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danganronpasurvivoraskblog · 2 months ago

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Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - Number 9: Danganronpa Another Case 6

//When I got to ordering this list, it honestly surprised me just how much I liked the ending to the original Danganronpa Another Despair Academy.

//Up until now, I've talked about all of the game ending trials with only one more to go, and so far, my opinions of them have ranged from catastrophically bad to "eh, it's alright."

//While not my top ending, this one still deserves a lot of credit. Mainly in the way it wraps up all the mysteries of the school, while also delivering an emotional punch to the face. Narratively, it's very well handled, but it still falls a little flat purely because of some contrivances contained within it.

//Which makes it all the harder to defend because I've seen that quite a few people are REALLY not on board with this ending. And trust me, I get why, but what are problems for you might not necessarily be problems for me, and if they are, then maybe I think about them differently in ways that I feel they're justifiable.

//I'm pretty sure that this is the trial that most of us have been anxiously waiting for me to cover, because I have drawn reference from it in almost every other Another trial that I have covered on the list so far, especially in regards to its masterminds, and finally, we are here.

//But let's go beat by beat, and let's start by explaining the full circumstances behind DRA1's Killing Game, as revealed in this chapter and trial. Sit down, because you're gonna spend the next hour hearing me lecture plot at you:

//As fans of the Danganronpa series know all too well, the franchise loves its convoluted plots, memory-erasing shenanigans, and high-stakes death games. Most of the action revolves around the antics of Class 77-B, who become the future Ultimate Despair, and Class 78-A, the unlucky stars of the first game, at Hope’s Peak Academy. These two groups are iconic for their tragic descents into despair and their respective experiences in nightmarish killing games.

//But Another Despair Academy takes a sharp turn, veering off into an entirely different story by introducing the stragglers: Class 79, the underclassmen of the Danganronpa 1 cast.

//Now, if you think this is going to be a copy-paste of Makoto and friends losing consciousness in the entrance hall, only to wake up trapped in a killing game with zero memories...

//Well, you’re right...

//But also spectacularly wrong. Class 79’s situation spirals into its own unique, chaotic mess.

//The story begins with Class 79 arriving for their first day at Hope’s Peak Academy. Or so they think. Like their predecessors, they lose consciousness right in the middle of the entrance hall, and wake up to find themselves trapped inside the school, with the only way out being to kill a fellow student and get away with the crime in the Class Trial.

//It's revealed in this trial that they’ve already been attending Hope’s Peak for months. As with Class 78, their memories have been wiped clean by the Killing Game’s resident neuroscientists.

//By the time Class 79 arrived at Hope’s Peak, the Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History was already in full swing. Junko was busy doing what she does best: wreaking havoc, brainwashing Reserve Course students, and sowing chaos.

//This is where Yamato Kisaragi, a student in Class 79 and an early candidate for “guy-who-tried-his-best-but-still-failed-spectacularly," award comes in.

//Yamato realized something was very wrong at Hope’s Peak. Instead of sticking around to figure it out, he decided the best thing to do first was to evacuate his classmates to safety.

//This "safety," however, turned out to be a secluded Kisaragi Foundation research lab on a remote island. And because nothing in Danganronpa ever goes according to plan, things quickly went south.

//Unbeknownst to Yamato, and in an eerily similar fashion to Junko Enoshima and Mukuro Ikusaba, two of his classmates were secret agents of Despair. These double agents infiltrated the lab, and what followed was a slow, methodical takedown of the rest of the group. Even Tsurugi, the group’s resident justice fanatic, couldn’t escape their grasp, despite holding out with a head-to-head confrontation.

//As tradition demands, the survivors had their memories wiped courtesy of Junko and Yasuke Matsuda’s patented "Forget Everything and Suffer" operation.

//But Here’s where the plot gets spicy: Class 79’s killing game wasn’t just another tragedy...it was the FIRST killing game.

//Junko orchestrated this bloody rehearsal to test the waters before unleashing her masterpiece with Class 78. Think of it as a twisted trial run for Despair Incorporated.

//To sell the illusion, the traitors and masterminds behind the operation even erased their own memories and remodeled the lab into a replica of Hope’s Peak Academy. The result? Class 79, now brainwashed, believed they were still attending school while being forced to participate in the experiment.

//This final trial reveals that the masterminds behind this disaster were the Ultimate Maid, Akane Taira, and an undercover Despair bigwig hiding among the survivors. Akane, regaining her memories before the final trial, takes on the role of the main villain and sets the stage for the grand finale.

//She scattered clues around the facility, leading the survivors to believe that solving the Killing Game’s mysteries in a class trial would secure their escape.

//The game’s protagonist, Yuki Maeda, has a rough time during all this. Thanks to some memory manipulation quirks, he keeps experiencing random flashes of how the Killing Game worked, which only adds to the chaos. During the final class trial, the surviving quartet, Yuki, Rei, Tsurugi, and Teruya, unravel most of the game’s secrets.

//Just when things seemed to be wrapping up nicely, Akane dropped the ultimate bombshell: the true mastermind wasn’t her. It was one of them.

//Cue the panic. The survivors scrambled to prove their innocence by recounting their lives, but Yuki hits a wall...literally.

//He can't remember anything about his past, not even his own mother’s name. Things go from bad to worse as Yuki’s headaches intensify, and he suddenly finds himself inside his own mind space. Here, he was presented with two choices: embrace Hope or give in to Despair.

//In the canonical ending, Yuki recovers all his memories, but his current persona vanishes, and his true identity emerges: Utsuro, an Ultimate Despair with godlike Divine Luck and a spot on Junko’s VIP list.

