#danganronpa is a great series to talk about

[emile-hides]

Ayo me again

I can’t recommend the game Persona 4 highly ENOUGH ig, but as someone who also loves bears and silly little Guys, I know you would dig the game and a specific character a lot.

Unfortunately it’s kinda one of those games a la DR where you can’t look up absolutely ANYTHING because everything is a spoiler and every character has an arc, but in summary it follows the player character and his ragtag friend group over the course of a year in high school, and a bunch of bizarre supernatural murders start taking place in town, and you and your friends set about solving what’s going on and working towards putting an end to it, with the help of new friends and your own supernatural powers along the way.

There’s also multiple romance routes if you decide you wanna date, and the whole game is very very good and has a lot of heartfelt moments

THIS THING'S A BEAR?????

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

The Grumps’ Danganronpa V3 playthrough is shaping up to be their best Dangan playthrough solely because Arin gave Kokichi the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Also, now that I’m rewatching the story, I’m actually surprised by the level of thought that was put into this. Now I’m not saying the story is good, none of the writing in this series is great, but I do appreciate the commitment to the game’s theme of franchise stagnation.

Everyone knows by now that the twist is that the main villain is the Danganronpa franchise itself, that the franchise got so big that the world has become obsessed with it. We’re now 53 seasons into this Danganronpa show, hence why the game is called V3 (V = 5). So I like how the game feels like the writers had run out of ideas and are just putting whatever crap they can come up with out there, hoping the fanbase likes it. I mean…a robot high schooler? 5 Monokumas instead of 1? Even the ultimate talents feel like they’re scraping at the bottom of the barrel, such as Maki being a child caregiver, Kokichi being a supreme leader, Himiko being a mage, Kiyo being an anthropologist, and Gonta being an entomologist.

It’s giving, “we used up all the good ideas already, so let’s just use whatever we can find in the dictionary as a talent.”

There’s also some other nice touches that help give off the feeling that this is a franchise that is stagnating. Kaede makes a weird lewd comment out of nowhere and Shuichi points out how weird the comment was by saying she sounded like a perverted old man. Knowing how perverted the dialogue is in the Danganronpa franchise, the scene gives off the feeling that the writers are just recycling the scripts. The Monokubs literally talk about flubbing their lines. But the biggest point that I didn’t catch the first time around is that the characters don’t have any idea why they’re even there. At least in the first two games, the reason was that they’re going to school. Here, they don’t even have a reason why they’re gathered together. It’s like the writers couldn’t come up with a reason and said, “Ah, fuck it, who cares, let’s just get to the killing game.”

It really gives off the feeling that you’re watching a franchise that’s several seasons in and the writers don’t know what they’re doing anymore. Which honestly works since that’s LITERALLY the twist.

So…could it be that V3 might actually be the best written Dangan game? Hmm…

[salmonsnakerune]

Commissions open- link in post

With a few extra expenses coming up this month, I'm finding myself a little short of cash- and with work no longer offering overtime, I'm putting this out to gauge interest in the possibility of fic commissions.

I'm a third year Psych major/Literature minor currently, with previous semesters in genre writing, classic literature, and poetry. I can write romance, horror, or general prose, depending on your needs. Poetry isn't ideal, but I can do it depending on the request. My older pieces are here for some brief, oneshot-style examples of my work. I also have original pieces available for view, originally from University assignments that have been submitted and graded at Distinction and High Distinction levels already from previous semesters.

My price is AUD $0.05 per word (industry standard) through a few choices of platforms- Ko-fi, PayPal, bank transfer (for Australians) or Revolut. Updates will be given periodically (no drafts sent), and the final piece will be uploaded after payment. As a rule of thumb, I take 2-3 business days for 500 words depending on fandom, and will give you a timeframe for when your piece will be completed after the form has been filled. The final piece will be sent to you as a raw Word file, and also uploaded to my AO3 account.

Here's the request form link, and fandoms I'll write for are under the cut. If you aren't interested in any of these or don't have anything to spare, please consider reblogging this post for more traction.

-Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss -Fire Emblem Awakening/Fire Emblem Fates -Wadanohara and the Great Blue Sea/The Gray Garden -Pokemon (any gen, preferably games, anime/manga compliant will take longer) -Fear & Hunger/Fear & Hunger: Termina -Trauma Centre/Trauma Team (any game) -Undertale/Deltarune -Starbound (please include a detailed description of your character if not focused on the named main characters) -Splatoon (all 3 main games)

For anything not on this list, please reach out to me to talk about whether I can do it for you. I don't charge extra, but if I'm not familiar enough with the source material, I'd have to decline the request. The Danganronpa series isn't ideal, however I have written for it before and might be willing depending on your request- again, please reach out to me and I'll talk one-on-one with you about it.

[ecogirl2759]

So, I decided to take a few photos of the Danganronpa 4コマ KINGS series and compile a few of the findings I thought were funny.

I don't have everything fully translated yet, so there may be a few issues with my findings. If you find any mistakes or have anything to add, please lmk :) I'll also update this if I find things later.

---IMPORTANT NOTE---

All of these drawings are NOT mine. Everything comes from the 4コマ KINGS series published by Spike Chunsoft. I'm simply photographing them and sharing them with others who may not have seen them before (since the series is out of circulation). If there is any issue with my post, please inform me so that I can take appropriate action.

All photos are below the break here :) (Warning, it's long lol) ((And there are a few minor spoilers))

(EDIT: As a side note, I've posted more pictures in an update. Idrk how this site works, so I'm letting people know here so you can find it if you want.)

Fun things that you can learn from the Danganronpa 4コマ KINGS comics:

Hifumi has written, drawn, or thought of making content relating to Sayaka x Kiyoko, Aoi x Sakura (on two occasions), and Makoto x Byakuya

Toko thinks that… something… happened between Mondo and Kiyotaka in the sauna, wink wink.

Toko wrote some sort of fanfiction in relation to Byakuya, Chihiro and Mondo. Idk what it is, but the title is along the lines of "The Byakuya Family Household Sweep Away a Beautiful Girl". (Pretty sure it's a Mondo x Chihiro fic, but I could be wrong.)

^ pretty sure Syo is a heavy BL fan lol

Aoi's b00bs are so squishy, she can use them to launch herself off things.

Everyone really likes drawing pretty boy Byakuya. Like, he looks fabulous in some of these panels. Here is one of those pictures:

........Okay, fine, this is the right one:

Hifumi has drawn gender swaps of a few of the boys, being Makoto, Byakuya, Leon, Yasuhiro, Kiyotaka, and Mondo.

Leon really wants a harem lol

Kiyoko's secret picture (from the last trial in-game) was of Class 78 hosting a cat maid cafe

Yasuhiro's secret (the motive in Chapter 2) is that he's an idiot.

Mondo, Kiyotaka and Sayaka all get along really well! So do Mondo, Kiyotaka and Chihiro :)

Mondo knows how to sew!

Mondo doesn't wear eyeliner, he just has really long eye lashes.

Mondo's hair is fluffy and bouncy :)

Makoto thinks Mondo's hair looks like a corn chip. Aoi thinks it looks like a chocolate croissant :)

Chihiro once gave Mondo a game about dogs. He loved it lol

Chihiro and Mondo have actually trained together.

^ they actually make a great team :)

(I'm pretty sure that) Kiyotaka was found guilty in a trial relating to black underwear. Unclear if he was executed or not. (This point is subject to change once I fully translate the comic.)

Kiyotaka was brainwashed by the Mono-Rangers (parody on Power Rangers) in a different comic. He became Commander Ishimaru and enforced rules and dress code in a dictator-like fashion. (Full translation is still in the works.) This is what his outfit looked like:

Daiya dies in 4K

Komaru's here :D

Mukuro shows up a lot as herself! She's so cute lol

Kiyoko's kinda socially awkward lol, it's really cute.

Makoto has wanted to see up Kiyoko's skirt on multiple occasions.

Makoto has tried a couple of times to cheer Kiyotaka up. It does not work.

And now, here are some funny out-of-context panels to cap off this post! These were too hilarious not to include, I just couldn't make a bullet point out of them lol.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk :)

[dreamzghostz]

TELL ME ABOUT THE TALENTSWAP AU NOW!!!

OKAY, I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY ASKED ME ABOUT THIS.

So, this Talentswap AU, it's like the average killing game

*Oh no, Celestia (the protag) got kidnapped and forced in a killing game with 15 other students. She finds Kiyo (the support), and they have to escape, waaaah*

To be honest, what inspired me to make this are Danganronpa V3 (I like how they have features like Scrum Debates, Argument Aranments, and Mass Panic Debates), and the Danganronpa: Another series

So, yeah, everyone's talents are swapped. If you click on the "Danganronpa: A Dice of Despair" tag, you can see everyone's designs and talents. So, what I mainly want to talk about are the characters, their talents, and their personalities, backstories, etc.

