I think the twist at the end being "Danganronpa is actually a long running reality game show" might have seemed silly in 2017, but in a post "let's make Squid game a real thing" world I completely buy it
@@codebreaker3007 Not sure if it would be that surprising, I'd view it would be more meta if anything but at the very least would not have nearly the same negative reception now
Yeah. In a world where you could have high school aged people sign up for a killing game, get their minds wiped, assigned an ultimate talent, and then be in the killing game... there would be thousands of people signing up for it.
I think your idea that V3 was meant to be entertainment and a purposeful copy of Junko's killing game is right on the money. It explains why she, when backed in a corner, willingly decided to break the fourth wall for the characters. The only reason I can think she would reveal the true nature of the killing game to the contestants would be to spread despair amongst them, and the only reason I can see her interested in that is if she was trying to copy Junko.
One interesting aspect about Tsumugi I rarely see people talk about is how she acts during the prologue. She's just as terrified as everyone else despite having no reason to if she was always in on it. Her surprised scream is also notably different there versus every other time in the game where she screams. She is just as much a victim of the Flashback Lights as everyone else. It just so happened that she was chosen to be the secret mastermind for the season.
ok unironic comment time, you did a genuinely amazing job deconstructing this game, while I definitely have voiced my complaints about this game in the past (mainly in terms of the ending, though I've definitely grown more appreciative of it throughout time) this game still genuinely has so many interesting and beautiful ideas and you've laid them all out perfectly when it comes to that vision, you did genuinely such a fantastic job and I'm really happy to see how it turned out, love you man I genuinely do
I understand why people dislike ending of this game,but i love it.Maybe that's because i've got tired of hope vs despair.(I wrote before watching the video)
I kinda believed Tsumugi for most of the things she said when I first played the ending. When rewatching the series over the years I've uncovered that most of the things she said aren't true at all, but now watching this video I'm beginning to see that even more I believed wasn't at all true! Kinda crazy how characters/people can just say stuff and if you you're expecting them to explain what's going on you kinda believe a lot of what they say even if there's no proof.
Ever since I played V3 I became a lot more aware of the "unreliable narrator" trope and it's one of the coolest elements of storytelling you can implement into any work when done right. It's in human nature to lie to cover for yourself or get what you want, but I never really thought of a video game character doing that without the game eventually pointing out that they're lying until this one. It forces you to play detective and look deeper into earlier segments of the game, so much of Tsumugi's dialogue takes on a new meaning after the ending.
Really great video. And, yeah, what you have said is basically why I don't like when people say that "V3's ending makes the other games have no meaning." The whole point Shuichi says in the final trial is that, even if it's not a true story, even if it is made up, even if it's just fiction, it can have meaning. Whether it's the resolve the cast got by being in the killing game, or the emotions you felt from watching a movie, reading a book, or, hell, playing Danganronpa, it was not nothing.
If I may counter back, the reason we’re so invested in the fiction is largely because it’s still real FOR THE CHARACTERS. It’s not like I pick up Lord of the Rings and at the end it’s revealed to be a stage play. I don’t play Fallout only for it to be revealed to be an in-universe TV series. Dragon Ball isn’t a fake kung fu adventure being filmed in China in-universe. This game may be mechanically well written, but the initial concerns about its wish washy nature and rushed sudden twists were largely warranted.
I'm so happy to watch a video from someone who genuinely understands this game. If there's anything that truly inspired me as a writer, it was V3. My first experience with it was the fifth trial coming up in my recommended and I soon realised I had found something special. I watched through the videos from that point until the ending and that ending felt so unique. I loved it. It hit. I must also mention how much it means to me for someone to talk so positively about Kokichi. There was a point in time where I could find nothing but slander online, people who wouldn't take the time to understand a character I love. A character that I saw myself in, I understand why he did what he did. Thank you for looking beyond the lies, because people who put up masks like that can be good people underneath.
@@etam8099 yup… someone with way too much reach and what feels like 0 reading comprehension… I remember watching them years ago… until the drop of either the character tierlist or class trial ranking video… both were atrocious
31:49 Nah. You did not just say that. I love Tenko. Unironically best V3 girl. From what I remember from her free time events, her hatred of boys literally only exists because her master didn’t want her to date anyone yet so he made stuff up about men. I genuinely think he didn’t know she would take it so seriously and that she would grow out of it like believing in Santa. If you look past her saying she hates boys, you’ll find she really doesn’t. She very kind and supportive to Shuichi most of the time.
@@genericyoutuber8098 The whole “degenerate male” thing doesn’t bother me, I mean it’d be silly to get offended over something a video game character says. I just think aside from that bit and her Himiko glazing she has barely anything else going for her until chapter 3. I don’t really dislike her though, she’s just not very interesting to me.
i think this video made me fully realize why v3 is amazing, as i played through it i thought it was the best in the series just inherently from scope of the trials, how good the good characters were and all that other junk, but its only through retroactively looking at this narrative where you can truly appreciate it this game is proof that visual novels are lowkey one of the best ways to tell a story because of how much they can ground you in the story, everything happens around you and you just have to sit and watch, but this game also actively rewards you for taking on the role of shuichi and piecing things together yourself v3 is on another level, and the way you articulate why you feel as such in this video is unparalleled, like genuinely this is some of the best analysis ive seen on the website and even if it flies under the radar i think you can rest easy knowing that the people this does reach will be affected in some way by it great job luggo, this video was a treat
41:10, I should inform you, I do believe the part of Kokichi wanting to end a game you are forced to play, is something that is rather different in the Japanese version. I don’t remember what it says in that version, but I think it puts Kokochi in a better light?
They also make it more clear that DICE, which he is the giant rat who makes all of da rules for, has a strict no-killing policy he personally enforces, further solidifying his stance on the game's entire nature. Although it also puts more weight behind his reaction in trial 4. If Gonta doesn't confess, if Gonta can't explain why it was Gonta who did it, Kokichi has to own up to the fact that he *did* kill someone, even if it was by an order he gave to someone else. He's losing it not just because it's not playing out how it was supposed to, but because that's a responsibility he doesn't want to bear, doesn't want to admit he resorted to.
Amazing video! As a certified Danganronpa V3 defender, I think it's easily the DR game that stuck with me the most and this video basically summed up all the reasons why. The only things I might disagree with are the cast being weak (I like pretty much every character, Tenko included, and would actually rank the cast above DR2's overall) and some aspects of the ending interpretation (I think DR1-3 were still videogames/anime in V3's world with Ultimate Real Fiction coming about due to a growing obsession with the series).
Yeah DR2’s cast is, imo, the most polarizing. On one hand you have Chiaki, who’s universally liked, and on the other hand, you’ve got Teruteru and Mikan, who are… there. Then there’s Nagito, who’s either adored or dispised (personally I hate him, but good on his fans for doing what I can’t), characters like Sonia and Kazuichi who are kind of nothing burgers, what I’d argue is wasted potential in Peko and Nekomaru… I could go on. I baseline liked everyone in V3, and I also did in DR1. DR2? It’s like fifty-fifty
@@wolfywonder8480 one of the core issues with DR2's cast is that in the main story, most of them just kind of come across as caricatures - but their Free Time Events contain some of the best character writing in the franchise bar none. But the disparity between the two is a problem in and of itself. Like I'm sorry, but Kazuichi just feels like he was written by two different people. And the characterization of say Akane and Hiyoko are just flat-out incomplete without their FTEs. Ironically I think Mikan is one of the best for this, because while her FTEs provide helpful details that give further context, even without them you have a pretty good idea of why she turned out the way she did. I can't really say the same for many others.
