{{Short description|2014 video game}} {{good article}} {{Infobox video game | title = Danganronpa Another Episode: {{avoid wrap|Ultra Despair Girls}} | image = Danganronpa AnotherEpisode Cover.jpg | caption = Cover art featuring Monokuma (bottom) and silhouettes of Komaru Naegi and Toko Fukawa (center left and right, respectively) | alt = Cover art for Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls. It is centered around the game's logo. Underneath the logo are black silhouettes of Komaru Naegi and Toko Fukawa within a circular shape, which is surrounded by different Monokumas including Kurokuma and Shirokuma. A larger Monokuma is found towards the bottom next to blood-stained pink roses. The vines and thorns of these roses stretch upwards onto the entire cover. The cover uses a dark purple background and is framed by stage curtains. | developer = Spike Chunsoft{{efn|Additional work by Shade}} | publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Spike Chunsoft|WW|NIS America (until 2020){{efn|NIS America originally published the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions outside of Japan. Spike Chunsoft has published the Windows version internationally since release and took over NIS' digital publishing duties for the Vita and PS4 in 2020.}}}} | director = {{ubl|Shun Sasaki|Kazutaka Kodaka}} | producer = Yoshinori Terasawa | artist = {{ubl|Hirofune Hane|Rui Komatsuzaki}} | writer = {{ubl|Kazutaka Kodaka|{{ill|Yōichirō Koizumi|ja|小泉陽一朗}}}} | composer = Masafumi Takada | series = ''Danganronpa'' | platforms = PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Windows | released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 25, 2014}}| '''PlayStation Vita'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 25, 2014|NA|September 1, 2015|EU|September 4, 2015|AU|September 10, 2015}} '''PlayStation 4'''{{vgrelease|EU|June 23, 2017|NA|June 27, 2017|JP|June 29, 2017}} '''Windows'''{{vgrelease|WW|June 27, 2017}}}} | genre = Action-adventure, third-person shooter | modes = Single-player }} '''''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'''''<ref group="JP">Known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''Zettai Zetsubō Shōjo: Danganronpa Another Episode'''''|絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode|Zettai Zetsubō Shōjo: Danganronpa Anazā Episōdo|{{lit|Absolute Despair Girls: Bullet Refutation Another Episode|lk=yes}}|lead=yes}}</ref> is an action-adventure and third-person shooter video game developed by Spike Chunsoft. It is a spin-off in the ''Danganronpa'' series, set in between the events of ''Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc'' (2010) and ''Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair'' (2012). The game was originally published by Spike Chunsoft for the PlayStation Vita in Japan on September 25, 2014, and internationally by NIS America in September 2015. Ports for the PlayStation 4 and Windows were released in June 2017.
Although different in gameplay to its murder mystery visual novel predecessors, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' retains the series' visual style and focus on narrative. The player controls Komaru Naegi—the younger sister of the first game's protagonist, Makoto Naegi—and Toko Fukawa, a returning character with split personality disorder. Komaru is forced to participate in a death game within a city overtaken by murderous bear robots called Monokumas, and teams up with Toko to escape. Behind the Monokumas are the Warriors of Hope, a group of abused children who intend to massacre all adults and construct a safe haven for kids. In combat sections, the player uses a megaphone gun as Komaru to fight the robots; as Toko, they control her serial killer personality Genocide Jack, who fights using 2 pairs of scissors. Other sections feature visual novel, puzzle, and stealth game elements.
''Ultra Despair Girls'' was conceived by series creator Kazutaka Kodaka and producer Yoshinori Terasawa shortly after the completion of ''Danganronpa 2'', while they took time to prepare for a third mainline installment. They wanted to differentiate the spin-off from the main entries and considered multiple genres before they settled on action-adventure, since they thought the movement-based gameplay would compliment the story. Due to a difficult development process, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' became the most expensive ''Danganronpa'' game at the time; several staff members described the project as stressful in regards to budget and scheduling.
The game was met with mixed reviews. Critics were divided on the gameplay; some thought it was a strange direction for the series, but others enjoyed the dynamics provided by different bullet types available for the megaphone gun. Several critics thought the game retained a high level of writing quality from previous ''Danganronpa'' games, although some had issues with the story's pacing. It was considered the darkest ''Danganronpa'' game for its portrayal of themes such as child sexual abuse. Commercially, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' had sold about 500,000 copies by 2021. The game spawned manga adaptations and an anime continuation through an episode of the TV show ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School'' (2017). Kodaka and co-director Shun Sasaki have indicated the possibility of a video game sequel.
== Gameplay == thumb|left|alt=A GIF of gameplay in Ultra Despair Girls. Komaru alternates between different bullets, which is seen in the bottom right. Her health and Genocide Jack's batteries are seen in the top left.|Komaru Naegi uses a Dance bullet on a Siren Monokuma, which attracts other nearby enemies. She then fires a Move bullet to activate an adjacent car, killing the entire group at once. Unlike the mainline ''Danganronpa'' series of murder mystery visual novels, the spin-off ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' is an action-adventure and third-person shooter video game.<ref name="Destructoid">{{cite web|last=Dale|first=Laura|url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/|title=Review: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — Great story, odd gameplay loop|work=Destructoid|date=August 28, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626033448/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IGN">{{cite web|last=García|first=Juan|url=https://es.ign.com/danganronpa-another-episode/95868/review/danganronpa-another-episode-analisis-para-ps-vita|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' — Análisis: Otro Monokuma completamente distinto|trans-title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' — Review: A new Monokuma|work=IGN Italy|publisher=Ziff Davis|language=it|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626033448/https://es.ign.com/danganronpa-another-episode/95868/review/danganronpa-another-episode-analisis-para-ps-vita|url-status=live}}</ref> The player controls teenager Komaru Naegi in linear areas throughout a city overtaken by kids and an army of Monokuma robot bears, who massacre the city's adult population.<ref name="PushSquare">{{cite web|last=Ramsey|first=Robert|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvita/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review (PS Vita) — Hell is whenever|work=Push Square|publisher=Nlife Media|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626033448/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvita/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HardcoreGaming101">{{cite web|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ultra-despair-girls-danganronpa-another-episode/|title=''Ultra Despair Girls: Danganronpa Another Episode''|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=May 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514114430/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ultra-despair-girls-danganronpa-another-episode/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the change in genre, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' is still focused on narrative; in between the action-adventure segments, the player advances the story in visual novel-styled dialogue and cutscenes.<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web|last=Kemps|first=Heidi|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-re/1900-6416225/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review — A New Hope|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=November 18, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626231101/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-re/1900-6416225/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Siliconera">{{cite web|author=Jack|url=https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-plays-differently-but-feels-more-familiar-than-youd-think/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode'' Plays Differently, But Feels More Familiar Than You'd Think|work=Siliconera|date=August 27, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626231101/https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-plays-differently-but-feels-more-familiar-than-youd-think/|url-status=live}}</ref> The game is divided into chapters, which typically end with a boss fight against a mecha robot.<ref name="Famitsu_Bullets">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:続報: 絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode|trans-title=Follow-Up: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|pages=156–166|issue=1346|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=October 2, 2014|asin=B00NB5NOUY}}</ref><ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web|last=Procida|first=Marco|url=http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2017-09-15-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-recensione|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — recensione|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — review|work=Eurogamer Italy|publisher=Gamer Network|language=it|date=September 15, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2025|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915162831/http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2017-09-15-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-recensione|url-status=dead}}</ref>
To fight the variations of Monokuma enemies, Komaru wields the Hacking Gun—a megaphone that shoots Truth Bullets, which are projectiles of computer code that destroy or modify the behavior of the robots.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="RPGSite">{{cite web|last=Henges|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/review/5727-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review|work=RPGSite|publisher=MIST Network|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620005337/https://www.rpgsite.net/review/5727-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|url-status=live}}</ref> The player acquires various types of ammunition for the megaphone throughout the story, which can be used on enemies or have environmental effects such as opening blocked paths.<ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork_PC">{{cite web|last=Bailey|first=Dustin|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-07-10/pc-impressions-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/.118434|title=PC Impressions — ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|publisher=Anime News Network|date=July 10, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626232821/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-07-10/pc-impressions-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/.118434|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Mantan">{{cite news|url=https://mantan-web.jp/article/20140926dog00m200024000c.html|script-title=ja:新作ゲーム紹介：「絶対絶望少女」「ダンガンロンパ」外伝はアクションアドベンチャー|trans-title=New Game Recommendations: ''Ultra Despair Girls'' Is An Action-Adventure ''Danganronpa'' Sidestory|work={{ill|MantanWeb|ja|MANTANWEB}}|language=ja|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=August 7, 2025}}</ref> Break bullets damages Monokumas, Move activates machinery such as switches or cars to run over enemies, Dance temporarily stuns enemies by putting them into a dance, Detect acts as a light ray that allows the player to see puzzle clues or other secrets, Knockback will send enemies and objects flying backwards, Paralyze creates a field of electricity that can be used to damage multiple Monokumas at once, Burn sets enemies aflame and can be used in rapid fire, and Link allows the player to temporarily gain control of a Monokuma.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Siliconera"/><ref name="Famitsu_Bullets"/><ref name="Inside1">{{cite web|last=Fushimachi|first=Yuzuru|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/20/78757.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』モノクマを撃退するハッキング銃の詳細が明らかに|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' unveils gameplay details to Monokuma-countering Hacking Gun|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=June 20, 2014|access-date=June 27, 2025|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316140308/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/20/78757.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of these are limited by an ammunition count, whereas others such as Move can be used indefinitely.<ref name="Items">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=EU|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Help menu/"Items"|quote='''Guide''': 'I'm sure a smart gamer like you already knows, but Truth Bullets are a limited resource. But, there are exceptions like 'Move'. But worrying about exceptions is no way to live.'}}</ref> The player encounters a variety of Monokuma enemies throughout the story, which are susceptible to different Truth Bullets.<ref name="Famitsu1">{{cite magazine|author=Kawachi|url=https://www.famitsu.com/article/202409/18267|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ アナザーエピソード』10周年。苗木誠の妹・苗木こまると"超高校級の文学少女"腐川冬子が主人公のコトダマアクション【今日は何の日?】|trans-title=What Day Is Today? 10th Anniversary of ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'': Makoto Naegi's Little Sister Komaru Naegi and Ultimate Writer Toko Fukawa Take Lead Roles in Truth Bullet Action|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage|language=ja|date=September 25, 2024|access-date=June 27, 2025|archive-date=June 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627044131/https://www.famitsu.com/article/202409/18267|url-status=live}}</ref> For example, Guard Monokumas use a shield that can be countered with Knockback, and using Dance on alarm-equipped Siren Monokumas will lure other nearby enemies.<ref name="Famitsu_Bullets"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork_PC"/>
Komaru is accompanied by Toko Fukawa, a girl with split personality disorder. On a limited timer represented by batteries, the player can control Toko's serial killer personality Genocide Jack, who fights using a pair of scissors, is invincible to enemy attacks, and deals greater damage than Komaru.<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork_PC"/><ref name="MultiplayerIt">{{cite web|last=Spotti|first=Davide|url=https://multiplayer.it/recensioni/157603-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-uno-spin-off-votato-allazione.html|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — Uno spin-off votato all'azione|trans-title=An action-oriented spin-off|work=Multiplayer.it|language=it|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626033449/https://multiplayer.it/recensioni/157603-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-uno-spin-off-votato-allazione.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As the player defeats enemies using Genocide Jack, she will charge up a fever gauge that can be used to unleash special attacks and combos.<ref name="GenocideJack2">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=English|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Help menu/"Genocide Jack Pt. 2"}}</ref> Unlike Genocide Jack, Komaru runs on a health bar; a game over is produced if her health reaches zero, though she can be saved by Toko if the player has at least one Genocide Jack battery and succeeds at a quick time event.<ref name="Famitsu_Bullets"/> Some sections deviate from combative gameplay and feature stealth and puzzle game elements. The player can also encounter Monoku-Man arcade machines, which will give access to an overhead camera view of an upcoming room with enemies. The camera offers clues to how the player can try to destroy or avoid all Monokumas without being spotted; successfully doing so increases the score received at the end of the chapter.<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="Famitsu_Bullets"/><ref name="VG247">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Rebecca|url=https://www.vg247.com/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-10th-anniversary|title=A cult classic from the PS Vita turns 10 today, but might not see the light of day again in a console generation that's less weird, messy, and experimental|work=VG247|publisher=IGN Entertainment|date=September 25, 2024|access-date=July 8, 2025|archive-date=October 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241013155628/https://www.vg247.com/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-10th-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref>
