I guess, having mostly spoilt myself, the reasons I don't want to play this game are threefold.
First, that it sure sounds like every problem I've had with what I feel to be the problems causing steadily worsening quality for each successive Danganronpa title following the first (making the story, setting, and characters Darker And Edgier for its own sake, thematic incoherence, lurid sexual content, twists meant to shock and surprise rather than be good storytelling) is not only on display here, but actively cratering out.
Second, it sounds like they've really run all the characters into the ground, first with the spoiler-y plot twist you carefully didn't mention in the opening, then by making most of the survivors hateful, unlikable people. I would prefer a Danganronpa with fewer obnoxious, unfunny comic relief characters and Byakuya Togamis, not more.
Third, well... the ending. You can say it doesn't delete the good stuff that came before it all you like, and it may even be true, but at the end of the day, well, it's still the last thing I'll experience playing the game, and if it leaves a sour stomach-acid flavor in my mouth after I'm done, then the game as a whole will have left a sour stomach-acid flavor behind. If the last thing I taste is some awful cake where a cook put in hot sauce instead of sugar to try to be "daring" and "experimental," I won't remember the middle. And it sure sounds like the opening was equally poor, again, in what sure seems like an effort to chase the surprise of the lurid, surreal plot twists of the first title without actually trying to make a good story.
So, with that out of the way... sell me on a title that sure sounds like everything wrong with its franchise and little of what worked about it.
\"making the story, setting, and characters Darker and Edgier for its own sake, thematic incoherence, lurid sexual content, twists meant to shock and surprise rather than be good storytelling\" I would argue that only the sexual content bit here is true, and it is a valid complaint. The rest, however, I can\'t agree with. 2 is by far the most lighthearted game in the series, and 1 is one of the darkest. Not as dark as AE, perhaps, but still rather dark. Certainly darker than both v3 and 2. And the twists are all foreshadowed fairly well in every game.
\"then by making most of the survivors hateful, unlikable people. I would prefer a Danganronpa with fewer obnoxious, unfunny comic relief characters and Byakuya Togamis, not more.\" Uuuuum..... I\'m sorry? How do a majority of the survivors in 2 and ANY of the survivors in v3 fit that?
Spectral, my big issue with your reply is that it seems that you\'re merely judging this based on what you have learned about v3 on a summary or some such, rather than actually experiencing the game yourself (be it through an LP or playing the game yourself, the latter of which you stated you never did). I feel that you\'re unfairly judging it because of that.
<DIE THE DEATH> <SENTENCE TO DEATH> <GREAT EQUALIZER IS THE DEATH>
SpectralTime, I call this review a positive one with caveats. Since your previous reviews and comments about the other Danganronpa games are fairly critical, it's only natural that you wouldn't be interested in this one. V3 is enjoyable, but it isn't an entry that's good enough to win over someone who doesn't like the rest of the series. SPOILERS AHEAD Regarding the ending, it's true that it's the last thing that I saw, and did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. However, that feeling was mitigated as I learned that the remaining students had survived (Himiko and Maki are two of my favorites from this game), and I read some of the theories about the ending, particularly possible clues that the Big Bad may not be telling the truth. I still don't like it as much as the previous two games' final chapters, but overall, I perceive it a bit more favorably.
That said, I can't really think of any good way to defend killing off Kaede. While some people eventually warmed up to Shuichi over time, I personally didn't, and believed that he used Kaede's death as a crutch for his Character Development, leading to a more interesting character being sacrificed for his sake. It also doesn't help that Kaede only has two Free Time Events for each character, some of which conclude fairly abruptly when they're getting good- she actually stands up to Miu, and her second event with Kiyo is quite chilling in hindsight once you get through Chapter 3. It would have been much better if Kaede had survived to learn from her mistakes, or at least was playable in School Mode, but I enjoyed most of the rest of the game, so I can't say that this ruined my experience. END OF SPOILERS
In the end, my reviews are meant for people who are still undecided, and who probably don't know much about the series, not those whose minds are already made up. There are a few points in your comment that I disagree with, such as your assertion that most of the cast is hateful and unlikable, but I suspect my review won't convince you to change your mind. As such, if you want my personal recommendation, you're probably better off taking a pass on V3.
I would say I do like the rest of the series. There were things about it that annoy me, but I generally find I am able to like the whole package. I just feel that it has been slowly declining in quality since the first title, and it sounded like V3 was another tic downward rather than upwards.
I guess I'm basing my assertion that it sounds like most of the survivors are bad people on a trawl of the cast page, which I'll be the first to say is deeply unfair of me. But... eh, I dunno. Stuff I've heard about the one-dimensional cult leader chick and the serial killer just disgusts and repulses me. Even the worst characters in previous titles weren't that bad. ...Well, maybe Nagito and Byakuya, but not in the same way really.
I suppose I disagree with your statement. If anything, I think I'm more the opposite, soured on the game because of stuff I've heard about it, but trying to find an excuse to play it because the series hasn't wrung out all my goodwill yet, despite its best efforts.
I might end up doing it anyway. Even if only to turn my uneducated opinion into an educated one.
And I would never dream of saying your review isn't a positive one marbled with reservations. It absolutely is, and you manage to make them plain even through your determination not to spoil anything. That's why I'm asking you rather than the others here: my own opinion of the series is basically a positive one marbled with reservations.
...Stupid demo. Stupid charming, cheery lies, seducing me into buying the game even though I know they\'re just cheery lies.
Fine. But now I basically have to review it when I\'m done.
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A (Mostly)Positive and Spoiler-Free Review
There's quite a bit of controversy over New Danganronpa V3 for various reasons, particularly the ending. I can understand and even agree with some of those complaints, but in the end, I enjoyed the game.
The story, despite having a set of 16 talented students and Monokuma, doesn't take place in Hope's Peak or any related location. Instead, it's in a new setting with a similar name, and while there are connections to the previous games, they can't be fully explained in a brief or spoiler-free manner. Still, the mainstays of the series- students working together to find a way to escape where they're trapped, and solve the mystery when one of their own is murdered.
The characters are a mixed lot, as always. Almost inevitably, some will get on your nerves at times, particularly those with the more annoying running gags, and you'll probably end up hating at least a few for one reason or another. That said, they do tend to have a surprising amount of depth if you do their Free Time Events, thereby getting to know them, so you should find a few that are likable and sympathetic.
The class trials are the best part of the game, and contain several notable improvements. While Hangman's Gambit can be a bit tedious, at least you don't have to worry about taking damage while looking for the letters you need. Debate Scrum is quite entertaining, since it requires quick thinking to counter arguments as they come. The ability to lie is also a welcome improvement, as not only does it often serve a useful purpose, you can also use lies instead of truth bullets if you think outside the box at certain points, thereby giving you alternative solutions to problems.
Of course, I have two major complaints about the game. The first is the first chapter's culprit, which, while surprising, feels like they were trying too hard to outdo previous twists, and is ultimately detrimental to the story. The second is the ending. I won't go so far as to call it insulting, but unlike the other games' endings, it doesn't do the job of answering all the questions that were raised throughout the game very well. Explaining my opinions on these points in the review would take up too much space(even without a word count limit) and involve spoilers, but I can elaborate in the comments section if necessary.
Those flaws aren't necessarily deal-breakers, though, but fans should be willing to approach them with an open mind- I might not like them, but I can accept them. If you can do that and enjoyed the previous games, I would recommend that you also play V3.