4.5/5 ★ – clunkymechanics's review of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair.

Completed: December 24 2020 Time to beat: 40 Hours Platform: PlayStation 4 Today it has come to my attention that Super Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is the fifth Spike Chunsoft game I have played this year. Prior to playing 999 in March I had never heard of Spike Chunsoft, but they have quickly become one of my favourite developers. After playing the original Danganronpa I felt a little let down after loving the Zero Escape series so much. However, *this* is the Spike Chunsoft I know and love. Maybe I was just getting warmed up to the franchise throughout the first game, but I really grew to love every character in this second installment. I was weary of Monokuma as an antagonist in the first game, and maybe the resolve of the first game shed enough light on his character that I could grow to love him - but I can say without a doubt that Monokuma is one of my favourite villains of all time after playing this game. The character interactions are hilarious, and I found myself way more excited to progress the story in this game than I did the first one. Monomi is also an absolutely amazing addition, she is a new source of life for me that I will always remember fondly when I think of this series. The new minigames introduced (improved hangman's gambit and logic dive) were a really nice way to change up the class trials. I found the actual debates to be more cohesive and was grateful for less 'absorb and shoot' segments which always baffled me in the first game. The investigations however I felt were a bit weaker in Danganronpa 2, I thought the use of each location in the first game was really well executed, I was always unsure of what exactly had happened until the very end of the class trial which was exciting. In this game however I had every case solved in my head before the end of the trial which was a bit of a disappointment (that is except for the last trial... now THAT was cool - and awful...) This was literally the only thing I liked less about Danganronpa 2 than the first one, which is something I can live with overall. I was also very pleased by the wrap up of this game. The original game felt a bit rushed at the end, however I think this may have been due to the fact there was already media in the works for a follow up. As far as I know Danganronpa 2 was created with no direct intention of a sequel, so the end felt a lot more resolved. I am very excited that there are future installments though, usually I feel burned out on series after 2 installments but I purchased Ultra Despair Girls on sale today so I am very much looking forward to booting that up in the new year (but let's be real, I will probably start it tonight). I LOVE DANGANRONPA and I really didn't think I would ever say that after the first one but wow. I can not wait to see what new (and old) friends have in store for me in the future. **SPOILER** I am so excited I spoiled for myself that Toko is in Ultra Despair Girls. I can't wait to hear more about her and her beautiful scissors. Actual 1. Monomi 1. Chiaki 2. Fuyuhiko 3. Nekomaru 4. Kazuichi 5. Mikan 6. Hajime 7. Nagito 8. Peko 9. Ibuki 10. Akane 11. Gundham 12. Sonia 13. Mahiru 14. Byakuya (Imposter) 15. Hiyoko 16. Teruteru