//As Utsuro, Yuki’s transformation reveals the depths of Junko’s machinations and sets the stage for everything to come.

//And there you have it: Danganronpa Another Despair Academy. It’s a prequel, a sequel, and a rehearsal all rolled into one. Now where do we start unpacking this?

//First of all, A-6's investigation is generally pretty solid. Similar to 1-6, it does, for the most part, feel like you're solving a mystery. However, the way it's executed is different from it in a good and a bad way.

//For one, the trial is still ultimately Akane lecturing you on everything that's happened, and all you're really doing is finding the clues that she on purposefully placed in the academy. So it's not just a matter of you finding the proof that was already there, it's basically just Akane planting them, and you're going on an easter egg hunt, which kind of takes away from the sense of accomplishment.

//But what I think balances that out is the fact that Akane genuinely gets ANGRY if you don't do as you're told and solve the mystery. And honestly, with how painstakingly obvious all the clues are, I totally understand that. She genuinely gets pissed when no one recognizes the fact that Yamato's diary referred to the Masterminds in plural, and she's the one who has to say "Jesus Christ, there's an S at the end of these words, what part of there being more than one of us are you not getting!?"

//Of course, the real reason why she's so frustrated is because she put the clues down to coax Utsuro out of Yuki. I just think it's funny, but it also really reinforces that everyone in this trial is just...really dumbed down so that it feels like Akane is in control the whole time. Akane herself is great, and she does feel like she towers over the others in terms of status for this trial, and the fact that the investigation is directly managed by her reinforces this.

//But at the same time, everyone who has made it to the end of this game is decently smart, except Teruya really, but it feels like the investigative skills they've all shown through the game don't even apply here. Even Teruya somehow feels as dumb as he's ever been here, because he's the one who has to ask the questions so that the other characters can explain things to him, and by extention, the player.

//And for what it's worth, the characterization for these characters in this final trial is generally fantastic despite this.

//ESPECIALLY Rei.

//This is just my personal bias really, but I think this trial and the way that Rei reacts to the fact that not all of them are going to make it out together is kind of heart-wrenching.

//The way that she breaks down and reveals her true feelings doesn't feel unnatural either. Throughout the whole game, through every class trial we go through, Rei becomes gradually more and more not okay with everything that's going on. And this just feels like the final nail in what is a slowly building coffin for her.

//I think what I like about this final trial is that this feels like the kind of death game ending that Uchikoshi would think up. It kind of ticks all the boxes for this genre.

//For one, it's the only one of the five main games to have a very prominent good and bad ending. Like the bad ending to the first Danganronpa game, it's pretty sudden, but I think it's way more impactful and way less...strange.

//Okay, so the whole point of DR1's bad ending was to be discreetly unsettling. But the bad ending of the original Another is far more...I guess poignant would be the best word.

//And no, I don't mean that in the sense that Yuki gets a claw run through his chest.

//At the end of the trial, when Akane urges everyone to figure out who the Mastermind is, and Yuki starts to bluescreen because he realizes that he knows nothing about himself, you are given two choices. You can either go through a white door, or a black door that forms in Yuki's mind.

//Going through the black door unlocks the true ending where Yuki reverts back into Utsuro, but if you go through the white door, he regains all of Utsuro’s memories, including the weight of his past atrocities and the existential despair that led to his identity crisis, but ultimately still remains Yuki Maeda

//Akane, as you can imagine, is furious over the experiment’s failure, but her rage doesn't come from a villainous origin so much as it does her desperation to save her beloved Utsuro, highlighting her complex, misguided loyalty to him. And when she realizes Utsuro had lost the will to live long before the Killing Game, her heartbreak drives her to end Yuki’s life, leaving his existence as both Utsuro and Yuki unresolved.

//And the last thing that Yuki hears as fades away are her tears.

//Can you see how that's already so much better than 1-5's bad ending!?

//This ending works well because it encapsulates the despair that defines the Danganronpa series. The stark contrast between Akane’s rage and her eventual sorrow adds depth to her character, showing her as more than a villain. It shows off the tragic figure that she was before she became a Despair, trying to hold onto the only one she ever cared for.

//It's just so incredibly creative that the ending where Yuki retains his personality and stays as himself is the "Bad Ending" while the one that he reverts back to Utsuro is the "True Ending."

//Because even though Yuki turns back into Utsuro, he's STILL the protagonist of the game, so the fact that he returns, and manages to kill off most of the students in the killing game IS HIS GOOD ENDING! He ACHIEVED his goal, and Akane achieves hers at bringing him back.

//It's just...SO genius!

//If I have any problems with the fact that Utsuro comes back, it's...I won't say it's bad, but it's conflicting that after he reappears, Yuki is basically just GONE!

//You've spent the whole game playing as this character, and while it's awesome that this is how it happened, Yuki effectively dies when Utsuro pops out again, and this is how his story ends.

//He just completely disappears until he gets resurected in SDRA2. Which ironically gives him a happy ending at long last and after all this, dear god he deserved it.

//Anyway, I kind of want to go through all these points in order as I can, so the next thing I want to talk about, and something that I kind of HAVE to talk about, is the huge flashback sequence that happens in this chapter.

//Before Yuki makes his choice to choose between Yuki and Utsuro, there's a lengthy scene that shows the events that unfolded with Yamato's evacuation, and how it actually happened, as well as how Utsuro and Akane subdued the rest of the students.

//It's...pretty long, and kind of doesn't need to be, but it's still interesting to watch. Especially in the sheer parallel between Mikako and Yuki.

