Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Review

Platform: Playstation Vita

My Playtime: 40+ hours

Genre: Puzzle/Visual Novel

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

After playing DanganRonpa, I immediately began playing this one.  After spending over 50+ hours finishing the game, I have to say it wasn’t as awesome as the first but was equally just as addicting.

DanganRonpa 2: Goodbye Despair is a mystery visual novel, where each chapter ends with a trial.  Think of Ace Attorney meets Hunger Games.  The game takes place right after DanganRonpa.  Sixteen students, who were attending Hope Peak’s Academy, suddenly found themselves on a school trip to a tropical island.  It was supposed to be a relaxing trip until Monokuma takes over the island, and resurrect the killing game.  Like the previous game, each chapter lasts about 5-6 hours.  Each chapter revolves around 1 case.  The main plot is not revealed until the very end, so you don’t really know the truth until the final chapter.  I will admit the plot was slow to build but the ending was soooo worth it.  The last chapter will really grab you and it was so hard to put the Vita down.

 

Now come to the puzzle and fun part.  The trials are the real time stealers here.  I have not officially checked the time since I get too engrossed to notice, but the trial themselves takes about 3-4 hours to complete.  I like to note I played the game in “Kind” mode.  So, it was not as harsh as “mean” mode.  This is definitely much harder than the first game.  Similar to Ace Attorney trials for me.  I mean in regards to the logic.  It wasn’t as obvious as the first game.  Plus, as the game progressed, the harder the trials got.  I mean, a lot.  So, I had to consult a walkthrough a few times.  My final grades were always ‘B’.  In any case, if you make a mistake, you can always redo it.  The only thing it effects is your final grade, but it’s not a huge deal.  The arguments are timed so you can’t spend time thinking it over.  Luckily, you can pretty much save at any time except during the prologue.

  

My only complaint would be the characters.  They were just bit annoying and such crybabies.  All the characters have at one time or another has been crying.  The game lacked character development.  Nagito, Chiaki and Hajime were the only ones to really get any real development.  However, I could care less about them since we really don’t get a chance to get emotionally invested in them.  And the deaths didn’t fill me with dread as I expected.

For the technical, here is a quick summary.  There is no lag.  Transition from room to room is pretty seamless.  Navigation was easy to use.  I only used the English dialogue, so I can’t comment on the Japanese.  But I usually find the Japanese voice acting to be awesome in any game.  Anyway, the English voice acting was good and definitely matches well with each character.  I can’t comment on translation as well. Graphic-wise, some parts were as good as the first and some weren’t.  The design is lighter, which matches the mood of the island.  But I missed the more grittier side.

    

After the game, Island Mode is unlocked.  In this mode, it’s a what-if game where Usami defeated Monokuma from the outset.  This is where you can get a trophy and get the rest of the hope fragments.  I will tell you, this is SUPER tedious.  It took me about 15 hours.  I was hoping for something cool but it was eh.  I could’ve lived without playing it.  There is a novel, IF, that is unlocked as well.

If you are a fan of the first one, you have to get this game.  You will love it.  You get your money’s worth and the gameplay is very addictive.  If you are not a visual novel or puzzle gamer, this is not for you.  I cannot wait for Despair Girls and the 3^rd installment.  Again, there is foul language and gruesome deaths for parents buying for children.  In the end, loved the game.