So, I haven’t quite finished V3 at the time of writing this (At time of posting I've finished). Undoubtedly, I say you should absolutely not be hesitating to pick this game up if you’re a fan of the series. Until I’m done, however, I still want to say something about it, so why don’t we dive right into non spoiler topics and discuss the raw, hard gameplay. Well, what gameplay there is.
No spoilers for V3 ahead. Mild spoiler for one thing in DGR 1.
Danganronpa’s never really truly been about the gameplay, even when you’re playing it. The entire point of the minigames was basically to create context and specific feelings in you while you play. Nonstop debates evoke a feeling of chaos, while things like hangman’s gambit and mind dive were meant to make you slow down and feel like you’re thinking deeply. Basically, when I’m looking at the minigames, I’m looking for how well it upholds that principle while also making sure the actual gameplay doesn’t bog it down.
The core of the game’s Nonstop debates have been touched up a bit, in all the right places. The text is a lot more inventive and moving, which is visually cool. “V” spots have been added, basically a “get a better score by hitting this specific spot” mechanic. Never disrupts the gameplay if you don’t wanna bother, so it’s a fine addition. And finally, you can now commit perjury and lie. While highly contextual, it’s a great way to flip the whole thing on its head and is a wonderful addition to the flow of trials. All around, it’s just as chaotic and crazy as ever.
Nonstop debates have also been adapted into mass panic debates. It’s the most simple concept: just run 3 nonstop debates at once and keep your eye on all 3!
Wait, that’s actually insane.
Regardless, these feel like the most chaotic Danganronpa has ever been, bolstered by how sometimes one person shouting can shut you out from the other 2. It’s good stuff.
Next, the sword cross arguments. They’ve been changed you you can slash in any direction rather than 1 of 4, and there’s more of an emphasis on hitting as many statements at once. Really makes it feel more precise and considered, fitting the whole idea of a duel much better. All in all, good good good.
At last, Argument Armament, which are essentially the B.T.A events from the last 2 games. My only complaint with these is that the timing is super, super strict, with no leeway for if you hit it even slightly before, but quite a bit if you hit it after. Overall, a nice way to cap off an argument, if a bit finicky and awkward if you’ve played rhythm games before.
So, the core of Danganronpa is as good as it’s ever been, so like 80% of it is very good. However, the rest of it is, well. Eh. At best they’re OK, at worst they’re just a slog. It feels like much of the time, new stuff was just being tried for the sake of being new, and the results are spotty at best.
Hangman’s Gambit is back, with a pretty much totally different feel to it. While, thank god, the nightmare of 2’s gambit is no longer with us, we instead get a weird version of it which is like 1, but you have to shine a light on the usually hidden letters. It’s a bit slow, not really intense like the first 2 versions, and overall is just kinda there. At least we don’t have the awkward translation nightmare of 1 where you had to guess the *exact* uncommon word (See: schizo).
Mind mine is just sorta… there as well? Every time I played it I went in with no strategy and just kinda clicked away until I got the answer. There’s not much thought you need to put into it. It’s not really *bad*, though, is all. It just kind of exists.
And at last, we get to Psyche Taxi. Hahaha, this minigame sucks. Imagine Mind Dive, but much less challenging, with many annoying delays, and that takes forever. Psyche taxi asks super basic questions that often you just established an answer to, but you need to play through a 4 minute minigame to even be able to answer them. It’s tedious, slow, so boring, and the worst part of V3. No question. Psyche Taxi is just awful...
...Oh yeah. There is one last thing I haven’t mentioned yet. Scrum debates. I’ve saved the best for last, and this is absolutely the best thing V3 brings to the table. It’s just…. wow these are so good. In a lot of ways, they take the same principles from nonstop debates, but instead the objective is now to use other’s statements as truth bullets, instead of evidence. It’s framed so beautifully and directly, and having to find the correct statements to pit against each other really makes it feel like a more focused, considered plan of attack. And they’ve got an amazing theme. Just… good. Very good.
So that’s Danganronpa V3 as a game. While you’re probably not playing Danganronpa for the gameplay, all in all it’s a mostly faithful way to move the series forward. I certainly enjoyed it for the most part.
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