//Ironically, Mikako is this bright and bubbly person who believes in people to a fault, while Yuki, or Utsuro, is just deep in thought, quiet, and doesn't speak to people. Meanwhile, both these personalities are completely flipped on their head when they actually meet in the Killing Game.

//The flashback sequence offers a glimpse into how the students interacted before their memories were erased. Unlike most games, where we meet characters already thrust into the despair-filled chaos of a killing game, this sequence peels back the layers to show their pre-tragedy lives and relationships.

//While Danganronpa 3: Despair Arc did something similar with Class 77, the focus there was more on Junko and Izuru’s rise to infamy, leaving the classmates as a supporting cast. Here, however, the spotlight is firmly on Class 79, making the flashbacks feel more personal and impactful.

//What makes these moments so intriguing is the contrast between the tense, fractured dynamics during the killing game and the warmer, more natural bonds we see in their past.

//During the game, it’s clear that trust is a luxury none of them can afford. Nobody truly feels like "friends." But in the flashbacks, when their memories are intact and their relationships less strained, you see glimpses of a group that could have grown into something special.

//Some standout moments include Kisaragi’s growing suspicion of Akane and Utsuro, which are ultimately undermined by Mikako’s misplaced trust in them.

//Seeing Mikako and Yamato as their true selves, unburdened by the effects of Yamato’s infamous retention machine, is a bittersweet reminder of the personalities they lost along the way.

//And then there’s Yuki, eerily silent as chaos unfolds around him, his passive demeanor from his own POV hinting at the dark truth of his identity.

//The truck sequence, where the classmates use their talents to defend themselves against Monokumas, is a real highlight. It showcases how each character reacts to the crumbling world around them, offering flashes of growth and camaraderie even in the midst of destruction. Even characters like Mitch and Kizuna, who we've already established as the bad eggs of the group, get their moments to shine, proving that they’re more than just walking red flags. There’s an underlying sense of tragedy in seeing the potential for all of these characters to become better versions of themselves, only for it to be snatched away.

//The key takeaway from this flashback is the strength these students draw from their bond with one another. They may not have reached the tight-knit unity of Class 77, but there’s a budding sense of a dysfunctional family forming among them.

//The killing game’s ultimate purpose, to strip them of that foundation, becomes all the more devastating in this context. By showing us what these students could have been, the flashback adds layers of depth and heartbreak, turning what could have been a simple backstory into a critical, character-driven tragedy. It’s the kind of storytelling that Danganronpa excels at, giving you just enough hope to make the despair hit that much harder.

//And speaking of flashbacks, as I already said, this game is actually a fanmade prequel to the entire Danganronpa series.

//I largely think the reason why LINUJ made the DRA series part of the same timeline as Danganronpa's is ultimately to play it safe. As one of the first big fangans, you already know the stakes as a player, and there's already established lore that you can work around. Ultimately, Utsuro and Akane do get tied back to Junko in this way, and the game itself is a prelude to the killing game that happens in Trigger Happy Havoc.

//A means of the Ultimate Despair testing the waters, if you will.

//These days, Fanganronpa games and series often choose to distance themselves from the Hope’s Peak timeline for a variety of reasons, with the primary one being creative freedom. The Hope’s Peak saga is rich with lore and intricate connections between its characters, but that complexity can also be restrictive.

//By creating entirely new timelines or settings, creators free themselves from the constraints of canon events, allowing them to explore unique storylines, characters, and themes without being tethered to established lore.

//This freedom enables creators to reimagine the series in fresh ways while still adhering to its core mechanics, such as the killing game and class trials.

//Also, unlike how this game seems to do it decently well, integrating their stories into such a tightly knit narrative without contradicting canon is insanely difficult.

//The Danganronpa series has a detailed timeline that spans decades, involving global events like the Tragedy and the rise of Ultimate Despair. Trying to slot a new killing game or set of characters into this timeline risks creating inconsistencies with established events. So instead, many creators opt for alternate timelines or settings, where they can craft original stories without the burden of reconciling their narrative with the complex events of Hope’s Peak.

//So people tend to really not like Fanganronpa's that tie into the Hope's Peak saga an awful lot. I already know a few of you who have admitted as much to me yourselves.

//However...I'm actually going to have to disagree with you.

//I'm not going to claim that a Fangan that takes place within the original timeline is better than one that doesn't, but I don't think they deserve to be looked down upon as a result of it.

//Granted, Another 2 seperates itself from the main timeline to branch off what LINUJ established in the first game, but Another 1, demonstrates that fanmade games can still take place within the Hope��s Peak timeline effectively.

//Another 1 acts as a prequel to the first Danganronpa game, leveraging the established world-building while adding its own layer of storytelling, which I think was the most creative approach to go about it.

//It's equally risky, but it works because it respects the existing lore while expanding on lesser-explored areas, such as the potential underclassmen of the original game, and their relationship to the overarching story of Hope’s Peak and the Tragedy.

//Most people would say that a safer approach to go would be to make a Killing Game that takes place after the series, like...

//Well...THE AFTER...

//But what makes Another 1 particularly successful is its ability to add new dimensions to the established timeline without overshadowing or contradicting the original story, even though it's really easy to add a detail that probably doesn't make sense in the main game's context.

//By simply presenting the 79th Class as precursors to the killing game experiments seen in the main series, it provides a unique perspective on Junko’s machinations and the broader impact of despair. It explores a fresh angle while still respecting the core themes and structure of the Danganronpa universe.

//Additionally, Another proves that stories set in the Hope’s Peak timeline can enrich the series by answering lingering questions or providing new insights into established events. For instance, it delves into the psychological effects of memory erasure and examines how the killing game concept was developed and refined.

