Super Danganronpa 2 Review (No Spoilers) - Defan752

Super Danganronpa 2: Sayonara Zetsubou Gakuen - A Spoiler-Free Review by Defan752
(DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional, and although I have tried to eliminate as much bias as possible, I cannot guarantee absolute objectivity or good writing quality.)

Say goodbye to your troubles, your woes, your ailments - all of the chaos that comes with a killing school life. Why? Because Super Danganronpa 2 (SDR2) is here to sweep you off your feet and transport you to a tropical island paradise. A literal worry-free resort, where you can relax away and not have a care in the world.

And sweep you off your feet it does.

SDR2 is a mystery-adventure visual novel, the direct sequel to its predecessor Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei. It represents many things, of which include the continuation of one of the wildest roller-coaster rides of a story I have ever experienced, and also the emancipation of Spike Chunsoft after they recognized the untapped potential of their previous experiment of a game. In this review, I will be discussing the game in several categories: Story, Gameplay, Artwork, Soundtrack, and Direction.

== Story ==

If you are even remotely familiar with Danganronpa, you will know that its story needs no introduction. There is little I can discuss without going into spoilers, but it should be noted that SDR2's plot is just as much of a thrilling, harrowing, madcap journey as the first game, and perhaps on an even greater scale. I believe that one of Danganronpa's strongest assets is its central motif of "everything not seeming like it really is", and SDR2 takes that idea and runs off a cliff with it. The story is engaging, the twists are strong and gripping, and the climax will blow your socks off. If there's one thing SDR2 succeeds at, it is in the story.

What is a story without its characters? I am glad to say that SDR2 does not disappoint in that regard. Likely recognizing the success of DR1's zany cast, Spike Chunsoft has given SDR2 the wackiest group of misfits you can imagine, and while they may strike you as bizarre at first, you bond with them all the same. Behind each face is a surprisingly deeply written human being, and while some characters may be lacking in writing and depth, most of them succeed.

I give SDR2's story a 9.5/10.

== Gameplay ==

In many ways, SDR2 takes DR1's gameplay and upgrades it. Exploration is now complemented with upgraded graphics and movement mechanics, and exploration of the island is taken into a whole new paradigm, as there are now multiple environments to explore rather than a single school building. Free Time has been enriched with new incentives, making the characters that much more alive.

Class Trials have also been upgraded, with the addition of new gameplay mechanics such as Rebuttal Showdown and Logic Dive. Gameplay and logic have also increased in difficulty, and the writing has improved in caliber. In short, they are more exciting than DR1, and if you're not playing them on "Mean" difficulty, you're doing it wrong. :P

However, it should be noted that much of the game is very similar to its predecessor, especially in terms of Free Time. While the rotating gameplay mechanic of Free Time -> Investigation -> Class Trial is tried and true, it does seem overly familiar at times. It is not such a problem with only the second iteration of the series, but it may become tiresome with a possible third iteration.

I give SDR2's gameplay a 8.5/10.

== Artwork ==

Not much to say here. Danganronpa's "2.5D" pop-art style has always been unique and weirdly appealing, and SDR2 is no exception. Although similar to the first game, with upgraded graphics, sprites, and animations, the characters and environment of SDR2 pop off the screen in an even more lifelike manner than before.

I give SDR2's artwork a 8/10.

== Soundtrack ==

DR1's eccentric atmosphere was complemented extremely well by its equally quirky soundtrack, and SDR2, like many of its other upgrades, greatly improves in that regard. Masafumi Takada brings Jabberwock Island to life by composing catchy new tracks and remixing old ones from DR1, which have by now become iconic. In particular, the new Investigation themes and Class Trial themes are fantastic. Although SDR2 does reuse some old themes without changing them significantly, the new tracks do make up for that.

I give SDR2's soundtrack a 9.5/10.

== Direction ==

This is perhaps the most interesting category. With the direction they have decided to take the Danganronpa sequel in, Spike Chunsoft has demonstrated a true understanding of their own intellectual property, and a true understanding of their fanbase. SDR2 repeatedly breaks the fourth wall and pokes fun at itself, and the very fact that I've come to expect and appreciate this deserves praise. Few developers are able to show this level of awareness with regards to their own title, and with SDR2, Spike has made a statement.

I do take issue with one thing, and that is the fact that in many areas, as I have mentioned above, SDR2 takes one cue too many from its predecessor, and this shows in its direction as well. However, in the big picture of things, this is dwarfed by SDR2's other positives.

I give SDR2's direction a 9.5/10.

== Closing Argument ==

All in all, SDR2 is a sequel that goes beyond success: It elevates the franchise to a new standard. If you liked the first game, you will love this one. With SDR2, Spike have demonstrated high competence in the handling the spirit of their title, and I eagerly await the next entry in the Danganronpa series.

I rate Super Danganronpa 2: Sayonara Zetsubou Gakuen a 9/10.