Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

It’s a game that absolutely demands 40 hours or more of your time. You must experience it first-hand if you truly want to understand what Team Danganronpa is trying to tell us.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony takes things to another level entirely.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is by far the best sequel to a video game series that I have ever played.

A brave, flashy, self-destructive spectacle that made me chuckle like a madman right up to one of the best endings in the history of video games. [12/2017, p.58]

An intriguing and at times exceptionally funny tale coupled with excellent gameplay makes for a great gaming experience. Thus it's not at all difficult to overlook the fact that Danganronpa V3 never really looks or feels like a current gen game.

Killing Harmony is the best Danganronpa ever made. The developers fixed most of the issues of the previous chapters, adding a lot of new stuff, making the game even more fun and enjoyable. The Board Game and RPG modes are simply great, and together with the new School mode offer a huge endgame. A must have for all the fans of the series, and the perfect starting point for newcomers.

I’ve been excited for and anticipating Danganronpa V3 for a long time, and after playing it, I can say it was absolutely worth it. Danganronpa V3 is an impressive culmination of nearly 8 years of twists, turns, heart-breaks, and murders, and is an amazing entry in a consistently well-written and addictive franchise.

Despite its garish, over-the-top veneer, Danganropa V3: Killing Harmony is an emotional, involving, brilliant game that will yank out your heart and run it over with its brightly coloured tricycle.

I wouldn't be surprised if longtime Danganronpa fans are turned off by some of the twists and turns of Danganronpa V3. Yet as someone who's been along for the ride since the games ported to PlayStation Vita all those years ago, I was just happy to be taken along for any ride at all. It was never about the destination, just all the friends I avenged through solving their murders along the way.

It’s difficult to say if Danganronpa V3 met my nearly unrealistic expectations, as even though much of the gameplay and story beats felt familiar, the true vision of V3 and how it ends has left me feeling conflicted in a way I have yet to fully digest. It’s an unforgettable journey full of love and betrayal- one that steps past the point of no return and bravely takes another leap forward to a world without hope or despair.

A new cast, a new school year, and the same, sadistic Monokuma. All of these come together to create another unforgettable series of killing games that will have even seasoned Danganronpa veterans guessing.

There's no doubt that Danganronpa V3 has its issues, the localization and forced message to name a few. Despite my gripes with those, I can't help but be amazed by its story, characters, and cases. Above all else, V3 is the highest point for the series. Though it is certain to be polarizing and divisive among its fanbase, it comes just inches short of being a masterpiece in my book.

As usual the force of the series is all in the script.

A captivating sequel to the murderous anime thriller with new elements, more weird situations and an interesting plot.

I would give this higher, but I know later down the line and looking back this is by no means a 9 or even 10 in terms of the game’s scope. But if the writing kept its pacing from start to finish, it would’ve matched the astonishing soundtrack, blistering court cases, impeccable murders, and superb characters. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find myself a tissue for the tears I shed to those lost in this Killing Game.

The new world of Danganronpa is the most exciting we've seen yet -- a fun adventure with an unforgettable script. Exceptionally funny, it still revolves around a very strong base concept, and we hope there's more to come in the future.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a risky bet by Kodaka in the Danganronpa saga. It has a superb story and has one of the best set of characters of the whole saga. Outstanding.

Another must-have entry for the series. A game you shouldn't miss if you visual novels, mystery and puzzles.

Danganronpa V3 is more than a simple visual novel. It's a game that superbly outlined microcosm artfully prepared by the developers; the third episode of a mature and fascinating series, Able to dealing with strong themes and a great sense of irony. A small pearl that should push you to look prequel and play the whole saga.

Danganronpa V3 unravels the series' tightly wound coil of bloody intrigue in spectacular fashion.

Way too bloated, but the trials and cunning crimes are to die for (and, indeed, to die during.) [Nov 2017, p.76]

The most entertaining entry in the series to date. Aside from a few drops in its pacing, this is one of the most satisfying whodunnits on PS4 and Vita. [Dec 2017, p.86]

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony isn’t easy to summarize, at least not in a way that manages to capture its full scope. It's outlandish, and an example of how deeply engaging such outlandishness can be when wielded effectively. So much of what we consume is content to play into what the audience wants, but V3 takes a different path. It often challenges instead of appeals, and though not all of its points are equally strong, the constant push against player expectations makes it a far more intriguing journey.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is looking to loop the loop. Offering more of the same, but that's precisely what their players are looking for that has led to this strange saga to be a success. We are grateful, of course, for the new playable mechanics in the trials and the renewed aesthetics, but the important thing is already fulfilled from the first case: you never know what is going to happen and where the plot twist will end up.