//Ultimately, while many fanmade games choose to break away from the Hope’s Peak timeline for creative freedom, Another 1 stands as an example of how a well-crafted story can thrive within those boundaries. It demonstrates that even in a world as intricately detailed as Danganronpa’s, there’s room for new narratives that honor the source material while offering something fresh.

//But it's not this concept, or the truths that are revealed necessarily, that are the highlight for me with this trial. For me, my love for this trial, and why I put it so high up on this list, comes down to two things.

//The first...are the villains.

//This is going to be what I think is definitely...a take...But it's how I genuinely feel, and it's this:

//UTSURO AND AKANE ARE THE BEST VILLAINS IN THE ENTIRE SERIES!

//Genuinely, I was so excited to get to this trial PURELY because it means I get to rant and rave about how these two are FUCKING EXCELLENT! Not only are they portrayed as incredibly diabolical, but engaging antagonists in the game, but they leave such an astounding legacy across the Another series, and are well-rooted into it thanks to their backstories.

//Akane, on her own, is handled PHENOMENALLY well. The sheer fact that she is effectively this game's Deutragonist, as well as having such critical moments of frienship and potentially sexual tension with Yuki, really rides home the fact that she was one of the Masterminds behind it.

//And what's great is that LINUJ doesn't even make it obvious. Akane has such a compelling character arc throughout the game that really blindsides you to how she really is as a character.

//In Chapter 2, things take a dark turn for Akane. One night, she’s called to the Switchium by Kizuna, who tries to rope her into a plan to kill Yuki. Akane outright refuses, but Kizuna, desperate, attacks her. In the scuffle, and because it’s pitch-black, Akane accidentally stabs Kizuna. Shocked, she flees with blood on her hands, only to be seen by Ayame. To protect Akane from being executed, Ayame kills Kizuna instead. However, this selfless act seals Ayame’s fate, and she is executed.

//Akane is deeply traumatized, falling into a state of shell shock after Ayame's execution. The day after, the students investigate newly unlocked areas, but Akane isolates herself, refusing even Yuki’s attempts to comfort her. When she finally rejoins the group for breakfast the next day, she barely speaks, only murmuring Ayame’s name in a broken voice when someone mentions her.

//Things worsen when Monokuma reveals the third motive: personalized videos designed to provoke the students by showing them their desires. The videos are shown in a private, soundproof room, and students are forbidden from discussing the contents. Akane’s video, cruelly tailored, features Ayame blaming her for her death.

//This sends her over the edge. By the time the viewing session ends, Akane snaps out of her daze, screaming and running out of the gym. The others speculate her reaction was tied to the motive video and go looking for her, eventually finding her in her dorm room.

//The next day, Akane’s despair culminates in a suicide attempt. She’s discovered by Haruhiko, Satsuki, Teruya, Mikako, and Yuki, covered in blood and muttering about needing to join Ayame. Mikako steps in to calm her, offering reassurance and trying to remind Akane of her worth.

//This, coupled with the fact that Tsurugi spends all of the game after Chapter 2 refusing to let Akane live down what she did, and probably trying to STEER her towards this suicide attempt, leads to a long-running character arc that really keeps you hooked on Akane T. and her relationship with Yuki.

//The only other Mastermind who hides as part of the main group for the whole game is Tsumugi Shirogane, and as we've already said about a dozen times already, she's so pointless as a character throughout all of V3 that it ultimately means when she finally is revealed to be the Mastermind, nobody fucking cares.

//But this character is effectively your BEST FRIEND, possibly your love interest! Imagine being in Yuki's shoes for THAT revelation!

//But what makes Akane so bloody fantastic is that her being revealed as the Mastermind...DOESN'T WASTE THIS!

//As I've already said, Akane does cry when Yuki dies in the Bad Ending, which already shows a far more human side than the likes of Junko or the others.

//After Utsuro reveals the harsh truth about their families, sending Rei, Teruya, and Tsurugi spiraling into despair, he orders a group of Monokumas to finish them off. However, when the Monokumas close in, Akane unexpectedly turns against Utsuro, destroying the Monokumas with sheer force and disobeying his commands. Furious at her defiance, Utsuro orders Akane’s death as well.

//Just as all seems lost, the monitor broadcasting Monokuma’s presence is suddenly hijacked by an Alter Ego of Yamato. Yamato’s hopeful message reignites the trio’s will to fight, and they rally to confront Utsuro.

//As a Monokuma charges toward Rei, Akane throws herself in front of it, taking a deep slash to her side to protect her. When the facility's self-destruct sequence is triggered, Akane urges the trio to escape, choosing to remain behind with Utsuro.

//In their final moments together, Akane reveals to Utsuro why she defied him. She confesses that she heard Ayame’s voice in her head, reminding her of the person she truly was. Acting on that voice, Akane chose to reclaim her humanity and protect others, even at the cost of her life.

//What simply makes Akane such a fundamental and amazing character in this game is that unlike the rest of LINUJ's characters, she just never stops growing or developing as a person. And when you look at her backstory, and how she was an orphan who was saved by Utsuro, and swore undying loyalty to him, you kind of see how it works out.

//In reality, the Akane Taira of old grew up with just Utsuro to love. But as part of the memory erasure, she made genuine friends and bonds in the Killing Game, particularly Ayame, and that had an affect on her. When she saw what was happening to the survivors, even though she knew it was part of the plan, she found herself...not liking it.

//In a way that she herself couldn't explain, and before she knew it, she had acted on that doubt and turned against the one person she was faithful to.

//I just...GOD I love it!

