I can’t be objective about this game. I hate Ultra Despair Girls, and it’s not just for the Obvious reasons. So let me tell you why.
(Also I really don’t care if you love this game. Love what you love, let me hate what I hate.)
I produced this video in 10 days for a school assignment, hence why it’s a bit briefer than some of my other work and its style is different. However, it was a fun little project and it was cathartic to make.
Let me know if I missed any massive TWs because I could only fit so many onto the screen at once and I lost count of them.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thetiniestleaf
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Timestamps:
00:00 – How Did We Get Here?
01:20 – New and Returning Characters
06:03 – The “Gameplay”
09:10 – the one song from this series that invokes visceral rage in me
09:19 – The Plot and Themes
15:44 – The Sexual Content (aka the section that made me add all those TWs)
21:15 – Final Thoughts
~ ~ ~
Channels I mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/user/GeiruW
https://www.youtube.com/c/R3DGaming
https://www.youtube.com/c/Tamiil
https://www.youtube.com/c/NPCImpact
https://www.youtube.com/c/NezumiVA
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Background Music:
1. “Mr. Monokuma’s Lesson V3” from DRV3
2. “Misery” by Maroon 5
3. “V3 Discussion” from DRV3
4. “Alice in the Children’s Land” from UDG
5. “Monomono Slots” from DRV3
6. “VERSUS” from UDG
7. “It’s a Kids World” from UDG
8. “Welcome to TOWA Tower” from UDG
9. Gnossienne No. 5 by Erik Satie
10. “Riddle Land” from UDG
36 Comments
Reminder: this is all my own opinion! I don't think poorly of you if you love this game. Honestly, good for you. I'm glad you got your money's worth.
But please keep it civil in the comments sections!
I love your videos.
0:03
Oh no! The budget ran out.
Nice you're back!
Even though I didn't enjoy UDG as much as the other Danganronpa titles, it was always a nice refresher from the usual "killing game" aspect. It's kinda unfortunate on how bad most of the kids sucked because I thought it was an interesting story elsewise. Also maybe its just me, but I wish we got a different character besides Nagito since we already know so much about him (editors note I'm writing this before watching the video to say my thoughts beforehand). Also no hate to anyone of course!
Tiny, I'm begging you make a portal 2 review, if not for profit than only for your mental health
oh nooooo you didn't have to do this to yourself no one would have thought less of you if you swerved this one
(warning spoilers for danganronpa 3 and danganronpa despair girls of course)
i have to say, i really love this game, i love the characters, i think haiji is a cool vilain bu the little girls thing is a no no, i tought fukawa character was great, it was nice but still snarky wich i love.
the gameplay its interesting, could be better, i would like to see more of the other survivors and yuta, poor guy, he is still alive in my mind, and i would love to see the remnatns of despair and battle them, but maybe in my dreams
The only thing i hate about ultra despair girls, is how underused was later in other danganronpa tittles, yes maybe it wasnt great or that loved, but holy gee it was a realy important title for the franchise. in danganronpa v3 is called a crappy sequel, in danganronpa 3 the animation was so underused, monaca just gave up just… because, fukawa and yasuhiros development were totally abscent, the warriors of hope just appeared twice, AND ONE WAS AN IMAGINATION SCENE, haiji doesnt appear, kumarus parents were never seen, WICH WAS HER FUCKING REASON TO STILL GET GOING FOWARDS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, My god… kodaka if you hate ultra despair girls or are just too lazy to inlcude it you just can say it, its wasnt necessery to shit on the franchise this hard.
the last part its a joke by the way, but its pretty sad how they just didnt care about putting things about this game being a really important title of the franchise
Real talk, this was the first playthrough I watched of the Danganronpa series (Jazzyguns, for anyone curious. 😊) I honestly really liked it. But I totally understand the many, MANY problems this game has. It's….a mixed bag to say the least. 😅
I'm loving this angst
Komaru has no wrong opinions
Edit: ok, one nitpick critique that really bugs me, I'm not a fan of using the same snippet of the song for every title card, it usually plays a lot better to have a different meme audio for each sub title. Schaffrillas has a million movie ranking videos and his structuring of meme audio for each rank is perfection. I would study his master craft for reference. Also the music is super loud and blew out my ears so thanks, time for life with no ears
I remember when the game first came out I hated the kid song, I wanted blood when I heard it start up. After all these years, I'm now so numb I feel nothing. I almost kind of like it.
