Chiaki drops numerous references to obscure retro video games (see the bottom of the Danganronpa 2 spoiler page for some of these, but only after beating the game!), while Sonia digs up references to actors and situations from 70s Japanese television shows. Monokuma often beats up Monomi with assorted attacks, most of which are references to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. Titty Typhoon, the name of the night club, was inspired by the Titty Twister bar from From Dawn Till Dusk. Like the first game, there are numerous references to bits of pop culture, Japanese or otherwise.
The tropical island not only allows for brighter, more attractive visuals, but also a greater variety of areas, including a grocery store, a movie theater,a creepy motel, an amusement park, a futuristic city, and others. The original Danganronpa used distinct color schemes to mark the different floors, but ultimately there’s only so many locales you can use in a school/prison. The setting is also much more interesting, at least visually.
He’s chaos of the worst variety, because his morals usually put him on your side, but he’s unpredictable enough that it could change at any second. He proclaims to be obsessed with the ideal of hope, and is devoted to creating situations where he thinks hope shines through. But while Byakuya was unlikeable because he was a pompous jerk, Nagito is unlikeable because he is flat out crazy. Like Byakuya, he’s incredibly intelligent, often leading everyone else in the right direction during trials. Nagito, the Ultimate Lucky Student, is one of the most important factors of the game.
The parallels are not lazy storytelling, but are meant to intentionall subvert the expectations of the player, leading them up to one conclusion then swinging in another direction. Overtly ruffian Nekomaru Nidai might seem like gang member Mondo, except he’s also always talking about taking a dump. Hiyoko Saionji is a bit like Celeste in that her cutesy demeanor hides a nasty attitude, but her overt meanness is exaggerated even further. Chiaki Nanami’s soft spoken attitude is similar to Kyoko, except she routinely drops references to obscure retro games in her conversations.
There are definitely some similarities between some of the students, but their personalities are more fleshed out, and in many cases, much more ridiculous.Īkane Owari is similar to Aoi in that she’s an athlete with dark skin and an ample bosom, but her love of food is taken to much more comical extremes, and she’s much louder and more active. Though playing the first game is mandatory, the second game is easily the superior one, and this lies primarily with the characters. As the game continues, it eventually reveals and expands upon all of the dangling threads left as cliffhangers. Storyline details that were huge plot twists in the first game are revealed fairly casually early on here, even though there are almost no direct references to the original game, at least at first. That is, until Monokuma pops up, pummels Usami (and renames her Monomi) and begins the same “kill or be killed” scenario as before.ĭanganronpa 2 obviously requires that you’ve completed the original game. A stuffed pink rabbit named Usami claims to be their teacher, though, and begins a game that fosters hope and friendship. Sixteen new students from the Hope have taken a class trip to the beautiful tropical Jabberwock Island, though all have lost their memory. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair begins similarly to the first game, except on a more positive note.