Throughout the city, the player can find "MonoMono" ''gashapon'' machines and gift boxes that award megaphone ammunition, hearts that replenish health, or batteries for Genocide Jack.<ref name="Items2">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=English|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Help menu/"Items"|quote='''Guide''': 'Truth Bullets are replenished with item boxes, or by picking up the ones dropped by Monokumas. Other than bullets, you might find hearts to heal HP, or batteries for Genocide Jack.'}}</ref><ref name="MonoMono">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=English|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Help menu/"Mono-Mono Machines"}}</ref> Monokumas drop "MonoCoins" upon death, which can be used to purchase upgrades for Komaru and Toko at shops that are scattered throughout the city.<ref name="Inside1"/><ref name="RPGSite2">{{cite web|last=Kreinberg|first=David|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/review/4506-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review|work=RPGSite|publisher=MIST Network|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=June 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627044520/https://www.rpgsite.net/review/4506-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|url-status=live}}</ref> A levelling system incremented by defeating Monokumas increases Komaru's skill points, which allows the player to equip more upgrades.<ref name="Famitsu_Bullets"/> The game includes several collectibles for the player to find. While not consequential to the story, they provide background on the game's setting and additional dialogue among characters.<ref name="Inside_Collectibles">{{cite web|last=Fushimachi|first=Yuzuru|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/20/78757.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女』やり込み要素や十神白夜が登場するTVCMが公開に ─ 公式サイトではモノクマを生産!?|trans-title=''Ultra Despair Girls'' Details Bonus Content and Releases Byakuya Togami TV Commercial — The Official Website Produces Monokumas?!|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316140308/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/20/78757.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The collectibles include notes left by victims of the tragedy in the city,<ref name="RPGSite2"/> additional upgrades for Komaru and Toko,<ref name="HardcoreGamer">{{cite web|last=Estrada|first=Marcus|url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/163733/|title=Review: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|work=Hardcore Gamer|publisher=DoubleJump Publishing|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025|archive-date=August 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826144013/https://hardcoregamer.com/2015/08/24/review-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/163733/|url-status=live}} ''Review can be read via the live URL but the final score is only available in the archive''</ref> and manga sidestories.<ref name="VentureBeat">{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Heather|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/24/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-spins-a-great-yarn-with-sometimes-awkward-action/view-all/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' spins a great yarn with sometimes-awkward action|work=VentureBeat|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626232821/https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/24/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-spins-a-great-yarn-with-sometimes-awkward-action/view-all/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Plot == {{see also|List of Danganronpa characters#Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls{{!}}List of ''Danganronpa'' characters § ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''}} ''Ultra Despair Girls'' takes place in between the events of ''Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc'' (released 2010) and ''2: Goodbye Despair'' (2012).<ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork">{{cite web|last=Riley|first=Dave|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/ps-vita/danganronpa/ultra-despair-girls/.92062|title=Game Review: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|publisher=Anime News Network|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref> It follows Komaru Naegi, an energetic but simple-minded ordinary high schooler who is the little sister of the first game's protagonist, Makoto Naegi. At the start of the Tragedy—a global societal collapse instigated by the terrorist organization Ultimate Despair, led by Junko Enoshima—Komaru is kidnapped by Junko's followers and confined to an apartment complex in Towa City, an artificial island created and administered by the conglomerate Towa Group. After one and a half years in captivity without knowledge of the outside world, her door is suddenly broken down by a murderous Monokuma robot. Komaru flees to the outside of her room and is saved by Byakuya Togami, a survivor from ''Trigger Happy Havoc'' and now an agent for the Future Foundation—a non-governmental organization aiming to restore the world from the effects of the Tragedy. Byakuya gives Komaru the Hacking Gun and orders her to flee, while he stays behind and fights the remaining Monokumas in the apartment.
As the outside city is attacked by swarms of Monokumas, Komaru is guided to an escape helicopter by Future Foundation agents. The escape is intercepted by Monokumas and results in Komaru's capture. Her assailants reveal themselves as the Warriors of Hope, a group of five children responsible for the riots in Towa City, whose goal is to genocide all adults and create a utopia for children. They force Komaru to take part in the Demon Hunting—a death game where they will compete to kill her—and send her back into the city. Komaru finds herself cornered by Monokumas, but is saved by the split personality serial killer Genocide Jack. She soon reverts to the persecutory deluded Toko Fukawa, another survivor from the first game and intern at the Future Foundation who is infatuated with Byakuya. Although Toko takes a repulsive attitude towards Komaru for her airheadedness, they team up to venture into the city.
Throughout their exploration, Komaru and Toko fight the Warriors of Hope and learn of the traumas that led to their hatred of adults. Masaru Daimon was abused by alcoholic parents; Jataro Kemuri was berated by his mother to the point of extreme self-hatred; child actor Kotoko Utsugi was sexually abused by producers; Nagisa Shingetsu was overworked and drugged by his parents to improve his performance in school; and Monaca Towa, the illegitimate child of Towa Corporation's president, was outcast from her family. The five kids planned to commit group suicide but were stopped by Junko, who taught them to hate and murder adults.
Komaru and Toko are aided by a seemingly friendly Monokuma named Shirokuma to an underground resistance, led by Towa family member Haiji; however, he rejects their help due to Toko's affiliation with the Future Foundation, who he despises. After an excursion to contact Makoto, Komaru and Toko return to find the resistance under attack from Monokumas. Despite casualties, they assist in repelling the ambush and Haiji agrees to help the pair.
Supported by the resistance, Komaru and Toko advance into the Warriors of Hope's headquarters. They fight and destroy a mecha controlled by Monaca and the Warriors of Hope's advisor, a Monokuma named Kurokuma. Monaca reveals that her true goal is to turn Komaru into Junko's successor. Komaru falls into despair when Monaca claims to have murdered her parents, but Toko convinces her to not give in. After a battle with a Godzilla-sized Monokuma controlled by the traitorous Shirokuma, Monaca is left alone under a pile of rubble whilst Komaru and Toko rescue Byakuya, who had been captured at the start of the game. To prevent the outbreak of another war and to search for the true fate of her parents, Komaru chooses to stay behind in Towa City; a token of their friendship, Toko decides to join her. Monaca is rescued by the Warriors of Hope's servant, Nagito Komaeda, who promises to set her up as Junko's successor. Shirokuma and Kurokuma are revealed to contain an artificial intelligence of Junko's consciousness. Data chips of the two robots are taken by Junko's ally Izuru Kamukura, who uses these to start the killing game in ''Danganronpa 2''. An image shown during the credits reveals that the other four Warriors of Hope have separated from Monaca and survive together.
== Development == A spin-off in the ''Danganronpa'' series was greenlit shortly after the completion of development on ''Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair''.<ref name="4Gamer_Interview">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|interviewer-last=Miyashita|interviewer-first=Aki|interviewer-link=Danshoku Dino|others=Sasaki, Shūji (photographer)|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/281/G028146/20150425001/|script-title=ja:ダンガンロンパの生みの親，小高氏との舌戦バトルが勃発。男色ディーノのカードゲイム「ダンガンロンパ 超高校級の人狼 MANIAX」体験レポート|trans-title=Debating with the Father of ''Danganronpa'', Kazutaka Kodaka: Danshoku Dino Reviews Card Game ''Super High School Level Werewolf: Maniax''|language=ja|website=4Gamer.net|publisher=Aetas|date=May 2, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2025}}</ref> Producer Yoshinori Terasawa perceived that series creator and lead writer Kazutaka Kodaka needed time to "cool off" and come up with ideas for a third mainline entry, so he suggested they create a spin-off in the meantime.<ref name="DanganTV_1">{{cite episode|last=Ogata|first=Megumi|author-link=Megumi Ogata|last2=Terasawa|first2=Yoshinori|last3=Sasaki|first3=Shun|last4=Uchida|first4=Aya|author-link4=Aya Uchida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLa4sNx_H38&t=725s|title=3rd Period - Full of Firsts: Ultra Despair Girls!|series=Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Special — Dangan TV: Hope Keeps on Going!|time=12:05|format=video|publisher=Spike Chunsoft|orig-date=originally broadcast July 16, 2020|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was developed by Spike Chunsoft in cooperation with another studio, Shade.<ref name="Shade">{{cite web|url=https://www.shade.co.jp/games/582/|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女ダンガンロンパ Another Episode [開発協力]|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (Development Cooperation)|website=shade.co.jp|language=ja|date=n.d.|access-date=July 7, 2025|archive-date=December 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201143518/https://www.shade.co.jp/games/582/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kodaka directed the game with project planner Shun Sasaki and wrote the scenario alongside novelist {{ill|Yōichirō Koizumi|ja|小泉陽一朗}}, while Terasawa served as producer.<ref name="Credits">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=English|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Credits|quote='''General Director''': Kazutaka Kodaka [...] '''Director''': Shun Sasaki [...] '''Scenario''': Kazutaka Kodaka, Yoichiro Koizumi [...] '''Producer''': Yoshinori Terasawa}}</ref>
The project ended up proving stressful for the staff. Kodaka wrote in his ''Famitsu''-serialized column ''Zettai Zetsubō Kodaka'' that the team cycled through several ideas without seeing an increase in quality and that many members of the staff left and joined throughout development. Issues led to gradual increases to the budget;<ref name="Danganronpa890">{{cite book|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|script-chapter=ja:『絶体絶命少女』に込めた思い|trans-chapter=The Sentiments Behind ''Ultra Despair Girls''|script-title=ja:ダンガンロンパ小高 ~『ダンガンロンパ』を作りながらの890日~|trans-title=Danganronpa Kodaka: 890 Days While Creating Danganronpa|page=22|language=ja|publisher=Enterbrain|date=March 30, 2017|isbn=978-4047332225}}</ref> according to Kodaka, the project became the most expensive entry in the ''Danganronpa'' series at the time.<ref name="4Gamer_Interview"/> The game's artbook includes interviews with members of the staff, asking what part of production caused them the greatest despair. Terasawa responded: "The scheduling. The budget. Or the feeling that nobody listened to anything I said. The workplace was a storm of despair!" Project manager Tatsuya Marutani said: "There's too much to mention; I can't really summarize [the despair] in a few words. We definitely didn't have an organized process, but I feel accomplished that we made it work." Kodaka similarly expressed pride over the product despite difficulties.<ref name="Artbook">{{cite book|last=Komatsuzaki|first=Rui|author-link=Rui Komatsuzaki|collaboration=Spike Chunsoft and ''Famitsu'' editors|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode 絶対絶望の公式設定資料集|trans-title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls – Official Development File Collection of Ultimate Despair|language=ja|publisher=Enterbrain|date=December 26, 2014|isbn=978-4047300446}}</ref>{{rp|309}}
