DetectiveSS
Smash Cadet
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- Mar 11, 2020
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Shuichi Saihara from the Danganronpa Series!
Warning: Spoilers for the Danganronpa series ahead. If you intend to play it or are in the middle of playing it, I suggest you stop reading.
Who is this handsome young lad?
This is Shuichi Saihara, the Ultimate Detective. He hails from a popular game series called Danganronpa, and made his debut in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony which is the third game and most recent game in the series. In Danganronpa, everyone has an “Ultimate Talent,” which essentially means that they’re the best of the best in their particular field.
Shuichi finds himself stuck in an academy with fifteen other students, to which they’re told that the only way to escape is to kill someone and get away with it. A bear named Monokuma runs this “Killing Game,” enforcing rules and making punishments.
As the protagonist, we see this game through Shuichi’s eyes. He’s a shy, timid person with a keen eye for details. He has talent, but he doesn’t have the confidence to believe in himself. As the game progresses and he makes friendships, he slowly gains the confidence he needs to speak his mind. Since he’s a detective, he’s great at investigating crime scenes and basically runs the class trials, exposing the guilty and finding the truth beyond the lies.
What Is Danganronpa?
Danganronpa began in 2010 with the release of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. The game was praised for it’s unique concept and interesting story, and it was successful enough to spawn a franchise. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair followed soon after in 2012 and then came Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony in 2017.
Danganronpa has a very special concept that is usually the thing that gets players interested in the games. In each game sixteen students are kidnapped and placed in some sort of inescapable location, with the only way out being betraying a fellow student and creating the perfect crime. Once a body has been discovered, the students are allowed to investigate the crime scene for clues that could lead them to the culprit. Afterwards a “class trial” is held, where they attempt to discuss with each other to find whodunnit. If they’re able to, the blackened gets punished. If they don’t, everyone except the blackened gets punished and they’re free to leave.
The gameplay is split into two distinct parts: Daily Life and Deadly Life.
Daily Life consists of interacting with your fellow students, exploring new areas you have access to, choosing who you want to hang out with, and giving them gifts. It’s similar to confidants in Persona. If you reach max relationship status with another student you can even get some rewards.
Deadly Life is where things get real. It starts after a body is discovered, where you go into investigation mode. You have to scour the crime scene for clues, and every time you find something of value it becomes a “truth bullet,” which is basically your evidence in weaponized form. After investigation is over, the class trial begins. This is the part the game is most known for. In the class trial, you’re trying to find the killer. However, with sixteen immature teenagers yelling at each other in panic, things get heated. It’s your job to block out all the nonsense and find the contradictions in people’s statements, shooting right through their words with your truth bullets. There are multiple mini games that occur to help you do this, each one having their own style.
Okay, but why Shuichi and why Smash?
Danganronpa is pretty popular, especially in Japan. The series mascot, Monokuma, is very recognizable and dare I say iconic. It’s had three games, two shows and a couple of novels all released within seven years. That proves just how popular it is and why it earns a place in Smash.
As stated earlier, Shuichi is the protagonist of the latest game in the franchise, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. Not only is he more recent than the other protagonists, but he also has way more to work with in terms of a move set. Unlike the others, Shuichi is a proper detective and there hasn’t been any of those in Smash yet. He could have an extraordinarily unique move set you really can’t get much of anywhere else. There could also be alts of the other protagonists, sort of like Hero where the most recent one is the default.
Visual novels haven’t been represented at all in Smash despite still being a big part of gaming, and the best way to make that happen is to put one of the most well known ones in there.
Plus, it’s a well known fact that Sakurai himself is a big fan of the series, even going as far as to send a congratulation letter to the developers. I think we all know how much Sakurai’s opinion...tips the scales. Furthermore, while Danganronpa hasn’t had a game on Nintendo consoles yet, the possibility is definitely there. The games are developed by Spike Chunsoft, the same company that works closely with Nintendo and Gamefreak to make the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games. They’re even working on one right now.
To add one more thing, while the games themselves haven’t been on Nintendo hardware, Monokuma has as an easter egg, so it’s not entirely foreign.
Moveset Potential
Contrary to popular belief, the Danganronpa characters are actually rich with moveset potential. You just have to know where to look. Here’s an example:
Smash Attacks: Electrohammer
For Shuichi’s Smash Attacks, he wields the Electrohammer, invented by the Ultimate Inventor Miu Iruma.
Forward Smash: Shuichi swings the Electrohammer in front of him. Somewhat fast, moderate damage and an electricity effect.
Down Smash: Shuichi swings the hammer in a circle around his feet. Slow but a good kill move.
Up Smash: Shuichi swings the hammer in an upwards arc over his head. Has a lot of range.
Forward Smash: Shuichi swings the Electrohammer in front of him. Somewhat fast, moderate damage and an electricity effect.
Down Smash: Shuichi swings the hammer in a circle around his feet. Slow but a good kill move.
Up Smash: Shuichi swings the hammer in an upwards arc over his head. Has a lot of range.
Neutral Special: Truth/Lie Bullet
Words will appear in front of Shuichi and he’ll point in front of him, sending a truth bullet projectile through them doing moderate damage. If the button is held down, Shuichi’s colours will turn inverse and the truth bullet will become a lie bullet, stunning enemies upon impact for a short period of time.