There will be a LOT of yapping below, so keep reading if you wanna

‼️‼️TRIGGER WARNING FOR MAJOR SPOILERS IN DANGANRONPA, DARK IMPLICATIONS, AND PERSONAL/SENSITIVE TOPICS‼️‼️

Celestia Ludenberg - Ultimate Lucky Student: So, in this AU, Celestia is the protagonist. She has a mix of her and Makoto's personalities. She can be cold and a douche at times, but she does care about everyone. Here, she has a mix of good luck and bad luck, but they both work at the same time... Somehow? Her real name is still Taeko Yasuhiro, and she made up her fake name to hide who she really is since her family has very dark secrets that could easily crumple her reputation if spilled. Hence why she also doesn't believe that she's really the Ultimate Lucky Student.

Korekiyo Shinguji - Ultimate Swordsman: Here, Kiyo is the support/deuteragonist. Celestia runs into him after escaping into the gym. In this AU, he's aloof, smart, but also starts showing kindness after a while. In Chapter One, he's the one to snap Celestia back to reality after she has her initial panic. He can come off as a bit hostile, but that's because growing up, he didn't have many friends as he spent most of his time training since his family are mostly famous warriors.

Sayaka Maizono - Ultimate Gambler: In this AU, she's more of an anti-hero then an antagonist. She's pretty rude and demanding, and she uses Kiibo to her advantage since he's the Ultimate Butler, and growing up, she had many butlers and maids to her aid whenever she needed them. Eventually, in Chapter Two, Sayaka starts to see that Celestia isn't a bad person, and starts to open up to her. Sayaka's cruel and sadistic personality stems from her childhood where her mother was killed by being burned, and her father basically abandoned her, so Celestia's really the only person she likes. Also, she ALWAYS wins every gambling match (Always? ALWAYS.) As well, she's a bit narcissistic, and thinks she's above everyone.

Byakuya Togami - Ultimate Gamer: Here, Byakuya is more of like an AI (like Chiaki), because his father wanted an heir, and none of his kids were "fit for it". So, Mr. Togami got a friend to create Byakuya. Though, Byakuya was never interested in the Togami Corporation, and took an interest in video games instead. He's a bit insensitive, but does mean well. He doesn't express much emotion, but is protective of the people he cares about, and he has a deep sense of justice. He knows his father doesn't love him, but as long as he has video games, he'll be happy.

Chiaki Nanami - Ultimate Pop Sensation: In this AU, Chiaki is a human. She's a lot more energetic then her game counterpart, and is like who she was in Danganronpa 3. Ever since she was a little girl, Chiaki had dreamed of being a famous star, despite her parents' wishes. She loves to write songs and sing with her group, even though after Chiaki gets trapped in the killing game, her girl group gets killed by the Ultimate Despair, which sends Chiaki into despair, though she masks it well. She'll write a song for everyone in the place, and she'll sing it as loud as she can. She's a great friend to have, like a golden retriever!

Gundham Tanaka - Ultimate Traditional Dancer: So, growing up, Gundham's home life was pretty bad. His family was VERY strict on what he ate, what he wore, and what he said. His house was near a street, and every afternoon, he would sneak there and feed all the tabby cats, making him gain their trust, and making him feel a sense of comfort. He's kind of an asshole in the AU, since he had a bad home life, and it left a huge mark on how he viewed people. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to warm up to anyone, as he's secretly scared they'll just use him, so he closes himself off, and he only trusts the tabby cats.

Hajime Hinata - Ultimate Inventor: Hajime's mother was rarely in the picture, causing him to develop a very close relationship with his father. When his father got ill and passed when Hajime was ten, he found all his father's unfinished inventions. Determined to finish them, Hajime worked for hours, nights even, to make his father proud. Hajime gets his vulgarity and bluntness from the highschool he was at before Hope's Peak Academy, since the crude and rudeness was basically the norm at where he was. Also, yes, Hajime is Izuru in this AU, though I'm still trying to figure out how to write that.

Mahiru Koizumi - Ultimate Astronaut: She's the Antagonist of the AU, so I probably should have placed her up way higher, but I'm too tired to change it. So, Mahiru's mother was an astronaut, and Mahiru has always been intrigued by space. In the village she lived at, she would tell the younger kids stories about space and amazing astronauts, forming a close bond with them. Unfortunately, a few months before Hope's Peak, Mahiru's village was burned down, leaving Mahiru homeless. When she saw the advertisement for Hope's Peak, she took it in a heartbeat. She's kind, a little naive, and protective to make sure she can keep everyone as safe as she can.

Mikan Tsumiki - Ultimate Pianist: School was a very tough time for Mikan, as she was always the targeting of bullying, though she felt safe in her music class. After a very traumatic event, Mikan basically clung to her piano, playing it every day, as many times as she could. She's shy, but also very determined and kind, and she's quite skilled at the other instruments other then piano! Which she personally finds to be very cool!

Nagito Komaeda - Ultimate Anthropologist: Nagito's house was very close to a library, so every day, after school, he would stop by the library and find a book. The ones about culture and evolution were the ones that intrigued him the most. He spent most of his childhood in the hospital, so the library was like a safe space for him. He's also aloof, but somewhat disturbing and also mature. He has to keep a close eye on Hajime, so he's basically Hajime's babysitter (lol).

Sonia Nevermind - Ultimate Detective: Sonia was always very smart, even as a young child, so she didn't have very many friends as she got frustrated by people who weren't as smart. One day, the detectives brought her in to see if she could help them with a case, and she solved it, pretty quickly. She can solve cases quicker then the average detective can. She's pretty quiet most of the time, but she also has a strong sense of justice, is no-nonsense and quick, and she really doesn't have as much empathy as she probably should.

Kaede Akamatsu - Ultimate Princess: So, Kaede is the princess of Japan, so she also has to follow strict and unfair rules. She often but heads with her parents since she wants to actually be her own person and not follow their rules. Her parents had arranged a marriage for her, and when she found out about this, she quickly signed up for Hope's Peak to escape this. She's kind, charming, curious, and always willing to learn. She may not give the best advice, but she tries her best!

Shuichi Saihara - Ultimate Artist: Shuichi here seems like your average Joe. He doesn't really talk highly of himself, and he just does art as a hobby, so he wasn't really expecting it to become his actual talent, lol. Despite all of this, he's fairly nice and pretty chill, but can also be pretty morbid due to the fact he was born and raised in an unusual church. No, he isn't religious. Also, he loves art, but he doesn't draw eyes when he draws people, as he finds it difficult to do (this will come in handy later).

Kirumi Tojo - Ultimate Magician: Growing up, Kirumi always loved magic. She was a street magician for a while before being allowed to enter a school that allowed her to embrace her interests. She's kind, energetic, and kooky since she had been seen as a "weird kid" by most people growing up. Despite this, she's incredibly loyal to those around her, and she can be scarily serious when she needs to.

Kiibo (Idabashi) - Ultimate Butler: So, in this AU, Kiibo is also human, so I will refer to him as Kiibo Idabashi. He always loved helping people, despite what they asked him to do. His father, Professor Idabashi, spent a lot of time on robotic engineers, so that led Kiibo to wander off... a LOT. He always enjoys to serve people, and he enjoys Celestia's company. He doesn't like Sayaka much though, as she uses him. There are also times where he feels empty, like a robot. Though, he's hardworking, devoted, and can take on even the hardest of tasks.

Rantaro Amami - Ultimate Photographer: Rantaro still has twelve sisters in this AU, and they always loved for him to take pictures of them, to where they would even ask him daily to take pictures of scenery they liked and outfits they liked. Rantaro found himself enjoying photography, even in the darkest of times. At first, he's bossy and a bit stubborn, but he eventually learns to trust his classmates and even befriends most of them. After that, he's kind, still a little stubborn and bossy, but more willing to hear others out. Also, him and Korekiyo become quite close very quickly!

I'm SO sorry that I talked more about the characters and their backstories then their roles!! I'll make a relationship chart of them in a post eventually. Also, this took a long while and isn't my usual content, so my bad! Also, if you read all of this, thank you 💕

[nabateaprodigy]

I'm so sorry if you actually aren't taking requests I am a little confused as English is not my first language I'm still learning as I go

could I request for kokichi and nagito for a s/o that's emotionally sensitive, cries alot and comes off as clingy and really enjoys simple physical touch like hand holding and pats, stuff like that generally (thank you if you can and so sorry if you closed requests for all)

Kokichi and Nagito With a Sensitive S/O

Series: Danganronpa.

Characters: Kokichi and Nagito.

Genre: Fluff.

Reader: Gender Neutral.

Notes: Don't worry! Your English is fine! Honestly English is my first language and sometimes I can't even write or speak it lmao.

Kokichi

This little...well at first like anyone else he would trick and play pranks on you. When he first played a prank on you he expected you to be confused or annoyed. He well...he didn't think you would end up crying because of the prank.