//Akane is such a good Mastermind and villain compared to the other villains in Danganronpa because she feels like such a human by comparison. As far as the characters in this game are, she's written exceedingly well, and this reflects back on her brief appearances in SDRA2, and how she influences Sora in the final trial of that game.

//But of course, despite how amazing she is, Akane is ultimately the second fiddle to Utsuro in the same vein as Mukuro is to Junko. So we need to talk about him as well, and you might be wondering what do I actually think of Utsuro as a villain?

//Well, I really like him too!

//First of all, with Utsuro, let's not beat around the bush.

//One could argue that the twist that Yuki is the true Mastermind of the Killing Game is eerily similar to the twist that Hajime Hinata is actually Izuru Kamukura. There are very similar beats to it, namely that Utsuro and Izuru themselves seem devoid of any personality, ally themselves with Junko, and are beings up nigh unstoppable and ridiculous power, respectively with Divine Luck and Ultimate Hope.

//And you know what? I will concede with this. And I have said before that one of DRA's most controversial issues is that it copies/borrows a lot from the games that preceded it, due to LINUJ playing it safe with his Fangan.

//However, fundamentally, I actually think Utsuro ticks all the boxes for a stoic, overpowered antagonist that Izuru failed to tick for me. And I can boil it down into just one comparison:

//Utsuro is a character.

//Izuru...is a plot device.

//As much love as I do tend to show Izuru, I like him really as a concept, and for his role in the story. He exists for two reasons: to explain why Hajime is involved in the plot of DR2 despite being a Reserve student, and to show the moral corruption of Hope's Peak Academy and how Junko used it against them to end the world.

//Izuru’s design as the "Ultimate Hope" who possesses every ultimate talent makes him excessively powerful. This diminishes tension in the story because he lacks significant personal challenges or growth, he's essentially perfect at everything.

//And similarly, Utsuro's ability of Divine Luck, and the way people tried to exploit that from him is very similar. However, by comparison, Izuru doesn't evolve meaningfully as a character.

//While this reflects his existential ennui, it results in a static portrayal. Even when he appears in Danganronpa 2 and Danganronpa 3, he serves more as a plot device than a dynamic character.

//A tool to drive the story forward rather than a fully fleshed-out personality. His role is more about being a catalyst for Despair by creating the Tragedy and assisting Junko rather than a nuanced individual with his own compelling motivations.

//The big issue with creating this type of character is the concept of someone burdened by perfection and robbed of humanity is interesting, but it’s not explored deeply enough. This is something that I mainly do with his role in DR Survivor, but Izuru could have been used to explore themes like individuality, the value of imperfection, or rebellion against societal expectations. Instead, his apathy dominates his characterization, leaving these themes underdeveloped.

//But while Izuru fails to do that...Utsuro succeeds.

//Utsuro only appears twice in the series. He appears for the first time in this trial, and is present for the whole second half until the end, and then he shows up in the final chapter of SDRA2, where he's there, and has some good dialogue, but isn't as interesting as he is here.

//But somehow, not counting DR3, that's more screentime than Izuru ever gets, and really good things are done with it.

//For starters, yes, he's equally as stoic, and his facial expression rarely ever changes, but Utsuro has far more personality than Izuru. And on top of that, he is far more of an antagonist.

//I think largely the reason why this is is because Izuru had his personality taken out of him physically, but Utsuro fell into it naturally as a result of his abilities.

//Additionally, and this may ultimately be my personal opinion, I like Utsuro more than I like Yuki. At least more than I liked Yuki in the first game. I most assuredly, 1000% do NOT like Izuru more than I like Hajime.

//Hajime's journey of self-discovery, insecurity, and growth throughout Danganronpa 2 makes him one of the best characters in the franchise, but Yuki feels like such an everyman by comparison that it's hard to be as compelled by him. No disrespect to Yuki, of course, it's just that it's only when he vanished from the story, and was outed to secretly be the mastermind is when things got really interesting.

//In relation to that, the key difference between Izuru and Utsuro's origins is that while both of them undergo personality shifts and loss of memories, Utsuro was the ORIGINAL personality.

//Now, I still like Izuru's backstory more because the story of how Hajime fell into his slump after repeated mental abuse is fascinating to me (I'm not approving of it obviously, but still) but for Utsuro, it's his story from start to finish, instead of how Izuru just ends up as the unfortunate end product, then Junko steps in and is like "Quit your job, join my edgy high school boy band."

//(I say "boy band" most of the villains in this series are women, but...you get what I mean...)

//To recap, Utsuro was originally born into a loving family and had a happy early life born with a blessed power called "Divine Luck," "Divine Fortune," or "Heavenly Luck," depending on your translation.

//Utsuro possesses a unique ability tied to fortune, allowing him to bring anything he desires into reality and spread good luck to those around him. His power is absolute, and whatever he wills will simply happen. For instance, Tsurugi survives a gunshot to the head in the previous chapter solely because Utsuro (as Yuki) wished for him to live. Similarly, his extraordinary luck reshaped his appearance to perfectly resemble the real Yuki Maeda, aiding his deception.

//However, his parents soon discovered his supernatural luck and began exploiting him to satisfy their greed. This realization left Utsuro miserable, and while he eventually gained control over his luck, it came with an unusual caveat: his abilities bypassed the natural process of achieving things.

//For instance, he could ace a math test without ever learning math, or instantly become an expert in machines just by thinking about it. This effortless success robbed him of any sense of fulfillment or purpose, leaving him disillusioned and bored with life.

//Gee...doesn't THAT sound familiar...!?