=== Game design === A change in genre was decided since Kodaka found it uninteresting to reuse the previous titles' mechanics in a non-numbered entry.<ref name="4Gamer_Interview"/> Although he had always wished to write for an action-adventure game,<ref name="Siliconera_FamitsuInterview">{{cite web|author=Sato|url=https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-will-surprise-fans-says-writer/|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' Will Surprise Fans Says Scenario Writer|work=Siliconera|date=December 9, 2013|access-date=July 7, 2025|archive-date=July 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250707022934/https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-will-surprise-fans-says-writer/|url-status=live}}</ref> other genres were also discussed. A ''Mario Kart''-esque racing game featuring ''Danganronpa'' characters was an idea pushed quite enthusiastically by a few developers, even though Terasawa firmly rejected this. In a 2020 livestream celebrating the series' tenth anniversary, he laughed: "I was like, no way we should do that."<ref name="DanganTV_1"/> Ultimately, the action-adventure genre—which are more movement-focused than visual novels—was chosen based upon the premise of the main characters running from despair and escaping Towa City.<ref name="PSBlog">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|interviewer-last=Clements|interviewer-first=Ryan|url=https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2015/03/11/ps-blog-interview-kodaka-san-writer-danganronpa-series/|title=Creating the weird, wonderful world of ''Danganronpa Another Episode''|work=PlayStation Blog|publisher=PlayStation Network|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2025|archive-date=May 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250517214304/https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2015/03/11/ps-blog-interview-kodaka-san-writer-danganronpa-series/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Danganronpa Another Episode Ultra Despair Girls concept art.png|thumb|right|alt=Four pieces of concept art arranged in a gallery format. Director Shun Sasaki took help from the artworks to establish the setting of Ultra Despair Girls.|Co-director Shun Sasaki collaborated with a concept artist to brainstorm possible settings. Early ideas emphasized survival game aspects (top left), greater agility (top right), and directly chasing a mastermind villain (bottom left), before they settled on allowing the player to fight the Monokumas (bottom right).]] Even with the genre determined, details about the story and gameplay were still pending, so Sasaki worked with a concept artist to flesh out the new setting. The first artwork inspired Sasaki to incorporate survival aspects: the game would feature the main characters running around the town and trying to survive. The second concept was high-action and would give Komaru more agility to escape Monokumas, such as running on walls. Both ideas were combined in the third: Komaru would run away from enemies while simultaneously chasing a mastermind. After concluding that none of these would be fun in practice, the developers finally settled on having the player fight the Monokumas.<ref name="DanganTV_2">{{cite episode|last=Ogata|first=Megumi|author-link=Megumi Ogata|last2=Terasawa|first2=Yoshinori|last3=Sasaki|first3=Shun|last4=Uchida|first4=Aya|author-link4=Aya Uchida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLa4sNx_H38&t=1627s|title=3rd Period - Full of Firsts: Ultra Despair Girls!|series=Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Special — Dangan TV: Hope Keeps on Going!|time=27:09|format=video|publisher=Spike Chunsoft|orig-date=originally broadcast July 16, 2020|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=July 10, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> In early development, the game was called ''Ultimate Death Girls''<ref group="JP">{{nihongo||絶体絶命少女|Zettai Zetsumei Shōjo|lead=yes}}</ref> to emphasize its survival aspects, but was renamed to ''Ultra Despair Girls''.<ref name="DanganTV_2"/> The titles are a reference to the ''Disaster Report'' series, which is called ''Zettai Zetsumei Toshi'' ({{lit|Ultimate Death City}}) in Japan.<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/>
Truth Bullets and the Hacking Gun were designed as alternative to standard combat; normal fighting would have been "boring", according to Sasaki.<ref name="DanganTV_2"/> At first, the game only featured standard Monokumas, but variations were introduced alongside the development of additional bullet types, in an attempt to encourage different strategies.<ref name="DanganTV_3">{{cite episode|last=Ogata|first=Megumi|author-link=Megumi Ogata|last2=Terasawa|first2=Yoshinori|last3=Sasaki|first3=Shun|last4=Uchida|first4=Aya|author-link4=Aya Uchida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLa4sNx_H38&t=1790s|title=3rd Period - Full of Firsts: Ultra Despair Girls!|series=Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Special — Dangan TV: Hope Keeps on Going!|time=29:50|format=video|publisher=Spike Chunsoft|orig-date=originally broadcast July 16, 2020|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=August 30, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> To not intimidate the Japanese fanbase consisting primarily of visual novel fans, the developers believed that the shooter elements should be light in difficulty, so they introduced the ability to switch from Komaru to the stronger Genocide Jack for the accessibility of less experienced players.<ref name="Kotaku_Interview">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|interviewer-last=Schreier|interviewer-first=Jason|url=https://kotaku.com/a-brief-q-a-with-the-writer-of-danganronpa-1689628454|title=A Brief Q&A With The Writer of ''Danganronpa''|website=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|date=March 5, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2025|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418024400/https://kotaku.com/a-brief-q-a-with-the-writer-of-danganronpa-1689628454|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GameRevolution">{{cite web|last=Peterson|first=Blake|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/68822-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review — Warning: More Talky Than ''Metal Gear'', But Way Funnier!|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline Media|date=August 27, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2025|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118142419/https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/68822-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Three difficulty modes were developed to accommodate different playstyles, including the hardest Despair Mode for those seeking difficulty and the easiest Genocide Mode for players only interested in the story.<ref name="Gematsu_Modes">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/08/danganronpa-another-episode-difficulty-modes-detailed|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' difficulty modes detailed|work=Gematsu|date=August 20, 2014|access-date=July 8, 2025|archive-date=July 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708023625/https://www.gematsu.com/2014/08/danganronpa-another-episode-difficulty-modes-detailed|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Visuals === {{Quote box|quote="Set in a dystopian future, violence is a part of the game's environment as much as any set piece. Bloody corpses litter the street, children commit murder for fun, and robot bears are killing people around every corner. Most of the characters the player interacts with showcase some of the worst traits in people, ranging from insulting and bullying to cruel and violent."|author=Common Sense Media's David Chapman on the environments and character writing of ''Ultra Despair Girls''.<ref name="CommonSenseMedia">{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=David|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|title=Parents' Guide to ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|work=Common Sense Media|date=n.d.|access-date=September 21, 2025|archive-date=September 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924234407/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|url-status=live}}</ref>|width=400px|align=right}} Despite changes in gameplay, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' retains many stylistic choices from past ''Danganronpa'' games, including a vibrant color-scheme.<ref name="GameSpot"/> "Psycho-pop"—a term coined by Kodaka that serves as the series' stylistic identity{{efn|In a 2015 interview with ''USgamer'', Kodaka described the style as "gruesome and horrific" with a "pop" visual flair.<ref name="PsychoPop">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|interviewer-last=Mackey|interviewer-first=Bob|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/danganronpa-director-kazutaka-kodaka-on-the-power-of-psychopop|title=''Danganronpa'' Director Kazutaka Kodaka on the Power of 'Psychopop'|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=December 28, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2025|archive-date=August 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816052722/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/danganronpa-director-kazutaka-kodaka-on-the-power-of-psychopop|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}—was modified to "psycho-pop horror" in the game, according to a pre-release report from ''Famitsu''.<ref name="Famitsu_HorrorPsychoPop">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/26040704.html|script-title=ja:主人公は、苗木の妹とはさみを使う謎の少女!?『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Protagonists Will Be Makoto Naegi's Little Sister and Scissor-Wielding Girl of Mystery|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=July 13, 2025|archive-date=July 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709221614/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/26040704.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a video interview with ''The Gamer Access'', Terasawa named anime, manga, and films such as ''Battle Royale'' (2000) and ''Saw'' (2004) as inspirations.<ref name="GameAccess">{{cite AV media|last=Terasawa|first=Yoshinori|interviewer-last=Fiori|interviewer-first=Bronson|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJWBKfXPCd4|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Interview|type=Interview|format=video|work=The Gamer Access|date=April 16, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> Hirofune Hane served as ''Ultra Despair Girls''{{'}} art director and Rui Komatsuzaki returned as character designer.<ref name="ArtCredits">{{cite video game|title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls|developer=Spike Chunsoft|publisher=NIS America|version=English|date=September 4, 2015|platform=PlayStation Vita|scene=Credits|quote='''Character Designer''': Rui Komatsuzaki [...] '''Art Director''': Hirofune Hane}}</ref>
Throughout Towa City, corpses line the streets in pools of blood.<ref name="CommonSenseMedia"/> Like in previous games, all blood is colored hot-pink, while the bodies of murdered adults are bright monochrome blue or pink (for males and females, respectively) and without defining facial features or characteristics.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Siliconera"/><ref name="RPGSite2"/><ref name="DigitallyDownloaded">{{cite web|last=Sainsbury|first=Matt|url=https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2015/08/review-danganronpa-another-episode.html|title=Review: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (Sony PlayStation Vita)|work=Digitally Downloaded|date=n.d.|access-date=August 5, 2025|archive-date=May 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521210027/https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2015/08/review-danganronpa-another-episode.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Anime cutscenes were directed by Seiji Kishi at the studio Lerche, the same animation team which previously worked on the TV adaptation ''Danganronpa: The Animation'' (2013).<ref name="LisAni_Progressive">{{cite web|url=https://www.lisani.jp/0000101064/|script-title=ja:2015年にシングルとしてリリースされた、『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』のエンディングテーマがブラッシュアップされ、ハイレゾ版として登場! 狛枝凪斗（CV.緒方恵美）のキャラソンも収録。|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Ending Theme, Originally Released as a Single in 2015, Hits Download Stores in High-Res. Also Includes Nagito Komaeda (CV: Megumi Ogata) Character Song|work={{ill|LisAni!|ja|リスアニ!}}|publisher={{ill|M-On Entertainment|ja|エムオン・エンタテインメント}} (Sony Music Entertainment Japan)|language=ja|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2025|archive-date=July 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713200402/https://www.lisani.jp/0000101064/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Writing and characters === When scripting ''Ultra Despair Girls'', Kodaka said that he spent equal time writing the villains as he did writing the main characters in the mainline installments.<ref name="GamesBeat_Interview">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/03/12/danganronpa-writer-isnt-interested-in-creating-bite-sized-mobile-experiences/2/|title=''Danganronpa'' writer isn't interested in creating bite-sized mobile experiences|website=VentureBeat|page=2|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=September 13, 2025|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207221733/https://venturebeat.com/2015/03/12/danganronpa-writer-isnt-interested-in-creating-bite-sized-mobile-experiences/2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since he believed the game ended up with a different mood and style of story to the previous games, he was worried about showing the plot to other staff members, but was relieved when they told him: "It's ''Danganronpa'', all right."<ref name="Siliconera_FamitsuInterview"/>
The cast of characters went through several revisions during development. Originally, Komaru was intended to be partnered with Haiji Towa instead of Toko. At this point in development, Haiji was an assassin named Haiji Hakamori, who would fight enemies using a gun. The team eventually abandoned the gun concept; instead, he would be in constant pain whilst delivering strong punches using his casted arm, which would also be used in an important plot point according to Kodaka.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|81}} Ultimately, they concluded that it would be risky to have both protagonists of a spin-off be new characters. According to Terasawa, they chose Toko to replace Haiji's role due to the potential offered by her dual personality and because she was one of the few alive ''Danganronpa'' characters capable of combat.<ref name="DanganTV_4">{{cite episode|last=Ogata|first=Megumi|author-link=Megumi Ogata|last2=Terasawa|first2=Yoshinori|last3=Sasaki|first3=Shun|last4=Uchida|first4=Aya|author-link4=Aya Uchida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLa4sNx_H38&t=876s|title=3rd Period - Full of Firsts: Ultra Despair Girls!|series=Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Special — Dangan TV: Hope Keeps on Going!|time=14:36|format=video|publisher=Spike Chunsoft|orig-date=originally broadcast July 16, 2020|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> The developers wanted to show her growth since ''Trigger Happy Havoc''. Her design was made to look more feminine and adult in ''Ultra Despair Girls'', and they considered how Genocide Jack's combat capabilities contrasted to Toko's weak mental health. Kodaka stated that her portrayal represented how people are changed by their situations.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|31}} After Toko's introduction, the team reworked Haiji into a representation of the type of adults hated by kids.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|81}}
Even with Toko's appearance, Terasawa believed that it would be better from a business point of view to feature another returning character in the story. He discussed with Kodaka about incorporating the second game's sub-antagonist Nagito Komaeda, who was a popular character with fans. However, Kodaka didn't accept the proposal on face value; on Kodaka's direction, Nagito is never referred to by name within ''Ultra Despair Girls''. He only goes by "the Servant", which reflects the lack of humanity he receives from the Remnants of Despair.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|75}}<ref name="DanganTV_5">{{cite episode|last=Ogata|first=Megumi|author-link=Megumi Ogata|last2=Terasawa|first2=Yoshinori|last3=Sasaki|first3=Shun|last4=Uchida|first4=Aya|author-link4=Aya Uchida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLa4sNx_H38&t=1291s|title=3rd Period - Full of Firsts: Ultra Despair Girls!|series=Danganronpa 10th Anniversary Special — Dangan TV: Hope Keeps on Going!|time=21:31|format=video|publisher=Spike Chunsoft|orig-date=originally broadcast July 16, 2020|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref> Unlike past villains who were designed with attributes that would make them likable by players, Kodaka wrote Monaca Towa to have zero redeemable qualities and wished players would dislike her. Other Warriors of Hope were designed and written after different stereotypes: Masaru Daimon as a PE kid, Kotoko Utsugi as a theatre kid, and Nagisa Shingetsu as a model student.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|43, 55, 61, 67}}
=== Audio === {{see also|Music of the Danganronpa series#Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls Original Soundtrack{{!}}''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls Original Soundtrack''}} [[File:Aya Uchida and Megumi Ogata.png|thumb|left|alt=Voice actors Aya Uchida and Megumi Ogata sit next to each other on an episode of the online variety show Say You to Yo Asobi in July 2018.|In the Japanese version, Aya Uchida (pictured left) voices Komaru and Megumi Ogata (right) reprises her roles as Makoto Naegi and Nagito Komaeda. They also perform the game's ending theme, "Progressive (Zenshin)".]]
