Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

Danganronpa Another Episode ends up being an experiment that works, in taking the original games and doing something so completely different to them. It lacks the jump scares, monsters, and a significant difficulty level of the horror franchises that it aspires to be a part of, but is so unsettling is its narrative and vision that it is one of the most genuine, affecting horror games I have ever played. If the Night of the Living Dead of games is Resident Evil, and if Until Dawn is the interactive Halloween or Friday the 13th, then Ultra Despair Girls is our interactive take on The Exorcist or...

Sirus GamingLeif Rey Bornales

8.8/10

When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.

Capsule ComputersTravis Bruno

8.5/10

No summary available

Playstation LifestyleTyler Treese

8/10

Check out PlayStation LifeStyle's Ultra Despair Girls review to see how the PS4 version of the Danganronpa spin-off fares. Is this shooter worth buying?

TechRaptorJames Galizio

8/10

Overall, Ultra Despair Girls manages to be both a worthy distraction between the two mainline Danganronpa titles, while also giving a new coat of paint to the series' formula.

Worth PlayingBrian Dumlao

7.5/10

In Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls 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.

GameSpewAaron Potter

7/10

If Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls’ story of bears run wild, teenagers under threat, and society in ruin didn’t do much to tempt you when it was first released, I can’t imagine that the transition to PS4 will change that. Very much an alternative take on the series and unfulfilled promise of what could have been, Ultra Despair Girls remains a necessity for Danganronpa fans wishing to fill in story gaps as well as mainstream newcomers looking for a different single player shooting experience. Just don’t expect another Another Episode any time in the near future.

RPGSiteElizabeth Henges

7/10

This side-story made the jump from Vita to the PS4, but is Ultra Despair Girls worth playing?

GameSpotHeidi Kemps

7/10

Danganronpa Another Episode: A New Hope

DestructoidLaura Dale

6.5/10

Ultimately, Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls just didn’t click for me the same way previous games did. Sure the narrative still has some strong moments, but it’s punctuated with third-person shooter gameplay that doesn’t enhance my engagement with the narrative the same way the first two visual novels did. If you’re a series fan, there’s a good, text-heavy, hands-off narrative to be explored here, but the gameplay sections really dragged it down for me.

Checkpoint GamingDylan Fewings

Unscored

It’s always interesting to see what happens to a series when it moves in a bold and new direction, either mechanically or narratively.

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

The sound in Ultra Despair Girls is astounding, as it can easily evoke the strongest emotions from players. The introduction of skills and new enemies is done in a “Microsoft Sam” voice, which is as jarring as it is fitting, while the music hops between heavy and suffocating to fast-paced and silly. The voice acting is just as impressive, with the Warriors of Hope standing out most. At one moment the kids can be annoying and infuriating thanks to their shrill voices, while in the next they can be pitiful as they border on sobbing. It’s a strong balance that takes real talent to pull off, which...