Newsletter
  • Guides
  • Previews
    • Indie Games
    • PS4
    • PC
    • Xbox One
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo 3DS
    • PS Vita
    • PS3
    • Xbox 360
    • Wii U
  • Site Info
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Staff Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Privacy Policy
      • Cookies Policy
    • RSS Feeds
    • Social Media
      • Youtube
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Twitch
      • Instagram
      • Tumblr
      • Linkedin
      • Pinterest
      • Discord
  • Discord
  • Store
  • Logitech G
  • green man gaming
  • Affiliates
    • GAMIVO.com
    • Logitech
    • Astro Gaming
    • Nord VPN
    • Best Buy
    • Namecheap Hosting
    • Blue Mic
    • Ultimate Ears
    • Jaybird
Saturday, March 25, 2023
BG
  • News
    • All
    • Esports
    • Interviews

    Wanted: Dead Enemies and Bosses Explained Video

    8 Minutes of New Atomic Heart Gameplay

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Amazon Luna Games Coming in February

    Wanted: Dead Finishers Explained Video

    Current CS:GO Team Rankings! What’s the Best Team at the Moment?

    Wanted: Dead Shows New Combat Gameplay For A Bloody Valentines Day

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces 8-Bit Adventure Gam Hime’s Quest

    Trending Tags

    • Top Stories
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
    • Nintendo
    • Retro Games
    • Mobile Games
    • Indie Games
    • Square Enix
    • Sony
    • Microsoft
    • PAX
    • EGX
    • Gamescom
    • Rockstar Games
    • Electronic Arts
    • Activision Blizzard
    • E3 Expo
  • Reviews
    • All
    • Flash Game Reviews
    • Google Stadia
    • Indie Game Reviews
    • Mobile Game Reviews
    • Nintendo 3DS Reviews
    • Nintendo Switch Reviews
    • PC Reviews
    • PS Vita Reviews
    • PS3 Reviews
    • PS4 Reviews
    • PS5 Reviews
    • Retro Game Reviews
    • Reviews RoundUP
    • Xbox 360 Reviews
    • Xbox One Reviews

    No More Heroes 3 PS4 Review

    Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters PS4 Review

    Wanted: Dead Review

    The Legend of Heroes Trails From Zero

    The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero PC Review

    Amnesia: Memories + Later x Crowd Review

    Dusk Diver 2 PS5 Review

    Yurukill: The Culmination Games

    Yurukill: The Calumniation Games Nintendo Switch Review

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II Nintendo Switch Review

    Trending Tags

    • Resident Evil
    • Call of Duty
    • Final Fantasy
    • Destiny
    • Borderlands
    • Halo
    • The Elder Scrolls
    • Fortnite
    • PUBG
    • Bioshock
    • The Witcher
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Second Opinion

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    buying, szelling, and trading csgo skins

    What To Expect When Buying, Selling, & Trading CS: GO Skins

    What Are the Best Ways to Gear Up in Retail WOW?

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    megaways vs regular slot machines

    Are Megaways Better Than Regular Slots?

    Current CS:GO Team Rankings! What’s the Best Team at the Moment?

    game night with friends tips for success

    Top Tips for Games Night Success

    10 benefits of online gaming

    10 Benefits of Online Gaming

    The 5 Most Popular Video Games that Feature Casinos and Gambling to Play

    Trending Tags

    • Is It A Classic?
    • Remember When
    • Do We Even Care Anymore?
    • Humpday Haikus
    • Top Series
    • Thirsty Thursday
    • Aging Gamer
    • On The Way To E3
  • Podcasts
    • All
    • The BagoCast
    • TSR BagoCast

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Politics in Video Games Games

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist 2

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Titan Fall and Apex: Legends Hacked

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist

    BagoCast EP: 12 – Code Vein and the DLC

    Debate/Discussion: Bad Video Games That We Love

    Discussion/Debate: Is Bioware Gone?