Because of this, he ended up feeling pretty guilty about it. So pranks were something he wouldn't do to you. Well, he'd still prank Miu, Gonta, Shuichi, and the others.

So instead he'd tease you! Not nearly as bad as a prank so this would be fine right? Well, it seems not you'd also get upset from the teasing as well. What a horrible boyfriend always making you cry smh. 🙄

But over time he'd come to realize this was just how you were and to keep the pranks and teasing to a minimum or stop all altogether if that's what you wanted. However, in his heart he couldn't stop teasing you he just had to see your cute flustered face!

I feel like Kokichi would at first act annoyed by how clingy you are. But in truth, he loves it oh so much. He loves how you feel comfortable and safe to hold hands and hug him.

In truth, it probably also made him a little overprotective of you. But seeing your smile and just the fact you've stuck with him. Means the world to him and he wants nothing more for you to be safe and happy.

Nagito

"Huh? Why would want to hug trash like me?" This mf I swear it never stops with him 🙄. He knows you're clingy but he still doesn't understand as he puts it to hug. "Trash like me."

(Tbh he should know the answer because he's your boyfriend!) Even though Nagito says things like this he loves how clingy you are with him. Plus in my opinion, he'd be great to cuddle with just look at that hair! It's so soft!

I feel like if you don't see Nagito for a while or if he's with his friends. You can get pretty jealous and even more clingy! If he is talking with someone you'll go up and hug him from behind.

Honestly, if you were to cry or ever feel insecure Nagito wouldn't allow you to feel that way for long. You're his S/O you're amazing and are such a great person! He'll love you no matter what so don't be afraid to tell him anything.

In his eyes, you're an angel and he thanks his luck he was able to be with you. If you ever are feeling down have no fear Nagito is here! He wants you to be happy so if you're feeling down he can be just as clingy!

Of course, he'll get cuddly with you and get you whatever you want! Just ask as long as it's for it's worth it. "You look wonderful today angel. I know trash like me doesn't deserve it but can I have a kiss?"

[penguwastaken]

hi media literacy oomf you should totally talk about nagito komaeda 😎

hi nagito oomf lol There's a lot with Nagito I could talk about. I think he's a great villain/antagonist in Danganronpa 2 and Ultra Despair Girls and I think he's great In Danganronpa 3 and 2.5 as well. Honestly I don't think he has a single bad appearance in the series.

It's difficult to pinpoint a single thing about him, but in my opinion he's the best antagonist and one of the best characters period in the series.

[noxiatoxia]

What’s the worst cause of a bad translation in danganronpa? I just saw your posts about it and was wondering how it it was

I didn't answer this right away because I spent some time thinking on it.

If you want my honest opinion, I don't think there's necessarily one "worst" translation. To me, it's more of a series of small translation errors / willfully removing character quirks that add up overtime to the bigger picture.

However, there are some specific egregious examples. I highly suggest this article on DR1's translation, as it paints a clear picture for the rest of the series (which abide by similar translation errors/choices).

In said article, however, I think is the worst translation I can think of in Danganronpa off the top of my head.

This is pretty bad for several reasons. Firstly, the official TL completely flipped the meaning of Naegi's sentence. I've seen bad translations in Danganronpa, but to completely 180 the meaning of a sentence is pretty bad. Furthermore, I think a joke was lost here. Naegi claims he is not a "Stand User", which is a JoJo reference. This being changed to a generic "I'm not psychic" I think ruins the joke that Naegi, who claims to have no hobbies, is making a reference to a manga - something many consider reading to be a hobby.

Plus, considering this is your first introduction to the character, and this is your foundation for understanding them...yeah. Not good.

SDR2 has a similarly bad introduction for Hinata, though not quite as egregious.

Left is the official translation, right is my fan translation patch.

This is pretty bad considering this is the crux of Hinata's motivations as a character. He does not think the people who attend Hope's Peak are marvelous. He thinks Hope's Peak itself is amazing. That's the whole point of his story, after all. He idolizes Hope's Peak. Never in the game do we see him idolize the students themselves beyond a simple "Wow, you sure are skilled, I can see why you got in". In fact, he routinely is pretty judgemental of them.

There's other things here and there. Komaeda's love confession in his final free time event was botched, as well as Saionji and Koizumi's love confessions in Island Mode.

Mioda's talent was messed up, too. She is not the Ultimate Musician. She is the Ultimate K-On Club Member. This is a pretty Japanese thing, hence the change, but if it were me, I would have gone with "Ultimate Pop Rock Musician" because that's what K-On music basically is, in terms of English genres. This is why the screamo music joke falls flat in my opinion. Of course she likes/plays metal, she's the Ultimate Musician. Except it was supposed to be more shocking since you're told she makes upbeat pop rock music.

Danganronpa also has just...a lot of clunky-sounding dialogue. Maizono's freetime event about the crane is very painful to read, as it is littered with references to Japanese folk lore which is not handled well in English, making it sound very unnatural.

Plus, this line:

was changed. Usually, when given your multiple choice in freetime events, you're supposed to guess what the other character is referring to. Notably, that isn't the case here. You're simply supposed to guess which of these birds are the biggest.

In the Japanese version, Maizono says, "It appears often in Japanese folklore. You know, that bird lives for a thousand years, a tortoise ten thousand years..."

To which Naegi thinks, "She must be talking about..."

Maizono is using a Japanese proverb (a crane lives for a thousand years, a tortoise ten thousand years), which strangely even the wiki seems to miss and mistakenly attributes it to her referencing Urashima Tarō. It's basically her saying "fill in the blanks, you know how this saying goes"...but since that saying is not known among English players, this part is poorly reworked.

Similarly, Twogami's final freetime event was written oddly.

I get what's trying to be achieved here, but it still sounds...not great. The point of the scene is that Togami from DR1 uses "omae" when referring to people, which is a very masculine/rude way to say "you". Twogami drops the act in this sentence and uses "kimi", which is a much softer ways to say "you". Hinata acknowledges this, but since there's only one "you" in English, they tried to word it as best as they could. Personally, I would have just reworded the scene entirely to make Twogami's sentence much softer in general, and then have Hinata comment, "It's weird hearing you speak so politely. The Togami I know is constantly looking down on others."

So, when it comes to the official Danganronpa translation, you're basically contending with 1) a lot of mistranslations, 2) removal of nuances in speech and 3) a lot of clunky, poorly naturalized dialogue. As the article I linked pointed out, even in Japanese, Danganronpa isn't some masterpiece of writing, but undoubtedly a lot is lost from these decisions.

Keep in mind these are just the ones off the top of my head I found worth pointing out in this post. There's probably way worse ones I didn't even think of, since I don't have either the English or Japanese text line for line memorized.

IMO, the best Danganronpa game in terms of text is Another Episode, 100% only because nearly every line in that game is read aloud. I find that trials in Danganronpa typically have marginally less clunky-sounding dialogue in English, and that I believe is entirely due to the fact they have people actually reading this stuff out loud. They can catch if it sounds weird out loud and then change it. So Another Episode, which is basically entirely voice acted, has the most natural-sounding dialogue in the whole series.

V3 I know very little about as I am not a fan of that game...but from what I've seen/heard, it's not much better despite coming out quite some time after SDR2. Gokuhara's speech patterns were entirely rewritten in English to sound like Tarzan...I guess to match his design? If I had to make him speak like any of the existing characters, I'd say he's more in line with Sonia's English translation. Just strange all around.

[layton-heritage-posts]

Good Morning, Good Day, Good Evening or, if you're sleep schedule is as horrid as mine, good night! LHP here, and I'm happy to say that we just got some

BREAKING LAYTON NEWS!

As you all probably remember, it has already been confirmed that Level-5 will be at the Tokyo Game Show this year, and that we will get updates on Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. After they fed us these crumbs we finally have an actual schedule for what we can expect and when we can expect it!

Here you can see the complete schedule for all of Level-5 presentations during the TGS. It seems like we’ll be getting Layton stuff on three separate occasions, one on the 23th and two on the 24th September! I’ll be going over what we know of each of these presentations so far now, but before I’ll do that, please keep in mind that mistranslations are not unlikely and that you can check out these posts for yourself here, here aaaand here.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff!

23.09, 12:45 - 13:25 JST:

First up we have something titled: “How to make a memorable mystery game” where it seems like Akihiro Hino, with Kazutaka Kodaka as his guest, will talk about both of their respective games, probably making a deep dive into the behind the scenes part of game making and the process of creating a good mystery game.

Kazatuka Kodaka is known for both the Danganronpa Series and his more recent game Raincode, so it definitely will be interesting to see these two talk about their experiences.

Next up:

24.09, 10:30-11:00 JST:

This one is titled “Professor Layton explanation special”, this time having Fujikawa Q as a guest.

Fujikawa has stated that he is a big fan of the Layton series and wanted to talk about what makes the series so great and why it has a special charm. Interesting here is that it is supposed to be in the form of a quiz in which both the viewers and the visitors can participate so you know I’ll definitely watch that so I can once again proof my completely healthy and normal obsession with these games.