I agree with all your points except the song. It’s a vibe lol 😆
Can’t WAITTTTT for the rewrite!!! V3 is my favorite game and I loved to twist (not at first but now I adore it) but I would love to see someone’s take on. Rewrite!!
If I Could Re write danganronpa V3 it would start like this:
During the Beginning it would ask “Do you want to play as Kaede or Shuichi?” If you Pick Kaede, everything will stay the same but if you pick Shuichi, the murders would be different..
Ch1: Rantaro > Tsumugi (Shuichi would be executed.)
Ch2: Korekiyo > Tenko
Ch3: Gonta + Kirumi > Angie
Ch4: Kaito > Kaito (He commits Suicide in the virtual world because Maki poisons him to stop him from suffering from the disease.) Miu gets executed for breaking the rules.
Ch5: Keebo > Kokichi
Survivors:
Kaede, Ryoma, Maki, Himiko.
I wish that they would have this because firstly, I feel their is a unexplored arc with Ryoma. Secondly, with this, we get to see everyone’s execution’s. Thirdly, Once you beat one of the killing games for V3 you could restart and play it again as a different character and with a different story, different victims, different executions, different murders, different motives, etc. (also you get to play as Kaede which in my opinion is a slightly better protagonist.)
It would also be heartbreaking seeing Shuichi Die in chapter 1, and also I would like to see how Kokichi and Kaede interact with eachother. I can imagine they would be frenemies of some kind, maybe Allies after Shuichi dies Kaede becomes more secretive and less trusting, but then she meets Kokichi and they both become friends.. ANYWAYS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS AS A AU AND MAYBE I COULD HELP YOU figure out your v3 script by showing mine!! Anyways.. thank you tiny leaf!
(Side Note: Also in this AU it will be PAINFULLY obvious that both Kaede and Shuichi are Bisexual. Their is no judgement.)
Haven't played it myself, only watched a playthrough. It made me feel so uncomfortable, and the Warriors of Hope (and Nagito) are so annoying, that I don't even considered playing it myself. The mechanics didn't look like well implemented, too. They could've made a great game, or at least a story that tackles difficult themes, and they failed miserably.
It kind of makes sense why they don’t address the characters from 2 besides Nagito, as the game supposedly leads into DGR 2. It would also be kind of hard to address how certain characters could fit and have a place in the story of UDG, save for Fuyuhiko/Peko or possibly Kazuichi. Monaca giving up despair because Nagito wouldn’t shut was hilarious. Doesn’t mean that—Nagito aside—the Ultimate Muscle Girls comic should involve the 77th class more with an extra Akane cameo than the entire canon game.
Besides that, the non story aspects feel kind of boring tbh? Not really tense at all outside of events, no actual survival or make it work with what you have feel despite the apparent apocalypse gripping the city.
Also on the note of Jataro and Masaru, I kind of feel like they got the Leon effect, where we spent so little time with them we didn’t grow to like them and feel affected by their death at all.
Since this game didn't come with the Danganronpa Decadence bundle for the Switch (despite Komaru and Genocide Jack being on the cover art), I felt like I was missing out on a part of the franchise I could enjoy, but after watching this video, I now feel like I dodged a huge bullet since..oh good lord that game sounds like a disaster and that one should ever suffer through playing it ever again.
Ngl Jazzygun’s playthrough of the game kinda blinded me from how bad this game really is lmao
As weird as it sounds, I'm glad you disliked the game so much. I feel like most people I've seen have fairly positive opinions, which as you said, is totally valid. There are /some/ aspects of it enjoy. But I always felt rather alone for how I felt about it, which is… well, not positive. This runs so counter to how I usually engage with media and criticism, but I'm happy someone else thinks it's as bad as I do.
isn't this the same game that makes leon into his cousin?