@@wolfywonder8480 Nagito as a character requires a lot of screen time to develop, this without using his FTE that become locked if you don't hang out with him, as a result the others just feels like absolute nothing burgers, sadly Kodaka didn't use chapter 3 to develop those that needed it due to the absence of Nagito in it. I feel like here is where the plot shifted from having Fuyuhiko surviving instead of getting wacked. He is controversial for sure, but most agree on the quality of his writing. Kokichi due to Aeris, doesn't get this luxury, despite being equally if not more controversial, this is due to him being a character more mysterious and thus the info about him are way more scarse, this in terms helped Kodaka putting focus on everyone, while Kokichi suffered from it and a result he became known as a false deep character, a null void, the embodiment of the FNAF lore lol, some even stated Celeste had more depth than him. He is a byproduct of the way V3 was written as a whole, a game where every answer is not given or granted. And thus a lot felt unsatisfied. Again Aeris did irrepparable damage to him still to this day, i fear he may never recover.
this was a wonderful video! i just finished this game a month ago and as a lifelong dr2 fan, i heard about this game and stayed away from it for SO long because of the reputation it had. i finally played it this past fall and i haven't stopped thinking about it since. i played through chp 4 with a friend who knew nothing and she was hooked! i really love this game and i really liked the ending. it blows other dr games out of the water for me.
45:22 Actually I had a theory that the real killer for case 5 would be Monodam. I thought he faked his death in chapter 3 and came back to help Kokichi and Kaito overthrow his father. After Kaito was declared culprit I was genuinely waiting for him to pop out and say it was him, successfully completing the plan to ruin the killing game.
Fantastic work man! Even if i don't agree on everything you said, you really did succeed on changing my perspective on the games ending since it makes a lot more sense. Especially during the last few years where we get nothing but a soulless cashcow rather than proper piece of art, V3s message hits even more so and it makes me appreciate the 3 games a lot more, since yeah we probably wont see this series come back ever again, but well always appreciate the experiences we had with these characters. Again, props to you man. you really did a good job here!
Love to see someone review this game in 2024, especially when they echo all my opinions on the game! But in all seriousness, great analysis. I appreciate that the entire thing was "this game would've been better if xyz happened." You give merit to what the creators were attempting without writing off the flaws or attempting to distract with what could have been. A+ video!
Funny detail is how each protagonists have an ahoge. Both of the Neagi’s, have an ahoge. Hinata, has an ahoge. And when we meet Keade she also has an ahoge. Then meeting Shuichi as a sort of side-protagonist but *he* always wears a hat.. but as Keade dies and Shuichi gets over his fear of making eye contact with people like a normal person. He takes off the hat and reclaims the role as main protagonist with an ahoge hidden underneath
42:30 rn and THANK YOU for understanding kokichi so well! (I‘d personally even go as far as to say that him dying in chapter 5 was out of Suuicidal idiations after he got gonta of all people killed (especially considering that his whole organisation is a group of harmless pranksters that *despise killing* ) buuut that might be a bit more on the speculative side. )
49:59 small detail I‘m just noticing. Tsumugi is practically hidden by the text box, almost looking like an ominous shadow… that is 100% deliberate, I‘m sure!
Hey thanks for making my life a little bit better with this video. Nice to see a similar conclusion to my own on V3, and what you said at the end resonated with me
Thank you for making this essay..I’ve recently come back to v3, and I wouldn’t have expected to get my perspective on the ending enlightened by such in-depth analysis and hard hitting themes… This is the kind of work and reflection that I enjoy watching the most, and I have much respect for the work and thought put into bringing this video to life!! You’re definitely a living example of what you’ve preached, so let me do the same and tell you that you’ve made me love v3 all the more…and I’ll keep thinking of this essay when I rewatch the gameplay. Thank you!!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you, and take care man
I think the fan games had been booming with the way they capture Danganronpa’s charm. Project Eden’s Garden, a new fangame of DR, just released their chapter 1 and I have never been this invested in a cast so unique and a case so devastatingly intriguing that I won’t mind if it is the Danganronpa 4 just how good it was. I think you should check it out.
I probably won’t get to sitting down and watching this video in full for awhile but your thumbnail has already convinced me that this is the best dr analysis video of all time. v3 truly is the best game of all time.
This is a fantastic video. I just recently beat V3 properly and overall, I have to say the game was such a wild and chaotic ride. However, I was never bored and by the end I finished the game, I grew an appreciation for this game. This game is actually the best entry in this game and you easily showed why. So many points that I strongly agree with and overall this was a great video. I never thought I would become a big fan of V3 and I did, and this video shows my feelings about this game as well.
Videos like this are what UA-cam is for! Someone sharing their thoughts and feelings on what matters to them. Really puts the YOU in UA-cam. Okay, on the subject of Danganronpa, I haven't played any of them, but Ive watched retrospective after retrospective, timeline after timeline, and I've seen the Game Grumps LP of D1, D2, and the currently running V3. Of all 3 of those games, I've always found myself enthralled by V3. D1 and D2 are fun, edgy, and extremely anime, but there's something special about V3 knowing the identity of Danganronpa so well that it can parody itself. When it pulls the anime trope, when it shows the deaths, when it dangans its ronpa, it feels off, artificial, within the context of the game, and once you get to the end, you find that it was all intentional. I love the ending meditation on the constant consumption of art and the refusal to think critically about the art you consumed. Art is great because it has a message and makes us feel, but too many people refuse to accept the message and thus reconsume to feel the feelings again. But the hit isn't as good as the first time around, so people go back again and again, getting less and less each time, leading to a greater craving. V3 is a reminder to me that art is as important as the consumer makes it.
The fact that the second they get the first Flashback Light at the beginning is actually the moment their real personality dies is disturbing af. This entire game, when examined truly, is extremely disturbing. The Shuichi we know ISN'T the person, he will now stay as someone with a detective mindset while his actual personality is erased forever, like a save file. It's the most insane thing.
3:44 I actually think Mikan is a great character who gets absolutely RUINED by her fan-service moments. Like I find her story so compelling but the game she first appeared in did NOT give her a break outside of parts of her free time events.
Raincode is very much its own thing. I think you can appreciate it as something new and familiar at once. I certainly did. And I think everyone should give it a chance. To want something to stay buried, you have to be willing to move forward and try new things. Raincode is one of those things. It stands alone and it makes me sad that plenty of people aren't even trying it because they're afraid it'll be a worse danganronpa. It isn't going to be danganronpa at all. It's Raincode.
Yeah I'm sorry I didn't elaborate on that more. I didn't really like how many of the same beats Raincode seems to hit according to its marketing, however I have always had interest in giving it its fair chance. Though I'm personally more interested in Last Defense Academy since it's a tactical RPG. Regardless, I'll save my judgement of whether or not they can carve out their own identity for after I've played them. Thanks for the comment, it gave me a slightly more positive outlook on both.
15 minutes in and i gotta stop watching this and move it from my "shit to play while i'm bored at work and want to have something to listen to half-heartedly" playlist to my "shit to play when i wanna attentively watch something actually good" playlist
I'm so glad I came across your video! Thank you for putting into words so many of the reasons why to this day V3 is so dear to my heart despite my having largely moved on from the DR franchise. The message of it just felt so impactful, unique and relevant to me, increasingly so in this day and age - perhaps controversially, I think more so than the other two. It really taught me to have more respect for emotions and perspective, and to value my own experiences more, at a time when I sorely needed that
My favorite vid of yours, ever. Similar feelings & I remember finishing the Epilogue being so confused on why people can *still* confidently trash the game. (p.s. I'd love to hear you talk the shit Nirvana Initiative deserves)
Nirvana Initiative is such an extreme 50-50 game because it introduces some good new characters and expands on one old one in an insanely unexpected way, but then it also has the most meaningless plot twist I've ever seen in a game as it only serves to catch the player off guard and doesn't do anything for any of the characters, and regresses Date's character to a pretty embarrassing degree. It's like he was watered down to the Persona spin off tier of writing, and not acknowledging the events that changed him from the first game to avoid spoilers is completely stupid considering that both games are on the same platforms and are equally available, there's literally no reason for somebody to play the second game first. The day we solve world hunger will come before the day visual novel sequels learn that it's okay to spoil the previous entries in the series.