By offering a new and quite likable cast, an interesting story and a big improvement on the mini-games, Danganronpa V3 will surely satisfy the fans of this unique visual novel series.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is another great addition to the visual novel series. The characters are well written and despite the formula changing little there are some unique scenarios to figure out.

Ultimately, Danganronpa V3 doesn’t add too much new to the series. But that’s okay – it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel when the wheel we already have still rolls out eclectic characters and shocking moments so reliably. It’s a great rollercoaster of hope and despair with a climax that made me sit back and think about everything that just happened. The road to the end of Danganronpa V3 is long and twisted, but the ride is well worth it.

Though you have to finish it in order to truly appreciate its genius, the journey along the way is one hell of a ride.

If you delight in the sense of drama and anticipation that arises from impossible situations, if you are engaged by a twisting mystery that is never quite what you expect, then the Danganronpa series is for you.

Danganronpa V3 is one-of-a-kind. It got me attached to characters within minutes before ripping out my heart. It twisted and turned in every direction, and there was always something new and even more terrifying on the way, leaving me little time to mourn my fallen friends. This may be a game that’s mostly about reading text, but it still managed to make my heart race.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony's twisted helter-skelter ride of bloody murder and dastardly bears is a thrilling concoction of whodunit high jinks imbued with some surprisingly deep social satire, and to top it all off, it’s terrifically written and marvelously presented, too.

Even though it's not as fresh as it was back when the first chapter launched, the base concept around which Danganronpa V3 revolves is still very strong, and, aided by brilliant writing and strong character design, makes this visual novel hard to miss for all the fans of the genre.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a fantastic sequel which will have you thinking about various plot points long after the credits roll. There’s a great new cast of characters as well as five new adorable little bundles of mono-craziness to get to know. School life has never been so deviously deadly.

Danganronpa V3 doesn’t manage to completely shake that feeling of “been there, done that” for anyone who is a little bored of the formula, but that won’t be a problem for anyone new to the series. Anyone craving a wacky murder mystery/grand world conspiracy fix would do well to check out this latest entry, which while definitely iterative, is the most well-tuned to date.

As a Danganronpa fan, I liked Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, but I hesitate to call it a must-play. It’s a great puzzle game to keep you busy while you wait for the next Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton, but you won’t walk away from this one happy. What did you expect from a series obsessed with despair?

The Danganronpa formula feels like it’s starting to get a little stale, but it still manages to pose interesting moral quandaries with a large dose of black humour and anime style weirdness.

Danganronpa V3 doesn't top the first two games overall. Its murder cases generally aren't as memorable, and its slow pace can make it feel flat in the middle. But as a sequel to those two games, it does a great job of tying the loose threads together and remaining surprising to the very end.

The mysteries of Danganronpa V3 may not offer the same rewarding highs as previous entries, but the core formula remains entertaining despite some missteps. I still had fun piecing together the murders and learning about the characters, which is enough to help V3 earn its passing grade, though it isn’t graduating with honors.

Danganrompa V3: Killing Harmony is one of the best, if not the best in the series. It’s a pity that its excellent plot won’t make it to mobile games services.

It suffers from various issues that make the experience feel more padded, but Danganronpa 3 still has memorable characters and a kickass soundtrack holding it up.

The narrative choice made is going to be massively divisive in the fan base. It's a bold choice; it's an interesting choice; it's the wrong choice. Sometimes it can be about the destination and not the journey, especially if the driver suddenly swerves into a wall.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is destined to be a title the fans are going to be split over. The game has a very clear message it wants to rub off on the player, and it’s the sort of thing you’re going to have to mull over for a while to determine whether or not it earns its thesis. For me, it all just felt like desperation laced with fatigue. When the game wasn’t dragging me through incredibly long-winded exposition and plot bits, it was disappointing me with the direction the story took. If Spike Chunsoft wanted me to get a sense of closure from the series, they may have succeeded, because I’m not sure I’m up for another one.