Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Reviews
Overall, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is yet another excellent installment in the franchise, delivering up another set of grisly murders and the well-crafted conundrums and kangaroo courts that result from them while still keeping a focus on black humor and twisted school life.
Even though it's not as fresh as it was back when the first chapter launched, the base concept around which Danganronpa V3 revolves is still very strong, and, aided by brilliant writing and strong character design, makes this visual novel hard to miss for all the fans of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
But unless it's another one of the game's lies, Killing Harmony ends definitively enough that I'm content viewing it as more of a deconstruction of the killing game and perhaps a commentary on Danganronpa as a franchise than the beginning of a new story. It's not quite as profound, but it is daring. For that, Killing Harmony earns my respect, if not necessarily my adoration.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a worthwhile new chapter in Spike Chunsoft's now-beloved series about the struggle between despair and hope, bringing some legitimate twists and shocking surprising with it. It also, however, serves as a sign that Danganronpa may be running out of steam—and that this should perhaps be the chapter where we say goodbye to that adorable psychopath Monokuma.
There are not many superlatives that does not stick to Danganronpa V3 : Killing Harmony. This third instalment in the series is more extreme, more meta, more amazing in its storyline, even if the core gameplay suffers from reals changes to surprise the old students. Unless the visual novel genre or its japanese style makes you want to run away, Danganronpa V3 : Killing Harmony is worth the school trip.
Review in French | Read full review
Danganronpa V3 delivers what fans of the series want, which is more Danganronpa. A text-heavy game centered on high school students killing each other certainly won’t be for everybody. If you loved the previous entries in the series and its mix of eclectic characters, however, you’re going to love this one to death as well.
If you delight in the sense of drama and anticipation that arises from impossible situations, if you are engaged by a twisting mystery that is never quite what you expect, then the Danganronpa series is for you. I can't in good faith recommend that you play Danganronpa V3 before the other two, just like I would never tell you to enjoy Return of the King before partaking of Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers. As the third part of an incredible trilogy of games, Danganronpa V3 deserves your attention in its rightful place after the other two. Make no mistake though, it's a title that's well worth arriving at when you get there, a vibrantly dark mystery that sinks its teddy bear claws in and won't let go.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony's twisted helter-skelter ride of bloody murder and dastardly bears is a thrilling concoction of whodunit high jinks imbued with some surprisingly deep social satire, and to top it all off, it's terrifically written and marvelously presented, too.
V3's best improvements aren't in its mini-games, the way it handles, or in high-fidelity visuals, but in the way it embraces the series' DNA and brings it to the forefront of the experience. Though there are some missteps along the way such as the almost cringeworthy hyper-sexualized dialogue revolving around Miu, or the filler ‘Free Time' segments, Killing Harmony has me desperate to see where the series goes next.
DanganRonpa V3 is a great visual novel, but doesn't renew its formula. The fans of the series will be delighted. Finding the sadistic bear again with its children along is always a pleasure, especially since the game has numerous new developments in its scenario. We would have liked a slightly better general direction for the PS4, and a french translation with less mistakes and above all, no annoying glitches for now. However, we hope that they will be corrected when the game will be released in stores.
Review in French | Read full review
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a fantastic sequel which will have you thinking about various plot points long after the credits roll. There's a great new cast of characters as well as five new adorable little bundles of mono-craziness to get to know. School life has never been so deviously deadly.
Danganronpa V3 is one-of-a-kind. It got me attached to characters within minutes before ripping out my heart. It twisted and turned in every direction, and there was always something new and even more terrifying on the way, leaving me little time to mourn my fallen friends. This may be a game that's mostly about reading text, but it still managed to make my heart race.
Ultimately, Danganronpa V3 doesn't add too much new to the series. But that's okay – it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel when the wheel we already have still rolls out eclectic characters and shocking moments so reliably. It's a great rollercoaster of hope and despair with a climax that made me sit back and think about everything that just happened. The road to the end of Danganronpa V3 is long and twisted, but the ride is well worth it.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony takes the best ideas in the series, runs wild with them, and manages to create a new killing game that still feels fresh while satisfying fans. The production values are the highest in the series, and, even though the game takes a little longer to get going, the journey and final conclusion are amazing. Although I would not recommend it to someone new to the series, if you have enjoyed Danganronpa games in the past, this one should not be missed.
At its core this is Danganronpa no doubt about it. Like DR2, the highs are incredibly high, and the lows are incredibly low. In this scenario though, the developers took everything about the series and just cranked it up to the next level.
I would give this higher, but I know later down the line and looking back this is by no means a 9 or even 10 in terms of the game's scope. But if the writing kept its pacing from start to finish, it would've matched the astonishing soundtrack, blistering court cases, impeccable murders, and superb characters. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to find myself a tissue for the tears I shed to those lost in this Killing Game.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a great visual novel with trial elements, and is fun to play through. Given its style, it will definitively not be for everyone, but if you give it a try, I'm sure you'll be in for a treat as this offers dozens of hours of gameplay – not to mention very long trials to take on each potential murderer!
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony literally stood by its name and kills any harmony that may exist at the beginning of the game. With a sorta new chapter for the series, prepare yourself to question everything and everyone up until the credits end, in what promises to be the biggest killing game of the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I'm happy to report that Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is absolutely worth your time and money – you will be enthralled from start to finish. The game is massive, fun and has an interesting story with a lot of freedom for you to explore during the free time you have for each in-game day. If you're a fan of the series, then getting this one is a no-brainer.