For me, if they do a secuel, I would love if is more like a spin off were Maki, Shuichi and Himeko are trying to stop the producers, so they can't do another season, and maybe saving people who are already kidnapped, probably would flop, but could be interesting since they don't have any one in the world (that they remember) other than temselfs
It's like youtube essay.. but funny! And very personal. I think you did a great job! At some points I was dead laughing ("5 monokumas!.. and 5 More monokumas!"), then at the end I almost cried, just how genuine it was. Thank you for this video, it was amazing. And just have to add - dude, great job on the structure!!! Never it felt like someone's ramblings without the script. You were making points and doing it in entertaining way. Cool •
I disagree with the idea that kirumi is a flat character. The dichotomy between Kirumi and Ryoma is the whole thematic basis of the second chapter, and her diligence points to a really interesting character study of someone who is unable to lose control. The whole point between both characters is that Ryoma has lost any volition to live, giving in completely to his circumstances as he requires someone out there waiting for him to gain hope, meanwhile Kirumi is extremely controlling despite the fact she is the ultimate servant. She gives to others in order to remain relevant and to satisfy a clear need to always be on the move, and her breakdown post-trial is the clearest depiction I've ever seen of fear of death as a lack of control. She can't fathom the idea of giving up, of not working, she's completely devoted to always getting away with her tasks, and even if these aren't her own desires, it shows a personal need and learnt behaviour. Her punishment is the rawest and most brutal one this series has done, and reveals her as the really interesting character she is.
Fucking thank you. I clocked most of this when the game first came out, and watching the fanbase online explode was a real "hoo boy here we go again!" moment.
Honestly, for all the bad stuff in these games (gross stuff and badly handled problematic themes), it'll always stand out as one of my fav franchises of all time for the unique charm the series brought, as well as having some of my fav characters of all time (Nagito, Kokichi, Shuichi, etc). And yes, that does include UDG when you exclude chapter 3
Danganronpa V3 was always my favorite. I always stood by it's themes and ending as really engaging even when everyone else hated it, so I'm so excited to watch this video 🙏🏽
I got into Danganronpa a little more than a year ago, only knowing about a few spoilers (the identity of the mastermind of the first game, that Kokichi is a liar, and that V3s ending apparently was extremely controversial. I got sucked in and had so much fun trying to figure out the trials before they happened, and interacting with the characters however silly they ended up being. And then I played V3. I recorded it all, went through it while feeling as if I was losing my mind because of a certain character (I think everyone can guess which one), and once I got to the end, I was just perplexed because I couldn't see how the ending was supposedly bad. I agree with pretty much everything you said, and I think you worded yourself well. ^^
It’s ironic how they released DanganRonpa S afterwards, which has none of the charm of the main games. Just a careless cash grab with awful writing that doesn’t add anything meaningful to the franchise. It feels like that game goes against one of the points V3 made.
After finishing this whole video… *thank you* thank you for this high quality analysis that puts SO MANY THINGS I‘VE BEEN THINKING FOR YEARS into words! This was cathartic especially with how the fandom treats this game… Also do play UDG, I have a feeling you might enjoy it, too. It‘s a second v3 when it comes to fandom slander to me xD
I think the main issue and a big cause for hatred with v3 ending is that the whole lore of the universe thats been established outside of the killing games was still very much enexplored and mysterious and people were excited to speculate how its all going to turn out, this was especially pushed with the anime and the spin off game. This ending is just a punch in the face to everyone who was trying to deconstruct and figure out whats happening in the universe
I actually liked Danganronpa V3's ending, because you can't just trust what it give you in that chapter or else, the ending is despairing...But if you chose to trust your own memory insted of backflash lights & small details that might be odd the truth that you seek can be found, an alterantive hope from what most would expect
I have always loved V3 and I felt very outcasted when I heard people spit on this game which I found moving and emotional. I’m happy V3 is getting the rep that it deserves, cause god damn is it hated more than it needs to be!
hearing that danganronpa 2 was the fan favorite after playing it and thinking it was easily the weakest in the trilogy made me feel like something was wrong with me, then i played v3 and realized oh no its not me its the fandom, catches so much shit for the stupidest reasons
my favorite detail is that the death road of despair IS possible. extremely hard, but possible. and it provides the same amount of despair for you as it does the cast. your only reward for all your effort is an early bad ending.
I knew going into the final trial that trial 1 was completely bullshit based on the visuals of the contraption and the whole game I was really annoyed and confused until we started going back to the first trial and was so frustrated that the game was pursued on a lie. Like, I would have been totally satisfied if I didn't already see it coming. I get what it was trying to do and the twist itself is great but i feel as if the fact that it was the first case made it limited in scope of how it could of not been the orignal culprit.
I think Clair de lune is a perfect song for v3 because the reason Debussy wrote fits very well with the plot of v3. In the plot where the world has ended, the plot where “everyone is an actor and wants to be apart of danganronpa “, and the part that the whole series was just an experience. Clair de lune my beloved
Kokichi is a character far easier to understand, people overblow his complexity to the point it harmed the character beyond repair. I think he is the testament of how to write a character using the show don't tell rule, with Nagito Kodaka had to make sure you would understand him as easily as humanly possible, with Kokichi he straight up forces you to pay attention to what he says and what he does, which sometime may not allign everytime. The only thing that Kodaka wanted us to be 100% sure of, is his talent...and that’s for a good reason, his talent is the key to solve his character, his motive and his actions not just on 3-5 but the whole game, and that motive was fair easier than what people would think of, which pushed him wanting to end the killing game... But that’s a comment for another day.
I'll take a video essay defending V3 any day. Great work man! :) I disagree with the UDG slander though, so I'm using that as an elaborate excuse to vent my grievances with the fan perception of it here. Feel free to ignore this, I just want to get this off my chest. Yes, THAT minigame in chapter 3 is horrible and the world would be a better place without that scene, but I think the rest of the game is pretty good. Komaru is my favorite DR protagonist, Haiji is one of the best written antagonists in the series, (yeah, I said it) and the warriors of hope are such fascinating characters with a lot of nuance (by DR standards at least) that I feel they're often not given credit for. I'm curious as to why it's so hated (beyond just because of the one scene in chapter 3) because (besides the one scene) I don't remember the game being nearly as exploitative as people make it out to be. (Also it's no wonder people fail to understand V3's ending when they don't even have the media literacy to understand how Haiji's line about "liking them younger" is MEANT to make you uncomfortable. Haiji is a piece of shit, and the fact that SO MANY people write off this line as being a joke rather than another case of him being a piece of shit you're meant to hate is ASTONISHING.) Anyways, what was this video about again? V3? Yeah, V3 is one of my favorite games of all time, and this video really does it justice. Great job with the ending especially.
Oh yeah I absolutely get what you mean with UDG. I haven't actually played it or watched a playthrough, I just like making fun of it for the bit. But from what I've heard, even regarding the most infamous parts, it doesn't seem like it's actually trying to justify any of the awful stuff that happens in it. People often like to use the icky bits of Danganronpa to take a moral high ground against an argument that isn't actually being made, it's really corny. I meant to include a disclaimer that I understood UDG really does have some merit to it, because it'd be hypocritical for me to endlessly praise V3 and then put down another game repeatedly without elaborating, but I got too caught up in making jokes. I'm interested in playing it at some point, maybe I'll finally bite the bullet sometime next year idk.
I am SO GLAD I scrolled down to see this response. I personally love UDG and V3 both and had a feeling those jokes were deliberately over the top. Glad I was right, cuz that hypocricy after such a based video would have hurt 😅
warriors of hope are a spit in the face to actual child victims of abuse and the gameplay feels like made by some who never played or saw a video game in their life before
Really good video. One negative i heard that i found really stupid that you didnt (directly) bring up, is that the ending calls you stupid for liking the series because it is fiction, when a point in the end is that it doesn't matter if fictional or not if it changes your life (at least iirc, been a while, and i suck at explaining). I also did like himeko back when i played this, especially after realising she (probably) wasn't dillusional about her tricks being magic, but that it's a front to not ruin it for those that find her shows as a thing that allows them to relax and enjoy it instead of needing to be critical of it (at least that is how i read it)... still doesn't mean it's not annoying, and probably should have been used more sparingly, since it gets old, and it feels like there was more interesting stuff that could have been done than essentially being just that half the time.