And last but by god not least we have:

28.09, 12:35 - 13:00 JST:

“Professor Layton x QuizKnock Puzzle Stage”, featuring two people from QuizKnock, the new group behind the puzzles of this game. These two guests are Kurari P and Masaaki Yamamoto, and like before they once again plan to let both Viewers and visitors participate in here.

But now here’s one last gold nugget of information. Level-5 said that they might release a Video that’s a must see for Layton fans. And if that doesn’t get you at least a little bit excited I don’t know what will.

[ceyarma]

SPOILERS for Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE!

--------

Just wanna talk about that amazing Chapter 5 and game for a second.

Makoto Kagutsuchi is such a breath of fresh air compared to the comically crazy antagonists in the Danganronpa series and the Peacekeepers in this game, I was genuinely blown away. I hope they take notes from this game for a future installment in Dangan or perhaps a new Tookyo IP.

I was absolutely blown away by how good this game, a little jank, slight pacing issues and gameplay annoyances here and there, nothing too egregious or standout compared to Danganronpa or smth though.

The writing is on another level, while the game does stumble in Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, the rest of the chapters are absolutely solid and the characters are GREAT.

The last mystery and the final sword fight was hype as fuck!!! God dammn!!

I can confidently say I like this more than Danganronpa and would actually recommend new players this game first due to its distinct lack of troublesome stuff.

I give RAIN CODE a solid 9/10, it's big, it's overambitious, it's flawed, but it was fucking awesome.

[0pawprint0]

All the autographs I got! The only person on my list I didn’t get was Matthew. His lines were long throughout the whole con. But I got a picture with him and he complimented my Shaggy cosplay, so I still consider it a win! He was super kind.

The Hazbin gang were all so sweet and talking to them was so much fun! They all seemed to love my Sir Pentious cosplay! Erika even asked for a pic to show Alex. He didn’t respond while I was there, but he’s a very busy person, so I get it completely ^^

I nearly cried when I got to meet Rob. I have looked up to him for so long and it was so amazing to finally meet him. He was as wonderful as you’d expect. It was super hard to choose which poster for him to sign because he plays so many characters I love. I ended up picking Donnie because TMNT 2012 is my favorite version and I never see anything for it. I was telling him about how even some of his super specific roles like Eric from The Little Mermaid 2 have stuck with me and he gave me a hug! He also addressed me in Donnie’s voice and knew how to spell my name without me even needing to tell him! Most people don’t spell it right. He also complimented my cosplay and asked me how to make it and everything (I was Sir Pentious that day). It was such a good time. I would talk with him all day if I could. I unfortunately didn’t get a picture with him because I didn’t have enough money (things tend to go wrong when I’m trying to save money and I had to pay to fix some things the month before fhfhfhdn). But I’m hoping to see him again one day and next time I will get a picture!

Grey was so fun to talk to! She actually had her hair put up with a pin to look like Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender), another character she plays. She excitedly addressed me as Shaggy (the cosplay I was wearing that day), telling my sister and I to "throw Scooby Snacks at any monsters you see!" and told us not to unmask anyone :’) she’s so silly and fun I love herrr! She gave us a hug, too! Frank was super nice and loved the poster my sister brought for him to sign (she got it from an artist at the con) and he even did Scooby’s voice to us!

My sister is a big fan of Cameron Monaghan, so we went to his panel. She was able to get a pic and autograph with him, too! I don’t have the pictures with her because I don’t think she’d want me to post her face here lol.

I didn’t get an autograph from him because of money, but I also got to meet Johnny Yong Bosch! He’s most known for Ichigo from Bleach, but what I was excited for was talking to him about Danganronpa (he is Hajime and Rantaro)!

This is my haul I got from comic con (excluding the things that came with my ticket). I did, indeed, come home with 4 Miku figures. But one was free! Because at that booth it was buy 2, get 1 free.

I also got a Neighthan Rot doll for fairly cheap (they go as high as $70 online). Tbh a Monster High doll is the last thing I expected to get at a con, but I’m pretty down with it lol. Especially because it’s in great condition and still had his journal!

For the Harry Potter sticker and pin, we got those for free at a free Harry Potter trivia we went to because HP is my sister’s favorite book series. She also won a book she doesn’t have! It was like a Dumbledore side story (note: neither of us support or like Rowling as a person. She did not get any money out of us, as this was free).

The mushroom sticker was given to me by an artist as I passed their table! Their info is there on the sticker if you’re interested in their work!

The stickerssss! They make me so happy. There was so many more this artist had that I wanted, but I didn’t have the money for it, unfortunately. I got Ciel, Sebastian, Grell, and Undertaker (Black Butler), Bill, Stan, Wendy, Dipper, Mabel, and Waddles (Gravity Falls - they didn’t have Soos or Ford rip), Craig and Tweek (South Park), Sir Pentious (Hazbin Hotel), Stolas (Helluva Boss), Rampo (Bungou Stray Dogs), and Amaimon (Blue Exorcist).

This stuff came with my ticket! I LOVE the poster!

I didn’t get these, but I thought they were really funny.

Post 2/2

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - Number 11: Danganronpa Another 2 Case 1 {BEST CASE FROM SDRA2}

//It's usually never a good sign for a mystery game when the best case in your entire game's run is the first one. It's truly a sign that the rest of what's to come really doesn't reach the bar that the initial case set.

//It's even more of a bad sign when on a ranking that takes into account every trial in the series...NONE of them from this particular game manage to breach the Top 10.

//Yeah, I didn't even keep this a secret, but SDRA2 hands down has the least interesting and least engaging trials and mysteries, and it's for a variety of reasons. But it's important to remember that the primary reason for why it doesn't isn't because the cases are bad.

//It's primarily because none of them succeed in reaching the heights of the original series, or the trials and themes of its prequel. Despite how much SDRA2 branches out, it's riddled with issues that really set it down.

//And unfortunately, even as the best case in the game, Case 1 still gets this high on the list not out of greatness or what it aspires to reach, but out of...decency...more than anything.

//As I said previously, despite the fact that SDRA2's final trial manages to avoid most of the issues that are common throughout the finale's of these games, it still unfortunately fell victim to them, which is what pushed it down from being the standout trial of SDRA2. And as it stands, the first trial on the twisted island still then turns out to be the overall achiever.

//The interesting thing is that the reason why A2-6 got as high as this is because of the way it handles and resolves all the stakes that the rest of SDRA2 spent a lot of time putting focus on and dwelling over. The reason why A2-1 on the other hand gets the highest is because of how well it SETS them.

//To be honest, without spoiling what Number 10 on this list is, it was quite difficult to decide which between it, and this trial would manage to breach the Top 10. It'll make more sense when we actually cover it tomorrow, but the main reason is because this trial and that one share quite a bit in common.

//When it comes to opening cases in a Danganronpa game, A2-1 manages to get this high, higher than any other trial in SDRA2, because it's the only one that successfully manages to hit all the important story beats and tones that the better opening trials of the games SHOULD have.

//And again, you will see when we get to tomorrow's analysis just how similar they are, but what clear points and aspects made it take the victory over this trial.

//Before I go into the actual case, trial, and mystery itself though, I want to talk about one major thing with this trial that raises its stakes incredibly high compared to every other opening trial in the series except maybe for V3's. We obviously all know it now, and it's a widely recognized twist.

//To this day, no other Fanganronpa has been able to top the first big plot twist of the game. I have seen some that have tried, but they ultimately have failed.

//Simply the fact that the MASTERMIND is KNOWN and is PART of the trial!

//Obviously, he's not the culprit, as easy as that might be, but the reason why this aspect of SDRA2 is so infamous is because...it deserves to be. It's an INSANE gambit, and...one that doesn't really pull off for the first few chapters, but one that MASSIVELY pays off later.

//And yes, I know that it technically happens in the prologue, but the weight of it is carried through all of the first chapter, and into the trial. What do you want me to say about Mikado's Mastermind reveal that hasn't been said already?

//Danganronpa has never been great when it comes to hinting at who could be the Mastermind behind everything. It's like the series thrives on blindsiding you but forgets that twists work best when there's some setup.

//Junko’s big gambit, where she swaps places with Mukuro and lets her sister take the fall, is honestly clever...on paper. But then she disappears from the narrative like your car keys when you're late for work. There’s nary a whisper about her until Chapter 5, and by then, it’s like the game is shouting, "Surprise!" without actually planting enough breadcrumbs.

//Imagine if there’d been subtle hints that Mukuro’s death wasn’t what it seemed, like a weird comment, a loose thread, or anything of that caliber. Then maybe, just maybe, the moment Junko reappears wouldn’t feel like a plot twist straight out of a soap opera.

//DR2’s Mastermind twist with AI Junko is a lot better executed, leveraging DR1’s already established factors and plot points, taking advantage of the virtual world setting, and cranking up the absurdity to eleven. But then Izuru pops up just completely out of nowhere for the first time in this chapter, like that one coworker who shows up only for cake on someone’s last day.