In Japanese, the lead role of ''Ultra Despair Girls'' is voiced by Aya Uchida as Komaru Naegi. With previous ''Danganronpa'' protagonists, the development team favored actors who would surprise fans, but they selected Uchida for ''Ultra Despair Girls'' since they merely wished for a faithful portrayal of Komaru's character.<ref name="Famitsu_UchidaInterview">{{cite interview|last=Uchida|first=Aya|author-link=Aya Uchida|last2=Saito|first2=Yūichirō|last3=Terasawa|first3=Yoshinori|editor=Sekai Sandai Miyokawa|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/02060387.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』は苗木こまるの成長記? 苗木こまる役内田彩さんと、齊藤祐一郎AP独占インタビュー!|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Tells the Growth of Komaeru Naegi? Interview with Komaru Voice Actor Aya Uchida and Associate Producer Yūichirō Saito|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref> A fan since the first game, Uchida was introduced to ''Danganronpa'' by her talent agency senior, Megumi Ogata, who voices both Makoto and Nagito. When her manager informed her that she had landed the role as Komaru, Uchida celebrated without hearing further details about the character. Although she initially thought Komaru was a minor character who would die early in the story, Uchida was later surprised to find she was the game's protagonist.<ref name="Famitsu_UchidaInterview"/> The Japanese voice cast also reprises Miyuki Sawashiro as Toko and Genocide Jack,<ref name="Inside_Toko">{{cite web|last=Tsukui|first=Kazuhito|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/19/80726.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女』新TVCM「腐川冬子篇」「ジェノサイダー翔篇」を公開 ― テンションの差はTVCMでも健在|trans-title=''Ultra Despair Girls'' releases new Toko Fukawa and Genocide Jack TV commercials — The altering action is evident even in commercials|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=September 19, 2014|access-date=July 30, 2025|archive-date=July 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707012840/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/19/80726.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Ogata as Makoto and Nagito, and Akira Ishida as Byakuya.<ref name="Famitsu_Cast">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201408/19059341.html|script-title=ja:【先出し週刊ファミ通】『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』に苗木誠、十神白夜、そしてあのキャラクターも登場!?|trans-title=(''Weekly Famitsu'' Preview) Makoto Naegi, Byakuya Togami, and a Certain Character to Appear in ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''!?|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=August 19, 2014|access-date=July 30, 2025|archive-date=April 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423011134/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201408/19059341.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The English dub cast by Bang Zoom! includes Cherami Leigh as Komaru, Bennett Abara as Toko, Bryce Papenbrook as Makoto and Nagito, and Jason Wishnov as Byakuya.<ref name="BTVA">{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Danganronpa-Another-Episode-Ultra-Despair-Girls/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (2015)|work=Behind the Voice Actors|publisher=Inyxception|date=n.d.|access-date=July 30, 2025|archive-date=May 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505031037/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Danganronpa-Another-Episode-Ultra-Despair-Girls/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Masafumi Takada 2014.png|thumb|alt=Music composer Masafumi Takada gives a thumbs up in 2014.|right|At the request of Kodaka, Masafumi Takada (pictured 2014) composed the soundtrack based upon 1980s electro-funk.]] The soundtrack to ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was written by returning composer Masafumi Takada. Sound effects were handled by his usual collaborator Jun Fukuda, who Takada had previously brought in to perform guitar on the soundtracks to earlier ''Danganronpa'' games.<ref name="VGMO">{{cite interview|last=Takada|first=Masafumi|author-link=Masafumi Takada|last2=Kodaka|first2=Kazutaka|author-link2=Kazutaka Kodaka|interviewer-last=Kotowski|interviewer-first=Don|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/takadakodakadanganronpa/|title=Masafumi Takada and Kazutaka Kodaka: Discussion (HEAT UP!)|work=VGMO.net|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=August 5, 2025|archive-date=April 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422224941/http://www.vgmonline.net/takadakodakadanganronpa/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Digimon">{{cite interview|last=Takada|first=Masafumi|author-link=Masafumi Takada|last2=Fukuda|first2=Jun|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201503/20074448.html|script-title=ja:『デジモンストーリー サイバースルゥース』サウンドを担当した高田雅史氏＆福田淳氏にインタビュー|trans-title=Interview with ''Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth'' Sound Producers Masafumi Takada and Jun Fukuda|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|page=1|publisher=Kadokawa|date=March 20, 2015|access-date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> Takada's score is predominantly electronic and includes new songs and rearrangements of tracks from previous games.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="SoundtrackReview">{{cite web|last=Gann|first=Patrick|url=https://www.rpgfan.com/music-review/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-original-soundtrack/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls Original Soundtrack''|work=RPGFan|publisher=Emerald Shield Media|date=December 26, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> The main theme is "Wonderful Dead", a pop-inspired track with hip-hop-styled nonsense vocals, which appears in five variants numbered from "001" to "005".<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="SoundtrackReview"/>
Kodaka requested that the soundtrack motif 1980s electro-funk music, so Takada experimented with this concept while attempting to retain the established atmosphere of past ''Danganronpa'' titles.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|311}}<ref name="VGMO"/> In the game's artbook, Takada recalls that the most despair-inducing moment of production was when his main workstation broke down. He continued working using a spare laptop, but the issues caused a delay in the development of cutscenes, since the music was the last step in that process.<ref name="Artbook"/>{{rp|311}} Another problem occurred during the arrangement of synthesizers on "Ghost Stories from the School District of Revolution". Takada wanted to include a certain sound in the bridge, but had issues with his new setup. He had to use an old MacBook since he wanted to "[stick] to [his] guns".<ref name="VGMO"/> The 3-disc and 75-song soundtrack (including jingles and sound effects) was released by Takada's music label, Sound Prestige Records, on December 18, 2014,<ref name="SoundtrackReview"/> and peaked at number 299 on Oricon's Japanese albums chart.<ref name="SoundtrackReview"/><ref name="YouTaiju_Soundtrack">{{cite web|url=https://ranking.oricon.co.jp/contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=1112307&samecd=1&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=32013556|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode オリジナルサウンドトラック — 高田雅史 (ランキングデータ)|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls Original Soundtrack'' — Masafumi Takada (Ranking Data)|url-access=subscription|language=ja|work=You Taiju|publisher=Oricon|date=n.d.|access-date=August 8, 2025}}</ref>
As Komaru and Makoto, respectively, Uchida and Ogata perform vocals on the credits theme "Progressive (Zenshin)", a guitar rock song about not giving up on hope in the face of despair. The song was released as a CD single off the soundtrack by Lantis on January 28, 2015,<ref name="LisAni_Progressive"/><ref name="Progressive_CDJournal">{{cite web|url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-/4114110779|script-title=ja:苗木誠(CV.緒方恵美)、苗木こまる(CV.内田彩) — 「絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode」主題歌～progressive-漸進-|trans-title=Makoto Naegi (CV: Megumi Ogata), Komaru Naegi (CV: Aya Uchida) — ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Theme Song: "Progressive (Zenshin)"|website=CDJournal|publisher={{ill|Ongaku Shuppan-sha|ja|音楽出版社 (企業)}}|language=ja|date=n.d.|access-date=August 6, 2025}}</ref> and peaked at number 62 on the Oricon singles chart.<ref name="Oricon_Progressive">{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/637884/products/1108030/1/|script-title=ja:PlayStation Vita専用ソフト『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』主題歌「progressive -漸進-」|trans-title=PlayStation Vita ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Theme Song: "Progressive (Zenshin)"|language=ja|publisher=Oricon|date=n.d.|access-date=August 7, 2025|archive-date=July 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724090817/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/637884/products/1108030/1/|url-status=dead}}</ref> As Nagito, Ogata performs the B-side, "Posion (Gekiyaku)". In the track, Nagito shows a mad obsession with hope by declaring that he would sacrifice his life for its sake.<ref name="LisAni_Progressive"/>
== Release == [[File:PlayStation-Vita-2001-FR.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A photograph of a PCH-2001 model PlayStation Vita|''Ultra Despair Girls'' was originally released for the PlayStation Vita (pictured) in Japan on September 25, 2014.]] ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment at a press conference on September 9, 2013, alongside gameplay footage and the title.<ref name="Famitsu_Announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/09039696.html|script-title=ja:【速報】『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ AnotherEpisode』PS Vitaで開発中!【SCEJAプレスカンファレンス】|trans-title=Immediate Report: ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Is Now in Development for PS Vita! (SCEJA Press Conference)|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|date=September 9, 2013|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=June 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617235512/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/09039696.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gematsu_Announcement">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/danganronpa-another-episode-announced-for-ps-vita|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' announced for PS Vita|work=Gematsu|date=September 9, 2013|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=June 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250622055104/https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/danganronpa-another-episode-announced-for-ps-vita|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|A third mainline entry (ambiguously ''Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony'' or ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School'') was teased at the end of the trailer with a short message: "and also... 3".<ref name="Gematsu_Announcement"/> Further details and formal announcements of these projects were not released until 2015.<ref name="Siliconera_V3">{{cite web|author=Sato|url=https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-v3-announced-for-playstation-4-and-vita/|title=''Danganronpa V3'' Announced For PlayStation 4 And Vita|work=Siliconera|date=September 15, 2015|access-date=September 15, 2025|archive-date=August 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250825034340/https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-v3-announced-for-playstation-4-and-vita/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gematsu_3">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2015/12/new-danganronpa-v3-danganronpa-3-anime-debut-series-press-conference|title=''New Danganronpa V3'' and ''Danganronpa 3'' anime debut at series press conference|work=Gematsu|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=September 15, 2025|archive-date=March 3, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303211515/https://www.gematsu.com/2015/12/new-danganronpa-v3-danganronpa-3-anime-debut-series-press-conference|url-status=live}}</ref>}} In a subsequent December issue of ''Famitsu'' magazine, Kodaka explained that ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was still in development but the plot was "pretty much done".<ref name="Siliconera_FamitsuInterview"/> He recalled to ''VentureBeat'' in 2015 that there was a partly negative reaction to the game's announcement from the series' fanbase due to the different genre, but said that he enjoyed surprising people in that way.<ref name="GamesBeat_Interview"/> ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' was released in Japan by Spike Chunsoft for the PlayStation Vita on September 25, 2014.<ref name="ReleaseDate1">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/title/29833/page/1|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode (PS Vita)|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (PS Vita)|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage|date=n.d.|access-date=August 8, 2025|quote=発売日: 2014年9月25日 [...] メーカー: スパイク・チュンソフト|trans-quote='''Release Date''': September 25, 2014 [...] '''Publisher''': Spike Chunsoft|archive-date=March 17, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317190822/https://www.famitsu.com/game/title/29833/page/1|url-status=live}}</ref> To prevent spoilers, Spike Chunsoft prohibited players from sharing screenshots and videos past the game's first chapter. A page on ''Ultra Despair Girls''{{'}} official website threatened that transgressors of the rule would be subject to childlike punishments, such as running barefoot on a gravel road or wiping their bottom with milk skin.<ref name="Inside_Spoilers">{{cite web|author=Susushi|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/22/80848.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女』ネタバレ・プレイ動画に関する注意が公開、守らない人には「方向キーを接着剤で固めるの刑」|trans-title=''Ultra Despair Girls'' Releases Notice Regarding Spoilers and Game Footage; Those Who Break the Rules Will Have Their "Thumbs Affixed to the Joystick with Hot Glue"|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=September 22, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407162146/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/22/80848.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Spike Chunsoft's marketing department ordered the removal of YouTube and Niconico videos which spoiled the game's ending.<ref name="4Gamer_Marketing">{{cite interview|last=Uchida|first=Takurō|last2=Takeuchi|first2=Naoya|editor=MU|others=Sasaki, Shūji (photographer)|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/296/G029668/20150713086/|script-title=ja:ゲームメーカーは個人のプレイ動画をどのように捉え，どういう方向で付き合っていこうとしているか。スパイク・チュンソフトにそのあたりを聞いてみた|trans-title=A Conversation with Spike Chunsoft: How Should Developers Feel and Interact with Gameplay Videos?|language=ja|website=4Gamer.net|publisher=Aetas|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=August 10, 2025|archive-date=June 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628124625/https://www.4gamer.net/games/296/G029668/20150713086/|url-status=live}}</ref>