I hated the ending when i first played it. Just bc i didnt like the idea the first two games arent real when the world of the games is fleshed out the way it is. DGR2 is a direct sequel! Its a super interesting world. But then i saw V3 takes place in an alternate reality. So. In that context no harm no foul i did really enjoy on replays knowing that. V3 is a great game. I prefer DGR2 just for the characters and the island setting but its still very good. But yeah. I can see why ppl would hate this ending, i think its incredibly valid, thinking this world youve invested so much time and emotion in is a gut punch. And im referring to DGR1 and 2. As a self contain story V3s world being manufactured for a tv show is great. Bc the deaths are still real within that world. But again, alternate universe so whatever. EDIT: You did mention this lol i typed this out during the first few minutes of the ending section. Great video btw!. I hope ppl watch this to realize it is an alternate universe. Makes a huge difference. All your points is exactly how i would describe it too. Also yes i do remember the in game plot and i enjoyed it. But its worth having ir ruined for the actual ending
This is just a little thingy but I've heard a theory that Kokichi is secretly a lucky student. it always felt weird to me how the game that was supposed to replay all the tropes from the first two was missing that very important one. Also, his ultimate always seemed the most fake to me, especially compared to everyone else's and lies being his whole thing. Obviously, this is debunked by all of the Monokuma's title calling and profiles and even those motive videos but. idk it just felt right to me somehow
Calling Kokichi's talent being fake and a lie is bs, due to how much dude has been guiding everyone without them even noticing lmao, even in death he had Kaito ans Shuichi following in him, and Shuichi never once realised this loool
Shuichi being the decoy inside makes more sense from a plot twist perspective. Shuichi is *exactly* the type of protagonist we’d come to expect from DR up until now, and seeing him die and get replaced by someone else would’ve been more interesting. I also just…really wanted a female protagonist. The games feel a bit misogynistic sometimes. (Not to sound like one of *those* people but you get what I mean)
if they do end up making another danganronpa i hope its ether re-making the original 3 with better art and controls, a follow-up to udg (but try to make it its own story so we don't need to play the original) or help release a fan protect officially like the fnaf fan verse initiative just less controversy's hopefully. honestly the only one i see happening is the remakes tbh
As sb currently playing through the game with a friend (we started back in 2019 funnily but then had to take a very long break before returning at case three this year). It is very enjoyable and tbh still holds up pretty well, I believe our general experience is mainly tainted by a few hiccups in game-design n writing but still a good experience. To me this game, at least compared to the others have a much higher cruelty to it in terms of humor and themes. Which is kinda weird to say knowing ending of 2 and such things. The prime examples being Miu (who is one of few, maybe only, victim who is actively mocked/made fun of by almost everyone within the victim's trial) and Keebo, who...quite frankly 90% of game I've no idea why he wants to hang around anyone. Like half everyone (but Gonta I think)'s dialogue from memory and from what I observed this playthrough is just them being mean to him or throwing him under the buss in some fashion (not that I don't find it funny at times or that me and my friend isn't making the same jokes). There is also the much more vulgar language, direct confrontations and such. It's not to say characters got along flawlessly in prior games but the worst thing said in previously games (from my flawed memory of a game series i've not played in years) are kinda more commonplace in V3. It isn't something necessarily bad but it is another thing that makes the game stick out a bit more. I asked my friend to rate the game (rephrased for shortening) so far: "There are things I like about it but it's also not exactly my (fave/type of) genre...I would probably rate it a 7, although when it is at its best its probably like an 8-8.5 and at its worst a 3." With what he thought was worst being (from memory) the Kiyo trial, and some of the sections he n I got stuck in for a while. Personally I'm still very fond of the characters in these games and I find that V3 has a lot of characters I enjoy the most in the series (Kaito, Maki, Kaede, Kokichi, Keebo, Tenko n Kirumi), and as sb who considers the series incredibly character-driven more than story-driven I think it thus has a fairly strong cast all things considered. Although that isn't to say it don't have also some of the weaker characters as well. And tbh, I think your analysis hits a lot of the right spots with some interesting observations I missed (like I'm inclined to think that yes, you never ever agree with kaito. at best in trial two he agrees with you when you lie to cover for maki in that trial). I'd even add another observation...Kaito directly physically hurt more people than Kokichi. He did obviously punch Kokichi that one time, but he also punched Shuichi. Funnily enough if you iniate a convo with him during one of the free times in chapter 4 he says "If not...I'll speak to him through my fists as many times as it takes!" before it starts. Kokichi does later punch Kaito back, but it was after Kaito tried to attack him again and even in free time when kokichi claims he wants to get Shuichi seriously harmed n such...he rather just intentionally fail the knife game than risk causing harm to Shuichi. He also got Kaito to commit to his plan to end the killing game, directly putting it in Kaito's hands to cause harm again. To me it is kinda interesting that while Kokichi has very few moments of physical violence, he has a lot harsher words and actions instead. While Kaito is kinda the reverse, he has a high number of key points where he chose violence as a stopgap forward to protect people (against monokuma, kokichi n to make shuichi shape up). I find that their dynamic, out of most rivalries in the series is stronger cuz they just have so many fundamental things that they can't see eye to eye on or are opposite on.
I think the twist at the end being "Danganronpa is actually a long running reality game show" might have seemed silly in 2017, but in a post "let's make Squid game a real thing" world I completely buy it
Very true if this came out now people would be like “damn that’s crazy”
@@codebreaker3007 Not sure if it would be that surprising, I'd view it would be more meta if anything but at the very least would not have nearly the same negative reception now
Yeah. In a world where you could have high school aged people sign up for a killing game, get their minds wiped, assigned an ultimate talent, and then be in the killing game... there would be thousands of people signing up for it.
Especially, with the fan games
I think your idea that V3 was meant to be entertainment and a purposeful copy of Junko's killing game is right on the money. It explains why she, when backed in a corner, willingly decided to break the fourth wall for the characters. The only reason I can think she would reveal the true nature of the killing game to the contestants would be to spread despair amongst them, and the only reason I can see her interested in that is if she was trying to copy Junko.
One interesting aspect about Tsumugi I rarely see people talk about is how she acts during the prologue. She's just as terrified as everyone else despite having no reason to if she was always in on it. Her surprised scream is also notably different there versus every other time in the game where she screams. She is just as much a victim of the Flashback Lights as everyone else. It just so happened that she was chosen to be the secret mastermind for the season.
ok unironic comment time, you did a genuinely amazing job deconstructing this game, while I definitely have voiced my complaints about this game in the past (mainly in terms of the ending, though I've definitely grown more appreciative of it throughout time) this game still genuinely has so many interesting and beautiful ideas and you've laid them all out perfectly when it comes to that vision, you did genuinely such a fantastic job and I'm really happy to see how it turned out, love you man I genuinely do
I understand why people dislike ending of this game,but i love it.Maybe that's because i've got tired of hope vs despair.(I wrote before watching the video)
I kinda believed Tsumugi for most of the things she said when I first played the ending. When rewatching the series over the years I've uncovered that most of the things she said aren't true at all, but now watching this video I'm beginning to see that even more I believed wasn't at all true! Kinda crazy how characters/people can just say stuff and if you you're expecting them to explain what's going on you kinda believe a lot of what they say even if there's no proof.
