Cyber Danganronpa VR: The Class Trial
A VR tech demo recreating a Danganronpa class trial.
Cyber Danganronpa VR: The Class Trial is a free virtual reality tech demo from the Danganronpa series. It was made and published by Spike Chunsoft for the PlayStation 4, requiring the PlayStation VR headset. Producer Yoshinori Terasawa got the idea after trying Bandai Namco's Summer Lesson. The demo launched in Japan on October 13, 2016, then worldwide in March 2017. Critics praised its visuals.
In the demo, players take on the fourth class trial from the original Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, trying to find out who killed Sakura Ogami. Unlike the 2D cutouts of the original, this version uses 3D models. Characters give testimony that appears as words; if something seems off, players shoot "truth bullets" at the suspicious words by turning their head toward the speaker and pressing a button on the DualShock 4. The experience lasts about ten minutes and ends with a first-person execution scene by Monokuma.
Spike Chunsoft announced and showed the demo at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong fair in July 2015, as a showcase for PlayStation VR. It was the company's first PS4 project. Terasawa chose to base it on Trigger Happy Havoc rather than the spin-off shooter Danganronpa Another Episode because other studios could make VR shooting games, and the team wanted something unique. He made the punishment sequence first-person to create horror, but added Monokuma to keep the mood lighter. To finish quickly, they used Unreal Engine 4.
The demo came out digitally in Japan and Hong Kong on October 13, 2016, free for PlayStation Plus subscribers, with no release for non-subscribers at first. The Hong Kong version had English text and voiceovers. Spike Chunsoft said in October 2016 they were working on a Western release. It arrived in North America on March 7, 2017, and in Europe on March 10.
Critics were positive. Hardcore Gamer's Edward Dang hoped it would lead to full Danganronpa VR games. Destructoid's Jordan Devore thought it looked unexciting in off-screen footage but noted that's common for VR, and called it "the start of something neat." Chris Carter, also at Destructoid, said it was worth playing but not something to get excited over due to its short length. 4Gamer.net's Aki Otsuki recommended it, finding the VR punishment sequence horrifying. Famitsu liked the immersion and 360-degree movement.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Cyber Danganronpa VR: / The Class Trial
- Developer
- Spike Chunsoft
- Director
- Toyokazu Sakamoto
- Designer
- Yasuhiro Abe
- Producer
- Yoshinori Terasawa
- Programmer
- Kazunori Hanashima
- Artist
- Satoshi Tsurumi
- Series
- Danganronpa
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4
- Released
- JP · October 13, 2016 · NA · March 7, 2017 · EU · March 10, 2017
- Genre
- Adventure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cyber Danganronpa VR: The Class Trial is a tech demo that lets the player experience the fourth class trial from Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, where the goal is to uncover who murdered Sakura Ogami. Unlike the original game's 2D cutouts, this demo uses 3D models. The player listens to testimonies that appear as words, and can refute suspicious statements by shooting them with 'truth bullets' by turning their head toward the testifying character and pressing a button on the DualShock 4 controller. The demo takes about ten minutes to complete and ends with a first-person sequence where the character Monokuma executes the player.
Reader's Guide
The significance of Cyber Danganronpa VR: The Class Trial lies in its role as an early virtual reality experiment for the Danganronpa franchise, demonstrating how the series' courtroom-style gameplay could translate into an immersive VR environment. It was Spike Chunsoft's first PlayStation 4 project and was developed using Unreal Engine 4 to expedite completion. The demo was initially released for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers in Japan and Hong Kong, with an English version later released in North America and Europe. Critics praised its visuals and immersion, though its short length was noted. The demo's first-person punishment sequence was designed to evoke horror, balanced by Monokuma's presence to lighten the mood. It remains a notable early example of VR adaptation of a narrative-driven game.
Did You Know?
- The demo was inspired by Bandai Namco Entertainment's Summer Lesson.
- The game uses Unreal Engine 4 to speed up development.
- The punishment sequence is shown from a first-person perspective to make the player feel horror.
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