//This enigmatic Hope Cultivation Plan is suddenly crucial, and Izuru himself becomes a convoluted justification for Hajime’s Reserve Course connection to the killing game. Sure, it’s a twist, but it’s also like trying to do algebra with no setup. You can figure it out, but you’re left wondering why no one bothered to explain anything beforehand.

//I barely count Izuru as a Mastermind anyway, but I still have to acknowledge his role here. Then we get to Another 1’s Utsuro, who is…marginally better than Izuru in terms of buildup, but it still feels like someone tossed his name into the story five minutes before the reveal.

//"Oh, yeah, this guy? Totally important. He also has this busted power that we didn't bring up before. Didn’t you notice?" No, game. No, I did not.

//And then there’s Tsumugi. She’s physically present for the entire game, but emotionally? Spiritually? This girl is on vacation. The only breadcrumbs leading to her being the Mastermind are obscure references to past games that most players wouldn’t notice unless they were studying the lore like it’s for finals.

//When her true role is revealed, you don’t gasp. You laugh, because there’s no way this human equivalent of lukewarm oatmeal was orchestrating anything. Her reveal is so anticlimactic it’s like discovering the person behind the curtain is your introverted cousin who forgot to bring snacks to the family reunion.

//But do you want to know what really pisses me off about all these lackluster villain reveals?

//Hyper Danganronpa H2O exists and somehow does this better.

//HYPER! DANGANRONPA! H2O! Does this better!

//The fangan everyone loves to hate; he game universally dismissed as "meh," actually sets up its Mastermind better than the canon games.

//For some brief context, HDRH2O's mastermind is Oliver Feng, who in the end turns out to be more of a pawn for his mother and the leader of Fang, Emilia, but was an integral part to the Killing Game and keeping it running for the duration.

//If you bother to spend time with Oliver, pay attention to his dialogue, or notice his oddly specific backstory, you’ll find little nuggets that make the final reveal feel earned. Sure, it’s not Shakespeare, but compared to the canon games? It’s somehow way more impactful and emotional.

//Of course, the hands down best Mastermind reveal of the lot is Akane Taira, but we've already been over that and will go over it again when we get to the final trial of DRA. Let’s just spill the beans about Mikado for now, shall we?

//LINUJ throws tradition out the window and just reveals the Mastermind right at the beginning of the game. No buildup, no fake-outs, just outs him immediately. But he still manages to keep his game running because he displays his absolutely insane degree of power of everyone, and establishes himself as an unstoppable force, namely by killing one of the key cast members of the original game.

//Rei obviously turns out to be alive later, but it doesn't hurt the standing of the twist.

//Bold move, right? It’s like starting a murder mystery by telling everyone who the killer is, then daring them to still enjoy the ride.

//And honestly? It works. The reveal is so unexpected, it flips the entire formula on its head. Mikado’s conduct in the early chapters might not scream "evil genius", more like "eccentric nerd at a LARP convention," but the sheer audacity of the twist sets SDRA2 apart.

//Instead of waiting until Chapter 6 to reveal the mastermind and cramming all their screen time into an hour, Mikado gets to lurk around, causing drama and tension the entire game. It’s a gutsy choice, and while the rest of the game doesn’t always hit the same high notes, this opening move is one heck of a power play.

//The next point I want to make with this trial is the characters involved in it, to which the key thing first of all is the victim.

//Yuri Kagarin is one of my least favourite characters in the Another series, and...I feel like I shouldn't really need to explain what is wrong with this man. As a character, he's like an unholy amalgamation of some of Danganronpa's most controversial characters.

//He has the suaveness and degeneracy of Teruteru, the crazy psychology of Nagito, and the rampant unscrupulous misandry of Tenko, all squished together, and...let's just say that doesn't make a healthy person.

//Which...unfortunately made him quite possibly the most obvious first death in the entire series.

//Aside from the fact that the three characters I just listed die in very horrible ways, it's also because you know that he's not going to be the rival or antag character because you already have both Mikado and Syobai who had slotted into the role immediately, so the only way out for him for the foreseeable future is to be the blackened or the victim of the first chapter, of which, he turned out to be the former.

//However, I would argue that even Tenko is a much deeper character than Yuri, and that says all you need to know really. Tenko is so one-note compared to most mainline Danganronpa characters, and it's really hard to like her unless you actually look at her other traits BESIDES the rampant sexism.

//What makes Tenko so interesting is that despite her beliefs and view of the male/female dynamic, there are elements of logic to her, despite the fact that she falls more squarely on the "belief" side of V3's Logic Vs Belief dynamic. The fact that she tried to infiltrate the student council, as well as how she ultimately realized that trying to dispose of Angie wouldn't solve anything, and would just upset Himiko.

//Yuri on the other hand...is not nearly as logical, despite his very apparent intelligence. But he's still interesting, especially because his dedication to females can't necessarily be chalked up to "my mind says no, but my dick says yes."

//Yuri is not a pervert. He's just...delusional. While I don't like him, and he's probably my least favourite character in SDRA2 besides only Nikei, I still have to acknowledge that what LINUJ made him out to be was...a methodical madman of a character.

//Yuri does not simply "love women," he, and I quote, "dedicated his life to women." And even though he's around for only one chapter, he's still a character that's very important to pay attention to.

//Wow, I'm REALLY overanalysing fucking Yuri Kagarin, aren't I? I've become one of THOSE people, haven't I?

//Alright, well...fuck it, I guess...

//Yuri is the kind of character who wears his eccentricities on his sleeve, and perhaps also on a flashing neon sign above his head. From the moment he enters the scene, he makes no effort to hide his unabashed adoration for the "fairer sex," to the point where he refers to Sora, a virtual stranger, with pet names during their free time events.

//This is a man who flirts with the fervor of someone auditioning for The Bachelor, but with a peculiar chivalry that tempers his otherwise suggestive remarks. For instance, when Sora questions his motives after he invites her to his dorm, he reassures her that he would never touch a woman without her permission. It’s like he read "How to Be a Gentleman for Dummies" but skipped a few chapters.

//As for men, Yuri’s disdain for them borders on theatrical. He dismisses them as "scum," compares them to pebbles on the street, and claims their mere existence gives him headaches.

//Despite, you know, being a man himself, and not even ignoring that fact.

//You almost expect him to hiss and clutch his pearls whenever a male character enters the room. His double standard is on full display when he refuses to share information with Nikei but spills the beans to Emma without hesitation. It’s no wonder the female cast quickly grows tired of him, with Setsuka, who is typically friendly to everyone, being no exception.

//Despite his aversion to men and his questionable social skills, Yuri isn’t entirely devoid of redeeming qualities. For one, he’s surprisingly pragmatic about being kidnapped, describing himself as a "veteran" of such situations (which begs more questions than it answers). Instead of panicking, he adopts a "make the best of it" attitude, which is almost admirable.

//His long-standing dream of being remembered as a savior by a woman, revealed to be genuine thanks to Kokoro’s emotional detection, adds an oddly tragic layer to his character. He seems prepared to sacrifice himself to achieve this dream, suggesting a deep-seated willingness to place others’ well-being above his own, even if it’s rooted in a peculiar and arguably unhealthy worldview.

//And I wish that some kind of Omake could delve deeper into what made him this way. Although overall, I am glad that Yuri did die here and now so we didn't have to put up with his bullshit through the rest of the game.

//One thing that LINUJ does do that I appreciate a lot is that even when he makes some of the most dogshit or nasty human beings ever, he doesn't keep them around for more than a little while. Even Nikei, who I've said in the past I despise, is tolerable for most of the game before he goes all egomaniacal after his VOID reveal in Chapter 4.

//Speaking of VOID reveals, we will get to that in just a moment, but first, I want to quickly jump in and say that WOW this investigation and trial is GOOD!

//This is by far the most complex opening case of all the one's featured on this list, but it commits to it spectacularly.

//Let's talk about a few points that stood out for me. There are quite a few cool things about this case, but these are the notable ones that kind of make and break this trial for me.

//Starting with one that I kind of already went over, but I'll go into more detail in how it affects the trial is the fact that Mikado is actively PART of what's going on, even though we know he's the one behind the Killing Game itself.

//Which makes this like inviting the wolf to dinner and having him politely help with the dishes.

//Ah cool, I even have a CG for it...

//Despite everyone treating him like public enemy number one, Mikado pulls his weight in the discussion, offering genuine insights and guidance. For me, this creates a fascinating tension, and makes the twist itself pay off in this trial. While his help is invaluable, his status as the mastermind makes everyone, including you, question his motives. There's no guarantee that he's being sincere, or if is this all part of a larger manipulation.

//Mikado’s cooperation not only sets a unique tone for the trial but also makes it clear that in this game, nothing will be as simple as it seems.