Ever since I played V3 I became a lot more aware of the "unreliable narrator" trope and it's one of the coolest elements of storytelling you can implement into any work when done right. It's in human nature to lie to cover for yourself or get what you want, but I never really thought of a video game character doing that without the game eventually pointing out that they're lying until this one. It forces you to play detective and look deeper into earlier segments of the game, so much of Tsumugi's dialogue takes on a new meaning after the ending.
Really great video. And, yeah, what you have said is basically why I don't like when people say that "V3's ending makes the other games have no meaning." The whole point Shuichi says in the final trial is that, even if it's not a true story, even if it is made up, even if it's just fiction, it can have meaning. Whether it's the resolve the cast got by being in the killing game, or the emotions you felt from watching a movie, reading a book, or, hell, playing Danganronpa, it was not nothing.
If I may counter back, the reason we’re so invested in the fiction is largely because it’s still real FOR THE CHARACTERS. It’s not like I pick up Lord of the Rings and at the end it’s revealed to be a stage play.
I don’t play Fallout only for it to be revealed to be an in-universe TV series.
Dragon Ball isn’t a fake kung fu adventure being filmed in China in-universe.
This game may be mechanically well written, but the initial concerns about its wish washy nature and rushed sudden twists were largely warranted.
I'm so happy to watch a video from someone who genuinely understands this game. If there's anything that truly inspired me as a writer, it was V3. My first experience with it was the fifth trial coming up in my recommended and I soon realised I had found something special. I watched through the videos from that point until the ending and that ending felt so unique. I loved it. It hit.
I must also mention how much it means to me for someone to talk so positively about Kokichi. There was a point in time where I could find nothing but slander online, people who wouldn't take the time to understand a character I love. A character that I saw myself in, I understand why he did what he did. Thank you for looking beyond the lies, because people who put up masks like that can be good people underneath.
I feel this comment a lot😢
Aeris did irreparable damage to him
@@etam8099 yup… someone with way too much reach and what feels like 0 reading comprehension… I remember watching them years ago… until the drop of either the character tierlist or class trial ranking video… both were atrocious
31:49 Nah. You did not just say that. I love Tenko. Unironically best V3 girl. From what I remember from her free time events, her hatred of boys literally only exists because her master didn’t want her to date anyone yet so he made stuff up about men. I genuinely think he didn’t know she would take it so seriously and that she would grow out of it like believing in Santa. If you look past her saying she hates boys, you’ll find she really doesn’t. She very kind and supportive to Shuichi most of the time.
@@genericyoutuber8098 The whole “degenerate male” thing doesn’t bother me, I mean it’d be silly to get offended over something a video game character says. I just think aside from that bit and her Himiko glazing she has barely anything else going for her until chapter 3. I don’t really dislike her though, she’s just not very interesting to me.
@ Fair enough.
i think this video made me fully realize why v3 is amazing, as i played through it i thought it was the best in the series just inherently from scope of the trials, how good the good characters were and all that other junk, but its only through retroactively looking at this narrative where you can truly appreciate it
this game is proof that visual novels are lowkey one of the best ways to tell a story because of how much they can ground you in the story, everything happens around you and you just have to sit and watch, but this game also actively rewards you for taking on the role of shuichi and piecing things together yourself
v3 is on another level, and the way you articulate why you feel as such in this video is unparalleled, like genuinely this is some of the best analysis ive seen on the website and even if it flies under the radar i think you can rest easy knowing that the people this does reach will be affected in some way by it
great job luggo, this video was a treat
41:10, I should inform you, I do believe the part of Kokichi wanting to end a game you are forced to play, is something that is rather different in the Japanese version. I don’t remember what it says in that version, but I think it puts Kokochi in a better light?
Sí
I think so. Iirc, he states that the game being about murder is the bad part.
Yeah he says something like, “What kind of game that forces you to kill others could be fun?” Paraphrasing
They also make it more clear that DICE, which he is the giant rat who makes all of da rules for, has a strict no-killing policy he personally enforces, further solidifying his stance on the game's entire nature.
Although it also puts more weight behind his reaction in trial 4. If Gonta doesn't confess, if Gonta can't explain why it was Gonta who did it, Kokichi has to own up to the fact that he *did* kill someone, even if it was by an order he gave to someone else. He's losing it not just because it's not playing out how it was supposed to, but because that's a responsibility he doesn't want to bear, doesn't want to admit he resorted to.
@@misirtere9836
But Kokichi literally was trying to make Gonta think of ways he could NOT have done it lmaooo
This is by far the best essay on v3 I've seen, you actually understand the game. Keep up the good work bro.
Also don't dog on P5, that game slaps.
Amazing video! As a certified Danganronpa V3 defender, I think it's easily the DR game that stuck with me the most and this video basically summed up all the reasons why. The only things I might disagree with are the cast being weak (I like pretty much every character, Tenko included, and would actually rank the cast above DR2's overall) and some aspects of the ending interpretation (I think DR1-3 were still videogames/anime in V3's world with Ultimate Real Fiction coming about due to a growing obsession with the series).
Yeah DR2’s cast is, imo, the most polarizing. On one hand you have Chiaki, who’s universally liked, and on the other hand, you’ve got Teruteru and Mikan, who are… there. Then there’s Nagito, who’s either adored or dispised (personally I hate him, but good on his fans for doing what I can’t), characters like Sonia and Kazuichi who are kind of nothing burgers, what I’d argue is wasted potential in Peko and Nekomaru… I could go on. I baseline liked everyone in V3, and I also did in DR1. DR2? It’s like fifty-fifty
@@wolfywonder8480 one of the core issues with DR2's cast is that in the main story, most of them just kind of come across as caricatures - but their Free Time Events contain some of the best character writing in the franchise bar none. But the disparity between the two is a problem in and of itself. Like I'm sorry, but Kazuichi just feels like he was written by two different people. And the characterization of say Akane and Hiyoko are just flat-out incomplete without their FTEs.
Ironically I think Mikan is one of the best for this, because while her FTEs provide helpful details that give further context, even without them you have a pretty good idea of why she turned out the way she did. I can't really say the same for many others.
@@MiyaoMeow588
What about Nagito?
@@wolfywonder8480
Nagito as a character requires a lot of screen time to develop, this without using his FTE that become locked if you don't hang out with him, as a result the others just feels like absolute nothing burgers, sadly Kodaka didn't use chapter 3 to develop those that needed it due to the absence of Nagito in it. I feel like here is where the plot shifted from having Fuyuhiko surviving instead of getting wacked.
He is controversial for sure, but most agree on the quality of his writing.
Kokichi due to Aeris, doesn't get this luxury, despite being equally if not more controversial, this is due to him being a character more mysterious and thus the info about him are way more scarse, this in terms helped Kodaka putting focus on everyone, while Kokichi suffered from it and a result he became known as a false deep character, a null void, the embodiment of the FNAF lore lol, some even stated Celeste had more depth than him.
He is a byproduct of the way V3 was written as a whole, a game where every answer is not given or granted.
And thus a lot felt unsatisfied.
Again Aeris did irrepparable damage to him still to this day, i fear he may never recover.
this was a wonderful video! i just finished this game a month ago and as a lifelong dr2 fan, i heard about this game and stayed away from it for SO long because of the reputation it had. i finally played it this past fall and i haven't stopped thinking about it since. i played through chp 4 with a friend who knew nothing and she was hooked! i really love this game and i really liked the ending. it blows other dr games out of the water for me.
45:22 Actually I had a theory that the real killer for case 5 would be Monodam. I thought he faked his death in chapter 3 and came back to help Kokichi and Kaito overthrow his father. After Kaito was declared culprit I was genuinely waiting for him to pop out and say it was him, successfully completing the plan to ruin the killing game.
Fantastic work man!
Even if i don't agree on everything you said, you really did succeed on changing my perspective on the games ending since it makes a lot more sense. Especially during the last few years where we get nothing but a soulless cashcow rather than proper piece of art, V3s message hits even more so and it makes me appreciate the 3 games a lot more, since yeah we probably wont see this series come back ever again, but well always appreciate the experiences we had with these characters.
