frogkaro
Bio
media artist and #NotAGamedev
media artist and #NotAGamedev
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2 Years of Service
Being part of the Backloggd community for 2 years
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Played in 2024
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The latest and arguably most ambitious Tengo Project outing, coming off of Wild Arms and Ninja Warriors, you know about what to expect at this point: Gorgeous 2D artistry that picks up where the 90s classics left off and goes ever so much further with it, and ultra tight gameplay marred by some questionable decisions here and there.
Unlike the last two tengo projects, and despite what the title would imply, P&RR isn't a remake at all but instead an entirely new game with new levels and somewhat different mechanics. Pocky and Rocky have an expanded arsenal that can be pretty tricky to get ahold of, but once you do you can absolutely flood the screen with attacks that make quick work of whatever stands in your way. Game is still quite difficult as per the series' standard, but this time it's offset by a much more forgiving continue system that makes completing the game the first time a matter of quick endurance.
My main issue with the game stems from its structure. Here the game is split into two modes, the main story mode and "Free Mode", which you unlock after beating the former and is the only way to play the game in co-op. Considering how integral co-op is to the identity of the original game, having it initially locked is an absolutely baffling choice, especially considering it's already enough of a hard sell with no online co-op. This isn't the first time a Tengo Project game has completely flubbed the multiplayer in some way, so the fact that they're still adamant on not learning anything continues to be disappointing to say the least.
The main reason why it's structured like this is because story mode is structured in a way that it'd only make sense if one character is playable at a time, but the story in this game is a convoluted mess involving copious amounts of Time Travel Dipshittery that I was just zoning out whenever a new cutscene would play. It feels completely out of line by the series standards and feels like it was being penned by someone without much of a grasp on Kiki Kaikai as a whole, so a rewrite that gives a reason for co-op to not be absent really wouldn't have hurt at all. The free mode in comparison lacks cutscenes entirely, meaning if you're tackling it with someone unfamiliar with the story mode they won't have any context as to whats happening, a real shame considering how the previous games struck a good balance without needing to sacrifice one or the other.
The game is pretty short, but it makes fine enough use of its length save for one particular stage that, going through the files, seems to have been a major victim of time crunch so in the final game has been reduced to little more than a boss arena. While the setpieces are stunning, after stage 3 the environments get just a little more drab and less interesting looking, a problem I've had with the original game too, but I feel they could have done better here. The new characters are pretty fun but annoyingly you have to play story mode twice to unlock all of them, which I have not done currently.
Despite how critical this review is, I still give this game a solid recommend as a great return to form for Kiki Kaikai and yet another top quality retro revival so long as you're willing to look past these structural grievances. They better not forget Becky next time tho.
Unlike the last two tengo projects, and despite what the title would imply, P&RR isn't a remake at all but instead an entirely new game with new levels and somewhat different mechanics. Pocky and Rocky have an expanded arsenal that can be pretty tricky to get ahold of, but once you do you can absolutely flood the screen with attacks that make quick work of whatever stands in your way. Game is still quite difficult as per the series' standard, but this time it's offset by a much more forgiving continue system that makes completing the game the first time a matter of quick endurance.
My main issue with the game stems from its structure. Here the game is split into two modes, the main story mode and "Free Mode", which you unlock after beating the former and is the only way to play the game in co-op. Considering how integral co-op is to the identity of the original game, having it initially locked is an absolutely baffling choice, especially considering it's already enough of a hard sell with no online co-op. This isn't the first time a Tengo Project game has completely flubbed the multiplayer in some way, so the fact that they're still adamant on not learning anything continues to be disappointing to say the least.
The main reason why it's structured like this is because story mode is structured in a way that it'd only make sense if one character is playable at a time, but the story in this game is a convoluted mess involving copious amounts of Time Travel Dipshittery that I was just zoning out whenever a new cutscene would play. It feels completely out of line by the series standards and feels like it was being penned by someone without much of a grasp on Kiki Kaikai as a whole, so a rewrite that gives a reason for co-op to not be absent really wouldn't have hurt at all. The free mode in comparison lacks cutscenes entirely, meaning if you're tackling it with someone unfamiliar with the story mode they won't have any context as to whats happening, a real shame considering how the previous games struck a good balance without needing to sacrifice one or the other.