    Trending Tags

    • Film Fallout
    • 8Bit Proof
    • Gaming Historia
    • Bago Anime Cast
    • Gamers In Beta
    • Gamers Unscripted
  • Videos
    178614

    So, You Wanna Play Junker Queen?

    178081

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    176052

    Void Slayer – Review

    174993

    The IDEAL Spider-Man VR Game

    174963

    Crunchyroll Panel Full Video @ Anime Frontier

    174259

    BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooting to The Beat (Review)

    173523

    She Will Punish Them – Warning: Mature Content (Early Access Review)

    172416

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    172189

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

  • Geek Culture
    • All
    • Anime and Manga
    • Anime/Manga Review
    • Collectibles
    • Comic Books
    • Cosplay
    • Movies
    • Tech
    • TV Shows

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    Pwnage Releases New Info On Stormbreaker, The Magnesium Alloy Gaming Mouse

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces Anime Frontier Panels and Premieres

    Crunchyroll Announces Hell’s Paradise, The Ancient Magus’ Bride S2, and More Upcoming Anime

    The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Gets New Key Visual, Tickets Now on Sale

    Crunchyroll Rich Presence Now Available on Discord

    Udon Entertainment Announces Persona 4 Arena & Ultimax Manga Coming 2023

    Steve Aoki Releases All-New Remix for the “One Piece Film Red” Original Soundtrack

    Trending Tags

    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie News
    • TV News
    • TV Episode Review
    • Episode Guide
    • Competitive Gaming
    • Tech News
    • Tech Review
    • Anime and Manga News
    • Anime and Manga Review
    • Comic Book News
    • Comic Book Review
  • Forum
No Result
View All Result
Social icon element need JNews Essential plugin to be activated.
Social icon element need JNews Essential plugin to be activated.
  • News
    • All
    • Esports
    • Interviews

    Wanted: Dead Enemies and Bosses Explained Video

    8 Minutes of New Atomic Heart Gameplay

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Amazon Luna Games Coming in February

    Wanted: Dead Finishers Explained Video

    Current CS:GO Team Rankings! What’s the Best Team at the Moment?

    Wanted: Dead Shows New Combat Gameplay For A Bloody Valentines Day

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces 8-Bit Adventure Gam Hime’s Quest

    Trending Tags

    • Top Stories
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
    • Nintendo
    • Retro Games
    • Mobile Games
    • Indie Games
    • Square Enix
    • Sony
    • Microsoft
    • PAX
    • EGX
    • Gamescom
    • Rockstar Games
    • Electronic Arts
    • Activision Blizzard
    • E3 Expo
  • Reviews
    • All
    • Flash Game Reviews
    • Google Stadia
    • Indie Game Reviews
    • Mobile Game Reviews
    • Nintendo 3DS Reviews
    • Nintendo Switch Reviews
    • PC Reviews
    • PS Vita Reviews
    • PS3 Reviews
    • PS4 Reviews
    • PS5 Reviews
    • Retro Game Reviews
    • Reviews RoundUP
    • Xbox 360 Reviews
    • Xbox One Reviews

    No More Heroes 3 PS4 Review

    Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters PS4 Review

    Wanted: Dead Review

    The Legend of Heroes Trails From Zero

    The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero PC Review

    Amnesia: Memories + Later x Crowd Review

    Dusk Diver 2 PS5 Review

    Yurukill: The Culmination Games

    Yurukill: The Calumniation Games Nintendo Switch Review

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II Nintendo Switch Review

    Trending Tags

    • Resident Evil
    • Call of Duty
    • Final Fantasy
    • Destiny
    • Borderlands
    • Halo
    • The Elder Scrolls
    • Fortnite
    • PUBG
    • Bioshock
    • The Witcher
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Second Opinion

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    buying, szelling, and trading csgo skins

    What To Expect When Buying, Selling, & Trading CS: GO Skins

    What Are the Best Ways to Gear Up in Retail WOW?