//And this is reinforced with who the killer ACTUALLY turns out to be, but...again...that's probably the best part of the trial, so I'll save that for last.

//The second point is how Kokoro Mitsume’s Ultimate Psychologist abilities add an entirely new dynamic to the trial, because she enters the courtroom already knowing the killer’s identity, thanks to her borderline mind-reading skills.

//In short, she reveals that she knows who the killer is based on their facial expressions after she asked them all the same question at the beginning of the trial, which is something that hasn't ever happened before to my knowledge. The only time a non-blackened went into a trial knowing who the killer was immediately was Fuyuhiko, because he was there when it all happened, and technically Tsumugi because of her cheap shot.

//Despite Kokoro being subtle enough throughout this trial, this flips the typical formula on its head. Usually, everyone is equally in the dark, fumbling their way toward the truth, but Kokoro’s quiet confidence and refusal to immediately reveal the killer add suspense, making you wonder when and how she’ll drop the bombshell. It’s like having Sherlock Holmes in the room but with a maddening poker face.

//Which is another reason why I'm so disappointed with her as a character, because I do get that this ability is overpowered, but I WISH that Kokoro had stayed around for more of the game. It might have given me more of a reason to care about her true villainous side that's revealed later.

//This is also the first chance we get to see how Syobai, as our clearly established rival character, acts in the trials and...well...it's certainly DIFFERENT.

//While most rival characters in the series seize control of trials with the swagger of a peacock, i.e. Byakuya’s arrogance, Nagito’s chaos, Kokichi’s antics, and Tsurugi's...Tsurugi-ing...Syobai is the polar opposite.

//He barely participates, and when he does, it’s to sow even more confusion by handing Sora FALSE EVIDENCE.

//Introducing a fake Truth Bullet is a wild departure from the series norm and completely throws off the usual rhythm of deductive gameplay.

//Syobai also chastises others for not taking the trial seriously, all while refusing to lift a finger himself. He’s like the world’s laziest coach yelling from the sidelines. Frustrating, hypocritical, but undeniably entertaining.

//Also, I don't know if I really said this before, but this is by far one of the most entertaining murder traps in the series; at least among the first cases. It's like murder via Rube Goldberg machine.

//The creativity behind Yuri’s murder is equal parts horrifying and ingenious. The killer hoists him to the top of a bell tower using hooks in his ankles and then drops him to his death. A gruesome spectacle in its own right. But it gets even better. The setup doubles as a makeshift zipline for the killer to escape unnoticed, using Yuri’s body as a counterweight.

//It’s a grimly efficient plan that leaves players marveling at the killer’s resourcefulness while trying not to wince at the vivid imagery.

//However...this is also where I kind of want to start talking about what my key problem is with this case...

//To prevent myself from talking in circles, its the fact that this crime was a lot more complicated than it probably NEEDED to be. And quite a lot of it is waffling and ending up at an incorrect conclusion before the killer is ultimately outed.

//Now, it's important to remember that ALL of the first trials in the series DO this. However, all of them do so for a very clear reason:

DR1's first trial had everyone immediately suspect Makoto before the truth around Sayaka's trap, and the fact that Leon didn't understand the subtle problems with Makoto's room, began to come to light. But for most of it, he and Toko corner and berate Makoto to no end, not giving him a chance to speak up for himself before Kyoko ultimately helps him.

The entire first half of DR2's trial is exploring evidence, then pinpointing Nagito as the killer, which turns out to be wrong, and he intentionally leads everyone on. As Hiyoko even points out, by the time the trial phase ends, they aren't any closer to figuring out that Teruteru is the murderer.

V3's trial is dragged out as much as it is because that was Kaede's whole plan. She explores every out to try and find the Mastermind, and only reverts back to standard form and lets herself be outed for her crimes when blame starts to be pinned on Shuichi.

A lot of DRA's trial is trying to find a way to prove the girls are innocent, even though the body is in an area that only they can get to, and drags on for so long because Mitch is a Bitch, and this comes back to bite him massively in the end.

//In the case of this trial, the way it's dragged out is the killer attempts to frame Yoruko by knocking her out and planting her at the crime scene is a clever misdirection...

//...Until you remember Yuri’s obsessive devotion to women.

//As a man who would literally let a woman kill him without resistance, which by the way, he said so himself, framing Yoruko backfires hilariously. Instead of incriminating her, it makes the whole scenario feel absurdly implausible.

//On the one hand, this adds a layer of humor to the trial while also giving Yoruko a chance to prove her subtle importance to the narrative as a character, but on the other...it doesn't feel like the most well-thought out red herring.

//Especially since the killer literally LEAVES ANAESTHETIC at the crime scene, proving that he must have used it SOMEHOW! Yeah, they used it on Yuri first and foremost, but they could've also used it on Yoruko.

//In-universe, maybe its more complex than it appears, but at the same time, if you've played literally any of these games, you already know that there's some bull-fuckery going on.

//As one last little note about this trial, Kanade Otonokoji plays a surprisingly understated role in this trial, which in hindsight is a good move.

//She doesn’t dominate the discussion or reveal her manipulative tendencies outright, but there are subtle hints of her intelligence and sadistic nature lurking beneath her innocent façade.

//This restrained performance makes her eventual unraveling in later cases all the more shocking. For now, she’s content to play the helpful team member, but the cracks in her mask are there for those paying close attention.

//I mean, none of us can argue that her not leading the discussion the whole way through is a plus, because that is what severely brings down A2-2 and A2-3.

//With that being said though, it doesn't really destroy my opinion of the trial, or of the murder method. This is still one of my favourite murder schemes in the series because of the harmony of complexity on paper, simplicity in practice.

//The first trial of SDRA2 is a chaotic cocktail of subversions, creative murder mechanics, and character-driven intrigue. Each element feels fresh, unpredictable, and undeniably engaging, making this opening case a standout moment in the franchise.

//But of course, one thing you might have noticed is that I have forgone mentioning one very critical detail throughout this analysis that is sort of kind of important, and it's mainly because I wanted to save this point as the last thing I covered, because it's one of my favourite parts of the trial:

//The Culprit.

//I don't think I talk about this character enough, but not only is he one of my favourite characters in SDRA2, he's easily my favourite killer, AND my favourite member of VOID for a variety of reasons.

//Hajime Makunouchi is an INSANELY compelling character, and by far one of the most underrated characters in this game.

//At first glance, Makunouchi seems like your friendly neighborhood gym coach. Laidback, health-conscious, and always ready for a chat about wellness. His budding bromance with Shinji, complete with morning exercises, is the kind of wholesome interaction that feels out of place in a killing game, and initially, I really thought that he might be the Chapter 2 killer because of how similar his connection with Shinji was to Taka's connection with Mondo.

//But Hajime isn’t just your average health guru. He has a passive-aggressive edge, quietly resenting those who neglect their well-being.

//It’s almost ironic, then, that the man advocating for self-improvement becomes the first killer, using his physical prowess to orchestrate Yuri’s elaborate demise. And I want to talk about his reasons for doing it a little bit, even though we're all familiar with it.

//If there's one point of commonality between the first-case killers of the DR series, it's that even if there is a sense of nobility in their actions (Teruteru and Kaede being the key examples) their motivations ultimately all boil down to them acting in their own best interests.

//For Mitch in the previous game, it was pure selfishness with a distinct lack of layers to it. But for Makunouchi, there are some very interesting layers to it.

//Hajime's motivation to murder Yuri was not just for HIS benefit, and it wasn't done out of spite, or any particular distaste towards Yuri. He was just an easy target...and Makunouchi is a member of VOID.

//For context, VOID is first brought up by Mikado in the prologue just before his reveal as the Mastermind. He claims its an organization that he runs, but it only props up in one easily-missed line of dialogue.

//It all comes crashing back here when Makunouchi reveals that he is a MEMBER of this organization, and that the OTHER members are also hiding among the main cast of the game.

//As you know, VOID turned out to be one of the most disappointing group of villains I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

//HOOOWEEEVERR. As a design, a function, and a concept in a Danganronpa game, they are SO FUCKING COOL!

//And Makunouchi alone sells them as a group. Not only is he the best member OF them, but his reveal of his true identity and motive is AMAZING! It somehow raises the stakes EVEN HIGHER than Mikado's reveal of the Mastermind did!

//And with a few minor exceptions, it's actually a fairly original concept as far as Dangans n' Fangans go.

//In the classic Danganronpa formula, the mastermind usually operates solo or with a few cronies in the background, namely Junko and the Ultimate Despair, but for the most part, Junko's a lone wolf when it comes to the killing games. She even kills off her OWN support (Mukuro) immediately, and outs her backup support (Sakura) personally later down the line.

//Mikado and VOID’s setup flips this on its head. By revealing there are four additional traitors working among the participants, SDRA2 transforms from a whodunit murder mystery into a high-stakes game of Mafia/Werewolf.

