Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

I wholeheartedly recommend Ultra Despair Girls to anyone who has played the first two games in the series - it may not be exactly what you're used to, but it fits so well into the universe the games have created that the differences won't negatively effect your enjoyment at all... and may even enhance it.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is everything I could have asked for in a new Danganronpa game. While the presentation has changed the spirit has not, and at a time when the Vita struggles for new games it is an instant classic.

Danganronpa Another Episode ends up being an experiment that works, in taking the original games and doing something so completely different to them. It lacks the jump scares, monsters, and a significant difficulty level of the horror franchises that it aspires to be a part of, but is so unsettling is its narrative and vision that it is one of the most genuine, affecting horror games I have ever played.

Looks and runs really great on the Vita.

Despite the drastic change in gameplay styles, Ultra Despair Girls succeeds not only in staying true to the overall tone and feel of the series, but also in providing a fresh experience to the fans that might have grown weary of the visual novel formula.

Die-hard Danganronpa lovers: add seven points to this score. For everyone else: 85.

Another Episode may not be the game that some Danganronpa fans want, but it’s the game that the series needs. The spin-off shows that there is substance for this series outside the walls of Hope’s Peak while maintaining enough ties to its core story to feel essential.

Does Ultra Despair Girls have moments that drag out? Yes. Is it too easy too often? Yes. But it’s still Danganronpa, something you remember for a long time. [11/2015, p.66]

Different mechanics, same great Danganronpa storytelling.

It’s certainly no replacement for Danganronpa 3, and I find myself pining for that announcement, but Ultra Despair Girls surprised me far more than I thought it could.

As long as you’re aware of the middling shooter gameplay which takes up about half the experience, you’ll still be able to enjoy the outrageous, hilarious, depressing and ultimately impressive writing of Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls.

A wonderfully wicked title that will satisfy new players and scratch the itch of those returning to the series.

I was skeptical at first, but I have to admit that DanganRonpa managed to traverse into shooter surprisingly well while keeping all the bizarre.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is for those who care more about story than shooting.

Ultra Despair Girls could've been a dynamite ten-hour experience. Unfortunately, it clocks in at about twice that length and runs out of gas long before credits roll. However, spending time with Komaru and Toko remains worthwhile despite the filler and late-game sluggishness, and this genre-switch is definitely a must-play for series fans.

This third iteration of the successful graphical novel saga from Bandai Namco changes part of its gameplay mechanics in favor of the shooter experience. Not as good as the previous games, but attractive enough.