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    megaways vs regular slot machines

    Are Megaways Better Than Regular Slots?

    Current CS:GO Team Rankings! What’s the Best Team at the Moment?

    game night with friends tips for success

    Top Tips for Games Night Success

    10 benefits of online gaming

    10 Benefits of Online Gaming

    The 5 Most Popular Video Games that Feature Casinos and Gambling to Play

    Trending Tags

    • Is It A Classic?
    • Remember When
    • Do We Even Care Anymore?
    • Humpday Haikus
    • Top Series
    • Thirsty Thursday
    • Aging Gamer
    • On The Way To E3
  • Podcasts
    • All
    • The BagoCast
    • TSR BagoCast

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Politics in Video Games Games

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist 2

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Titan Fall and Apex: Legends Hacked

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist

    BagoCast EP: 12 – Code Vein and the DLC

    Debate/Discussion: Bad Video Games That We Love

    Discussion/Debate: Is Bioware Gone?

    Trending Tags

    • Film Fallout
    • 8Bit Proof
    • Gaming Historia
    • Bago Anime Cast
    • Gamers In Beta
    • Gamers Unscripted
  • Videos
    178614

    So, You Wanna Play Junker Queen?

    178081

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    176052

    Void Slayer – Review

    174993

    The IDEAL Spider-Man VR Game

    174963

    Crunchyroll Panel Full Video @ Anime Frontier

    174259

    BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooting to The Beat (Review)

    173523

    She Will Punish Them – Warning: Mature Content (Early Access Review)

    172416

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    172189

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

  • Geek Culture
    • All
    • Anime and Manga
    • Anime/Manga Review
    • Collectibles
    • Comic Books
    • Cosplay
    • Movies
    • Tech
    • TV Shows

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    Pwnage Releases New Info On Stormbreaker, The Magnesium Alloy Gaming Mouse

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces Anime Frontier Panels and Premieres

    Crunchyroll Announces Hell’s Paradise, The Ancient Magus’ Bride S2, and More Upcoming Anime

    The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Gets New Key Visual, Tickets Now on Sale

    Crunchyroll Rich Presence Now Available on Discord

    Udon Entertainment Announces Persona 4 Arena & Ultimax Manga Coming 2023

    Steve Aoki Releases All-New Remix for the “One Piece Film Red” Original Soundtrack

    Trending Tags

    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie News
    • TV News
    • TV Episode Review
    • Episode Guide
    • Competitive Gaming
    • Tech News
    • Tech Review
    • Anime and Manga News
    • Anime and Manga Review
    • Comic Book News
    • Comic Book Review
  • Forum
No Result
View All Result
BagoGames
No Result
View All Result

BagoGames > Articles > Game Reviews > Nintendo 3DS Reviews > Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Review

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Review

Kailan May by Kailan May
7 years ago
in Game Reviews, Nintendo 3DS Reviews, PC Reviews, PS Vita Reviews
Reading Time: 5 mins read
3
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Zero Escape, put simply, is a visual novel series where things go wrong and weird pretty hard and pretty fast. It is also a series I fell in love with pretty hard and pretty fast; a grin sliding up my face when, upon stumbling into a room during one of the games, I found the cast’s broken, bloody bodies scattered like dolls. I still consider Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward to be my favorite game. So, reviewing Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma was something I had been looking forward to for years — since about early 2013. In fact, I’d argue it is the only game I have been so excited to play in easily a decade (to the frustration of my co-workers).

So, let me get this out the way: Play this. If you are a visual novel fan, or someone who wants a fantastic narrative, go play 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward beforehand, then give this a go. It has puzzles, sure, but the narrative is where the series shines like a nuclear blast. It is a shame this game doesn’t do a good job at recapping previous events, but the rest of the games are very good in their own right. If you are familiar with the series already, you will at least enjoy Zero Time Dilemma, if not love it. If you need that thumbs up of approval while still staying blind of the experience, it is definitely there as well.

