Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a murder mystery visual novel that has gameplay elements similar to the Ace Attorney series, although this game seems much more faster paced. As a new student of the Hope's Peak Academy, you end up trapped in the school by a sadistic bear named Monokuma, who says that you must get away with murder in order to escape.
Game Flow
The game has a certain order of operations to it, where it flows from one aspect to another. In the Daily Life section of the game, the player can get to know the other characters, until Monokuma pushes them to murder someone, which is when the player needs to investigate (Deadly Life). Once the investigation has concluded, the Class Trial portion starts, where the player must try to find the true culprit behind the murder.
Daily Life
The Daily Life is the first section in any chapter that provides the player with the opportunity to speak with the other students and get to know them. This is also the chance to find out more about the entire situation, as well as build relationships with your classmates. Note that this period ends whenever a murder has been committed.
Each character in the game has their own report card that will fill out as you spend time with that person, revealing more about who they are. This is further enhanced when you give them gifts, which are gotten from the school's shop with Monocoins. These coins are earned by finding them throughout the school, as well as doing well in the Class Trials.
Deadly Life
When a murder happens and the body is found, the Deadly Life section begins. It is now up to the player to investigate the school, looking for clues, which is done in a first-person view. You can go search various rooms, as well as the crime scene, where you will undoubtedly find clues.
Likewise, you can talk with the other classmates about what happened, piecing together tidbits from what they say. One thing you've given is the Monokuma Case File, which will give you information about each case, such as the time the murder occurred or what weapon was used.
Class Trial
With Class Trials, it is up to you to find out who the culprit is and point them out using the evidence you have gathered. As the trial progresses, you will end up playing various mini-games that will help you pinpoint the culprit in the murder case. It ends with a vote to tell everyone who the real culprit is, with him/her being punished if you are right (everyone else is punished if you are wrong).
Nonstop Debate
All of the characters give their argument about the incident and as they talk, certain words will be highlighted. The evidence you found during the Deadly Life section become Truth Bullets, which you can use to refute those statements you find to be lies.
Hangman's Gambit
This mini-game has you recall important words and/or phrases related to each case. For this mini-game, you will see letters floating around that must be hit in order to complete the word or phrase. You only get so many chances to hit the correct letters, or else you will fail.
Bullet Time Battle
As the Class Trial starts to reach its end, sometimes the others will refuse to listen to you and this mini-game will begin. It's similar to a rhythm game, where you must time button presses to a specific beat that changes as the mini-game gets longer.
Closing Argument
Once you feel that you've pieced everything together regarding the murder, you will give the Closing Argument. Here, you have to input the events that happened into missing areas that resemble a comic strip. Remember that you must use the whole Class Trial experience, as well as the original events to piece everything together.
Punishment
The punishment happens at the end of the Class Trial and can have one of two outcomes. If the culprit is correctly identified, then only that person will be executed. However, if the wrong person is accused, then everyone else will be punished and the real culprit will be set free.
School Life
School Life is an extra mode that is unlocked upon completing the main story mode the first time in the Vita version of the game. This mode does without the whole murder mystery aspect of the game, instead letting players focus on building relationships with the other students.