0:00 – 0:40: BEST INTRO EVER!
If you think playing the game was boring, try watching it, like I do whenever I get into a new game. The only parts that are even remotely interesting are the cutscenes and the boss fights.
Fortunately, skipping the combat is always an option.
I think you handled talking about the sexual abuse with tact. Passing off pedophilia as a joke and sexualizing a minor (especially someone that young) is horrific and needs to be called out.
Ultra despair girls: came for the girl protags and the potential THH/SDR2 callbacks, left with an empty feeling inside </3 sucks when all you can really take away from a game is “well… I like the concept”. That being said, fan content to come from the game is probably why I can stand to enjoy any aspect about it. The game itself? Don’t even know her 😬
I enjoyed the game. Though I do agree with the faults you brought up. I don't remember how much I spent on the game I think I got it for $30 on Vita and I wanna get it on PS4 (most likely when it's on sale.) It is my least favorite of the franchise I think (I haven't spent much time with S though), but I think Komaru is my 2nd favorite protagonist behind Hajime and the game made Toko one of my favorite characters from Trigger Happy Havoc.
The kids' theme makes me feel the same way that one specific song in V3 does. I know it's meant to be grating, but my hatred makes a full circle into finding appreciation for and eventually loving them. These songs do what they're made to do: make the listener contemplate murder
11:30 as a French person, you did use it correctly! Although you spelled it wrong: it's "Je ne sais quoi" and not "Je ne se quoi"!
It's literally translating to "I don't know what" and is basically the same as "this little something" when talking about a detail that gives a strong opinion on one thing/that makes something what it is without knowing clearly what that detail is!
(Deleted and rewrote this comment cause I wasn't happy with my explanation lol)
ok, so I never actually PLAYED this game, but I watched a LOT of play throughs of it. I’m just not good at first or third person shooters, and don’t care for them much. So I didn’t get it. There are also a lot of… um… mature themes that took me aback when seeing it. It’s a whole other level from the other games on that side of it. I don’t think it’s a bad game… I just think it’s a bad game. If you know what I mean.
I didn’t see any problems with Haiji. That scene was pretty funny and unexpected tbh
Even Manhunt has more tact than this game. I remember hating the little girl character exactly because of the way that they made the whole thing play out. Honestly, it is genuinely appalling.
looking forward to the v3 rewrite 🫶
This is the game equivalent of movies that become the movies they try to do commentary on and the only message they have is [insert bad thing] is bad.
Like you’re telling me that you’re trying to have a message of “child abuse is bad” but have underage groping and pedophilia played as comedy…Danganronpa has always had an awful way of dealing with SA and fan service. It’s just blatantly irresponsible in this game…
Love how you started putting in portal gameplay. Love that game.
I love it when normally very focused and trying to be balanced reviewers has a side vid where they drop all pretenses of being respectful critic
Honestly, I’ve only seen a playthrough of parts of Chapter 3 of this game and that was because I wanted to see how bad it was. (Spoiler: It was very bad). I’ve seen a couple of other scenes aside from that and I do like Komaru and Toko’s newfound friendship and like the possibility of Toko using that friendship as motivation to self-reflect, improve, get some kind of therapy, and maybe move on from Togami outside of the game.
When introducing my friend to Danganronpa, I basically only told her who Komaru was and her friendship with Toko and told her to not look into or play UDG outside of that (I didn’t want to expose Chapter 3 to her)
Honestly, I’m now considering rewriting this whenever I’m finished with my own V3 Saimatsu Protagonist AU rewrite, but idk
Ik it’s not part of the main thing. But it makes me happy that we are allowed to talk about things that we come across in classes. Like for example, critiquing something for an assignment or Rhetorical analysis on your favorite song. I think that’s a way in how it makes it learning more fun