Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Publisher: Worldwide: NIS America, Japan: Spike Chunsoft
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Platforms: PS4, PS Vita
Genre: Adventure
Release Date: Japan: January 12, 2017, Worldwide: 2017
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is an adventure and visual novel video game which is being developed by Spike Chunsoft for both the PS4 and the PS Vita. The development for the Vita especially is something that is unique in this day and age of video game development. This installment in what is now a long running series is the third main title in the Danganronpa storyline. This title is also the first in the series that is being developed explicitly for home consoles with the other two main titles in the franchise only being released on the PC. The game has already seen a release in Japan on January 12, 2017. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is going to be published overseas by NIS America and is set for release in Europe on June 30, 2017. While a North American release is expected in 2017 as well, so far there has not been an official release date. With other games of this nature, a European release is right around the same time it gets released in North America but this has not yet been confirmed.
Development
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is being produced by Yoshinori Terasawa, and he is getting help from lead writer Kazutaka Kodaka. The development team has announced that the bulk of the character design is being done by Rui Komatsuzaki. While fans of the game are anxious to see the series land on the consoles for the first time, the franchise is branching out. The game is being developed alongside a full production of an anime series that will not only be based on the franchise as well as including some aspects of this third game. The series is titled Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School, in order to make the series and the video game seem to mirror each other, the same development team is being used for both projects. The side by side development of the two projects has actually led to the interesting way in which the game was named. The “V3” in the game’s title is used to make sure fans of the franchise can tell the two projects apart at a glance. In the game’s title, the team has said the V does not stand for Version, but rather for Victory. Perhaps because of the side by side creation of the game and the series, the development team has said the production level for Killing Harmony is “much higher” than what has been seen in previous iterations.
During the early parts of development, the team disagreed as to whether or not Killing Harmony should be a sequel to what took place in the first two games, or a storyline that was entirely new. Spike Chunsoft has now said they decided to split the difference and the game is now a combination of something entirely new, as well as being a kind of sequel. The game was officially announced on December 3, 2016 as coming to the United States and Europe. On January 12, 2017 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony was released in Japan on the PS4 and PS Vita. The game is said to be coming to Europe in June of 2017 and an official launch date for the United States has not been divulged.
Story
One of the ways in which this game differs from what we’ve seen in the past versions in this series is that it moves away from Hope’s Peak Academy. The developers have claimed this is the biggest, most immersive episode in the franchise yet. The game is set in what is being called a “psycho-cool” environment that will feature 16 brand new characters. These characters have found themselves apparently kidnapped and imprisoned in a school that is known as the “Gifted Inmates Academy.” Some of the 16 people in this school are clearly unhinged, as some will kill and some will die. It is up to the player to figure out who is doing the killing, as a kind of murder mystery unfolds in this visual novel game. While the players attempt to unravel this mystery, they could be condemning people to death who do not really deserve to die. Other killers might find their freedom for too long a period for it to be comfortable.
Gameplay
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony has the same basic style of gameplay as the first two Danganronpa games. This game style separates the story into what’s called School Life and Class Trial segments. During the School Life segments, the players have their characters interact with other kids that are trapped in the school as well as some other odd little characters that pop up, while progressing through the story. This happens until the story reveals a murder. Once the murder is discovered, the story transitions to a Class Trial. As has been the case in previous games, the Class Trials feature a kind of debate where the characters are tasked with discussing the case. In order to determine when someone is telling the truth or lying, the players will use a feature called Truth Bullets at specially highlighted statements. When part of the conversation doesn’t appear to have a lie involved, players can use lie bullets in order to try and get someone to go along with the obvious lie and break the case.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony brings some new features to the Class Trial. This time around the game will feature some Mass Panic Debates which will have several characters talking over one another, making it quite a bit more difficult to determine who was lying. There will be new mechanics to aid in figuring out the untruths as well. The developers have also said there will be new minigames that will be featured through the Class Trials and School Life modes.
Characters
Among the characters featured in the game is the headmaster of the school Monokuma, who also happens to be a sadistic teddy bear. He is also the leader of the Monokuma kids. These are a kind of gang that takes great pleasure in messing with th students. They are Monotaro, Monokid, Monosuke, Monofunny, Monodam. In addition to those characters, there are the students in the school, Kaede Akamatsu, Shuichi Saihara, Rantaro Amami, Miu Iruma, Kokichi Oma, Kiibo, Gonta Gokuhara, Tsumugi Shirogane, Korekiyo Shinguji, Tenko Chabashira, Kirumi Tojo, Maki Harukawa, Ryoma Hoshi, Kaito Momota, Himiko Yumeno, Angie Yonaga
Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)