//Frustrated, Utsuro ran away from home and survived on his own, using his luck to navigate life on the streets. Along the way, he helped many people, including Akane Taira and the members of VOID (Nikei, Iroha, Hajime M. Emma, and Mikado). However, his acts of kindness weren’t out of genuine altruism; they were simply things he thought he should do. Over time, even good deeds lost their appeal, and Utsuro became apathetic to everything. Repeated attempts at suicide failed, as his luck always intervened to save him.

//Eventually, Utsuro crossed paths with Junko Enoshima, who introduced him to something he hadn’t felt in a long time: Despair. A negative sensation, but the only one that he had felt in a long time.

//Fascinated, he began following her lead, assisting in her plans for Ultimate Despair. Utsuro masterminded Class 79’s Killing Game, which he orchestrated at Junko’s request as a precursor to her own.

//To infiltrate Hope’s Peak Academy, Utsuro kidnapped the real Yuki Maeda and assumed his identity. As part of this plan, his memories were altered at the start of the killing game to ensure he blended in seamlessly with the other participants.

//First of all, what makes this so interesting to me is that this answers a question of why people still rally behind Junko despite the fact that she's not shy about killing her allies, and is absolutely the worst person on earth to ever live.

//This. This is why.

//Because unfortunately, there are people out there in the world of Danganronpa who are just like Junko. Utsuro, Izuru, and Junko all fell into Despair and became some of the most dangerous people in the world because they all share a similar pain.

//Izuru was born with the power to do anything; Utsuro was born with the power to make anything; and Junko was born with the power to estimate and predict anything with 100% accuracy. As a result of this,

//They were all born too powerful. They were born with abilities that made life easy for them, regardless of what they were doing, and as a result, they all quickly became...bored.

//This is why all of them, even fucking JUNKO, are somewhat sympathetic as villains. Izuru was the only one of them who got any kind of look into the light, which is why he ended up as a more neutral party in the end, but they were all people who were there to be exploited by others, or who had no help or anyone to bring excitement to their lives.

//The sad thing is the only reason why they cause so much pain, despair, and destruction to humanity is because it's literally the only way any of them can FEEL anything anymore. And this is why Utsuro is so compelling, because he sits on that fine line between Junko and Izuru on the Scale of Villainy.

//He's sympathetic, and someone that you feel for, but at the same time, DEAR GOD this guy is FUCKING EVIL!

//In a typical Danganronpa format, what you might expect to happen is Yuki will reveal himself, and through the power of Hope, friendship, and the other shonen anime BS that the series is famous for in its finale's, he and Taira will somehow turn around and Yuki could come back.

//While Akane does see the light and try to comply to the power of Hope, Utsuro makes it abundantly clear to all of them that there's no going back for him. And this, for me at least, is my FAVOURITE PART of ANY of these class trials, at least of the one's in Another 1.

//You can kind of see me replicate this in ReProgrammed, but this final Non-Stop Debate is single-handedly the best thing I've ever had to do in a Class Trial for this series of games. See, what makes the final twist with Utsuro so awesome is that even after Yuki is repressed back into Utsuro, the perspective DOESN'T CHANGE!

//You'd expect maybe the protag view could switch to Akane like it briefly does in Trial 5, maybe to Tsurugi or someone, but no. In a way that eerily mirrors the final NSD of Danganronpa 1, you play as UTSURO, and your goal is to plunge the remaining Survivors into DESPAIR, instead of "planting your seeds of Hope to overcome Despair."

//And by GOD does Utsuro do this in the most fucked up, but entertaining way possible!

//Utsuro reveals harsh truths about their loved ones to drive the remaining trio into Despair. To Tsurugi, he explains that the leader of the Despair External Agents was none other than his father, Juu Kinjo. After mistakenly believing Tsurugi had died, Juu fell into despair, becoming the catalyst for the chaos in Japan. Utsuro further reveals that Juu consumed the remains of Tsurugi's childhood friend, Sasaki Kouhei, deepening Tsurugi's anguish and plunging him into madness.

//Rei learns from Utsuro that her parents, whom she believed had abandoned her, actually loved her deeply. They had gone bankrupt trying to repay dangerous loans and arranged for her to be cared for by a relative, only to be betrayed. Left destitute, Rei ended up on the streets. When they believed Rei had died, her parents sought out Junko for answers, but Utsuro intentionally withholds their ultimate fate, leaving Rei to spiral into despair over the unknown.

//To Teruya, Utsuro reveals that the funding used to transform the lab and create the executions came from his father, Kojiro Otori. Overcome with grief after Teruya’s presumed death, Kojiro donated vast amounts of money from his business to Junko's efforts. Utsuro cruelly blames Teruya, as his supposed death indirectly enabled the horrors that befell his friends, pushing Teruya into despair.

//Bro, I'm sorry, but NO friendship speech is saving this man!

//Utsuro definitely shows his more human and victim-of-circumstance side at the end of both stories, ironically both times speaking with Akane Taira or a form OF her (Sora.) And in the end, he stays with Akane in her final moments, largely because he wanted to die himself, but he also uses his Divine Luck on her to protect her body and somewhat keep her alive, even though she ends up braindead by SDRA2.

//But I think for me, what DRA tries to convey with this finale, and what makes it so great, is a simple idea that V3 later tries to explore with its theme. And I think it's an incredibly underrated part of the Another series narrative:

//Hope and Despair are two sides of the same coin, which in turn, means they can be equally as dangerous as each other.

//If you don't understand what I mean, let me give you a short list of some of the moments that convey this idea:

Utsuro is the main character of this game, even though he guises as Yuki Maeda the whole time. Utsuro is an agent of Despair, tride and true, while in comparison, Izuru/Hajime is more of a neutral party, and the only reason Hope wins out in the end of DR2 is because Izuru intentionally leaves a caveat in the Neo World that allows it to, should the survivors choose Hope for their future.