Although, naturally, I’m not allowed to end a review after two paragraphs, so I better leap into full review mode. Very very minor spoilers are ahead.

RelatedStories

No More Heroes 3 PS4 Review

2 weeks ago

Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters PS4 Review

2 weeks ago
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma, Spike Chunsoft
(Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma, Aksys Games)

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma (developed by Spike Chunsoft of Danganronpa fame, though not directed by the same person) is a visual novel with puzzle elements where you play as one of three people. Trapped in a facility, you are told you are to remain until six people die. Through various hijinks that occur, you may or may not kill others off. You may die yourself. Perhaps you’ll even unravel the mystery of the facility, who your captor is and what their objective is.

The game is set up in an unusual and interesting manner as you pick which protagonist you want to be, and then pick what fragment of history you wish to traverse. If this sounds like it could get confusing quickly, well, it sadly does become so as, on a singular time path, it can flit between the three protagonist groups. While they did try to rectify this via group choice and then picking the fragment you want to visit, this ends up swapping confusion for frustration as you navigate through multitudes of menus to pick what may as well be a random segment. However, considering each group will usually act somewhat independently of prior events, this confusion is okay.

Each of these groups can be broken down to each of the three games in terms of theme. While there are cross-overs and independent talks, Team C is an examination of Akane and Junpei post-999, Team D looks into who Phi and Sigma are pre/post-Virtue’s Last Reward (time is weird), and Team Q is the present day look at Eric and Mira. This does mean each group is not as impactful if you haven’t played the corresponding game, although fortunately not in the dark as you play as fresh new faces, with their own dark, bleak pasts. The allocation of the teams in this style ends up allowing Zero Time Dilemma to expertly address most of the hanging plot threads their intended titles left dangling previously while providing something new to the audience.

Zero Escape: Zero TIme Dilemma, Spike Chunsoft
(Zero Escape: Zero TIme Dilemma, Aksys Games)

Fortunately, on top of addressing the various unknown parts of prior games, Zero Time Dilemma is punchy. Each of the fragments (35 fragments, although a few are repeats of other teams’) provide some form of twist, revelation or something else significant. I’d provide early-game examples, but, well, I said only minor spoilers. Just know it does the twist more times than Chubby Checker has done.

On top of this lies a thick heaping of brutality as people die in ugly ways. Sometimes not even instantly, as their eyes dilate hideously, begin to shake, and characters breathe their last breaths. Often, even though injuries will occur off-screen, the splatters of blood and implied positioning of the bodies are enough to send a shiver down your spine. Fortunately, the deaths aren’t Corpse Party-esque in worshipping gore, but rather each one impactful and with purpose. This brutality ends up emphasizing the narrative, rather than distracting.

In terms of the gameplay, the puzzles are still incredibly solid and will test your ability to decipher the clues you are granted in unusual ways. My only grumble about them is their volume and concentration. Rather than being spread out, like Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward, it seems the last third of the game is void of all puzzles.

Zero Escape: Zero TIme Dilemma, Spike Chunsoft
(Zero Escape: Zero TIme Dilemma, Aksys Games)

Instead, the game has more instances where you’re required to correctly pick the right decision. Sometimes this will be to push a button, other times to pick a person, and even times where you have to remember a password from another timeline. Hilariously, getting the wrong answer will sometimes throw back specific error codes (e.g. “The dead can not kill”) or even get specific cutscene changes. Once I got yelled at because I blamed someone being choked to death on the dog. Roughly in the same way you’d blame a fart on the dog.  Needless to say, the person with a shotgun then demanded to know how a dog is meant to choke someone and then shot me.

