Review: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Jabberwock Island – once a popular tourist destination,  this now uninhabited island remains oddly pristine. You and your classmates at the elite Hope’s Peak Academy have been brought to this island by your super-cute teacher for a “lovey-dovey, heart-throbbing school trip.” Everyone seems to be having fun in the sun…until Monokuma returns to restart his murderous game! Trapped on this island of mutual killing, your only hope of escape rests in solving the island’s mysteries. But be warned—sometimes the truth can be its own despair…

Pros:

• Graphics are sharper, Brighter and more vibrant than the previous game. going for a Persona influenced art style, the game is very much a looker. Pixel art retro graphics are used within the menu and on the main screen. Collectibles show up as pixel art.
• Crazy zany soundtrack that can go from subtle and chilled to in your face banging techno in no time!
• Japanese/English voice options.
• Difficulty slider allowing you to simplify everything and go for a more relaxed play through or a much harder no hand holding experience.
• Opening tutorial section that spans the whole prologue area. Here you will learn all about levelling up, earning fragments and how the general game plays out whilst introducing you to the story and setting the scene.
• Controls are easy to remember and you always have a menu of them on hand by pressing one button. Input can be done via the face buttons and stick or you can use the touchscreen.
• Excellent voice work, Every character is unique and well voiced.
• Gameplay is like a really dark humoured book with point and click aspects. Make tough choices, Take part in a Ace Attorney style courtroom battles, Bringing a selection of game styles into one unique experience.
• The story starts off all bright and funny but then takes a huge dark twist in which everyone’s life is at risk. i dont want to give away too much.
• Can skip/ Fast forward dialogue.
• Clear slick menu system that is a joy to navigate. The map looks really complicated but in truth is its ridiculously easy and simple to interact with.
• replay unlocked chapters from the main menu.
• extras menu has a whole host of options for you to look at,unlock new ones. here you can buy new tracks to listen to,unlocked cutscenes and new events for example.
• Talk with classmates,click certain words to get more info/learn more or interrogate further.
• Handbook is your central item that is used for things like saving/loading. using your e-pet and looking at maps. you can also re read any previous conversations.
• You have an e-pet which is basically a Tamagotchi. You must clean it and *spoiler alert* It ppos a LOT! to make it grow and evolve into different creatures is to just simply walk around. Yep thats right, walking makes you pet grow. You have a handy counter on the side to tell you how many steps you have taken and how many you need to evolve your pet. you can get gifts for your pet to keep them entertained. you can even earn presents by looking after him so its worth doing!
• you can level up by simply walking,interacting with people and places. You unlock new skills/stats and have a handy progression bar.
• diverse array of characters that range from the serious to the funny to the creepy.
• Gorgeous backdrops and the way in which levels load is beautiful.
• fast loading times.
• Full Platinum trophy.
• save when you want via the handbook.
• the story is engrossing with horror,sex,murder and mystery.
• 30 Save slots so never feel you are limited.
• You navigate the world in 2.5D side on view with some areas like the central hub having you play in a first person view.
• You can fast travel to places.
• You are on a central island and unlock new islands as you play through.
• Aside from the main story, you do get free time in which you can further grow relationships with other characters, explore the island at will.
• Loads of unlockables to find.
• Find hidden collectibles and they are displayed on a cabinet in your bedroom. You earn coins when finding them in which you spend them on extras or buying presents in game for your classmates.
• Excellent top notch production values.

Cons:

• No touchscreen support on the main menu.
• Skipping dialogue can mess up the voice work.
• Slow paced gameplay.
• Opening prologue section is very long,slow and is full of reading. tHe most in the whole game.
• very similar to the original game, All the way down to the story and choices available to you.

In  summary, The game may be very similar to the previous game but who cares. seriously its no bad thing. The high level of production values shines through like nothing else. The game play is really good and i especially like the e-pet addition mixed in with 2.5D roaming. Navigating the map is quick and painless. i love the pixel art infused in the menu. i find the game can be a bit slow and you really need to be in the mood for it. that said the save whenever feature allows quick bursts on the bus/train or just before bed. on the whole I found it great fun, the characters are brilliant even the pervy little chef and the swear eccentric business guy. the game can cater to a lot of people and is a huge leap over the previous game and fans are in for a real treat.