A Lesson in Murder
[Update: As reported by TouchArcade, Spike Chunsoft has discovered a last-minute flaw in the final build of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition. The publisher has been left with no option but to delay the launch of the title. A new date will be announced once the build has been fixed.]
We may have moved beyond Danganronpa‘s 10th anniversary celebrations, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some goodies in-store for Kazutaka Kodaka’s super-twisted murder-mystery franchise. As spotted by Touch Arcade, next week will give fans the opportunity to take the series acclaimed second sequel for a pocket-sized spin, courtesy of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition, which launches on iOS and Android platforms May 26.
Originally released on PS4, PS Vita, and PC back in 2017, Killing Harmony was the first mainline series entry to launch on home consoles alongside their handheld brethren. The dark sequel features the typical investigative gameplay of its predecessors, as abducted high school student Kaede Akamatsu finds herself trapped alongside a group of similarly aged strangers, each an expert in his or her own field. The party is forced to take part in a violent “game” of kill-or-be-killed, once again presided over by the sinister Monokuma.
Thanks to its striking visual aesthetic, great soundtrack, and shocking narrative, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony was a big hit on launch. Having the series debut a new chapter on multiple platforms ensured that Killing Harmony would see the series’ biggest sales figures to date, encouraging new fans to go back and retroactively play its predecessors. Much like Sega’s Yakuza 0 did for its own franchise, Killing Harmony attracted entirely new audiences to the Danganronpa brand, helping to solidify its cult status in gaming.
As is the case for the previously released Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition will feature an overhauled UI, touch screen controls, and a new gallery option, allowing fans to enjoy through Rui Komatsuzaki’s unmistakable artwork at their leisure. While the new mobile part has only been announced in Japan, it is expected to launch worldwide and, like its predecessors, will feature English and Japanese language options.