So far, up to this point, I believe Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma would be worth at least a 9.5, maybe even a perfect 10. However, well…

…Sadly, the last third/quarter of the game’s narrative falls apart. For the want of a villain, they ended up making a Zero that neither seemed interesting, sympathetic or even fully realized. At best, he is someone who is forced into relevancy only to keep mumbling the phrase “my motives are complicated” over and over until I grew numb. They then end on a cliffhanger, despite Zero Time Dilemma somewhat being billed as the finale to the trilogy.

ZeroEscapePic15
(Zero Escape: Zero TIme Dilemma, Aksys Games)

As an added frustration, as I began to mentally review the twist (i.e. where the antagonist was the entire time, what they did, and one of their primary motives), I realized that the twist was very similar to one of Kotaro Uchikoshi’s previous work with some words changed. While it doesn’t feel lazy, it seems a little rushed. It feels as though Uchikoshi finished the first 2/3rd or 3/4th of the story, and needed to just think of an antagonist who would wrap things up while leaving a potential sequel open. I really had hoped for something more unique and closed.

The final score of Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma is a solid 9 out of 10. Despite being disappointed with the final part of the game and some minor failings, it is still an incredibly solid tale that hits with full force. Playing the story, I was reminded of the awe I felt as I dove into Virtue’s Last Reward for the first time. In addition, I felt the need and want to just push on despite being so tired that I struggled to stay awake. While it wouldn’t sit as my favorite Zero Escape game (that goes to Virtue’s Last Reward), it is still a very solid addition to the fantastically written series and a very strong contender for Game of the Year. Please, buy this game, as this is the type of writing ability that deserves to be rewarded. Please, let others know of Zero Escape‘s existence. Please, let us see a fourth game in this astounding series that deserves to bloom beautifully.


A PS Vita review code was provided by Aksys Games for the purpose of this review

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

  • Narrative is punchy as hell through-out
  • Wraps most of the dangling plot threads of prior titles
  • Puzzles still expertly crafted

Cons

  • An ending that provides a weak villain and an unfulfilling cliff-hanger that is familiar
  • Puzzles not spread out quite enough

Tags: AKSYS GamesNintendoPCPlayStationspike chunsoftTop StoriesVisual Novelzero escape
Share1TweetShare
Previous Post

Batman: Return to Arkham Loses Release Date Indefinitely

Next Post

Full Mojo Rampage

Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
guest
The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us to keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser cookies for the next time I comment.

I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest
The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us to keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser cookies for the next time I comment.

3 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
trackback
Thinking Of You | KBMOYO
6 years ago

[…] Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Review […]

0
0
Reply
trackback
Cblogs of 07/03/16 Not Another Blog About Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma – Destrucgame
6 years ago

[…] I did a proper written review for a website (9/10, it ain’t a 10 but woosh!), I did a video doing a first impressions review 10 hours in, a second video talking about the entire narrative in the game and I took part in a podcast partially discussing the game. […]

0
0
Reply
trackback
Fragment's Note 2 APK Free Download - ApkGamesCrack.com
6 years ago

[…] Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Review […]

0
0
Reply
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

BAGOGAMES WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Get this week's top news, reviews, guides, videos and opinion for your favorite games, movies, TV and tech in your email every Friday.

Don't worry, we don't spam.

BagoGames

BagoGames.com © 2020 BagoGames LLC. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Directory
  • Join Our Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • RSS Feeds
  • Discord Server
  • BG Store
  • OpenCritic
  • green man gaming
  • Logitech G
  • GAMIVO.com
  • ASTRO Gaming
  • Logitech
  • Namecheap Hosting
  • Nord VPN
  • Best Buy
  • Blue Mic
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Guides

Follow Us

Social icon element need JNews Essential plugin to be activated.
  • Login
  • Sign Up
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Geek Culture
  • Previews
  • Guides
  • Short Videos
  • Forum
  • Site Info
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Join Our Team
    • Staff Directory
    • Privacy Policy
    • Newsletter
    • RSS Feeds

BagoGames.com © 2020 BagoGames LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz