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[cj_iwakura]

• Release Date: 9/13/16 (US) | 9/16/16 (EU) | 5/24/16 (JP)
• Platform: PS4, PSVita (US) / Xbox One (JP) / PC (TBA)
• Genre: Visual Novel
• Developer: 5pb.

Psycho-Pass is set in 2112. The Sibyl System is actively measuring the populace's mental states, personalities, and the probability that individuals will commit crimes, using a "cymatic scan" of the brain. The resulting assessment is called a Psycho-Pass. When the probability of a person engaging in crimes measured by the Crime Coefficient index exceeds a certain level in an individual, he or she is pursued, apprehended, and killed if necessary.

This law is enforced by the MWPSB(Ministry of Public Welfare Safety Bureau). Their investigative division consists of two primary types of officers: Inspectors and Enforcers. While Inspectors are trusted officers who spearhead most investigations, the ones who often pull the triggers are Enforcers; often ex-criminals or normal people who simply had a Crime Coefficient that became far too high for society to allow.

The game is based on the events of the show's first season, and does spoil elements of it. Though familiarity is not required, it is highly recommended to get the most out of the game and its characters.
The first two episodes are currently free on PSN.

But What About Season 2, you ask?

.
The player can choose between two new detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigation department's Division 1; Nadeshiko Kugatachi, a calm and serious inspector whose memories were wiped,
and Takuma Tsurugi, a hot-headed Enforcer who is searching for his missing childhood friend.

Division 1's key staff, from left to right: Shion Karanomori(Support), Shusei Kagari(Enforcer), Yayoi Kunizuka(Inspector), Shinya Kogami(Enforcer), Akane Tsunemori(Inspector), Nobuchika Ginoza(Inspector) and Tomomi Masaoka(Inspector).

Although primarily a visual novel, the player must decide the best course of action for each given situation. Every decision has its own repercussions.

With an intricate decision-making system, Psycho-Pass:Mandatory Happiness offers a twisted plot and compelling cases, providing a number of different endings.

Ultimately, depending on the choices made, Hues my deteriorate beyond recovery, cases may be left unsolved, and the game may end quicker than expected.

(Limited Edition)

RPGFan
(80%)

I enjoyed my time with Mandatory Happiness, although I came away from it feeling a bit sullen. Licensed games rarely tend to add much to their individual franchises, but Psycho-Pass' creator, Urobuchi Gen, got his start writing visual novels for Nitro+, the studio that paired up with 5pb to develop critical darling Steins;Gate. Taking that into consideration, Psycho-Pass and 5pb seem like a match made in heaven, but the result of this pairing is ultimately, well, just another licensed game.

Though Mandatory Happiness is an above-average visual novel in its own right, it woefully underutilizes its setting and suffers from mediocre writing. A little more love could've made this one an essential visual novel, but as it stands, it's still a pretty good cyberpunk adventure.

Keengamer

(9.4/10)

Psycho-Pass Mandatory Happiness offers an amazing story, full of captivating moments, exciting plot twists, emotional cases, and a constant tempo that prevents it from ever feeling slow. The choices you'll make carry a great influence on the story, and you feel it every time you're asked how to proceed with a situation. Although reading subtitled texts will take up most of the time, the game presents the setting and characters in an intriguing way with the constant switching of them regardless of the conversation. The uniqueness found within every scene of talking, action, and investigating provids the depiction of a living world inside the story.

Twinfinite
(4/5)

For the most part, Mandatory Happiness is a Psycho-Pass game made specifically for Psycho-Pass fans. The story has no real bearing on the overall plot of the series, but it definitely adds a lot to the compelling universe, and even provides useful explanations for some lore points brought up in the TV show (hyper oats, anyone?). Mandatory Happiness is a great supplement to the already fantastic Psycho-Pass story.

Push Square
(7/10)

Even if you haven't seen the Psycho-Pass television series before, Mandatory Happiness does a good enough job of making it clear what's going on to be enjoyable. It tells an engaging and thought-provoking story that deals with some heavyweight and uncomfortable subjects, and one that poses plenty of ethical dilemmas along the way.

One link to join it all.
So it goes, again...