Again, props to you man. you really did a good job here!
Love to see someone review this game in 2024, especially when they echo all my opinions on the game! But in all seriousness, great analysis. I appreciate that the entire thing was "this game would've been better if xyz happened." You give merit to what the creators were attempting without writing off the flaws or attempting to distract with what could have been. A+ video!
Funny detail is how each protagonists have an ahoge. Both of the Neagi’s, have an ahoge. Hinata, has an ahoge. And when we meet Keade she also has an ahoge. Then meeting Shuichi as a sort of side-protagonist but *he* always wears a hat.. but as Keade dies and Shuichi gets over his fear of making eye contact with people like a normal person. He takes off the hat and reclaims the role as main protagonist with an ahoge hidden underneath
42:30 rn and THANK YOU for understanding kokichi so well! (I‘d personally even go as far as to say that him dying in chapter 5 was out of Suuicidal idiations after he got gonta of all people killed (especially considering that his whole organisation is a group of harmless pranksters that *despise killing* ) buuut that might be a bit more on the speculative side. )
43:47 is that dramatic music meaning that he dethroned ibuki from that spot for you? Damn are we the same person? LMAO
49:59 small detail I‘m just noticing. Tsumugi is practically hidden by the text box, almost looking like an ominous shadow… that is 100% deliberate, I‘m sure!
Hey thanks for making my life a little bit better with this video. Nice to see a similar conclusion to my own on V3, and what you said at the end resonated with me
V3 is actually my favorite game of all time, this video perfectly explaines why I love it so much. Great work!
Babe wake up dr fandom is alive again
This video is so good, im so glad that someone has made this video, i love v3 and it makes me so excited to see what happens with this franchise
Thank you for making this essay..I’ve recently come back to v3, and I wouldn’t have expected to get my perspective on the ending enlightened by such in-depth analysis and hard hitting themes… This is the kind of work and reflection that I enjoy watching the most, and I have much respect for the work and thought put into bringing this video to life!! You’re definitely a living example of what you’ve preached, so let me do the same and tell you that you’ve made me love v3 all the more…and I’ll keep thinking of this essay when I rewatch the gameplay. Thank you!!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you, and take care man
I think the fan games had been booming with the way they capture Danganronpa’s charm. Project Eden’s Garden, a new fangame of DR, just released their chapter 1 and I have never been this invested in a cast so unique and a case so devastatingly intriguing that I won’t mind if it is the Danganronpa 4 just how good it was. I think you should check it out.
Best explanation and analysis I've seen. Thank you 🙏
I probably won’t get to sitting down and watching this video in full for awhile but your thumbnail has already convinced me that this is the best dr analysis video of all time. v3 truly is the best game of all time.
This is a fantastic video. I just recently beat V3 properly and overall, I have to say the game was such a wild and chaotic ride. However, I was never bored and by the end I finished the game, I grew an appreciation for this game. This game is actually the best entry in this game and you easily showed why. So many points that I strongly agree with and overall this was a great video. I never thought I would become a big fan of V3 and I did, and this video shows my feelings about this game as well.
no glaze ur the right mix of funny n insightful bro this video was amazing
Videos like this are what UA-cam is for! Someone sharing their thoughts and feelings on what matters to them. Really puts the YOU in UA-cam.
Okay, on the subject of Danganronpa, I haven't played any of them, but Ive watched retrospective after retrospective, timeline after timeline, and I've seen the Game Grumps LP of D1, D2, and the currently running V3. Of all 3 of those games, I've always found myself enthralled by V3. D1 and D2 are fun, edgy, and extremely anime, but there's something special about V3 knowing the identity of Danganronpa so well that it can parody itself. When it pulls the anime trope, when it shows the deaths, when it dangans its ronpa, it feels off, artificial, within the context of the game, and once you get to the end, you find that it was all intentional. I love the ending meditation on the constant consumption of art and the refusal to think critically about the art you consumed. Art is great because it has a message and makes us feel, but too many people refuse to accept the message and thus reconsume to feel the feelings again. But the hit isn't as good as the first time around, so people go back again and again, getting less and less each time, leading to a greater craving. V3 is a reminder to me that art is as important as the consumer makes it.
That ending speech was beautiful bro. I didnt think anyone appreciated this game’s art direction like I do.
The fact that the second they get the first Flashback Light at the beginning is actually the moment their real personality dies is disturbing af. This entire game, when examined truly, is extremely disturbing.
The Shuichi we know ISN'T the person, he will now stay as someone with a detective mindset while his actual personality is erased forever, like a save file. It's the most insane thing.
Having good themes and an interesting ending does not in any way make a game entertaining or good.
no no please elaborate dont be smug about it
It's a good thing I listed more qualities beyond that lmao
3:44 I actually think Mikan is a great character who gets absolutely RUINED by her fan-service moments. Like I find her story so compelling but the game she first appeared in did NOT give her a break outside of parts of her free time events.
loved the video, can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must have been to edit this, you deserve a lot more views!
Raincode is very much its own thing. I think you can appreciate it as something new and familiar at once. I certainly did. And I think everyone should give it a chance. To want something to stay buried, you have to be willing to move forward and try new things. Raincode is one of those things. It stands alone and it makes me sad that plenty of people aren't even trying it because they're afraid it'll be a worse danganronpa. It isn't going to be danganronpa at all. It's Raincode.
Yeah I'm sorry I didn't elaborate on that more. I didn't really like how many of the same beats Raincode seems to hit according to its marketing, however I have always had interest in giving it its fair chance. Though I'm personally more interested in Last Defense Academy since it's a tactical RPG. Regardless, I'll save my judgement of whether or not they can carve out their own identity for after I've played them. Thanks for the comment, it gave me a slightly more positive outlook on both.
15 minutes in and i gotta stop watching this and move it from my "shit to play while i'm bored at work and want to have something to listen to half-heartedly" playlist to my "shit to play when i wanna attentively watch something actually good" playlist
This is it. The one based review of V3.
Well that was just amazing.I'm glad that i found this gem of a channel.
I'm so glad I came across your video! Thank you for putting into words so many of the reasons why to this day V3 is so dear to my heart despite my having largely moved on from the DR franchise. The message of it just felt so impactful, unique and relevant to me, increasingly so in this day and age - perhaps controversially, I think more so than the other two. It really taught me to have more respect for emotions and perspective, and to value my own experiences more, at a time when I sorely needed that
My favorite vid of yours, ever. Similar feelings & I remember finishing the Epilogue being so confused on why people can *still* confidently trash the game.
(p.s. I'd love to hear you talk the shit Nirvana Initiative deserves)
Nirvana Initiative is such an extreme 50-50 game because it introduces some good new characters and expands on one old one in an insanely unexpected way, but then it also has the most meaningless plot twist I've ever seen in a game as it only serves to catch the player off guard and doesn't do anything for any of the characters, and regresses Date's character to a pretty embarrassing degree. It's like he was watered down to the Persona spin off tier of writing, and not acknowledging the events that changed him from the first game to avoid spoilers is completely stupid considering that both games are on the same platforms and are equally available, there's literally no reason for somebody to play the second game first. The day we solve world hunger will come before the day visual novel sequels learn that it's okay to spoil the previous entries in the series.
finally a v3 support video
For me, if they do a secuel, I would love if is more like a spin off were Maki, Shuichi and Himeko are trying to stop the producers, so they can't do another season, and maybe saving people who are already kidnapped, probably would flop, but could be interesting since they don't have any one in the world (that they remember) other than temselfs
14:39 thank you for reminding me of how much this music SLAPS. Legit just had a dance party in my kitchen 🎶
It's like youtube essay.. but funny! And very personal. I think you did a great job! At some points I was dead laughing ("5 monokumas!.. and 5 More monokumas!"), then at the end I almost cried, just how genuine it was.
Thank you for this video, it was amazing.
