Danganronpa

Danganronpa (ダンガンロンパ Dangan Ronpa in the original Japanese) is a Japanese video game franchise developed and published originally by Spike (later merged with Chunsoft as Spike Chunsoft) and localized by NIS America in 2014 and later by Spike Chunsoft in 2020. The series currently consists of three main titles and two major spin-off games. The franchise also includes some anime, manga, mobile games, and light novel spin-offs based on the Danganronpa universe and characters.

Contents

• 1 Premise
• 2 Gameplay
• 3 Development
• 4 Games
  • 4.1 Main Series Games
  • 4.2 Spin-off Games
  • 4.3 Other Games
  • 7.1 Hope’s Peak Series
    • 7.1.1 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
    • 7.1.2 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
    • 7.1.3 Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
    • 7.1.4 Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School
    • 7.1.5 Other
    • 7.2.1 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

    Premise [ ]

    The series revolves around an exclusive, government-funded high school called Hope’s Peak Academy (希望ヶ峰学園, Kibōgamine Academy) which, every year, selects “Ultimate” students (超高校級, Super High School Level) who are at the top of their field, and one average “Ultimate Lucky Student” who is chosen by lottery. However, when average student Makoto Naegi arrives at the school, he loses consciousness, and when he wakes up discovers that he and his 14 classmates have been trapped within the school. Headmaster Monokuma, a sadistic robot bear, informs the students that they will be forced to live within the school forever, with only one way to leave: murdering another student and getting away with it.

    When a crime scene is discovered, a Class Trial is held, in which the remaining students must decide amongst themselves who the murderer is. If the students successfully discover the murderer, the culprit will be executed, and the killing game continues. However, if they guess incorrectly, the culprit will be able to leave the school, but the other students will be executed.

    Gameplay [ ]

    The main Danganronpa visual novel games are split into three play styles: Daily Life, Investigation, and Class Trial.

    • During School Life, the player explores the school grounds, builds relationships with students, and investigates the mystery of the students’ captivity. Monocoins collected throughout this free-roam mode can be spent on presents at the MonoMono Machine, which can be given to other students to increase their friendship with the protagonist. Becoming friends with another student will grant the protagonist special skills, which can be used during the Class Trial mode.
    • During Investigation, the player searches for evidence relating to a murder.
    • During Class Trial, the students try to solve the murder by discussing the evidence they have. The player plays several mini-games to progress the trial. The most common mini-game, Nonstop Debate, involves the player trying to refute the students’ statements using Truth Bullets based on the evidence they collected during the Investigation mode.

    Unlike the series’ main titles, Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls, is a third-person adventure game in which the player controls Komaru Naegi and Toko Fukawa. Komaru has a Megaphone Hacking Gun with which to attack enemies, but which can also control enemies, activate machinery, and scan the environment for clues. Toko can use a stun gun to temporarily turn herself into Genocide Jack, who can attack enemies with scissors. Skills can be unlocked and equipped, which makes it easier to defeat enemies.

    Development [ ]

    The series originally began as an unpublished beta called DISTRUST, written by Kazutaka Kodaka, produced by Yoshinori Terasawa and with art by Rui Komatsuzaki. The game was inspired by movies such as Saw and Cube, [1] and the Sega Dreamcast game Illbleed. [2] The series’ name, Danganronpa, is compounded from the words “bullet” (弾丸 dangan) and “refutation” (論破 ronpa), as the game blends shooting (with Truth Bullets) and crime investigation. Because visual novels were becoming less popular at the time, and because the PSP had a very small, competitive market, it was necessary to develop unique elements and combine genres which would not normally mix in order to make the game stand out. [1]

    While DISTRUST included more grotesque executions and realistic red blood, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, the game developed based on the concept of DISTRUST, uses a more distinct pop-art style with unrealistic, fluorescent pink blood and horror which is more psychological and toned-down. The change was made in order that the audience did not focus on the grotesqueness of the situation, and instead could focus on the relationships and personalities of characters [1] and the psychological impact of the scenario. This change also meant that the game’s age rating could be lowered, [1] widening its audience. Hiring Nobuyo Ōyama as the voice actress for Monokuma was a huge turning point in the game’s development, and it led to an all-time high in hits on the game’s development website. [3] Monokuma was her first voice acting role after retiring as the voice of Doraemon after 27 years. Hiring a voice cast that was very well known from popular anime series led to a lot of fan interest outside of people who would usually be interested in a game like Danganronpa, which was the development team’s goal. [3]

    Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc ultimately earned an aggregate review score of 83/100 on Metacritic, which opened the door to sequels and an anime adaptation. The success has led to the games being localized in multiple languages and published in many countries worldwide.