An English localization of ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was announced in June 2015 by NIS America,<ref name="Eurogamer_NIS">{{cite web|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-european-release-announced|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''{{'}} European release date announced|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=June 4, 2015|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=November 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110180052/https://www.eurogamer.net/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-european-release-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> who released it for the Vita in North America on September 1, 2015, in Europe on September 4, and in Australia on September 10.<ref name="NIS_PQ">{{cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/games/psvita/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (PS Vita; 2015)|work=Push Square|publisher=Nlife Media|date=n.d.|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=June 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626033451/https://www.pushsquare.com/games/psvita/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GameSpot_AUS">{{cite web|last=Te|first=Zorine|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-rugby-league-live-3-launches-for-x/1100-6430354/|title=AU New Releases: ''Rugby League Live 3'' Launches for Xbox One, PS4|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=September 6, 2015|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=July 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714142924/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-rugby-league-live-3-launches-for-x/1100-6430354/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ports of the game for PlayStation 4 and Windows computers via Steam were announced in November 2016.<ref name="Eurogamer_PS4">{{cite web|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-is-coming-to-ps4|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' is coming to PS4|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=April 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430033828/https://www.eurogamer.net/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-is-coming-to-ps4|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PCGamesN">{{cite web|last=Higgins|first=Chris|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/danganronpa-ultra-despair-girls-release-date|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' shooting up Steam next summer|work=PCGamesN|publisher=NetworkN|date=November 19, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=August 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810210202/https://www.pcgamesn.com/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/danganronpa-ultra-despair-girls-release-date|url-status=live}}</ref> NIS America released the PlayStation 4 version in Europe on June 23, 2017, and in North America on June 27; Spike released it in Japan on June 29.<ref name="NIS_PS4_PQ">{{cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps4/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (PS4; 2017)|work=Push Square|publisher=Nlife Media|date=n.d.|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=January 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120103344/https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps4/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PS4_Famitsu">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201706/29136572.html|script-title=ja:PS4版『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』発売開始、『1』と『2』の間のストーリーを描く|trans-title=Spike Chunsoft Releases PS4 Version of ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'', Set in Between ''Danganronpa 1'' and ''2''|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Gzbrain|date=June 29, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=January 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113011305/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201706/29136572.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Steam version was published by Spike worldwide on June 27.<ref name="Steam">{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/555950/Danganronpa_Another_Episode_Ultra_Despair_Girls/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|publisher=Steam|date=n.d.|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=July 4, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704230949/https://store.steampowered.com/app/555950/Danganronpa_Another_Episode_Ultra_Despair_Girls/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2020, the localized versions were temporarily removed from the PlayStation Store whilst Spike moved publishing rights from NIS America over to their newly established inhouse Western subsidiary.<ref name="Publishing">{{cite web|last=Lada|first=Jenni|url=https://www.siliconera.com/spike-chunsoft-will-handle-older-danganronpa-game-publishing-duties/|title=Spike Chunsoft Will Handle Older ''Danganronpa'' Game Publishing Duties|work=Siliconera|date=July 22, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2025|archive-date=May 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512033241/https://www.siliconera.com/spike-chunsoft-will-handle-older-danganronpa-game-publishing-duties/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Publishing2">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/spike-chunsoft-to-take-over-danganronpa-series-publishing-in-the-west|title=Spike Chunsoft to take over ''Danganronpa'' series publishing in the west|work=Gematsu|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2025|archive-date=July 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721222538/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/spike-chunsoft-to-take-over-danganronpa-series-publishing-in-the-west|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Promotion === {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | total_width = 285px | image1 = Namco NamjaTown front.jpg | alt1 = The courtyard of the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall in 2008 | image2 = Nagoya International Exhibition Hall 03.JPG | alt2 = The entrance to the amusement park Namco Namja Town, pictured in 2018 | footer = Real-life events were held at the indoor amusement park Namco Namja Town (pictured top in 2018) and the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall (bottom, 2008). }} In the lead-up to its release, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was advertised with television commercials.<ref name="Inside_Toko"/><ref name="MonokumaFactory">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/16061418.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』テレビCMが公開 モノクマを大量生産するWEBコンテンツ"モノクマファクトリー"がスタート【動画あり】|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Releases New TV Commercial and Browser Game, ''Monokuma Factory'', Where You Can Mass Produce Monokumas (Video Included)|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=September 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929043237/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/16061418.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For the Japanese Vita release, Spike offered mousepads, digital wallpapers, and a Monokuma phone stand as pre-order incentives.<ref name="Gematsu_PreOrder">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/08/danganronpa-another-episode-japanese-shop-specific-pre-order-bonuses-announced|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' Japanese shop-specific pre-order bonuses announced|work=Gematsu|date=August 28, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=October 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016221731/https://www.gematsu.com/2014/08/danganronpa-another-episode-japanese-shop-specific-pre-order-bonuses-announced|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Siliconera_PreOrder">{{cite web|author=Sato|url=https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-introduces-rpg-themed-villainous-kids/|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' Introduces The RPG-Themed Villainous Kids|work=Siliconera|date=June 26, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=May 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520141259/https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-another-episode-introduces-rpg-themed-villainous-kids/|url-status=live}}</ref> Further physical merchandising was available at Comiket 2014 in August, including Kurokuma and Shirokuma plushies, a Monokuma fortune slip, pouch sets, tote bags, and armbands.<ref name="Comiket">{{cite web|author=Eugene|url=https://www.siliconera.com/survive-comiket-danganronpa-another-episode-goods/|title=Survive Comiket With These ''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' Goods|work=Siliconera|date=August 16, 2014|access-date=August 9, 2025|archive-date=June 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250623211614/https://www.siliconera.com/survive-comiket-danganronpa-another-episode-goods/|url-status=live}}</ref> Two original Vita background themes based on the game were sold separately after the release.<ref name="VitaBackgrounds">{{cite web|last=Men|first=Kyana|url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/936/936570/|script-title=ja:PS Vita/PS Vita TVでホーム画面のテーマが変更可能に! 『絶対絶望少女』のテーマが配信開始|trans-title=PS Vita and PS Vita TV Now Allows Home Screen Backgrounds! ''Ultra Despair Girls'' Themes Out Now|work=Dengeki PlayStation|publisher=ASCII Media Works|language=ja|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810002140/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/936/936570/|url-status=live}}</ref> For the 2015 PlayStation 4 port, NIS America released a limited edition bundled with an artbook, a 15-track soundtrack, a tie, a tie clip, a lapel pin, and an eyepatch.<ref name="NIS_RPGSite">{{cite web|last=Torres|first=Josh|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/4276-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-le-revealed|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' LE revealed|work=RPGSite|publisher=MIST Network|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=August 8, 2025|archive-date=February 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214105754/https://www.rpgsite.net/news/4276-danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-le-revealed|url-status=live}}</ref>