And just have to add - dude, great job on the structure!!! Never it felt like someone's ramblings without the script. You were making points and doing it in entertaining way. Cool •
Absolutely amazing, thank you for this wonderful video.
I disagree with the idea that kirumi is a flat character. The dichotomy between Kirumi and Ryoma is the whole thematic basis of the second chapter, and her diligence points to a really interesting character study of someone who is unable to lose control. The whole point between both characters is that Ryoma has lost any volition to live, giving in completely to his circumstances as he requires someone out there waiting for him to gain hope, meanwhile Kirumi is extremely controlling despite the fact she is the ultimate servant. She gives to others in order to remain relevant and to satisfy a clear need to always be on the move, and her breakdown post-trial is the clearest depiction I've ever seen of fear of death as a lack of control. She can't fathom the idea of giving up, of not working, she's completely devoted to always getting away with her tasks, and even if these aren't her own desires, it shows a personal need and learnt behaviour. Her punishment is the rawest and most brutal one this series has done, and reveals her as the really interesting character she is.
I did the impossible and played all three games with my grandmother. I somehow got away with that with no repercussions.
Fucking thank you. I clocked most of this when the game first came out, and watching the fanbase online explode was a real "hoo boy here we go again!" moment.
Honestly, for all the bad stuff in these games (gross stuff and badly handled problematic themes), it'll always stand out as one of my fav franchises of all time for the unique charm the series brought, as well as having some of my fav characters of all time (Nagito, Kokichi, Shuichi, etc). And yes, that does include UDG when you exclude chapter 3
Amazing video, man!
Danganronpa V3 was always my favorite. I always stood by it's themes and ending as really engaging even when everyone else hated it, so I'm so excited to watch this video 🙏🏽
I got into Danganronpa a little more than a year ago, only knowing about a few spoilers (the identity of the mastermind of the first game, that Kokichi is a liar, and that V3s ending apparently was extremely controversial. I got sucked in and had so much fun trying to figure out the trials before they happened, and interacting with the characters however silly they ended up being. And then I played V3. I recorded it all, went through it while feeling as if I was losing my mind because of a certain character (I think everyone can guess which one), and once I got to the end, I was just perplexed because I couldn't see how the ending was supposedly bad. I agree with pretty much everything you said, and I think you worded yourself well. ^^
glad the algorithm showed me this!
Didn't think this was gonna get existential but here we are
I was always just sad I didnt get to see danganronpa 4-v2
how HOW does this channel have so few subscribers? great vid & perfectly puts into words the reason I adore Kokichi as a character
It’s ironic how they released DanganRonpa S afterwards, which has none of the charm of the main games.
Just a careless cash grab with awful writing that doesn’t add anything meaningful to the franchise.
It feels like that game goes against one of the points V3 made.
17:59 Kaito’s free time events are pretty funny too.
played this vid while doing chores, thx for keeping me stimulated lol
After finishing this whole video… *thank you* thank you for this high quality analysis that puts SO MANY THINGS I‘VE BEEN THINKING FOR YEARS into words! This was cathartic especially with how the fandom treats this game…
Also do play UDG, I have a feeling you might enjoy it, too. It‘s a second v3 when it comes to fandom slander to me xD
This is in my top 5 games of all time, and I'm tired of pretending it's not. (I never pretended I'm actually very vocal about it)
1:00:46 cospox is not being able to cosplay real people...? Yet she got cospox from kaede who she stated to be fictional
I mean, in retrospect, I think cospox is literally just pink make up
I think the main issue and a big cause for hatred with v3 ending is that the whole lore of the universe thats been established outside of the killing games was still very much enexplored and mysterious and people were excited to speculate how its all going to turn out, this was especially pushed with the anime and the spin off game. This ending is just a punch in the face to everyone who was trying to deconstruct and figure out whats happening in the universe
I actually liked Danganronpa V3's ending, because you can't just trust what it give you in that chapter or else, the ending is despairing...But if you chose to trust your own memory insted of backflash lights & small details that might be odd the truth that you seek can be found, an alterantive hope from what most would expect
great video, however, the Mario and Luigi brothership disrespect will not be tolerated
58:45, I dunno, I perhaps could place the DR3 anime in the so bad it’s good category? I try to pretend it isn’t canon.
Play project eden's garden man I just finished it, it's peak
I have always loved V3 and I felt very outcasted when I heard people spit on this game which I found moving and emotional. I’m happy V3 is getting the rep that it deserves, cause god damn is it hated more than it needs to be!
I can tell you've heard "Danganronpa 2 is the best game ever made!!" a lot like I have huh?
hearing that danganronpa 2 was the fan favorite after playing it and thinking it was easily the weakest in the trilogy made me feel like something was wrong with me, then i played v3 and realized oh no its not me its the fandom, catches so much shit for the stupidest reasons
my favorite detail is that the death road of despair IS possible. extremely hard, but possible.
and it provides the same amount of despair for you as it does the cast. your only reward for all your effort is an early bad ending.
It's one of the greatest games I've ever played. I think about the ending daily. The experience was just too powerful.
I knew going into the final trial that trial 1 was completely bullshit based on the visuals of the contraption and the whole game I
was really annoyed and confused until we started going back to the first trial and was so frustrated that the game was pursued on a lie. Like, I would have been totally satisfied if I didn't already see it coming. I get what it was trying to do and the twist itself is great but i feel as if the fact that it was the first case made it limited in scope of how it could of not been the orignal culprit.
If I could like this video 53 times, I would
This is exactly what I've been saying for the longest time. 😭
Ah yes...V3...Aka the only reason I remember claire de lune.
Everytime I hear that song, part of me unravels.
I think Clair de lune is a perfect song for v3 because the reason Debussy wrote fits very well with the plot of v3. In the plot where the world has ended, the plot where “everyone is an actor and wants to be apart of danganronpa “, and the part that the whole series was just an experience. Clair de lune my beloved
The thing is, the whole final chapter could be a big lie, it's just up to you to believe it or not.
Kokichi is a character far easier to understand, people overblow his complexity to the point it harmed the character beyond repair.
I think he is the testament of how to write a character using the show don't tell rule, with Nagito Kodaka had to make sure you would understand him as easily as humanly possible, with Kokichi he straight up forces you to pay attention to what he says and what he does, which sometime may not allign everytime.
The only thing that Kodaka wanted us to be 100% sure of, is his talent...and that’s for a good reason, his talent is the key to solve his character, his motive and his actions not just on 3-5 but the whole game, and that motive was fair easier than what people would think of, which pushed him wanting to end the killing game...
But that’s a comment for another day.
18:56 IS THAT THE WINTER WORLD THEME FROM THE LPS GAME OR AM I TRIPPING
You had me at “Danganronpa V3 is the Greatest”
6:34 We got a fellow Backloggd gamer in the house.
Backloggd is cool when the servers are functioning and you don't look at the bad takes about Mario 64
@Luggician yeah true, those servers can be horrible. Those guys have horrible opinions on every game lol.
56:25 Literally the whole Hotline Miami series
shuichi literally Luigi'd kirumi
I don't think Rain Code ever try to be like Danganronpa. It's just it thing and should be treated as such
bro came out with the hottest take ever
I'll take a video essay defending V3 any day. Great work man! :)
I disagree with the UDG slander though, so I'm using that as an elaborate excuse to vent my grievances with the fan perception of it here. Feel free to ignore this, I just want to get this off my chest.
Yes, THAT minigame in chapter 3 is horrible and the world would be a better place without that scene, but I think the rest of the game is pretty good. Komaru is my favorite DR protagonist, Haiji is one of the best written antagonists in the series, (yeah, I said it) and the warriors of hope are such fascinating characters with a lot of nuance (by DR standards at least) that I feel they're often not given credit for. I'm curious as to why it's so hated (beyond just because of the one scene in chapter 3) because (besides the one scene) I don't remember the game being nearly as exploitative as people make it out to be.
