50 Best Games of 2016: #20 – Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Escape 3
Source: IGN

Our 50 best games of the year countdown isn’t in any order, we’re just going through fifty of the finest the year has given us. Find out more here.

When Spike Chunsoft released 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors (or 999, for short) for the Nintendo DS in 2010, the few people that bought it were pretty surprised about the brutality of the game compared to other games released for the handheld console.

When the sequel, Virtue’s Last Reward (often abbreviated to VLR), was released for Nintendo 3DS and the PS Vita, fans were left eagerly awaiting a third and final entry in the series. But it was not to come. Due to the series not having enough support, according to the publisher, there would not be any point in making a third game. It would simply not bring enough revenue.

Fast forward to 2015, and fans of the first two games are trying to get the third game made, grouping into the so-called “Operation Bluebird” to get a continuation to their beloved trilogy. In July 2015 the game was announced, the logo and title were released in October, and concept art in December. This year, June 28, Zero Time Dilemma was finally released for PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS, and two days later on Steam as well.

Being one of the many fans who were grasping for straws when they finished the second game, I eagerly awaited Zero Time Dilemma, avoiding spoilers as well as possible in the few days I had to wait for my physical copy to arrive. I played it, and I wasn’t disappointed. Well, one part was just a tiny bit disappointing, but let’s forget about that for now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9UYvGVZJgw

In general, Zero Time Dilemma is a really good game, bringing together many plot threads from the first and second game, tying them together neatly. Sadly, the other plot threads that are left hanging were pushed back, not referenced, and just left alone. However, the reason for this is simple: Zero Time Dilemma is the grand conclusion of the Zero Escape series, but can be played on its own. Although there are some references and nods to the other games in the series, including music that is reused in very fitting ways, most if not all of the information needed to understand the game is found in Zero Time Dilemma, including a rough sketch of the plots of 999 and VLR. Don’t get me wrong, though, I still recommend playing both 999 and VLR before playing Zero Time Dilemma.

Unlike the other two games, the final game in the Zero Escape trilogy is played in fragments, and from the viewpoint of three different characters, each in a different team. Each fragment has a choice, if not several, to be made, after each of which the game branches off again. You can see when in the game a fragment takes place on the flowchart, but only after you’ve started it. The game has three main parts. Choices, Cutscenes, and puzzle sequences. In the puzzle sequences you’re stuck in a room of some kind and have to solve puzzles to be able to escape. The puzzle sequences are play like your average point and click game, picking up certain items to use elsewhere in the room. The cutscenes are self-explanatory, and the choices can range from choosing one of several possibilities, one of only two, or sometimes, even leaving it up to chance.

The game is all about choices, about morality, and similar topics. Although it can be brutal at times, Zero Time Dilemma still has light moments that help keep the whole thing up. The game is filled with twists, and will keep you guessing until it’s done. The game has a time limit on most choices, forcing you make a hard decision within seconds. Since many of the choices that have to be made basically stick you between a rock and a hard place, it’s not a pleasant time.

Zero Time Dilemma, despite its shortcomings in the form of cutscenes that can be too stiff and a villain whose “motives are complex”, easily shaped up to be one of my favourite games of the year. With the remaster of 999 and VLR being released for PS4, PS Vita and PC next year, and for PC eventually, too, there’ll never be a better time to get into the series.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.