To commemorate the game's release, Bandai Namco announced that their indoor amusement park Namco Namja Town would host a ''Danganronpa'' collaboration event between September 6, 2014, and October 3, called ''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town 2014.<ref group="JP">{{nihongo||ダンガンロンパ in ナンジャタウン2014|Danganronpa in Nanja Taun Nisen Jū Yon-nen}}</ref> The event would feature ''Danganronpa''-themed desserts, merchandise, and various games.<ref name="Inside_Namco">{{cite web|author=Susushi|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/07/17/78656.html|script-title=ja:「ダンガンロンパ in ナンジャタウン2014」が今秋開催! ラインナップは1、2、絶対絶望少女|trans-title=Namco Namja Town announces ''Danganronpa'' collaboration for the fall, featuring ''Danganronpa 1'', ''2'', and ''Ultra Despair Girls''|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=July 17, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name="4Gamer_Namco">{{cite press release|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/232/G023266/20140829008/|script-title=ja:「ダンガンロンパ」シリーズとナンジャタウンのコラボ再び。9月6日から開催|trans-title=Namco Namja Town once again collaborates with ''Danganronpa'', starting September 6|website=4Gamer.net|publisher=Aetas|agency=Bandai Namco Holdings|language=ja|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref> Among attractions was Real Gakkyū Saiban in Namja Town (Kai),<ref group="JP">{{nihongo||リアル学級裁判 in ナンジャタウン (改)|Riaru Gakkyū Saiban in Nanja Taun|extra={{lit|Real Class Trial in Namja Town (Revised)}}}}</ref> a Werewolf-styled puzzle game brought back from a previous ''Danganronpa'' and Namja Town collaboration, in which participants debate to figure who amongst them ate Monokuma's salmon, in the style of the class trials from mainline ''Danganronpa'' games.<ref name="Inside_RealClassTrial">{{cite web|author=Susushi|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/08/29/79960.html|script-title=ja:「ダンガンロンパ in ナンジャタウン2014」オリジナルフード＆デザートや限定グッズが公開、"おしおき"アリの対人推理アトラクションも|trans-title=''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town 2014 reveals original foods and desserts, exclusive merch, and multiplayer mystery action game with punishments|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=November 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108114404/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/08/29/79960.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Famitsu_Namja">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/27062427.html|script-title=ja:“ダンガンロンパ in ナンジャタウン 2014”はオリジナルグッズやコラボフードが目白押し 9月30日からは"絶対絶望少女編"としてボリュームアップ!|trans-title=''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town 2014 chock-full with original merchandise and food — ''Ultra Despair Girls'' chapter begins September 30 with added content|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=September 27, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=October 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010230234/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/27062427.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From October, the game was rebranded to Zettai Zetsubō Kaigi,<ref group="JP">{{nihongo2|絶対絶望会議}} ({{lit|Ultra Despair Assembly}})</ref> with ''Ultra Despair Girls'' theming. In the second version, one participant is an ally of the Warriors of Hope whilst the others are members of the resistance. The resistance wins if they successfully repel three Monokuma attacks; the traitor's goal is to prevent them from doing so.<ref name="Inside_RealClassTrial"/><ref name="Famitsu_Namja"/> Similar events—called ''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town Satelitte—were organized in Osaka, Shibuya, Fukuoka, and Nagoya, also for limited times.<ref name="Famitsu_Satelitte">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/24062156.html|script-title=ja:"ダンガンロンパ in ナンジャタウン 2014 サテライト"が東京・大阪・福岡に期間限定オープン!|trans-title=''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town 2014 Satellite to Open in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka!|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=September 24, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=September 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926013830/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/24062156.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Famitsu_Nagoya">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/23070072.html|script-title=ja:"ダンガンロンパin ナンジャタウン2014 サテライト"が名古屋市に1月31日より期間限定オープン!|trans-title=''Danganronpa'' in Namja Town 2014 Satellite Open for Limited Time in Nagoya from January 31!|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=January 23, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=July 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728131117/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/23070072.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
To personally promote ''Ultra Despair Girls'', Kodaka announced on his Twitter that he would host a "guerilla" signing event on launch day. He rotated game stores in Tokyo and signed copies of the game for any who could find him based on hints posted to Twitter. He opened in Akihabara, moved to Shinjuku, and ultimately finished at Namja Town in Ikebukuro. Kodaka signed copies of the game for around eighty people according to ''Famitsu'' editor Sekai Sandai Miyokawa, who accompanied Kodaka for about two hours since Shinjuku. Among these people were both Uchida—who found him in Akihabara after an hour of searching—and Ogata, who had a meeting closeby to one of the stores in Shinjuku.<ref name="Danganronpa890_2">{{cite book|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|script-chapter=ja:『絶体絶望少女』発売日の奇跡!|trans-chapter=The ''Ultra Despair Girls'' Release Day Miracle!|script-title=ja:ダンガンロンパ小高 ~『ダンガンロンパ』を作りながらの890日~|trans-title=Danganronpa Kodaka: 890 Days While Creating Danganronpa|pages=24–26|language=ja|publisher=Enterbrain|date=March 30, 2017|isbn=978-4047332225}}</ref><ref name="Signevent">{{cite magazine|author=Sekai Sandai Miyokawa|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201409/26062329.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』発売記念! 小高和剛さんの"ぶらりゲーム屋巡り"&ゲリラサイン会に密着取材!|trans-title=Celebrating the Release of ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''! Private Interview with Kazutaka Kodaka During a Stroll Around Game Stores and Guerilla Game Signing|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref> Spike Chunsoft's marketing team were not informed of the stunt until Kodaka's announcement post, but they let him go ahead regardless. Though they helped by contacting the stores which he would visit in advance, they otherwise "left him on his own" according to one manager.<ref name="Danganronpa890_2"/>
Zettai Zetsubō Shūgaku Ryokō,<ref group="JP">{{nihongo2|絶対絶望修学旅行}} ({{lit|Ultra Despair School Trip}})</ref> an in-person event hosted by the developers of ''Ultra Despair Girls'', was held at the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall on November 24, 2014. Tickets for the event were awarded via raffle to customers who made purchases of above 1,000 yen at any of three ''Danganronpa''-themed shops located around Japan. It was attended by Terasawa, Sasaki, environment designer Satoshi Kawahara, and Takada from the development team, and Uchida, Ogata, and {{ill|Kazusa Aranami|ja|荒浪和沙}} (Kotoko Utsugi) from the voice cast.<ref name="Nagoya1">{{cite magazine|author=Sekai Sandai Miyokawa|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201411/24066366.html|script-title=ja:緒方恵美さん、内田彩さん、荒浪和沙さん、声優陣と開発スタッフの秘話満載だった『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ』 "絶対絶望修学旅行〜名古屋篇〜" イベントリポート! (1/2)|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Voice Actors Megumi Ogata, Aya Uchida, Kazusa Aranami, and Development Staff Deliver Behind-the-Scenes Secrets: Ultra Despair Girls Class Trip in Nagoya Event Report (1/2)|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Nagoya2">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201410210021/|script-title=ja:トークイベント「絶対絶望修学旅行～名古屋篇～」が11月24日に開催決定―連動企画「希望ヶ峰学園購買部ジーストア出張所」の開店|trans-title=Talk event 'Ultra Despair School Trip in Nagoya' confirmed for November 24 — Hope's Peak Academy School Stores opened|work=Gamer.ne.jp|publisher=Ixll|language=ja|date=October 21, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Critic reviews === {{Video game reviews | title =
| MC<!-- Metacritic --> = 72/100 (Vita)<br />67/100 (PS4)<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Reviews|publisher=Metacritic. Fandom, Inc.|date=n.d.|access-date=June 28, 2025|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204155016/https://www.metacritic.com/game/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OC<!-- OpenCritic --> = 48% recommend<ref name="OpenCritic">{{cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/2426/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Reviews|publisher=OpenCritic. Valnet|date=n.d.|access-date=June 28, 2025|archive-date=March 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320015619/https://opencritic.com/game/2426/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 4P<!-- 4Players --> = 7.5/10<ref name="4Players">{{cite web|last=Bischoff|first=Jens|url=https://www.4p.de/test/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls/3047028|title=''DanganRonpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (Action-Adventure) – Vom Adventure zum Shooter|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (action-adventure) — An adventure and shooter|work=4Players|publisher=4Players GmbH|language=de|date=March 9, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>
| Destruct<!-- Destructoid --> = 6.5/10<ref name="Destructoid"/>
| EuroG<!-- Eurogamer --> = 7/10<ref name="Eurogamer"/>
| Fam<!-- Famitsu --> = 10/10, 8/10, 9/10, 8/10<ref name="Famitsu2">{{cite magazine|author1=Giant Kuroda|author2=Jigoro Ashida|last3=Umezono|first3=Urara|author4=Rolling Uchizawa|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/title/29833/reviews|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode』 (PS Vita) — レビュー・評価・感想|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' (PS Vita) — Reviews, Ratings, and Impressions|magazine=Famitsu|issue=1346|publisher=Kadokawa|language=ja|date=October 2014|access-date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>
| GI<!-- Game Informer --> = 5.5/10<ref name="GameInformer">{{cite magazine|last=Juba|first=Joe|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls/b/playstation_vita/archive/2015/08/27/ultra-despair-girls-danganronpa-review-game-informer.aspx|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review — Despair Conquers Hope|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=August 27, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2025|archive-date=April 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405164638/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/danganronpa_another_episode_ultra_despair_girls/b/playstation_vita/archive/2015/08/27/ultra-despair-girls-danganronpa-review-game-informer.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameRev<!-- GameRevolution --> = 7/10<ref name="GameRevolution"/>
| GSpot<!-- GameSpot --> = 7/10<ref name="GameSpot"/>
| HCG<!-- Hardcore Gamer --> = 4/5<ref name="HardcoreGamer"/>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref name="IGN"/>
| JXV<!-- Jeuxvideo --> = 12/20<ref name="Jeuxvideo">{{cite web|last=Rateau|first=Julien|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/680543/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girl-un-simple-portage.htm|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — Un simple portage|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — A simple port|work=Jeuxvideo.com|publisher=Webedia|language=fr|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2025|archive-date=October 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003064101/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/680543/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girl-un-simple-portage.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| PSQ<!-- Push Square --> = 7/10<ref name="PushSquare"/>
| TGMIt<!-- The Games Machine (Italy) --> = 7/10<ref name="TheGamesMachine">{{cite magazine|last=Inchingoli|first=Marco|url=https://www.thegamesmachine.it/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-recensione-ps-vita-ps4/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' - Recensione|trans-title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' — Review|magazine=The Games Machine|publisher=Aktia srl|language=it|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2025}}</ref>
| VB<!-- VentureBeat --> = 85/100<ref name="VentureBeat"/>
| rev1 = Anime News Network | rev1Score = B−<ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/>
| rev2 = ''Digitally Downloaded'' | rev2Score = 4.5/5<ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/>
| rev3 = ''Multiplayer.it'' | rev3Score = 7/10<ref name="MultiplayerIt"/>
| rev4 = ''RPGSite'' | rev4Score = 7/10,<ref name="RPGSite"/> 9/10<ref name="RPGSite2"/> }} According to review aggregator Metacritic, ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' received "mixed or average" reviews from critics.{{efn|Metacritic calculates reception based upon normalized scores from critics. Based upon 35 reviews on Vita and 13 on PlayStation 4, both versions of ''Ultra Despair Girls'' received "mixed or average" reviews.}}<ref name="Metacritic"/> Rival aggregator OpenCritic reported that 48% of 56 critics recommended the game.<ref name="OpenCritic"/>
Reviewers were divided on the third-person shooting gameplay, which some likened to ''Resident Evil''.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/><ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/> Robert Ramsey for ''Push Square'' considered it fun despite his expectations,<ref name="PushSquare"/> whereas Joe Juba at ''Game Informer'' regarded the change in genre "baffling" and found that the execution ranged from merely functional to tedious.<ref name="GameInformer"/> More positive reviewers thought that the presence of different bullet types made for interesting or challenging gameplay moments.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Famitsu1"/><ref name="4Players"/><ref name="Famitsu2"/> Despite some input detection issues, Jens Bischoff at ''4Players'' recalled chaining different bullets together in interesting ways and ''Famitsu''{{'s}} Kawachi enjoyed figuring out which weapon to use against the variations of enemies.<ref name="Famitsu1"/><ref name="4Players"/> Marco Inchingoli, a reviewer for the Italian ''The Games Machine'', wrote that the multiple uses of the bullets managed to keep his attention through otherwise linear and repetitive shooting.<ref name="TheGamesMachine"/> Others found the strategic gameplay unrewarding: Juba blamed this on the design of enemies, who he said were "too stupid and predictable", and Elizabeth Henges at ''RPGSite'' experienced stress and frustration switching bullets during more hectic sections.<ref name="RPGSite"/><ref name="GameInformer"/>
