Review: Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (Vita)

After the horrors have ended at Hope’s Peak Academy, society is on the verge of collapse and violent anarchy has engulfed the whole world in despair! Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is the pre-sequel to the highly popular mystery adventure game Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Unlike the first two games, players will take on the role of two heroines, Komaru Naegi and Toko Fukawa, as they are thrust into a despair-ridden Towa City with one goal-escape.

Pros:

• Cartoon hand drawn graphics coupled with a sublime neon colour scheme.
• Two difficulties: Easy and normal.
• Full Platinum trophy.
• Shooter/Puzzler/Fighter mash up game play. Focused more as a third person shooter.
• Hacking gun: Acquire/use different bullets for different effects. You can break enemies, turn on broken electrical booths and ven make enemies dance!
• Kill enemies and level up to unlock new abilities and buffs.
• Map with detailed icons and markers.
• Swap in and out of the buffs to mix it up.
• Find books to expand more on the story and even learn about the past.
• Tutorials will pop everytime a new mechanic is added.
• Coins: find them scattered around and dropped by enemies. Use them to buy upgrades and unlocks.
• Toy machines: Shoot for random loot.
• Arcade machines: Launches a mini game where you get an overview of the area, Then must adhere to the task. For example one could be you have to kill all enemies with just one bomb, You then must get everyone in position by using your special bullets. Its all wrapped up in a retro pixel presentation.
• Save points all around the levels.
• Can skip cutscenes/conversations.
• Full animated cutscenes.
• You have a partner who once charged can be swapped in at anytime. They bring powerful attacks, finishers and more. You can easily charge them up and swap as many times as the power bar allows.
• Shoot Monokuma in the red eye for an accuracy instant kill bonus.
• Death mini game: When on your last heart you trigger a QTE and can stay fighting.
• PSTV compatible.
• Oozing atmosphere of desperation and fear.

Cons:

• Have to manually pick up coins and loot.
• Shooting can feel slow and clunky and falls apart in close quarters.
• Game can suffer from a lot of stop starting with the action.
• Hardly any touchscreen support.
• Cannot change view.
• Really needs a 180 degree turn button.