The game is pretty short, but it makes fine enough use of its length save for one particular stage that, going through the files, seems to have been a major victim of time crunch so in the final game has been reduced to little more than a boss arena. While the setpieces are stunning, after stage 3 the environments get just a little more drab and less interesting looking, a problem I've had with the original game too, but I feel they could have done better here. The new characters are pretty fun but annoyingly you have to play story mode twice to unlock all of them, which I have not done currently.
Despite how critical this review is, I still give this game a solid recommend as a great return to form for Kiki Kaikai and yet another top quality retro revival so long as you're willing to look past these structural grievances. They better not forget Becky next time tho.
This review contains spoilers
The first real attempt at a full featured spinoff of the Danganronpa series, UDG goes the full on action game route by the consistent purveyors of quality at Spike Chunsoft. Naturally going in my expectations were so rock bottom they practically burnt up in the mantle, and the final game as a result kept me entertained for what it was even if yes, most of the game is a 50 car pileup of trash (and not of the endearing sort).
UDG's gameplay takes the form of a loose RE4-esque third person shooter with puzzle game elements. Your main weapon is a megaphone gun thing that attacks by hacking into the various monokuma enemies, usually to break them apart but you'll also be tasked with getting them to do various actions for various ends. Between the main overworld segments are "monoku-man" challenges, which are more self contained puzzles that utilize your various abilities. It's....serviceable enough, nothing quite as despair-inducing as I was expecting, but still nothing mind blowing.
The story takes place smack dab in the middle of the big despair apocalypse that comprises the backdrop of Danganronpa's setting, and involves a violent uprising of children against adults, like a gritty Kids Next Door reboot. It tackles a bunch of very dark and sensitive topics and does so with the subtlety of a firetruck at a witch burning. The head antagonists are 5 kids who got abused in various ways, and the game dips over whether it wants to treat this issues with actual tact or play it off as a joke. The girl who was sexually abused is still given wacky fanservice moments, to the point where the english dub has an off-hand voice line about her actually secretly being 18 that I have a feeling wasn't present originally.
Every other dark and edgy subject the game attempts to tackle is clearly just there for surface level shock value and its predictable mishandling of it doesn't really offend because it's clear nobody's heart was into it. One of the major supporting characters just flat out admits to being a pedophile, and I feel nothing bc this doesn't play into his character at any point before or after this moment nor do they elaborate on it at any point, so it's just there. It feels like the kind of story an edgy middle schooler would write by just throwing a bunch of taboo subjects together without knowing what they're doing. Sure Danganronpa was never particularly known for its high brow storytelling, but the degree of immaturity at play here is something to behold. After all that, I was pretty disappointed that by the end they couldn't even commit to having any of the children die. I mean, I understand why, but COME ON, after all that you're gonna chicken out at the last minute?
The one saving grace of this game is its two main characters. While I never cared for Touko/Syo in Danganronpa 1, her chemistry with Komaru was consistently entertaining, and dare I say, i got legitimately attached to the two by the end of the adventure. Komaru's mannerisms changing from nervous to determined in her animations at the midway point was a pretty nice touch as well. They really are they only decent nuggets of gold in this mountain of shit, and since you'll be hearing from them most of the time the whole story isn't quite as miserable as it could be. I do sorta wish they went all in on their relationship, as half-jokingly teased during the end of the 3 anime, as if nothing else Touko graduating entirely from her Byakuya obsession to full time batting for the other team would be an incredible development, but I guess you can't have it all.
In total you can probably have some fun if you're a danganronpa fan who just can't help gnawing on every release of this series down to the bone, but there's not terribly much on offer as most of the events of this game are pretty pointless and were never followed up on outside of a single episode of the Danganronpa 3 anime where, spoilers, they pretty much drop the cliffhanger the game ends on in a self aware manner because nobody really cares.