Reviewers disagreed on the quality of the puzzle rooms. ''Multiplayer.it''{{'s}} Davide Spotti found the challenges too easy and Dave Riley for ''Anime News Network'' thought they failed to compare to the "tortured, roundabout logic" of mainline ''Danganronpa'' titles.<ref name="MultiplayerIt"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/> Contrarily, Juba and ''Digitally Downloaded''{{'s}} Matt Sainsbury thought the puzzles managed to promote unique usage of Truth Bullets in ways that the action sections did not.<ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/><ref name="GameInformer"/> Writing in ''VentureBeat'', Heather Newman described the puzzle rooms as "light" but nevertheless thought they added to the game's suspense and rewarded players for strategizing.<ref name="VentureBeat"/>
In contrast to the gameplay, some critics praised ''Ultra Despair Girls'' for maintaining the writing quality of its predecessors.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Eurogamer"/><ref name="RPGSite2"/><ref name="CDAction">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Review|magazine=CD-Action|language=pl|page=66|publisher=Gaming Tech Esports Media SA|date=November 15, 2015|access-date=August 24, 2025|via=Metacritic|quote=Does ''Ultra Despair Girls'' have moments that drag out? Yes. Is it too easy too often? Yes. But it's still ''Danganronpa'', something you remember for a long time.|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814185733/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|url-status=live}}</ref> Kōdai Kurimoto, in a review for ''Inside'', thought the title succeeded as a ''Danganronpa'' entry, but failed from a gameplay perspective.<ref name="Inside">{{cite web|last=Kurimoto|first=Kōdai|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/29/81058.html|script-title=ja:『絶対絶望少女』レビュー ダンガンロンパとしては最高に面白い...が|trans-title=''Ultra Despair Girls'' Review — Amazing As ''Danganronpa'', But...|work=Inside|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=September 29, 2014|access-date=August 13, 2025|archive-date=June 18, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618030209/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/09/29/81058.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Blake Peterson, writing in ''GameRevolution'', found the focus on story to be the game's greatest flaw. He considered the shooting unengaging and poorly designed, and preferred if the game had been developed as a normal visual novel or walking simulator.<ref name="GameRevolution"/>
David Kreinberg at ''RPGSite'' and ''Destructoid''{{'s}} Laura Dale thought that ''Ultra Despair Girls''{{'}} plot twists were amongst the strongest in ''Danganronpa'', but that they occurred much slower.<ref name="Destructoid"/><ref name="RPGSite2"/> Other critics also held sentiments about the pacing:<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="CDAction"/> Julien Rateau for ''Jeuxvideo.com'' thought the dialogue dragged on for too long; similarly, Ramsey opined that the action and text segments interrupted each other's flow.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="Jeuxvideo"/> Sainsbury and ''IGN Italy''{{'s}} Juan García found the opening slow, but thought the game eventually picked up its pace.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/> Among positive reception of the writing, reviewers highlighted Toko Fukawa, partly for her dynamic relationship with Komaru and character development since ''Trigger Happy Havoc''.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Famitsu1"/><ref name="RPGSite2"/><ref name="Gematsu">{{cite web|author1=Zero|last2=Romano|first2=Sal|author3=Pekola|url=http://gematsu.com/2016/01/gematsu-community-overall-game-year-2015-winner|title=The ''Gematsu'' community overall Game of the Year 2015 winner|work=Gematsu|date=January 17, 2016|access-date=August 31, 2025|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120104631/http://gematsu.com/2016/01/gematsu-community-overall-game-year-2015-winner|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Critics considered ''Ultra Despair Girls'' the darkest game in the ''Danganronpa'' series to date.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="VG247"/><ref name="RPGSite2"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/> Particularly, several provided commentary on the traumas of the Warriors of Hope. Sainsbury considered the uncomfortable portrayal of these themes a necessity to the game establishing its premise: only by showing the worst adults can do to children would the player believe that a child would wish to massacre adults.<ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/> Riley called the depiction of the Warriors of Hope's traumas "sickening and real": "I can't think of another game of this scope or budget that addresses it so directly, with such purpose, and with such focus on the victim".<ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/> Rebecca Jones, writing for ''VG247'', opined that ''Ultra Despair Girls'' generally did a good job portraying the aftermath of abuse rather than the events themselves, but that it occasionally "fumbles" this.<ref name="VG247"/> During a boss fight with Kotoko Utsugi (a victim of sexual abuse), Komaru is tied up to a machine that will grope her unless the player succeeds at a minigame.<ref name="VG247"/><ref name="NintendoWorldReport">{{cite web|last=Theirault|first=Donald|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/41264/on-death-despair-and-pandering-games|title=On Death, Despair and Pandering Games|work=Nintendo World Report|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=August 13, 2025|archive-date=August 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831023627/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/41264/on-death-despair-and-pandering-games|url-status=live}}</ref> In another boss fight, the player controls Komaru as she is stripped to her underwear. Sainsbury thought these scenes were parody on the exploitation of underaged characters in ''otaku'' culture, but that it sent too many "mixed messages" to serve a clear purpose.<ref name="DigitallyDownloaded"/>
Presentation-wise, several critics praised the game for its art style and character design;<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork_PC"/><ref name="Famitsu2"/> Ramsey considered it the most appealing ''Danganronpa'' game up until that point and Riley thought the "tacky pop" artstyle gave incentive to explore the map for secret collectibles.<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="AnimeNewsNetwork"/> A few other reviewers had problems with the level environments, which Kalala found "boring" and Juba compared to large but unpopulated "shooting galleries".<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="GameInformer"/> The music was praised by some as catchy,<ref name="PushSquare"/><ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="Eurogamer"/> but other critics lamented the number of reused tracks.<ref name="HardcoreGaming101"/><ref name="SoundtrackReview"/>
=== Accolades and legacy === ''Ultra Despair Girls'' received a Jury Selection Award of the Entertainment category at the 19th Japan Media Arts Festival, an annual festival organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.<ref name="MediaArtsFestival">{{cite web|url=https://j-mediaarts.jp/award/single/danganronpa_another_episode/index.html|script-title=ja:第19回 エンターテインメント部門 審査委員会推薦作品 — 絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode|trans-title=19th Entertainment Category Jury Selection Award — ''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|date=n.d.|access-date=September 21, 2025|archive-date=September 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250913194528/https://j-mediaarts.jp/award/single/danganronpa_another_episode/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, ''Gematsu''{{'s}} Sal Romano selected ''Ultra Despair Girls''—as well as ''N++''—as his overall Game of the Year. He thought the third-person gameplay was "wonky" at first but would grow on the player, and praised the story; particularly, he noted the relationship between Komaru and Toko.<ref name="Gematsu"/> Writing for ''VG247'' in 2024, Rebecca Jones described ''Ultra Despair Girls'' as an example of a console generation that was more "weird, messy, and experimental".<ref name="VG247"/>
=== Sales === Upon release, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' sold 71,000 copies in Japan, which made it third best-selling game of the week behind ''The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel'' and ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS''.<ref name="Week1">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2014/10/02/10159.html|script-title=ja:【週間売上ランキング】『零 〜濡鴉ノ巫女〜』2.8万本、『絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ』7.1万本など(9/22〜9/28)|trans-title=Weekly Sales Ranking: ''Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water'' Sells 28,000, ''Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls'' Sells 71,000 (September 22–September 28)|work=GameBusiness.jp|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|language=ja|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2025|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208064702/https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2014/10/02/10159.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By October 2021, the game accounted for 10% ({{circa}} 500,000 units) of ''Danganronpa''{{'s}} total five million worldwide video game sales across all platforms.<ref name="TotalSales">{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202110/20237853.html|script-title=ja:『ダンガンロンパ』シリーズ全世界累計販売数が500万本を突破！ PC版『1』『2』の全世界累計販売数もそれぞれ100万本超え|trans-title=''Danganronpa'' Series Surpasses Five Million Global Sales! ''1'' and ''2'' PC Versions Both Above a Million Copies Worldwide|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage|date=October 20, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>
== Other media == {{see also|List of Danganronpa media{{!}}List of ''Danganronpa'' media}} ''Ultra Despair Girls'' spawned various tie-ups. The game's official website featured an original browser game, ''Monokuma Factory'',<ref group="JP">{{nihongo||モノクマファクトリー|Monokuma Fakutorī|lead=yes}}</ref> in which the player could tap the screen to produce a Monokuma and buy equipment to speed up the process. Players who created one hundred million Monokumas were awarded with original smartphone wallpapers and profile pictures for use on social media.<ref name="MonokumaFactory"/> A mobile app developed by {{ill|Kingsoft Japan|ja|キングソフト}} and {{ill|S-Prism|ja|エスプリズム}}, ''Zettai Zetsubō Shōjo (Smartphone Saiteki-ka)'',<ref group="JP">{{nihongo||絶対絶望少女 <スマホ―最適化>|Zettai Zetsubō Shōjo <Sumahō Saiteki-ka>|extra={{lit|Ultra Despair Girls (Smartphone Optimization)}}|lead=yes}}</ref> was released to Android phones on August 13, 2015. The application allowed users to customize their device with ''Ultra Despair Girls'' theming and manage cache, history, and files. An illustration of Komaru within the app's interface changed expression depending on the device's remaining storage.<ref name="SaitekiKa">{{cite web|url=http://www.excite.co.jp/News/mobile/20150812/Spapp_8104.html|script-title=ja:【ダンガンロンパ】Android向けタスクキラーアプリ『絶対絶望少女＜スマホ最適化＞』8月13日に配信|trans-title=''Danganronpa''-Based Task Killer App ''Zettai Zetsubō Shōjo (Smartphone Saiteki-ka)'' to Release on August 13|language=ja|work={{ill|SPApp!|ja|SPA!}}|publisher=Fusosha Publishing|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=August 8, 2025|via=Excite Japan|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012244/http://www.excite.co.jp/News/mobile/20150812/Spapp_8104.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SaitekiKa2">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2015/08/danganronpa-another-episode-themed-android-smartphone-optimization-app-announced|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode''-themed Android smartphone optimization app announced|work=Gematsu|date=August 11, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2025}}</ref> Outside of original media, ''Ultra Despair Girls'' characters have appeared in other IPs. From October 14, 2014, to October 23, Komaru, Toko, and others appeared as collaboration characters in Sega's ''Chain Chronicle'', a tower defense role-playing game.<ref name="ChainChronicle">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-spreads-despair-segas-chain-chronicle/|title=''Danganronpa'' Spreads Despair To Sega's ''Chain Chronicle''|work=Siliconera|date=July 22, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2025|archive-date=December 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201133919/https://www.siliconera.com/danganronpa-spreads-despair-segas-chain-chronicle/|url-status=live}}</ref> Komaru and Makoto—together with the Hacking Gun—were added as DLC characters in Spike Chunsoft's RPG ''Mystery Chronicle: One Way Heroics'' through a September 2015 update.<ref name="MysteryChronicle">{{cite web|url=https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2015/09/24/20150924_furikatsu/|script-title=ja:PS Vita&PS4®『不思議のクロニクル 振リ返リマセン勝ツマデハ』に新たな追加コンテンツ! 今度は｢ダンガンロンパ｣シリーズとコラボレーション!|trans-title=''Mystery Chronicle: One Way Heroics'' for PS Vita and PS4® Reveals New DLC Content: Collaboration with the ''Danganronpa'' Series!|language=ja|work=PlayStation Blog|publisher=PlayStation Network|date=September 24, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2025|archive-date=June 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615061632/https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2015/09/24/20150924_furikatsu/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Two volumes of comical short story anthologies by various illustrators based upon ''Ultra Despair Girls'' were published by Ichijinsha on January 24, 2015, and May 25, 2015, respectively.