This review is from a perspective of a huge fan of the Phoenix Wright series. I'll be honest, I didn't like Danganropa at first, but eventually the game grew on me. Now I can very easily say that Danganropa stands right up there next to Phoenix Wright as one of the best games in the murder mystery/visual novel/adventure game genre.

Right off the bat I didn't like the low-budget feel pouring from every facet of the game. From the static cardboard cutouts of characters you interacted with, to the simplistic layout of the school you explored, to the stiff, tweened animations of static characters in cutscenes, everything just looked and felt like it was tied together on a shoestring budget. I didn't like the gimmicky nature of the trials, either. Aiming and shooting truth bullets felt too convoluted for the simple task of contradicting a statement with evidence, the rhythm minigame wasn't even a good rhythm game and felt tacked on, and hangman's gambit was literally a hangman shooting gallery that doesn't even contextualize what your character is actually doing.

I don't know when it clicked, but sometime after the first chapter I somehow ended up setting aside the low budget nature of the game and its gimmicky gameplay and began to enjoy it more and more. Eventually the art style grew on me as I realized the art lends itself better to your imagination and makes the story more engrossing as a result. I also began to think the gimmicks, though still gimmicks, were at least a unique take on the trial formula perfected by Phoenix Wright. At the end of the day, they could have very easily just copied Phoenix Wright and called it a day, but cared enough to make a game that was unique, and I respect that.

The real high point of this game are the characters and the story. Those two alone are what really sells this game, and now I understand why so many people enjoy it. I can't say much about the story without spoilers, other than it does what a good murder mystery story does and keeps you guessing the whole time while you piece together what happened. The characters are all well-written and believable, and your interactions with them highlight and play off of their strengths and flaws. Without spoiling anything, on more than one occasion I avoided characters that seemed "scary" or seemed like they would obviously be or become murderers, only to find out later that those same characters ended up doing decidedly good things that were completely unexpected, but in a way that still stays consistent with their character. It made me want to re-play the game and get to know those characters more so I could understand their perspectives, thought processes, and motives better. That's what good writing is; characters with strong, well-defined traits, have flaws that stem from those strengths, and every line of dialogue spoken, every action taken, stays consistent with the personalities of those characters. If I had to make one and only one parallel between this game and Phoenix Wright when it comes to things both games really perfected, the writing would absolutely be it.

Overall, if you enjoyed Phoenix Wright and can go into the game with lower expectations, you'll find that underneath its rough exterior is a real gem of a game that shines where it counts, and you'll come to love the game for the same reasons you loved Phoenix Wright. I recommend the game to any fan of Phoenix Wright looking for more.

This review is from a perspective of a huge fan of the Phoenix Wright series. I'll be honest, I didn't like Danganropa at first, but eventually the game grew on me. Now I can very easily say that Danganropa stands right up there next to Phoenix Wright as one of the best games in the murder mystery/visual novel/adventure game genre. Right off the bat I didn't like the low-budget feel pouring from every facet of the game. From the static cardboard cutouts of characters you interacted with, to the simplistic layout of the school you explored, to the stiff, tweened animations of static characters in cutscenes, everything just looked and felt like it was tied together on a shoestring budget. I didn't like the gimmicky nature of the trials, either. Aiming and shooting truth bullets felt too convoluted for the simple task of contradicting a statement with evidence, the rhythm minigame wasn't even a good rhythm game and felt tacked on, and hangman's gambit was literally a hangman shooting gallery that doesn't even contextualize what your character is actually doing. I don't know when it clicked, but sometime after the first chapter I somehow ended up setting aside the low budget nature of the game and its gimmicky gameplay and began to enjoy it more and more. Eventually the art style grew on me as I realized the art lends itself better to your imagination and makes the story more engrossing as a result. I also began to think the gimmicks, though still gimmicks, were at least a unique take on the trial formula perfected by Phoenix Wright. At the end of the day, they could have very easily just copied Phoenix Wright and called it a day, but cared enough to make a game that was unique, and I respect that. The real high point of this game are the characters and the story. Those two alone are what really sells this game, and now I understand why so many people enjoy it. I can't say much about the story without spoilers, other than it does what a good murder mystery story does and keeps you guessing the whole time while you piece together what happened. The characters are all well-written and believable, and your interactions with them highlight and play off of their strengths and flaws. Without spoiling anything, on more than one occasion I avoided characters that seemed "scary" or seemed like they would obviously be or become murderers, only to find out later that those same characters ended up doing decidedly good things that were completely unexpected, but in a way that still stays consistent with their character. It made me want to re-play the game and get to know those characters more so I could understand their perspectives, thought processes, and motives better. That's what good writing is; characters with strong, well-defined traits, have flaws that stem from those strengths, and every line of dialogue spoken, every action taken, stays consistent with the personalities of those characters. If I had to make one and only one parallel between this game and Phoenix Wright when it comes to things both games really perfected, the writing would absolutely be it. Overall, if you enjoyed Phoenix Wright and can go into the game with lower expectations, you'll find that underneath its rough exterior is a real gem of a game that shines where it counts, and you'll come to love the game for the same reasons you loved Phoenix Wright. I recommend the game to any fan of Phoenix Wright looking for more.