Side Special: Truth Blade/Cross Swords
Some words appear in front of Shuichi and he slices through them with a Truth Blade. This attack has a special property where, if someone attacks Shuichi at the same time of this attack, instead of canceling out Shuichi will cut through their attack and do a follow up slash.
Down Special: V Counter/No, That’s Wrong!
Shuichi will put his hand on his chin and start focusing. If someone attacks him during this state, he will counter the attack by pointing back at the opponent while a small popup appears on screen. He will also say the iconic line “No, That’s Wrong!”
Up Special: Kiibo Gun
Shuichi uses this special gun to summon Kiibo, the Ultimate Robot.
If Shuichi is in the air, Kiibo will carry Shuichi upwards using his jetpack.
If Shuichi is on the ground, Kiibo will appear in front of him and fire a laser shot ahead.
If Shuichi is in the air, Kiibo will carry Shuichi upwards using his jetpack.
If Shuichi is on the ground, Kiibo will appear in front of him and fire a laser shot ahead.
Final Smash Option 1: Closing Argument
Monokuma appears in front of Shuichi, banging a gavel on a big red button. If an opponent is hit by it, a small cutscene will play where Shuichi will explain how they’re the true “blackened.”
Final Smash Option 2: Scrum Debate
Shuichi will point in front of him, anyone who’s caught in it will get dragged into a cutscene. Shuichi will be standing in line with some of his fellow students, while the opponents who were caught in the Final Smash will be caught in the middle.
Shuichi and company will then proceed to make quick arguments at the opposing side, going back and forth while the fighters stuck in the middle take damage.
Finally, it will end with a “Full Counter” when Shuichi’s side wins, doing massive damage.
Shuichi will point in front of him, anyone who’s caught in it will get dragged into a cutscene. Shuichi will be standing in line with some of his fellow students, while the opponents who were caught in the Final Smash will be caught in the middle.
Shuichi and company will then proceed to make quick arguments at the opposing side, going back and forth while the fighters stuck in the middle take damage.
Finally, it will end with a “Full Counter” when Shuichi’s side wins, doing massive damage.
Music
Danganronpa has no shortage of amazing tracks to choose from. In fact, it’s one of the best parts of the series. Go ahead and have a listen to some of them:
Danganronpa V3 Main Theme
Scrum Debate
Box 15
Ekoroshia
Hope Searching
Heat Up
Class Trial Solar Edition
Class Trial Universal Edition
Trigger Happy Havoc Main Theme
Danganronpa has no shortage of amazing tracks to choose from. In fact, it’s one of the best parts of the series. Go ahead and have a listen to some of them:
Danganronpa V3 Main Theme
Scrum Debate
Box 15
Ekoroshia
Hope Searching
Heat Up
Class Trial Solar Edition
Class Trial Universal Edition
Trigger Happy Havoc Main Theme
Mr. Monokuma’s Lesson
Mass Panic Debate
New World Order
Climax Return
Stage
There are lots of locations to choose from in this series, it could honestly be anything. However, I think that the best way to represent all three games is the Class Trial.
This stage is mostly flat with a ring of podiums in the middle and stairs on the side, making the layout somewhat similar to the Boxing Ring. Monokuma will sit in the throne at the back watching the fighters duke it out. Sometimes students from the Danganronpa series will appear at the podiums having a debate. They will throw words at each other and you’ll be damaged if you’re hit by them.
Every so often Monokuma will press the big red button in front of him with his gavel, starting Punishment Time. Long chains will extend from the ceiling and grab fighters if they come into contact with them, pulling them off screen.
Alts
Shuichi’s alts from left to right are as follows;
Shuichi (Default)
Shuichi (Hatless)
Shuichi (Prologue)
Shuichi (Maki Colour Scheme)
Shuichi (Kaito Colour Scheme)
Shuichi (Monokuma Colour Scheme)
Kaede Akamatsu (Default)
Kaede Akamatsu (Prologue)
Kaede Akamatsu is the secondary protagonist of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, so naturally she’s one of Shuichi’s alts. She can do pretty much anything Shuichi can do.
Misc.
Stock Icon:
Series Icon:
Mass Panic Debate
New World Order
Climax Return
Stage
There are lots of locations to choose from in this series, it could honestly be anything. However, I think that the best way to represent all three games is the Class Trial.
This stage is mostly flat with a ring of podiums in the middle and stairs on the side, making the layout somewhat similar to the Boxing Ring. Monokuma will sit in the throne at the back watching the fighters duke it out. Sometimes students from the Danganronpa series will appear at the podiums having a debate. They will throw words at each other and you’ll be damaged if you’re hit by them.
Every so often Monokuma will press the big red button in front of him with his gavel, starting Punishment Time. Long chains will extend from the ceiling and grab fighters if they come into contact with them, pulling them off screen.
Alts
Shuichi’s alts from left to right are as follows;
Shuichi (Default)
Shuichi (Hatless)
Shuichi (Prologue)
Shuichi (Maki Colour Scheme)
Shuichi (Kaito Colour Scheme)
Shuichi (Monokuma Colour Scheme)
Kaede Akamatsu (Default)
Kaede Akamatsu (Prologue)
Kaede Akamatsu is the secondary protagonist of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, so naturally she’s one of Shuichi’s alts. She can do pretty much anything Shuichi can do.
Misc.
Stock Icon:
Series Icon:
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