What shall we do? What shall we do when a hundred thousand Monokumas
come marching over the hill?
The borderline psychotic
shenanigans of Danganronpa are back – but they’re
different.
But they’re also familiar.
If you’re expecting a visual novel
murder mystery like Trigger Happy Havoc or Goodbye
Despair then you’re on the wrong track, as this one takes the
former bit and tacks on a sometimes hacky, sometimes slashy,
sometimes puzzly third-person data shooter (dance, Monokuma, dance!)
that’s coupled with collectible
mania. It’s as bonkers as you’d expect, too.
Set between the
two games mentioned above, the world has fallen into despair, as all
manner of Monokumas roam the streets – from blade-fingered Teddy
Krueger-types through to bombers, guards, beast, destroyers and
more.
You’re Komaru
Naegi, a Sailor Moon wannabe who’s been released from an apartment
prison by the Future Foundation. You’re just trading one hassle for
another though, as you learn that kids have overtaken the town,
teaming with the Monokumas in order to rid the place of all those
pesky adults and create a children’s paradise.
It may be a
different beastie than the main canon Danganronpa romps,
but this doesn’t mean that Ultra Despair Girls doesn’t
belong. Despite going for more of an arcade feel, the story is a
strong one that will feed the lust for weird that Danganronpa
acolytes rightly thrive upon.
Everything about it is nuts.
From the greatly varying – but all impressive - graphical styles
(some belying the game’s Vita roots) to side missions and
collectibles ranging from the relatively normal in coins through to
the more bizarre, such as pages from preschool book ‘Socki the
Sock’, hidden kids and even hit lists.
Packing some serious
challenge at times while seeming a tad simple at others, Ultra
Despair Girls always keeps you guessing – and always keeps you
enthralled by its charming dementedness. Even if you might feel
guilty about it...
