Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 62
  3. Negative: 10 out of 62
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  1. chekovsgun
    Nov 13, 2020
    5
    I seem to be about three-fourths of the way through this entry, and it's had its moments but really suffers from a slew of weaknesses.

    The puzzles have been alright. As with 999 and VLR some rooms are fun and others are duds. My real gripe is the story. I'd say it has two major problems: storytelling format and character choice. I'll start with the format. If you've played the first    I seem to be about three-fourths of the way through this entry, and it's had its moments but really suffers from a slew of weaknesses.

    The puzzles have been alright. As with 999 and VLR some rooms are fun and others are duds. My real gripe is the story. I'd say it has two major problems: storytelling format and character choice.

    I'll start with the format. If you've played the first two games (and if you haven't, why are you here?) you know the creator likes his parallel worlds and flowcharts. It worked pretty well in the first two entries. 999 brought the idea in as a small twist that revved up its stakes further, serving the story well. VLR dialed it up majorly and had you branching down far more paths with far more decisions, to the point it became much more present. I didn't necessarily "prefer" VLR but its story beats kept up with the format so I'd say it worked as well or at least nearly as well as 999.

    Along comes Zero Time Dilemma, and the format has gotten too big for its britches. The disjointed, fragment structure it decides to go with removes any sense of chronology, making it difficult to latch onto the events. It's feels less like one story connected by parallel worlds and more like... multiple possible disposable stories that become rather difficult to care about. On top of that, it really doesn't shut up about that aspect this time around; a regular feature of dialogue is the timeline shifting. Some may like this, but to me it just seems masturbatory. Like, we get it Uchikoshi, there are parallel worlds. You didn't have to dedicate the whole game to going off about that. But whatever, I knew he'd get weirder/dive deeper and I could probably forgive it more easily if not for the next problem.

    See, part of the appeal of 999 and VLR to me were characters. 999's in particular were very good and while VLR's didn't shine as brightly in my opinion, I could at least say they felt like human beings who acted consistently and logically.

    And that's where Zero Time Dilemma loses me. More than once, characters act in ways that aren't rational. At least three times now I've witnessed characters deciding, casually, to take their time and engage in conversations at times where THEY HAD NO TIME TO TALK. When they aren't doing that they're deciding at random intervals to alternate between being completely standoffish vs spilling their life stories to each other. No I don't always mean from scene to scene, I'm talking often within the same scene via some very very poor transitions. No one really develops either, once you've seen them spew what their deal is the first time, they just go in circles reminding you of it either via repetitive words or cyclical actions. I suppose there's still some time for that to change but it is running out.

    I plan to update this review when I complete the game, but I'm starting to feel like getting that far will be a chore.    … Expand
  2. jvdahmen
    Dec 12, 2021
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm at least 30 minutes into this trash game (I LOVE the first 2) and I have not played ONE escape. Zero escape is a great name for the 3rd installment of this ruined game. Seriously? I have had the game end TWICE and not one escape sequence. 5 is only because I love the series.… Expand
  3. knur
    Oct 13, 2020
    6
    First of all, I'd really suggest to finish the previous games (Zero Escape: The Nonary Games) before this one.
    Quite enjoyable but definitely the worst of the trilogy. Plot got crazy in the second part (VLR) and here it goes even crazier but unfortunately ridiculous at the same time to the point you're not taking it serious. I'd still recommend it if you liked the previous games but be    First of all, I'd really suggest to finish the previous games (Zero Escape: The Nonary Games) before this one.
    Quite enjoyable but definitely the worst of the trilogy. Plot got crazy in the second part (VLR) and here it goes even crazier but unfortunately ridiculous at the same time to the point you're not taking it serious. I'd still recommend it if you liked the previous games but be warned that basically all aspects except from graphics and audio are worse than before - especially puzzles, atmosphere and the plot. Getting the closure for the series is worth the gameplay. Just don't get your hopes up so you won't be disappointed that much ;).    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Oct 5, 2017
    70
    It lacks the charm and wit of Danganronpa, but Zero Time Dilemma, like its prequels, is still valuable, smart, and stimulating. Its presentation really badly hurts it, but once you push past that distaste, what you’re left with is an intense, engaging and intelligent narrative with some thoughtful and well-designed puzzle rooms to sort through.
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  2. GameSpew
    Sep 7, 2017
    80
    For the most part, Zero Time Dilemma is a challenging, fantastical ride. Its puzzles are perfectly pitched, and while it may take you a while to wrap your head around the game’s story, you’ll delight in slowly piecing together its winding narrative.
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  3. Video Chums
    Sep 5, 2017
    71
    Fans of escape rooms and puzzle-solving games that don't mind a more adult and dark tone will have a lot of fun with Zero Time Dilemma. It may have dated graphics and sound but that shouldn't stop you from playing it through to see all of its endings.
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