Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

 3DS
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 124 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 124
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 124
  3. Negative: 15 out of 124
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  1. Spassbremse
    Oct 18, 2018
    4
    I was really disappointed by ZTD. The story wasn't nearly as interesting as 999 or VLR. Sure they tied everything together in the end here, but there was so much of the early game that was repetitive and boring. And while not wishing to spoil for others, there were several mysteries in the early game that get resolved quickly at the end that have no bearing on the story at all. ThoseI was really disappointed by ZTD. The story wasn't nearly as interesting as 999 or VLR. Sure they tied everything together in the end here, but there was so much of the early game that was repetitive and boring. And while not wishing to spoil for others, there were several mysteries in the early game that get resolved quickly at the end that have no bearing on the story at all. Those timelines/mysteries were just time-wasters. The interesting plot developments happen ONLY in the second half of the game, and before you can get to that you have to solve puzzles in rooms that don't teach you about the world, make the same decisions with different teams multiple times, and random elements appear throughout the base from previous games for no reason, other than to make mention of them.

    The voice acting is noticeably worse than VLR. The fully 3D cutscenes aren't animated or well executed. The dialogue in places becomes rote and predictable, where one of the three characters on your team HAS to object to a choice you made to provide the "contrary" opinion. It becomes so predictable and boring that it makes the characters and their choices seem lifeless and meaningless.

    Overall a disappointing end to the trilogy.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Best 3DS Game of 2016
22
#22 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
23
#23 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Cubed3
    Jan 12, 2017
    60
    At the end of the day, it's hard to recommend to anyone but fans that want to know how the story ends, but they should keep their expectations in check in order to get to the good parts through the messy parts and still have a good time out of it. Indeed, it's tough, after two great games that ended in a cliff-hanger, to simply ignore the finale, despite its flaws.
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  2. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    80
    Rough edges be damned, however. Such flaws don't prevent Zero Time Dilemma from being utterly enthralling. It's rare that a game's story captivates us so thoroughly that we lose sleep just to see what will happen next. Few other works have subverted expectations, toyed with our emotions, or simply shocked us the way the Zero Escape Series has. Zero Time Dilemma is a fitting end to a story we won't soon forget.
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 14, 2016
    60
    The third and probably the craziest expansion to the Zero Escape series. Solving fun puzzles is just a pretext for the Japanese-style mad sci-fi story. [Issue#266]
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