    Games [ ]

    Main Series Games [ ]

    Hope’s Peak Series
    Cover	Name	Release Date
    Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc ダンガンロンパ 希望の学園と絶望の高校生	PSP:	日本語 November 25, 2010
    	PS Vita:	日本語 October 10, 2013 中文（臺灣） January 13, 2014 中文 January 16, 2014 English February 11, 2014 February 11, 2014
    	Steam:	February 18, 2016
    	iOS/Android:	日本語 August 20, 2012 May 21, 2020
    	Nintendo Switch:	日本語 November 4, 2021 中文 November 4, 2021 English December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 en-AU December 3, 2021
    Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair スーパーダンガンロンパ2 さよなら絶望学園	PSP:	日本語 July 26, 2012
    	PS Vita:	日本語 October 10, 2013 中文（臺灣） April 24, 2014 English September 2, 2014 September 5, 2014
    	Steam:	April 18, 2016
    	iOS/Android:	August 20, 2020
    	Nintendo Switch:	日本語 November 4, 2021 中文 November 4, 2021 English December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 en-AU December 3, 2021
    Danganronpa 1.2 Reload ダンガンロンパ1・2 Reload	PS Vita:	日本語 October 10, 2013
    	PS4:	English March 14, 2017 March 17, 2017 日本語 May 18, 2017
    	Steam:	June 6, 2016
    Danganronpa Decadence ダンガンロンパ トリロジーパック	Nintendo Switch:	日本語 November 4, 2021 中文 November 4, 2021 English December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 en-AU December 3, 2021

    Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles Series
    Cover	Name	Release Date
    Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony NEWダンガンロンパV3 みんなのコロシアイ新学期	PS4:	日本語 January 12, 2017 English September 26, 2017 September 29, 2017 en-AU October 9, 2017
    	PS Vita:	日本語 January 12, 2017 English September 26, 2017 September 29, 2017 en-AU October 9, 2017
    	Steam:	September 26, 2017
    	Nintendo Switch:	日本語 November 4, 2021 中文 November 4, 2021 English December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 en-AU December 3, 2021
    	iOS/Android:	April 12, 2022

    Spin-off Games [ ]

    Cover	Name	Release Date
    Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls 絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode	PS Vita:	日本語 September 25, 2014 中文 July 24, 2015 English September 1, 2015 September 4, 2015 en-AU September 10, 2015 한국어 December 3, 2015
    	Steam:	June 23, 2017
    	PS4:	English June 27, 2017 June 23, 2017 日本語 June 29, 2017
    Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp ハッピーダンガンロンパＳ 超高校級の南国サイコロ合宿	Nintendo Switch:	日本語 November 4, 2021 中文 November 4, 2021 English December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021 en-AU December 3, 2021

    Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is a midquel, set between Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Unlike the games in the main series, Ultra Despair Girls is a third-person action-adventure game, with a battle system. It has a much greater focus on exploration and world-building collectibles.

    Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp is an expanded version of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony’s Ultimate Talent Development Plan, a RPG board game featuring characters from Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony and Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls.

    Other Games [ ]

    iOS/Android Games
    Alter Ego	Monokuma no Gyakushū	Unlimited Battle

    Anime [ ]

    Danganronpa’s anime series are animated by Lerche, and licensed by Funimation in North America and Manga Entertainment in Europe. They are available with Japanese, English, and German voice acting. Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the World Vanquisher is a one-episode OVA included with the special edition version of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and as such is currently only available in Japanese.

    Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc The Animation	Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School	Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the World Vanquisher
    July 4 – Sept 26, 2013	July 11 – Sept 29, 2016	January 12, 2017

    Light Novels and Short Stories [ ]

    Danganronpa Kirigiri	Danganronpa: Togami	Danganronpa Zero	Danganronpa IF	Makoto Naegi Secret File
    Ultra Despair Hagakure	Danganronpa: 1・2 Beautiful Days

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    Danganronpa (ダンガンロンパ) is a Japanese visual novel franchise created by Kazutaka Kodaka and published by Spike Chunsoft since 2010. Currently the franchise includes four console games and two major anime series, with associated manga, novels and stage play spin-offs and adaptations. The latest game in the series, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, debuted in Japan on January 12th, 2017 and was later released worldwide on September 26th, 2017.

    A Nintendo Switch port collection, which includes a new spin-off title, Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, was released worldwide on December 3rd, 2021.