//Now, every player isn’t just looking over their shoulder for potential killers; they’re wondering who’s secretly pulling strings for Mikado.

//Hajime’s confession didn’t just expose him. It broke the trust between everyone else. In the original Danganronpa games, trust is always a fragile thing, but here, it’s obliterated.

//With the knowledge that nearly 20% of the cast is actively working against them, every smile becomes suspect, every friendly interaction a potential ploy. The game went from a deathmatch to a psychological warfare simulator, and watching the characters struggle to maintain alliances or even basic conversations while knowing they might be talking to a VOID operative added a level of tension that few fan games, or even official titles, have managed to replicate.

//When SDRA2 was releasing chapter by chapter, the VOID twist ignited a storm of fan theories that rivaled Game of Thrones Reddit discussions. People debated endlessly about who could be VOID and why they would join Mikado, and theories ranged from the plausible to the downright absurd, because of course, everything’s canon until it’s not.

//The uncertainty surrounding VOID was a masterstroke because it didn’t just engage the characters. It turned the audience into detectives. Every piece of dialogue, every facial expression, every random aside was scrutinized for potential VOID subtext.

//For a game that was being released chapter by chapter instead of all at once, this was an INGENIOUS move on LINUJ's part.

//Makunouchi’s revelation also underscored just how bleak the situation was. In the original series, you at least had the comfort of knowing most of the cast were victims of circumstance. Here, SDRA2 threw that out the window.

//The idea that four other participants chose to align themselves with Mikado added a layer of existential dread. It’s one thing to fight against a singular antagonist, but knowing your friends might willingly be helping them? That’s enough to make even the strongest bonds crumble. Mikado’s genius wasn’t just in the killing game itself; it was in weaponizing human relationships and trust.

//The VOID twist elevated SDRA2 by introducing a more complex narrative structure and forcing characters and players alike to grapple with themes of loyalty, deception, and moral ambiguity.

//It's not just about solving murders anymore. It's about unraveling a web of conspiracies while trying not to get caught in it yourself. And let’s be honest: the twist gave the fandom so much to talk about.

//But putting that aside, it's not just the moment itself that makes Makunouchi my favourite villain in this game.

//Once Makunouchi is exposed as Yuri’s killer, his personality does a complete 180, flipping faster than a pancake on a hot griddle, as most twist villains in this series tend to do.

//At first, he’s shockingly chill about the whole murder thing, and justifies his actions as being part of a grander conspiracy for a good cause, and...there's some truth to this. But when his execution is brought up, the chill evaporates. He flies into a rage, threatening to expose Void’s secrets if Mikado doesn’t let him go, as though threatening the mastermind would somehow work.

//Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

//But what really sold me on him is what we find out about him AFTER the fact.

//Via Void Theater of all things.

//Not only does Makunouchi have an incredibly engaging backstory and life prior to this game that really define what sort of person he presents himself as in SDRA2's Killing Game, but his time in the Void Theatre is where the layers of his character start to peel back.

//His cocky, self-assured exterior crumbles, revealing a man somewhat haunted by his actions. He begins to show genuine remorse for killing Yuri, realizing how far he and the rest of Void have strayed from their humanity in search of their ultimate goal.

//His claims about genuinely enjoying the time spent with his fellow participants feel surprisingly earnest in hindsight, adding a tragic edge to his story. Hajime wanted to be better, but his role in Void and the circumstances of the game made that impossible. In a way, he’s a victim of his own aspirations. A man who sought improvement but ended up losing himself along the way.

//By the end, he’s made peace with his fate, even finding the strength to reconcile with Nikei and Emma. He even makes one last request to hear one of Emma's god-awful puns. It’s a bittersweet moment that shows how far he's come, from health nut to killer to a man seeking redemption that he may never really get.

//He's just...such a good and underappreciated character in this game, and besides...a certain someone...who one could argue barely even counts, he is EASILY the best first-killer in the series. Especially in the way he defies the preconcieved ideas that LINUJ advocates through his work.

//Hajime Makunouchi is proof that people, by nature, are multi-faceted, capable of both terrible deeds and sincere growth. And hey, if nothing else, his arc proves one thing: just because someone’s good at cardio doesn’t mean they’re not running from their problems.

//But yeah, that's really it. The only reason why SDRA2 Case 1 fails to make the top 10 is that it's just not as good a mystery as the trials that come after it, but what it DOES do right, it knocks out of the park. 10/10 no notes.

//This trial is one of the best fan-made cases ever, simply because it perfectly encapsulates what Danganronpa is all about.

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

Autistic Anime Boys Side A Round 1 Match 12

Propaganda:

Ishimaru -

"His title is "Super High School Level Hall Monitor" or "Ultimate Moral Compass" (depending on which translation we are going with). He was literally scouted by Hope's Peak Academy because he is very best at being the best boy. He is so hell bent on being the best student possible, that when the killing game starts his first concerned with not being able to attend classes. He's so hard working that he struggles to socialize with his peers (which is very relatable). When he tries to step in as the class leader, everyone else ignores him (which is also relatable). He naturally talks loud and doesn't seem aware of how strongly he comes off when talking to others. But even when he is scolding someone for their misbehavior, he does so because he wants to bring out the best in them. Kiyotaka puts 300% into everything he does on principal (and because he feels like it is his duty to restore his family's name). Many of his Free Time events center around him trying to figure out the "logic" in what other people do (such as why they would spend time playing video games/watching TV or why Makoto wears his jacket when it is against the school's dress code). Ishimaru Kiyotaka is easily one of the most autistic-coded characters in the Danganronpa series."

Nanami -

"One of the secret society of people with magic powers who destroy cursed spirits. Mentors the teen protagonist for a bit.

In this introductory episode, he says, "I don't praise or disparage anyone. I adhere to facts and judge in that basis. That's who I am. There was a time when I mistakenly believed society operated the same way."

and he's been clearly autistic ever since, routinely stating things such as "I hate abstract questions that leave interpretation up to others."

He's the Ex-Salaryman Jujutsu Sorcerer! Among a cast of shonen characters, he is the only guy who ever worked a normal job and he is so tired.

Ex-salaryman? Why didn't he become a Jujutsu Sorcerer from the start? "I studied at Jujutsu School, and one thing I learned… is that Jujutsu Sorcerers are shit! Then I worked at your typical company and one thing I learned… is that work is shit! If both are equally shit, I'll take the one I'm more suited to. That's the only reason I came back."

He always buys the same bread from the bakery, to the point where the bakery employee remarks upon it.

When he was still working for a Company, he tells the bakery employee:

"My job is to take money from the wealthy and make those people even more wealthy. That's pretty much all it is. Frankly, no one would mind if I was gone. People who wanted to eat bread would mind if their bakery was gone. Yet for some reason, my job, which exists outside that natural human cycle, pays better. When you think about it logically, it makes no sense."

He's great, he's the only Regular Dude in a world of Shonen Characters, and he is autistic. What more could you want?"

[g0nta-g0kuhara]

Hello! :] I saw your post recently regarding the pervasive feeling of shame in newer fans re: Danganronpa, and it really resonated. I wanted to offer my two cents as a fandom old/armchair fandom archeologist that's hopefully a little heartening:

I remember back in 2012/2013 when Danganronpa was beloved, during the height of the SomethingAwful TL days. It was a genuinely fun time to be into things, especially as people were getting excited for an EN release, something that I do think the fandom deserves a little credit in making happen. I was there for the UDG release, DR3 anime, and the lead-up to v3's release, and unfortunately, I think the fact that all three of those entries were in some ways polarizing effectively memory-holed a lot of people into believing Danganronpa was never "good" to begin with, which makes it a lot easier to pick out its flaws and give it a bit of a weird reputation now.

(As a tangent, but some more context that might help: Danganronpa also got really big on my neck of the woods in Tumblr during one of the big Homestuck hiatuses. Back in the day there was a lot of fandom crossover, which I don't really think is the case nowadays, but I think for people that were either in both fandoms and had negative experiences, or people outside who disliked either/or, they've been inextricably linked together as part of a particular "time" in Tumblr/internet history that isn't remembered fondly. So, I have a theory that a lot of secondhand Danganronpa disdain comes from misplaced disdain for the other Big Thing at the time.

This also overlapped with the tail end of the big SuperWhoLock era to my memory, which is usually much more focused on which discussing Tumblr history. Which is a shame, because I feel like this particular transitional era of Tumblr "fandom" history has been underdiscussed because of it!

None of this is excusing some of the things I've seen said about DR fans and the ways people have been iced out for liking it, but I find trying to understand the factors at play always helps my mind figure out how to process these things.)

However: time moves on. This isn't permanent. Having gone back and re-experienced the whole series some 5+ years removed, I was able to find joy in parts of the series that, while I was in the thick of a shift in fandom attitude, didn't appreciate as much as I think I should have. I didn't absolutely love everything, but I had so much fun, it almost felt like I was experiencing things again for the first time.

