- Pronouns
- he/him
Out December 3rd, 2021
Developed by Spike Chunsoft
Published by Spike Chunsoft / Numskull Games (European Physical Copies)
Contains
- Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
- Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
- Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp
What is Danganronpa Decadence?
Danganronpa Decadence is a collection of the three mainline Danganronpa titles, plus an expanded new title. This is the is the first time they are available on Nintendo Switch, and this collection is exclusive to the console.
Each of the three mainline titles explores a group of gifted students, here called “Ultimates,” as they are trapped within the confines of a school and forced to compete in a killing game. The only way to be freed is to kill another participant and make it through the ensuing class trial without being caught. If the killer avoids being caught, they live and all other participants will be killed. If the culprit is discovered, they are executed at the trial and everyone else lives, but are still trapped in the game.
The killing game is hosted by an evil bear called Monokuma, who is more than willing to add some extra motivation to the players when the bloodlust slows down. As the bodies drop, the truth about the killing game draws nearer…
…to say much more would spoil the fun! The element of surprise and mystery is very important to these titles, and so it is best to go in fresh.
How does it play?
For much of the runtime, Danganronpa is a visual novel. The majority of your time is spent making your way through dialogue and watching the shape and stakes of the story develop. Eventually…someone will die.
Participants discovering a body begins the Class Trial phase. Although the presentation is certainly different, this part of the game is analogous to the Ace Attorney series. You begin by investigating the murder scene and talking to others, which racks up evidence of the crime — “Truth Bullets” — in the menu. You can then match up evidence against statements made in the trial testimony, disproving what’s being said and pushing the trial closer to its conclusion. If you present evidence that doesn’t fit with what’s being said, you are penalized and may eventually fail the trial. Don’t worry, you get to start from the last section you reached if you do!
Eventually more convoluted mechanics enter the trials, some of which obscure the screen or present as little minigames that require reflexes or rhythm. If this doesn’t sound too appealing, fear not: each game has difficulty settings, and setting it to “Gentle” will leave out the more obtrusive and tricky elements.
In the periods between trials you can hang out with the other participants, find and give them gifts, and explore the school grounds available to you at the time. This, like the investigations, are controlled from a first-person perspective.
What about Ultimate Summer Camp? Don’t remember that one.
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp is a kinda-sorta new title! It is an expanded version of the RPG board game that originally unlocked at the end of V3, the Ultimate Talent Development Program. You move around a board game version of Jabberwock Island, the setting of Danganronpa 2. There is JRPG-style combat and levelling, more friendship mechanics, and a cast that spans all three mainline titles. The original was a neat capper on the Danganronpa trilogy, so I’d imagine this expanded version will be all the better!
What about Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls?
Unfortunately, that one isn’t included in this collection. If you want to play that one it’s on Vita, PS4 or Steam.
Are the games connected or simply part of the same series, like Final Fantasy?
Each Danganronpa game has a new cast and setting, but they are most certainly connected. Playing them in order is the way to go!
Screenshots & Trailer
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