Most Danganronpa reviews on here are memey so I thought I’d jot down some legit thoughts I have on the game here. I haven’t been so hooked on a game to this degree in forever. Within the span of 4 days, I had completed the whole storyline, I just could not put it down, I was so engaged as to what would happen in the story next. This’ll overall be a spoiler free review except the excerpt I will mark as such so watch out for that.
Presentation
This game visually slaps. The almost eerie visual style of 2D characters combined with 3D environments contributes to the heavy atmosphere. Sprite quality is overall great as well, and although they aren’t animated, each character can be seen with a distinct personality and look from how their sprites are drawn. The almost Tim Burton-esque look to the Execution FMVs look amazing as well, I love how uncannily they are animated. Other elements, such as the UI, are flashy and unique, and you can’t forget the ever famous “NO, THAT’S WRONG” cut-in animation (well I guess “Sore Wa Chigau Yo” since I was playing the PSP translation). Also, the music is banging. Love the techno sound to it, and the variety of tracks on display. "Beautiful Death" is one of the most boppin' and atmospheric tracks I've heard in a video game in recent memory.
Characters
Overall solid cast here. Some characters such as Fuwaka I absolutely could not stand (I’m assuming intentionally so??), but I ended up enjoying most of the characters. Makoto is a very vanilla protagonist but seeing him grow throughout the journey was satisfying for me. I also liked the mysterious Kirigiri, the swimmer donut girl Asahina, the strong and honorable Sakura, and my bro (but also borderline con artist) Hagakure. Byakuya is also a pretty decent rival character throughout. Seeing the number of the 15 characters slowly dwindle, along with the fact you can potentially make strong bonds with these folks makes their losses go harder if that ever happens. My friend TonySADX mentioned that the more of the school you unlock, the more desolate the population becomes, and I can't stress enough how smart that subtle dynamic goes the further you dive into this large mystery.
Gameplay
Danganronpa is compared to Ace Attorney alot, and structurally they are very similar. But I’ll be damned if the trials in these games are WAY more stressful then any of the Ace Attorney ones. Time limits, complex mechanics, a ranking system, it makes these trials quite a havoc (NOW LAUGH). I played on the easiest difficulty because I’m a slow thinker, but I’d imagine that they are more rewarding on normal and above. I liked most of the minigames, but SCREW the comic books, I hate doing those so much.
CHAPTER 6 SPOILERS BELOW
Sorta mixed on the final villain. I’m not the biggest fan of bonkers antagonists, but this one has such a great sprite set showing their insanity and I love that. A bit anticlimactic that we only get to see them face to face at the latter half of the final trial, but they were a joy to see and eventually take down. One of the most satisfying final villain takedowns I’ve seen in these detective style visual novels. Also I think they have a really solid character design so that’s a plus.
SPOILERS END HERE
Final Thoughts
In summary, I really enjoyed this game. Kept me engaged the entire way throughout, and I’ve been informed that it only gets better from here. However, it’s definitely a very flawed game in some aspects, and I can COMPLETELY understand both the fan and hater sides of the spectrum, both are justified in my opinion. I’m already thoroughly impressed by this first attempt in the series, and I hope that I enjoy 2 and V3 just as much.

people like to throw around the word "pretentious" when talking about things that they don't like, but i don't think that they Actually know what it means. when we, as people, describe something as pretentious, we mean that it is attempting to peacock as though it is more intelligent or significant than it actually is.

well, buddy, look no further than this game for that definition. a game whose gameplay is worse in nearly every way than its predecessors, one that makes grand gesticulations towards the ideas of "racism" and "american exceptionalism" only to fall flat on its face every step of the way, and possessive of a "twist" so meaningless in the context of the plot that acts merely as a smokescreen to quickly make its escape as it hopes players will walk away unable to remember anything else about the game.

if there were a poll online for "The Most Pretentious Game of All Time", i would bet money on the collective reddit-esque hive mind of "gamers" choosing something like Braid. well Bioshock Infinite, you've got my vote, friendo!

There would be no better way to shoot yourself in the foot than making a sequel to a game so highly deified and demonized as Undertale, but Toby Fox somehow took the challenge head on and created, so far, a sequel worthy of its predecessor. Playing Chapter 1 for the first time back then, I wasn't expecting to be dazzled by its self assurance and showmanship, and I certainly wasn't ready for how masterfuly it weaponized its nostalgia in the same manner as only Mother 3 could. Beyond just being a spiritual sequel, it was certain that Deltarune would be a continuation of Undertale's message and concepts, and the note it ended on was prime bait I was fully willing to gobble up for the next chapter.

Now living in a 6 year old post Undertale world (!), the surprising brilliance of Chapter 2's subversion is how little of it there actually is. Contrasting with Undertale's looming shadow in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 does everything in its power to make you forget what sequel you are actually playing, taking instead a celebration tone that fully takes advantage of its enormous anticipation and that constantly throws at the screen sheer effort and confidence in its presentation. Establishing a "Monster of the Week" plot, Chapter 2 is a joyful non sequitur passage that expels the darkness bubbling beneath it all to put the spotlight on the main cast, and in the course of 4 hours, Toby Fox demonstrates a full understanding and grasp of Undertale's language that he flawlessly exploits at every turn to create some of the most well crafted comedic setups and pay-offs that could only be possible in videogames.

It's a finely and carefully laid out rug to pull from under us, because at its heart, it is still a story about the escapism and its double edged nature we constantly seek from outside our daily lives. The optional content is a stark reminder that we haven't escaped Undertale yet, and the nature of the Dark Fountains explored here more overtly comment on the artificiality of this universe and its roots. Yet, Chapter 2 just decides to revel in that escapism for a little while, wearing its videogame influences on its sleeve as it gives us the calm rollercoaster of a ride before the storm. Deltarune is without an ending already a much tighter, stronger and more cohesive experience than Undertale ever was, and I'm enjoying immensely the way Toby Fox and his team are setting up the pieces on the board to throw them to the floor further along the way.

From the moment those first notes play in Cyber City and all the way up to that ridiculous genre bending final boss, I was having the most fun with a videogame I have had in a very long time, and I am left once again eagerly and desperately waiting for more. Whether the completed Deltarune experience we perceive in our minds turns out to be a reality or not, I am content with it just being this full of life and joy.

I was expecting nothing or if something a very average game, so I was pleasantly surprised that it hooked me so much that I actually decided to finish it in one night and be left with an overall positive feeling of the village. Obviously both the case system and treasure system are heavily RE4 inspired but they also added a new mechanic, guard pushing, so if you guard an incoming attack you can retaliate with a strong shove which sends the enemy further away. Apart from that if you've already played 7 you should feel ok with the gameplay. The first few parts are really solid in both the exploration, featuring varied environments and somewhat simplistic but valuable puzzles, and the placement of the enemies which for the most part can be duked out but when you have to fight the game will make it pretty obvious by giving you options to help you out around you. I will say that having played the game on standard, I'd probably wouldn't touch the higher difficulties with a foot long stick because they'd make the enemies even spongier, and it's already slightly bad on standard. The ending section is kind of less interesting than everything else, and the actual ending is pretty depressing considering what went down. Overall though this is a solid entry in the series and a way better game than 7.