If you disregard Chapter 6 and the ending of the story then this game is probably the best in the franchise. However, as a whole my experience was ruined by the time I'd reached the climax. I don't know what they were thinking when they devised such an ending. Not only does it take a massive steaming dump on all you've been through in V3, it completely illegitimizes the previous games. It's already been heavily discussed on forums, other reviews here etc so I'm not going to say much else. Only that it's controversial and very divisive for a reason.

Plot aside, the gameplay here is pretty sound though. There's no drastic changes to the gameplay from it's predecessors aside from the usual minigame changes but enough to keep it feeling fresh. We still have the awkward tank controls too, which can make locating monokumas a bit annoying but you get used to it. The highlight of the game is obviously the Trials which are a blast to play. A few new mechanics spice it up, such as Lie Bullets and the V Counter/Agree. I have to point out that the soundtrack for this game is pretty spot on, with Trials being where this shines strongest. There's a couple of minigames that I won't spoil but the music fits these situations perfectly and really helps build tension. Visually, the game looks quite nice. The cutscenes are of course, pre-rendered but the setting and the Trials look a lot better than the other games. Voice acting is also done really well, making for a lot of emotional scenes and helping to flesh out the characters.

Of course, no Danganronpa game would be complete without a quirky cast of characters! Honestly? Probably my least favorite group of characters but as with the previous games, they quickly grow on you. There's a few that definitely shine. But there's also a couple that go from being amusing to just plain annoying in a very short space of time. I suppose this is part of their "charm" and you may feel completely different about the same characters. This game did a good job at constantly keeping the surviving characters interesting too, at no point was a chapter dull or boring (even if you just lost your favorite). As per usual, the friendship system returns but there's a lot of separate bonus scenes that can be unlocked too giving the characters a bit more depth. Apparently they actually do have things to do during free time instead of standing around waiting for you to talk to them.

It's a shame really, because this game does so many things right. The bonus modes (which I'm currently working my way through) are a really nice bit of fan-service and the main game up until Chapter 6 was full of emotion, mystery and that goofy anime humor making for an entertaining ride. Chapter 5 may even be my favorite in the whole series. It's basically the most polished and refined Danganronpa to date. So everything a fan could want? Maybe. If you liked the other games, you'll thoroughly enjoy this one. Just be aware the game might not end how you'd expect or really like it to.

If you disregard Chapter 6 and the ending of the story then this game is probably the best in the franchise. However, as a whole my experience was ruined by the time I'd reached the climax. I don't know what they were thinking when they devised such an ending. Not only does it take a massive steaming dump on all you've been through in V3, it completely illegitimizes the previous games. It's already been heavily discussed on forums, other reviews here etc so I'm not going to say much else. Only that it's controversial and very divisive for a reason. Plot aside, the gameplay here is pretty sound though. There's no drastic changes to the gameplay from it's predecessors aside from the usual minigame changes but enough to keep it feeling fresh. We still have the awkward tank controls too, which can make locating monokumas a bit annoying but you get used to it. The highlight of the game is obviously the Trials which are a blast to play. A few new mechanics spice it up, such as Lie Bullets and the V Counter/Agree. I have to point out that the soundtrack for this game is pretty spot on, with Trials being where this shines strongest. There's a couple of minigames that I won't spoil but the music fits these situations perfectly and really helps build tension. Visually, the game looks quite nice. The cutscenes are of course, pre-rendered but the setting and the Trials look a lot better than the other games. Voice acting is also done really well, making for a lot of emotional scenes and helping to flesh out the characters. Of course, no Danganronpa game would be complete without a quirky cast of characters! Honestly? Probably my least favorite group of characters but as with the previous games, they quickly grow on you. There's a few that definitely shine. But there's also a couple that go from being amusing to just plain annoying in a very short space of time. I suppose this is part of their "charm" and you may feel completely different about the same characters. This game did a good job at constantly keeping the surviving characters interesting too, at no point was a chapter dull or boring (even if you just lost your favorite). As per usual, the friendship system returns but there's a lot of separate bonus scenes that can be unlocked too giving the characters a bit more depth. Apparently they actually do have things to do during free time instead of standing around waiting for you to talk to them. It's a shame really, because this game does so many things right. The bonus modes (which I'm currently working my way through) are a really nice bit of fan-service and the main game up until Chapter 6 was full of emotion, mystery and that goofy anime humor making for an entertaining ride. Chapter 5 may even be my favorite in the whole series. It's basically the most polished and refined Danganronpa to date. So everything a fan could want? Maybe. If you liked the other games, you'll thoroughly enjoy this one. Just be aware the game might not end how you'd expect or really like it to.