”, and even some bordering the ridiculous, (The “Ultimate Fanfic Writer” and “Ultimate Biker Gang Leader say hello). The students are… Unique to say the least, which is brought to life thanks to some laugh out loud funny dialogue using plenty of nerdy references to get the point across. After blacking out once stepping on campus, the students are introduced to their headmaster, the demented Monokuma. This monochrome colored (not teddy) bear looks cute on the outside, but what he has in store is something far more sinister, initiating this “killing game” that pits friends against each other in a deadly game of detective. But will the students really resort to killing each other? And how can they work together to escape when knowing that they could be stabbed in the back at any moment?
Class is in session.
This is where most of the tension comes in for this point and click adventure game. Makoto must explore the school, communicate with his peers and discover clues to find out exactly what’s going on in this school of despair. Traveling from room to room while looking for clues and hidden coins that can be used to buy presents, (which will be touched on later,) never feels as relaxed as you would expect, especially since you never know who may get attacked next. As the story unfolds, the core of the game revolves around class trials, where Makoto must examine statements made by the others, eliminating contradictions and taking steps closer to the truth in each chapter.
But Phoenix Wright this is not. Danganronpa has unique trial mechanics that make the game play more than just presenting evidence, (as rewarding as that can be.) Each questionable statement is highlighted within moving text, which players have to shoot with their “truth bullets”, to destroy the contradiction. Shooting becomes more difficult over time thanks to “White Noise,” inner thoughts that block potential targets, reducing the time limit if shot. To mix things up, some crazy game mechanics work their way into the court, all of which you’d never expect to see in a game like this. “Hangman’s Gambit” has players shoot letters to spell out words that prove Makoto’s arguments, “Bullet Time Battle” brings rhythm game play into the mix by having us tap buttons to music in order to quickly target lies, shoot them down and reload truth bullets, and the “Closing Argument,” where blank comic book panels must be filled in to retrace crimes from beginning to end. Surprisingly, this strange mix of game play styles work well, keeping the game moving at a faster pace than we’re used to with Visual Novels while blending different genres.
Hangman’s Gambit is one of many unique game play features.
With a “combat” system as ambitious as this, there’s bound to be issues that come up along the way. Since only targeted words can be contradictions, your choices are narrowed down quite a bit. Add that to the fact that only a few pieces of evidence are loaded as truth bullets, the game essentially spells out what to do, which is unnecessary since most of the mysteries are easy to solve anyway. Also, some of the comic panels for Closing Arguments are incredibly vague. I’ve lost plenty of health because I placed two similar looking panels in the wrong order, or because I couldn’t tell what was going on in them. A short description of what each one represents without giving away the whole thing would’ve been nice. Either way, this game is VERY forgiving, so failing doesn’t have any real consequences outside of temporarily missing a trophy or two.
I have no idea what’s going on.
Outside of trials and investigations, Free Time gives us the chance to talk to Makoto’s classmates and win their affection the best way we can. And what’s the quickest way to make someone like you? Buy them stuff! Yup, the game goes into full on date simulation mode. For the most part, each one is portrayed as some kind of typical anime stereotype, but these moments allows the player to dig into their motivations to learn that there is some real depth under the surface. Paying attention to each character’s personality traits while giving them the right responses and presents will make them confide in you, which uncovers their backstories while unlocking special abilities that make trials easier, (such as extra health, or more focus to slow down targets.)
Bonus abilities are all well and good, but the biggest impression free time leaves is the feeling of attachment that these moments create between characters. While a few of them are painfully annoying, most of the class is well developed, easy to like and sympathize with. Some well done voice acting in both English and Japanese bring them to life, which is why I wish more of the game could have been voiced. Only the trials are fully acted, so you’ll get a ton of repetitive grunts, phrases and sighs during free time, which gets annoying REALLY quick.
Nonetheless, if the goal of the school is to spread despair to its captives, it does an excellent job of spreading it to the player too. Growing attached to each of my favorites, only to feel way more anxious than I should have been every time a new page of the story unfolded out of fear of them killing or being murdered was the biggest memory I took from the game. To make matters worse, each chapter concludes with the guilty party being “punished” in the form of a gruesome, stylized execution that have that car wreck ability to make you watch even if you don’t want to.
Getting attached to your friends is easy thanks to their interactions.
And that style is where the real brilliance of Danganronpa lies. The majority of the game, from the flat, 2D cutout style the characters are given, to the executions being presented in a way that reminded me of a low budget school play, the fluorescent pink blood and Monokuma himself, everything is presented with such an innocent, childlike quality. But having friends stripped away, finding corpses and being trapped against your will is anything but. It took a real sick group of people to come up with this concept. And I loved every second of it.
Aside from some investigations dragging on way too long, (especially the first one,) the confusing closing argument panels and the grating non-voice acting during free time, Danganronpa is one of the best reasons to own a Vita right now. Its creative use of multiple gameplay styles combined with the tried and true point and click formula deliver in ways I couldn’t have imagined, while building a strong supporting cast that are easy to get attached to. With enough content to play into the 20 hour mark, (not including the bonus post story “School Mode” that has the class digging for materials and going on dates in scenarios that feature some of the funniest dialogue in the game,) tons of unlockables, creative gameplay and an incredible story, Danganronpa is a game to die for.
tl;dr
+ Creative game play that brings fresh ideas to the point and click detective genre.
+ A sick, demented setting that draws players in to the world for hours on end.
+ The unforgettable story, characters and scenarios leave a strong impression long after the game is complete.
+ Excellent voice acting in English and Japanese.
– Mysteries are far too easy to solve
– Some of the investigations drag on for too long and feature repetitive, one phrase voice clips.
– Certain gameplay mechanics could be more clear or executed better.
Final Score: 9/10