If you aren't a danganronpa fan then, let's be real, you haven't even heard of this game. How did you even get here. There's nothing here for you unless you REALLY have a hankering for mediocre shooters with anime girls and robot bears. Maybe it's better without any context idk.
UDG's gameplay takes the form of a loose RE4-esque third person shooter with puzzle game elements. Your main weapon is a megaphone gun thing that attacks by hacking into the various monokuma enemies, usually to break them apart but you'll also be tasked with getting them to do various actions for various ends. Between the main overworld segments are "monoku-man" challenges, which are more self contained puzzles that utilize your various abilities. It's....serviceable enough, nothing quite as despair-inducing as I was expecting, but still nothing mind blowing.
The story takes place smack dab in the middle of the big despair apocalypse that comprises the backdrop of Danganronpa's setting, and involves a violent uprising of children against adults, like a gritty Kids Next Door reboot. It tackles a bunch of very dark and sensitive topics and does so with the subtlety of a firetruck at a witch burning. The head antagonists are 5 kids who got abused in various ways, and the game dips over whether it wants to treat this issues with actual tact or play it off as a joke. The girl who was sexually abused is still given wacky fanservice moments, to the point where the english dub has an off-hand voice line about her actually secretly being 18 that I have a feeling wasn't present originally.
Every other dark and edgy subject the game attempts to tackle is clearly just there for surface level shock value and its predictable mishandling of it doesn't really offend because it's clear nobody's heart was into it. One of the major supporting characters just flat out admits to being a pedophile, and I feel nothing bc this doesn't play into his character at any point before or after this moment nor do they elaborate on it at any point, so it's just there. It feels like the kind of story an edgy middle schooler would write by just throwing a bunch of taboo subjects together without knowing what they're doing. Sure Danganronpa was never particularly known for its high brow storytelling, but the degree of immaturity at play here is something to behold. After all that, I was pretty disappointed that by the end they couldn't even commit to having any of the children die. I mean, I understand why, but COME ON, after all that you're gonna chicken out at the last minute?
The one saving grace of this game is its two main characters. While I never cared for Touko/Syo in Danganronpa 1, her chemistry with Komaru was consistently entertaining, and dare I say, i got legitimately attached to the two by the end of the adventure. Komaru's mannerisms changing from nervous to determined in her animations at the midway point was a pretty nice touch as well. They really are they only decent nuggets of gold in this mountain of shit, and since you'll be hearing from them most of the time the whole story isn't quite as miserable as it could be. I do sorta wish they went all in on their relationship, as half-jokingly teased during the end of the 3 anime, as if nothing else Touko graduating entirely from her Byakuya obsession to full time batting for the other team would be an incredible development, but I guess you can't have it all.
In total you can probably have some fun if you're a danganronpa fan who just can't help gnawing on every release of this series down to the bone, but there's not terribly much on offer as most of the events of this game are pretty pointless and were never followed up on outside of a single episode of the Danganronpa 3 anime where, spoilers, they pretty much drop the cliffhanger the game ends on in a self aware manner because nobody really cares.
If you aren't a danganronpa fan then, let's be real, you haven't even heard of this game. How did you even get here. There's nothing here for you unless you REALLY have a hankering for mediocre shooters with anime girls and robot bears. Maybe it's better without any context idk.
this was like the only ds thing available at a nearby KB toys an eon ago. It sucks.
I remember one of the pre-recorded people you could talk to to gain coins for your picrew icon guy asked me if she'd look good in a leotard. I told her no. I was punished for my brutal honesty, but I still stand by my my statement with unflinching resolve.
I remember one of the pre-recorded people you could talk to to gain coins for your picrew icon guy asked me if she'd look good in a leotard. I told her no. I was punished for my brutal honesty, but I still stand by my my statement with unflinching resolve.