<ref name="Anthology1">{{cite book|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode コミックアンソロジー|trans-title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls – Comics Anthology|volume=1|series=DNA Media Comics|publisher=Ichijinsha|language=ja|date=January 24, 2015|isbn=978-4758008389}}</ref><ref name="Anthology2">{{cite book|script-title=ja:絶対絶望少女 ダンガンロンパ Another Episode コミックアンソロジー|trans-title=Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls – Comics Anthology|volume=2|series=DNA Media Comics|publisher=Ichijinsha|language=ja|date=May 25, 2015|isbn=978-4758008549}}</ref> A titular manga adaptation of the game's story, illustrated by Hajime Tōya, was serialized in Kadokawa's online magazine {{ill|Comic Clear|ja|コミッククリア|italics=yes}} for nineteen chapters between 2015 and 2017.<ref name="AnimeUKNews1">{{cite web|last=Wolf|first=Ian|url=https://animeuknews.net/2019/09/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-volume-1-review/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Volume 1 Review|work=Anime UK News|date=September 28, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2025|archive-date=June 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250623024503/https://animeuknews.net/2019/09/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-volume-1-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANN_Manga">{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-17/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-manga-ends-in-july/.117626|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Manga Ends in July|publisher=Anime News Network|date=June 17, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2025|archive-date=April 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250415184218/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-17/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-manga-ends-in-july/.117626|url-status=live}}</ref> An English translation by Jackie McClure was licensed in the West by Dark Horse Comics,<ref name="Crunchyroll_DarkHorse">{{cite web|last=Luster|first=Joseph|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2019/9/5/sample-exclusive-danganronpa-another-episode-manga-pages|title=Sample Exclusive ''Danganronpa Another Episode'' Manga Pages|work=Crunchyroll News|date=September 5, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2025|archive-date=July 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712105441/https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2019/9/5/sample-exclusive-danganronpa-another-episode-manga-pages|url-status=live}}</ref> who released the series' three volumes in one-year intervals from 2019 to 2021.<ref name="AnimeUKNews1"/><ref name="AnimeUKNews2">{{cite web|last=Wolf|first=Ian|url=https://animeuknews.net/2021/01/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-volume-2-review/|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Volume 2 Review|work=Anime UK News|date=January 14, 2021|access-date=August 21, 2025|archive-date=May 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520200630/https://animeuknews.net/2021/01/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls-volume-2-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Volume3">{{cite web|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3003-665/Danganronpa-Another-Episode-Ultra-Despair-Girls-Volume-3-TPB|title=''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls'' Volume 3 TPB|work=darkhorse.com|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|date=n.d.|access-date=August 21, 2025|archive-date=May 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529014639/https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3003-665/Danganronpa-Another-Episode-Ultra-Despair-Girls-Volume-3-TPB|url-status=live}}</ref> In reviews for ''Anime UK News'', Ian Wolf was critical of the wait times in between Dark Horse's volumes, but complimented the writing, art, and translation.<ref name="AnimeUKNews1"/><ref name="AnimeUKNews2"/> A second manga by Kaoru Minamimachi, ''Genocider Mode'', ran simultaneously as Tōya's adaptation and followed the game's story from the perspective of Toko. It began serialization in the seinen magazine ''Dengeki Maoh'' in January 2015 and ended in early 2016.<ref name="NatalieGenocider">{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/137140|script-title=ja:「絶対絶望少女」コミカライズがマオウで開始、腐川冬子の物語|trans-title=''Ultra Despair Girls'' Manga Adaptation in ''Dengeki Maoh'' Tells the Story of Toko Fukawa|language=ja|work=Natalie Comics|publisher=Natasha|date=January 27, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ANN_Genocider">{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-26/danganronpa-another-episode-manga-from-toko-perspective-ends/.96953|title=''Danganronpa: Another Episode'' Manga From Tōko's Perspective Ends|publisher=Anime News Network|date=December 26, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2025|archive-date=January 2, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102062738/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-26/danganronpa-another-episode-manga-from-toko-perspective-ends/.96953|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Anime episode === {{see also|List of Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School episodes{{!}}List of ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School'' episodes}} [[File:Ultra Despair Girls titlecard.png|thumb|right|border|alt=Title card from the anime episode "Ultra Despair Girls". A black background with dropshadowed white text: "Ultra Despair Girls" in the top left and "SIDE:FUTURE #07" in the bottom right. The "7" is in red.|The title card for "Ultra Despair Girls" from ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School'']] A direct continuation to ''Ultra Despair Girls'' is told through the seventh episode of the ''Future Arc'' of ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School'', an anime series that takes place after the events of ''Danganronpa 2''.<ref name="ANN_Anime">{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Jacob|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/danganronpa-3-the-end-of-hope-peak-high-school-future-arc/episode-7/.105798|title=''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc'' — Episode 7|publisher=Anime News Network|date=August 26, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2025|archive-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615111731/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/danganronpa-3-the-end-of-hope-peak-high-school-future-arc/episode-7/.105798|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HardcoreGaming101_Anime">{{cite web|last=Kaharl|first=Jonathan|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/danganronpa-3-anime/|title=''Danganronpa 3'' (Anime)|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=January 3, 2017|access-date=August 16, 2025|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214048/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/danganronpa-3-anime/|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode, titled "Ultra Despair Girls", was originally premiered on August 22, 2016.<ref name="TVPassport">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvpassport.com/series/danganronpa-3-the-end-of-hopes-peak-high-school-future-arc/5077061|title=''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School: Future Arc''|work=TV Passport|publisher=TV Media|date=n.d.|access-date=August 16, 2025}}</ref> The original Japanese voice cast—including Uchida as Komaru, Sawashiro as Toko, and Aya Hirano as Monaca Towa—reprised their roles for the episode. The English cast was selected by Funimation Entertainment, who recast Komaru to Alexis Tipton and Toko to Carli Mosier, although Cristina Vee returned as Monaca.<ref name="BTVA_2">{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Danganronpa-3-The-End-of-Hopes-Peak-High-School-Future-Arc/|title=''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School — Future Arc'' (2016)|work=Behind the Voice Actors|publisher=Inyxception|date=n.d.|access-date=September 12, 2025|archive-date=August 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826205927/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Danganronpa-3-The-End-of-Hopes-Peak-High-School-Future-Arc/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EpisodeCredits">{{cite episode|title=Ultra Despair Girls|series=Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School|season=''Future Arc''|issue=7|time=22:22|network=Funimation|date=August 22, 2016}} Section: Credits.</ref>
When agents of the Future Foundation are forced into a death game, Monaca is suspected as the mastermind. Since the events of the video game, she has been primed into Junko's successor thanks to Nagito. Komaru and Toko have allied with the other Warriors of Hope, who give Komaru the location to Monaca's new lair, a repurposed multi-floor building on the outskirts of Towa City. Komaru and Toko infiltrate the lair and prepare for a fight when they are cornered by Monokumas, but Monaca suddenly surrenders and detonates the building. Komaru and Toko survive the explosion and find Monaca lazing in a van. They interrogate her, but Monaca reveals that she has no correlation to the death game at Future Foundation; however, she cryptically warns that Makoto will soon cause someone's death. She announces that she is bored of life and her van blasts off into space, where she will live the rest of her life as a NEET. The episode ends with Komaru and Toko reporting back to Makoto and Byakuya, respectively.<ref name="Episode">{{cite episode|title=Ultra Despair Girls|series=Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School|season=''Future Arc''|issue=7|network=Tokyo MX|language=ja|date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>
Anime reviewers considered the episode a throwaway or filler part in the show.<ref name="ANN_Anime"/><ref name="THEMAnime">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Tim|url=https://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1889|title=THEM Anime Reviews — ''Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School''|work=THEM Anime Reviews|date=n.d.|access-date=August 23, 2025|archive-date=April 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424044146/https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1889|url-status=live}}</ref> Jacob Chapman at Anime News Network, who rated the episode a B, was unimpressed with the story, but thought it was of less importance since ''Ultra Despair Girls'' was already an "awkward midquel" in the ''Danganronpa'' video games. He was more favorable to the episode's humor, which included callbacks to the game and cross-media references to other anime such as ''Code Geass'', ''Adolescence of Utena'', and ''Himouto! Umaru-chan''.<ref name="ANN_Anime"/> Tim Jones, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, considered "Ultra Despair Girls" a filler episode, but found it humorous how Monaca "more or less just says 'eh, I give up. Going to space now, okay bye'".<ref name="THEMAnime"/>
===Possible sequel=== Developers have indicated the possibility of a sequel to ''Ultra Despair Girls''. In the third mainline ''Danganronpa'' game, ''Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony'' (2017), the player can find a poster advertising ''Ultra Despair Girls 2''. Kodaka said that the poster was not meant to hint that a sequel was planned or in development, but that he may one day crowdfund such a project.<ref name="GameWatch_Sequel">{{cite interview|last=Kodaka|first=Kazutaka|author-link=Kazutaka Kodaka|last2=Inoue|first2=Kikuko|author-link2=Kikuko Inoue|interviewer-last=Nakamura|interviewer-first=Kyoji|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1040236.html|script-title=ja:「ダンガンロンパV3」クリエイター＆声優インタビュー|trans-title=''Danganronpa V3'' Developer and Voice Actor Interview|language=ja|work=Game Watch|publisher=Impress Corporation|date=January 21, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2025|archive-date=April 29, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429033444/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1040236.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2021 interview with ''Siliconera'', Sasaki said that he would like for an ''Ultra Despair Girls'' sequel to be the series' next project. He conceived that it could follow the Naegis' mother and Hiroko Hagakure (a supporting character in ''Ultra Despair Girls'') as they expose "the dark secrets of Towa City".<ref name="Siliconera_Switch">{{cite interview|last=Sasaki|first=Shun|interviewer-last=Lada|interviewer-first=Jenni|url=https://www.siliconera.com/interview-bringing-danganronpa-to-the-switch/|title=Interview: Bringing ''Danganronpa'' to the Switch|work=Siliconera|date=December 4, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2025|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204213656/https://www.siliconera.com/interview-bringing-danganronpa-to-the-switch/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{clear}}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
;Japanese titles and translations {{reflist|group=JP}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{official website|url=https://danganronpa.us/another-episode/index.php}} *{{official website|url=https://www.danganronpa.com/zetsubou/|name=Official Japanese website}} *{{MobyGames|/danganronpa-another-episode-ultra-despair-girls|''Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls''}}
{{Danganronpa|state=expanded}} {{Portal bar|Japan|Video games|2010s}}
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