Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Review (Playstation 4)

Written past times Alexander O. Cuaycong in addition to Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Developer: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Publisher: NIS America Inc.
Genre: SRPG, Visual Novel
Price: $49.99
Also Available On: PS Vita, Steam

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It’s to Spike Chunsoft’s credit that Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony manages to convey uniqueness in addition to originality out inward spades fifty-fifty though it sticks to the trend in addition to inwardness that made its predecessors outstanding additions to the visual-novel/adventure genre. Relying on a backstory that volition remind fans of the serial of its older siblings, it focuses on xvi high schoolhouse students trapped inward an educational establishment alongside nary whatsoever recollection of their past. Armed alongside varying skills in addition to talents, they are faced alongside the ultimate objective of finding a means out of the schoolhouse they're trapped inward earlier fourth dimension expires. But therein lies the catch: Because of the principal’s edict compelling them to engage inward a bizarre life-and-death competition, the exclusively means they tin acquire closer to their goal is to murder closed to other educatee in addition to non acquire caught inward the process. If no expiry occurs when fourth dimension runs out, they volition all locomote killed. If a expiry occurs in addition to they neglect to position the suspect, they volition all locomote killed. Thus, they piece of employment nigh solving the crime, alongside the culprit – or, to locomote to a greater extent than precise, who they believe to locomote the culprit – discipline to summary execution. And they piece of employment through the procedure again, all the piece searching for a means to escape the school.

Remarkably, the looming sense of doom in addition to mistrust serves equally a wonderful contrast to how the plot unfolds. Each of the characters has his or her ain quirks, alongside personalities thus distinct equally to brand recognition slow for gamers. The pianist Kaede Akamatsu, for instance, distinguishes herself from the dorky Shuichi Saihara, the somewhat awkward Rantaro Amami, the cosplayer Tsumugi Shirogane, the inventor Miu Iruma, in addition to thus on. While the emphasis on grapheme mightiness non look of import at the onset, players appreciate it to a greater extent than alongside the agreement that no educatee is safe, inward every sense of the word. ANY grapheme participating inward the game tin locomote the side past times side victim or killer. Which begs the question: Who, then, tin locomote trusted?

The buildup of tension in addition to foreboding is something Danganronpa V3 is able to sustain, in addition to well. While closed to of the dialogue may look awkward at times (Kaede, inward particular, is surprisingly liberal inward her words), it frames ambiguity inward innocent in addition to light-hearted conversations. Players don’t actually know until the real goal who has been willing to kill inward the cite of freedom. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sure as shooting classmate their chosen grapheme thinks he or she is sharing a bond alongside may good locomote sharpening a knife, simply waiting to strike. The fact that players are incentivized inward having their grapheme shape “friendships” adds to the suspense.

Between segments, Danganronpa V3 thrusts players into an opened upward the world they tin explore to their heart’s content. They are able to interact alongside classmates in addition to search for clues on how to escape. Class Trials are triggered later on a educatee is murdered, kicking the absurdity upward a notch and, inward the process, spicing upward the gameplay via timed mini-games in addition to logic puzzles. Whether it's through shooting a bullet at a glowing discussion to poke at its inconsistencies, or inward engaging inward majority debates where multiple students weep at the same time, players are treated to welcome changes of pace. Slow in addition to grim storytelling is replaced past times wild sequences of shouting, protests, in addition to denials.

Eventually, this becomes the norm. Investigations are cutting past times Class Trials, which atomic number 82 to to a greater extent than stories, which goal the electrical flow chapter in addition to laissez passer means to a novel one. Repetitive? Not inward the least, what alongside Danganronpa V3 continuing to amp upward the stupor value. It never wears out its welcome, non fifty-fifty when players are 30-odd hours in; non afraid to reference and, often, poke fun at, say, Japanese culture, other pop games, in addition to fifty-fifty itself, it relies on its inherent smartness in addition to capacity to stupor to piece of employment along players involved in addition to engrossed. And the clincher? The characters educate in addition to grow alongside time; their complexities smoothen equally they unveil to a greater extent than of themselves, alongside layers exclusively besides willing to larn to a greater extent than nigh them piece wary of their motives.

All told, Danganronpa V3 is a veritable standout. The core experience is tense, fun, in addition to enjoyable. Imbibed alongside mystery, action, in addition to humor, it gives peachy bang for the buck in addition to provides players alongside satisfying payoffs inward investment.

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THE GOOD:

• Compelling plotline alongside an interesting in addition to quirky cast of characters
• A slew of fun minigames interspersed betwixt engrossing even out segments
• Lengthy even out mode
• Dual-audio in addition to measure visual-novel options, equally good equally a slew of extras to cater to audience preference

THE BAD:

• Humor tin locomote an acquired taste, alongside the dialogue sometimes feeling a fiddling off
• Some chapters are to a greater extent than interesting than others
• Requires ample fourth dimension to appreciate

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Rating: 9/10

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