(Also it's no wonder people fail to understand V3's ending when they don't even have the media literacy to understand how Haiji's line about "liking them younger" is MEANT to make you uncomfortable. Haiji is a piece of shit, and the fact that SO MANY people write off this line as being a joke rather than another case of him being a piece of shit you're meant to hate is ASTONISHING.)
Anyways, what was this video about again? V3? Yeah, V3 is one of my favorite games of all time, and this video really does it justice. Great job with the ending especially.
Oh yeah I absolutely get what you mean with UDG. I haven't actually played it or watched a playthrough, I just like making fun of it for the bit. But from what I've heard, even regarding the most infamous parts, it doesn't seem like it's actually trying to justify any of the awful stuff that happens in it. People often like to use the icky bits of Danganronpa to take a moral high ground against an argument that isn't actually being made, it's really corny.
I meant to include a disclaimer that I understood UDG really does have some merit to it, because it'd be hypocritical for me to endlessly praise V3 and then put down another game repeatedly without elaborating, but I got too caught up in making jokes. I'm interested in playing it at some point, maybe I'll finally bite the bullet sometime next year idk.
I am SO GLAD I scrolled down to see this response. I personally love UDG and V3 both and had a feeling those jokes were deliberately over the top. Glad I was right, cuz that hypocricy after such a based video would have hurt 😅
warriors of hope are a spit in the face to actual child victims of abuse and the gameplay feels like made by some who never played or saw a video game in their life before
says who? You? Personally, I relate to the one that shares my own trauma *way* too well. But go off I guess
Oh wow posted 1 day ago. Cool vid
Couldn't agree more!
Really good video.
One negative i heard that i found really stupid that you didnt (directly) bring up, is that the ending calls you stupid for liking the series because it is fiction, when a point in the end is that it doesn't matter if fictional or not if it changes your life (at least iirc, been a while, and i suck at explaining).
I also did like himeko back when i played this, especially after realising she (probably) wasn't dillusional about her tricks being magic, but that it's a front to not ruin it for those that find her shows as a thing that allows them to relax and enjoy it instead of needing to be critical of it (at least that is how i read it)... still doesn't mean it's not annoying, and probably should have been used more sparingly, since it gets old, and it feels like there was more interesting stuff that could have been done than essentially being just that half the time.
@@neroesthepangolinmaster Himiko*
Your HI3 is showing lol
12:45 reference to your trial ranking video :)
I hated the ending when i first played it. Just bc i didnt like the idea the first two games arent real when the world of the games is fleshed out the way it is. DGR2 is a direct sequel! Its a super interesting world. But then i saw V3 takes place in an alternate reality. So. In that context no harm no foul i did really enjoy on replays knowing that. V3 is a great game. I prefer DGR2 just for the characters and the island setting but its still very good. But yeah. I can see why ppl would hate this ending, i think its incredibly valid, thinking this world youve invested so much time and emotion in is a gut punch. And im referring to DGR1 and 2. As a self contain story V3s world being manufactured for a tv show is great. Bc the deaths are still real within that world. But again, alternate universe so whatever. EDIT: You did mention this lol i typed this out during the first few minutes of the ending section. Great video btw!. I hope ppl watch this to realize it is an alternate universe. Makes a huge difference. All your points is exactly how i would describe it too. Also yes i do remember the in game plot and i enjoyed it. But its worth having ir ruined for the actual ending
This is just a little thingy but I've heard a theory that Kokichi is secretly a lucky student. it always felt weird to me how the game that was supposed to replay all the tropes from the first two was missing that very important one. Also, his ultimate always seemed the most fake to me, especially compared to everyone else's and lies being his whole thing. Obviously, this is debunked by all of the Monokuma's title calling and profiles and even those motive videos but. idk it just felt right to me somehow
Calling Kokichi's talent being fake and a lie is bs, due to how much dude has been guiding everyone without them even noticing lmao, even in death he had Kaito ans Shuichi following in him, and Shuichi never once realised this loool
HAPPY DOLPHIN IMAGE
You inspired me, and made me laugh 🫡
Regardless, I don't think the ending was a good excuse for reusing the same danganronpa tropes and making keade the decoy.
Shuichi being the decoy inside makes more sense from a plot twist perspective. Shuichi is *exactly* the type of protagonist we’d come to expect from DR up until now, and seeing him die and get replaced by someone else would’ve been more interesting. I also just…really wanted a female protagonist. The games feel a bit misogynistic sometimes. (Not to sound like one of *those* people but you get what I mean)
I love V3 Glazing videos.
if they do end up making another danganronpa i hope its ether re-making the original 3 with better art and controls, a follow-up to udg (but try to make it its own story so we don't need to play the original) or help release a fan protect officially like the fnaf fan verse initiative just less controversy's hopefully.
honestly the only one i see happening is the remakes tbh
As sb currently playing through the game with a friend (we started back in 2019 funnily but then had to take a very long break before returning at case three this year).
It is very enjoyable and tbh still holds up pretty well, I believe our general experience is mainly tainted by a few hiccups in game-design n writing but still a good experience.
To me this game, at least compared to the others have a much higher cruelty to it in terms of humor and themes. Which is kinda weird to say knowing ending of 2 and such things.
The prime examples being Miu (who is one of few, maybe only, victim who is actively mocked/made fun of by almost everyone within the victim's trial) and Keebo, who...quite frankly 90% of game I've no idea why he wants to hang around anyone. Like half everyone (but Gonta I think)'s dialogue from memory and from what I observed this playthrough is just them being mean to him or throwing him under the buss in some fashion (not that I don't find it funny at times or that me and my friend isn't making the same jokes).
There is also the much more vulgar language, direct confrontations and such. It's not to say characters got along flawlessly in prior games but the worst thing said in previously games (from my flawed memory of a game series i've not played in years) are kinda more commonplace in V3.
It isn't something necessarily bad but it is another thing that makes the game stick out a bit more.
I asked my friend to rate the game (rephrased for shortening) so far:
"There are things I like about it but it's also not exactly my (fave/type of) genre...I would probably rate it a 7, although when it is at its best its probably like an 8-8.5 and at its worst a 3."
With what he thought was worst being (from memory) the Kiyo trial, and some of the sections he n I got stuck in for a while.
Personally I'm still very fond of the characters in these games and I find that V3 has a lot of characters I enjoy the most in the series (Kaito, Maki, Kaede, Kokichi, Keebo, Tenko n Kirumi), and as sb who considers the series incredibly character-driven more than story-driven I think it thus has a fairly strong cast all things considered. Although that isn't to say it don't have also some of the weaker characters as well.
And tbh, I think your analysis hits a lot of the right spots with some interesting observations I missed (like I'm inclined to think that yes, you never ever agree with kaito. at best in trial two he agrees with you when you lie to cover for maki in that trial).
I'd even add another observation...Kaito directly physically hurt more people than Kokichi.
He did obviously punch Kokichi that one time, but he also punched Shuichi. Funnily enough if you iniate a convo with him during one of the free times in chapter 4 he says "If not...I'll speak to him through my fists as many times as it takes!" before it starts.
Kokichi does later punch Kaito back, but it was after Kaito tried to attack him again and even in free time when kokichi claims he wants to get Shuichi seriously harmed n such...he rather just intentionally fail the knife game than risk causing harm to Shuichi.
He also got Kaito to commit to his plan to end the killing game, directly putting it in Kaito's hands to cause harm again.
To me it is kinda interesting that while Kokichi has very few moments of physical violence, he has a lot harsher words and actions instead. While Kaito is kinda the reverse, he has a high number of key points where he chose violence as a stopgap forward to protect people (against monokuma, kokichi n to make shuichi shape up). I find that their dynamic, out of most rivalries in the series is stronger cuz they just have so many fundamental things that they can't see eye to eye on or are opposite on.
laughing my ass off at that transition to chapter 4 😂
More Danganropa content please
The ultimate V3 analysis
34:31 YES! Agreed 100000%