I want to believe the same thing will happen as we get some time removed, as people get nostalgic for things and get older and understand that you can love something flawed, criticize it, and not feel shame for it. I always welcome fresh faces discovering something for the first time, but I think that some day, a lot of older fans can come back and embrace it as well. Sometimes you need time and life and a few extra years on you. I'm living proof of it! :P

Of course, this is just one person's perspective from one slice of the fandom. But I remain hopeful. There really is nothing else quite like Danganronpa for me, warts and all. You don't have to post this publicly or anything if you don't want to, but I wanted to offer a little hope to go with your thoughts. :') and I hope you have a great day!

Oh man, I really really appreciate this message. I am really interested in the perspective of fans who have been here for so long, and I always feel a little out of my depth talking about old (read: 2018 and before) DR fandom because despite seeing a Lot of it in my blog-diving, I still wasn't there. It's genuinely wonderful to hear that it was beloved like that, even if only fully for the first two installments.

I HAVE noticed a weird amount of homestuck/dr crossover in my searches, so that totally makes sense! Hell, my first exposure to DR on tumblr was a homestuck blog I followed back in 2017/2018ish (for the artstyle, I haven't read homestuck) that also posted a lot about Kazuichi. That's super cool!

While I feel like today, there is at least a little bit of fondness (even if it is a little ironic) for superwholock days, I see very little talk of homestuck. And when I do, it is usually with the same flavour of "Wow that fandom was so crazy" as old-DR.

I think there is usually this reactionary retrospective on site-wide popular fandoms to some degree after they start to wane in size. I saw it when I was in the TMA fandom. That thing was a monster, and over all I felt more stressed there than I ever feel now with DR. And after it ended, and really even During those last few episodes, you could feel a level of distaste for the piece of media growing. Although it never really reached critical mass like DR.

Maybe its even more apparent with something like Steven Universe- when it was actively coming out there was so much disdain for it (from some people) and for the fandom. I was there, on the sidelines, but I saw it all and it wasn't fun. But after its finale and a couple years of silence, people now seem to have come around and realized, whoa, so much about all that discourse was way overblown. I feel like a couple years ago there could still have been this sense of "cringe" posting about steven universe, while today its a lot more neutral.

Of course, it's kind of weird to compare DR and SU, and the nature of outside of fandom perspectives on them is not the same. The level of disdain for people posting SU never reached the point of DR either. But if it's anything to go by, I feel like there is hope eventually for people to stop having an immediate knee-jerk reaction to it. To look back and realize, "hey, that was actually pretty good," or "I didn't really appreciate this the first time." Or even just "It's fine actually to have nuanced take on this piece of media I don't like that concludes with them still liking it." I feel like we already got a mini-version of that in 2020, but since that's when I joined I can't speak too much on it.

Small tangent aside, I really appreciate this. I also hope people can come back around to it, or at least appreciate that it made them or other people happy at the time c:

[overthattwilight]

Tokyo Game Show Layton schedules

So Level-5's TGS schedule has been announced on their website. And the time table is this

There are 3 Professor Layton related schedules, and here is what there are

(Note: I might have made mistranslations. Please tell if there is something wrong in the post)

https://x.com/L5_layton/status/1701906672174923930?s=20

First one is called "How to make a memorable mystery game", with Akihiro Hino, and Kazutaka Kodaka as the guest. Kazutaka Kodaka is known for the Danganronpa series, and his recent known game is RAINCODE

The two creators will be having a conversation, and will be taking deep concersation about each's mystery game

The schedule would be Sep 23rd, 12:45~13:25 JST

https://x.com/L5_layton/status/1701907042557145482?s=20

Second one is called "Professor Layton explaination special", with Fujikawa Q from Famitsu as the guest

Fujikawa Q says he's a great fan of the Layton series and would be talking about the charms of Professor Layton in a form of a quiz. Both visitors, and viewers to participate in this

The schedule would be Sep 24th, 10:30~11:00 JST

https://x.com/L5_layton/status/1701907937302855704?s=20

Finally, there is "Professor Layton x QuizKnock Puzzle Stage", with Kurari P and Masaaki Yamamoto from QuizKnock as the guests

QuizKnock has participated in Professor Layton and the New World of Steam to develop the puzzles. Visitors and Viewers can participate in this stage

Also, it says there might be a "Must see as a Layton fan" new video revealed. Now isn't this an interesting info?

The schedule would be Sep 24th, 12:35~13:10 JST

Hope this post helps to have grasp of the Professor Layton related schedules in this Tokyo Game Show

[studentofetherium]

okay so my thoughts on the Off and Monster Seasons thing

it's interesting that they're announcing these together as one block, even going so far as sharing a title. it makes me curious how it's going to be adapted, because there's definitely enough material in Off Season for a two cour adaptation, and even more in Monster Season. the PV they released is focused entirely on the Off Season cast, so it's probably just going to be multiple seasons, but i wouldn't be surprised if there was something weird going on. still think it would be funny if they went for the Danganronpa 3 chaos option

the announcement video on youtube was going through all of Monogatari's anime, but interestingly, it had Hana in the novel order, but later kept Koyomi in the anime order

re-use of the old soundtrack. not sure if that's because they got Satoru Kosaki back (he would've been around to be working on the new soundtrack for Kizu, so it's possible) or if it was just because it was recognizable. i think Kosaki coming back is more likely than Kei Haneoka, since he's been busy ever since Monogatari ended

now let's talk about the poster

once again, i find it remarkable that the name is "Off and Monster Season". no other season was formatted like this, which really makes me curious why

2024! we don't have to wait long for this. if i had to guess, since i'm not seeing a more specific date, it'll air in the fall

the text on the side of the poster reads "Monogatari series restart". they're making a point of the hiatus the series has had since 2018/2019

the actual poster: in order, we see Nadeko, Tsukihi, Mayoi, Suruga, and Yotsugi

Nadeko makes sense. promising tease for Nademonogatari, but the notebook also ties a bit into Tsukihi Undo. the new short hair design is great and i'm really excited to see more of it

next to her we have Tsukihi, and again, Tsukihi Undo. i really like her new design! i always liked her school uniform, but this new hairstyle really compliments it. looking forward to her becoming a magical girl

Mayoi doesn't actually have an arc of her own in Off Season, but she does appear in, once again, Tsukihi Undo. her appearance is the oddest here, but i'll get to that

Suruga! still in her school uniform, since she's now only a senior, but oddly, she still has her arm in the bandages. her Off Season arc, Suruga Bonehead, takes place solidly after Hana, and the key art she had for the arc in the novel had her with both arms uncovered, so i'm not sure what's up with that. it might just be that since this is going for "Monogatari's big return" they went for her most recognizable design

and then Yotsugi all the way at the top, the secret protagonist of Tsukihi Undo

so the conclusion i reach is that this is mostly focused on Tsukihi Undo, with three of the five characters being on here to represent that. Nadeko also makes an appearance in the arc, so Suruga is the odd one out, but Suruga is here for her own arc. this poster is very Wazamonogatari-heavy, but if that's where they were going for, then leaving Sodachi off feels very intentional. her arc has her disconnected from the rest of the cast, for the most part, so it could be intentional, or it could be because they have a big design shift for her in mind that they want to save for closer to when the anime airs properly. either way, this really only gives us some basic insight. Nadeko and Tsukihi are the two characters with new designs, and the rest are more of a "here's the other characters you also know". it's possible they didn't want to overload audiences with a bunch of redesigns all at once

on the website for Off and Monster Season, we have a credits list:

Shaft are credited as animation work, naturally

Akio Watanabe is returning for character designs, as is quite apparent from the visual

Fuyashi Tou is credited for Series Composition, along with Akiyuki Shinbo. Fuyashi Tou is a pseudonym used at Shaft, and has been credited on a wide variety of their works, including every installment of Monogatari. Shinbo is slightly more of a real person, so this seems to be about the same as the original series was!

the real interesting thing to me: the director. this was something i was very excited to see, and i wasn't disappointed. it's not Oishi, and it's not Itamura. Monogatari is getting its third series director, Midori Yoshizawa. Yoshizawa is a bit of a new name to Shaft, overall, having started working as an animator around the days of Hana, but she quickly rose through the ranks and was credited as an episode director during Owarimonogatari, specifically for the second episode (you know, the Sodachi one, with all the colors and the stabbing and the hate? very promising for where Sodachi Fiasco is going). she steadily did more and more at the studio, to the point of being the assistant director for the second and third seasons of the MagiReco anime. but! this is her first time as series director! so it's a debuting director taking the lead. looking over her credits, i'm definitely confident in her ability to handle this series

oh and Shinbo is also credited as director. lol

there's some weird stuff here, like Suruga being in her old design, or the lack of Sodachi, or the name, but overall, i'm quite excited for where this is all going. more Monogatari is good no matter what, but even better for it to be promising. i look forward to what Yoshizawa can bring to the series, and i look forward to seeing Off and Monster Seasons adapted!!!