The final Non-Stop Debate is about shooting down the Hope of the surviving trio; Rei, Tsurugi, and Teruya. Implying that Despair is the side that you should be fighting for, while Hope is the enemy.

Picking the side of Hope, where Yuki remains as Yuki, is the BAD Ending. The one where he awakens to Utsuro, and falls back into Despair is the TRUE/GOOD Ending.

Akane is still technically a member of the Ultimate Despair when she does her heel-turn and saved Rei and the others.

If you really think about it, it's Mikako's Hope that caused this entire incident. Because she held onto Hope that Utsuro and Akane were actually good people, it stopped Yamato from taking care of them before it was too late. Unlike Jin, who genuinely trusted the students out of kindness, Yamato caught onto the fact that something was up with the two, and it's only because of Mikako insisting they were good people that he didn't act on those feelings. A fatal mistake that cost them and most of their classmates their lives.

All of the killers in the game are driven by the idea of Hope that Monokuma, or other circumstances, give them, not necessarily them falling into Despair or dissaray. 1 - Mitch's motive was entirely for himself and the Hope he carried for himself. He tries to convey the idea that he's doing it for soccer, but he doesn't really care about that. He just loves himself so much that he was willing to off anyone in the game 2 - Ayame killed Kizuna as part of a sacrifice so that Akane could keep on living. She had the hope that Akane would survive the game and move on from her and the pain she feels. 3 - Kinji betrayed his religious code as a priest, and committed two brutal murders because he held hope for the orphaned children of his church. If it meant they could survive, he acted against his almighty judgement. 4 - Haru set up the scheme so that Satsuki could get out and survive on her own. But Satsuki chose not to take that out because she was too kind to sacrifice everyone else like that, and even betrayed her loved one's wishes. (Maybe this point's a bit of a stretch, but it's how I kind of feel about it.)

By the time the game ends, despite having regained his feelings and gotten his head on straight, not only does Tsurugi regress by the time the trio escape the island, but by the time SDRA2 happens, he's learned to wield Despair and evil as a weapon against greater Despair and evil. Not through the power of Hope like the Future Foundation do.

In the second game, Mikado is not defeated through the power of Hope. Instead, Sora ends his reign of terror by speaking with her memory of Akane Taira, then uses harsh facts, and her power of Divine Luck, to slowly pick Mikado's plan apart and send him squirming. This is the EXACT strategy that Junko and Tsumugi use on the final players of their games to send them into a state of disaaray and Despair, and Sora's final line in the final PTA is even the same as Utsuro's.

In relation to this, the climax of SDRA2 is literally you trying to save Utsuro. And it's largely thanks to Akane Taira speaking directly with Sora that she snaps out of her BSoD.

Neither DRA nor SDRA2 have a necessarily "happy" ending. Another ends with Rei, Teruya, and Tsurugi severely traumatized, and both Utsuro and Akane die on the island. Another 2 ends with none of the people who died in the sim coming back to life, unlike DR2, Yuki is now forced to live in Akane's body, Sora herself gets erased from reality, with no guarantee that she'll return, Syobai and Iroha remain criminal scum and on the run, and the Kisaragi Foundation remain morally corrupt.

//For me personally, it doesn't feel like the message LINUJ is trying to convey is that life is pointless and that giving up and dying is the right thing to do. Obviously, that's a horrible way to think about it, even for some of the shit he pulls.

//It's more the idea that in this kind of world, the fact that things can end on such a high note are...highly unrealistic, to say the least. And you know what? He's exactly right. The fact that most, if not all of the Danganronpa games end on such a positive note really feels like the trauma you experienced throughout the game had no lasting impact, and that rubs me the wrong way.

//The Another series really handles the everlasting consequences of the death games well, and ultimately, this theme is what solidifies this trial in my good books.

//Now, I don't want to end this on a negative note, especially since I've already spent at least 5 hours of my life talking about this damn trial, but there are two final aspects that I want to talk about regarding this trial and what's revealed in it that ultimately prevent it from being my favourite finale in the series.

//Both, in short, are plot holes and problems that I have with the ideas at play here, so crucial in fact, that I actually had to RETCON them in Survivor so that it would make sense as part of the plot.

//First and foremost is the revelation that Mikako and Yamato used a device Yamato created to resist the memory erasure, meaning that when the Killing Game happened, the both of them still had their memories. The downside was that the machines side effects made it so that Mikako couldn't talk without slowly dying, and Yamato couldn't form a comprehensive sentence.

//So even though Mikako knew what was going on, she was physically incapable of talking about it to anybody. But...If that's the case...why didn't Mikako just write down her words for everybody to read?

//In Survivor, Uchui creates a type of pill that gives the same effects of Yamato's machine to Seiko when he demands Zetsubou release her; a maneuver that means Seiko can be cured of the affliction thanks to Dr. Ando. But not only does speaking hurt her, but her hand spasms when she tries to write, making her writing unintelligable, and sign language makes her dizzy.

//I added these weaknesses to reinforce the fact that Seiko couldn't communicate in any meaningful way to the Future Foundation, but these weaknesses, as far as I'm aware, were never established with Mikako. It's even dumber when you remember that the students were literally given notebooks at the start of the game for them to write in.

//So there's really no excuse or reason given for why Mikako just didn't do that immediately. The only reason I can imagine she didn't is because she still held on for hope that Yuki and Akane could be saved from becoming Utsuro and Ultimate Despair again, but even for someone as hopeful as Mikako, surely all bets would have been off the table by the time Chapter 4 came around.

//The other issue is with Utsuro's Talent.

//Divine Luck as Utsuro’s defining ability fits snugly into the pattern of over-the-top, reality-bending powers that seem to be a staple for Danganronpa masterminds:

Junko, and by extension, her AI version, have extraordinary analytical abilities, enabling her to process information at near-superhuman speed, memorize details effortlessly, and master new skills with just brief exposure.

Izuru, as a result of Hope’s Peak Academy’s experiments, possesses every talent researched at the school, making him superhuman. His most notable abilities include superhuman analytical skills, like Junko, enhanced physical abilities, stealth expertise, extreme luck, specialised knowledge, and being adept at basically every single human function in existence.

Though more of an assistant than a Mastermind herself, Mukuro has shown to have an absolute god-like level of speed and power thanks to her abilities as the Ultimate Solder; fighting on several battlefields and never recieving a single scratch.

Monaca in UDG is a natural-born genius who possesses exceptional skills in robotics and programming, which enabled her to lead the Towa Group's Robotics Division at a remarkably young age. Her most notable creations include the Monokuma Units, the Original Monokuma, Kurokuma, and the robotic double of Miaya Gekkogahara. It’s also suggested that she designed the mechas used by the Warriors of Hope during their activities.

On top of her cosplay effectively allowing her to shapeshift into anybody she wants, Tsumugi has said she has a certain degree of control over the narrative of V3, and the plans and actions each of the characters take. To what extent, is unknown.

Mikado is a highly skilled wizard capable of executing a wide variety of magical feats. It soon becomes evident that he can perform genuine magic within the context of the killing game. Notable examples include his ability to levitate for extended periods and his frequent demonstrations of fire-based magic.

//The bad guys in this franchise tend to operate on a level that transcends normal logic. Villains in this series aren’t just evil, they’re almost comically invincible, and Utsuro is no exception.

//Luck itself isn’t new to Danganronpa, either. Makoto and Nagito have already demonstrated how this seemingly mundane talent can warp the narrative in ways that benefit them, often hilariously or dramatically so. Utsuro is essentially the ultimate culmination of this theme. He doesn’t just have luck; he IS luck incarnate.

//But while the premise of Divine Luck might seem fitting, it’s also so overwhelmingly powerful that it feels like LINUJ wrote himself into a narrative corner trying to balance it.

//The problem lies in how Divine Luck operates. Utsuro’s ability is so absolute that whatever he desires, even casually, becomes reality.

//This omnipotence creates complications in the story because it makes Utsuro more like a walking deus ex machina than a character, giving him the power to twist the plot at will. While that might work for a thematic villain, it also leaves a trail of contradictions and plot holes.

//Take Utsuro’s backstory, for example. His luck initially brought his family wealth and prosperity, but their greed eventually turned him into an object to exploit, leading to his Despair and eventual departure. But if his Divine Luck can make anything happen, wouldn’t there have been some incident that corrected their behavior? If Utsuro could subconsciously will good fortune into existence, why didn’t it influence his parents to suddenly become loving and supportive? It feels like LINUJ overlooked this while trying to portray Utsuro as an embittered wanderer detached from the world.

//Then there’s the way Divine Luck functions during the Killing Game. For instance, when Tsurugi shoots himself in the head and miraculously survives, it’s attributed to Yuki subconsciously wanting him to live. But if Yuki’s will can override the lethality of a point-blank gunshot to the brain, why didn’t his desire for everyone to escape together override the deaths of the other participants?

//Does Utsuro’s plan override Yuki’s wishes? If so, why did Yuki’s will save Tsurugi at all? It creates a weird inconsistency that undermines the stakes of the Killing Game.

//Even worse, Divine Luck threatens to undercut the dramatic tension of the story entirely. It’s essentially a catch-all explanation for any narrative contrivance, making conflicts feel cheap or pointless. This becomes especially frustrating in the case of Yamato and Mikako, whose disagreements over whether to trust Yuki and Akane could have added depth to the narrative. If Utsuro can will the Killing Game into being anyway, why bother debating faith and trust? It robs the story of meaningful struggle and makes the characters’ actions feel like window dressing against Utsuro’s godlike control.

//And above all else, what transitions the game between the end of DRA and the plot of SDRA2 is that before his death, Utsuro gives Akane Taira his power, so that he'll die while Akane's body lives, albeit in a vegetable state.

//So you mean to tell me that you can just GIVE your whole-ass power to somebody else at will!? WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DO THAT!?

//In reality, Divine Luck probably isn't perfect, and in Survivor, I do play with its weaknesses. One of the main ones is that in order for the Divine Luck to work, Yuki has to be present to trigger it. He also can only give a fraction of his power to people at any given time should they need it.

//But even I have trouble dumbing down this ability because of how manic it gets to be.

//In the end, while Divine Luck gives Utsuro a sense of grandeur and inevitability, it risks breaking the narrative by being too absolute. The stakes and conflicts lose their weight when a single character can essentially rewrite reality on a whim, and even the story’s emotional core gets lost in the shadow of Utsuro’s overwhelming power.

//It’s a classic case of a cool idea taken too far, where the mastermind’s abilities become more of a plot device than a believable, balanced element of the story.

//But even with all of those problems, it still doesn't stop this trial from being awesome as a finale, and getting into my good books.

#danganronpa survivor #danganronpa #danganronpa another 2 #sdra2 #mod talks #ranking #utsuro #yuki maeda #tsurugi kinjo #rei mekaru #teruya otori #akane taira #dangancember 2024

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