 

[Avallon]

Just came in from Amazon. According to the OP, I should watch the anime before I play it?

 

[N° 2048]

Getting this either tomorrow or Thursday in the mail. Can't wait!

Great OT.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Just came in from Amazon. According to the OP, I should watch the anime before I play it?

I think you should, but YMMV. The show is great, and the game spoils elements of it.

 

[Tohsaka]

Just came in from Amazon. According to the OP, I should watch the anime before I play it?

Season one of the anime is pretty good, you should watch it regardless IMO. I got the game earlier but haven't played it yet.

 

[AniHawk]

Just came in from Amazon. According to the OP, I should watch the anime before I play it?

first two episodes are free on psn if you wanted to give it a shot.

 

[K.Jack]

I'm in, as soon as it hits Steam.

 

[cj_iwakura]

first two episodes are free on psn if you wanted to give it a shot.

Oh right.
https://store.playstation.com/#!/en...de-1/cid=UV0003-NPVA99939_CN-0000000000253552

I think it's JP only, but the original voices are great.

 

[Shizuka]

Subscribed.

I got the

Spoiler

true ending

with Tsurugi, currently playing Nadeshiko's route now.

Spoiler

Not that it matters, at least halfway into the game. It's all the same dialogue, just from a different perspective.

 

[Avallon]

Ok. Gonna watch the anime. Thanks all.

 

[Bowlie]

that link about season 2 👌🏽

will be waiting for the Steam version, but the reviews look good

 

[RK128]

I enjoyed my time with it and released a first impressions article on 3wirel covering the first major case of the game.

http://3wirel.lostsig.com/2016/09/12/psycho-pass-mandatory-happiness-first-impressions-ps-vita-ps4/

Will be releasing a review later this week but I really enjoying my time with the game so far .

 

[Prelude.]

Every score should come with a "I liked/didn't like the anime".

 

[Shizuka]

Every score should come with a "I liked/didn't like the anime".

Thanks for the tip, I'll include that line in my review.

 

[RK128]

Every score should come with a "I liked/didn't like the anime".

Mmm.....will consider putting that in my review when I release it later this week. Thank you for the suggestion .

 

[breakfuss]

Ah man, I was going to say it's on netflix for those who hadn't seen it but it appears to no longer be available (in the US at least). Not the hugest anime fan but i really enjoyed it.

 

[Lumpy Onion]

Ah man, I was going to say it's on netflix for those who hadn't seen it but it appears to no longer be available (in the US at least). Not the hugest anime fan but i really enjoyed it.

That sucks. After getting back into anime with Attack on Titan this show was the one that impressed me the most. As someone who doesn't watch much anime either I was very impressed with how the story played out. Some pretty mature themes got touched on and there were some interesting twists and turns. Memorable antagonists too.

Kinda want to play this so I can jump back into this world and see it's characters again.

 

[The Last Wizard]

I'll grab this over the holidays, really interested in how the choices will play out.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

Does this have an English dub?

 

[cj_iwakura]

Does this have an English dub?

Nope. Very, very rare for a VN to have that.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

Nope. Very, very rare for a VN to have that.

Bummer

 

[T-Rex.]

Friday can't come soon enough.

 

[Tohsaka]

Does this have an English dub?

I don't think any localized VNs have one, it'd be too cost-prohibitive.

 

[Dandy Crocodile]

This snuck up on me. Gonna have to do some fund juggling.

 

[Akibared]

Starting this up now playing as Nadeshiko first.

 

[Karu]

This releases in Europe... but it's nowhere to be found on our shop? Anyone could give a hint towards the price?

 

[Movalpolos]

I just started watching the series with the first 2 episodes free on PSN. Enjoying it so far, I like their take on a cyberpunk setting. It feels tonally a little bit like Soul Hackers.

I'll definitely finish this up before I start the game.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

Bought and gonna play as soon as I'm done with Ace Attorney. But the character designs for the two protagonists bother me. Way too pale for my tastes. And kinda bland. Oh well.

I think it's the forehead. Season 1 characters are also pale as fuck but their hair distracts me from it, and makes them more stylized.

Anyway looking forward to playing this!

 

[SxP]

Nope. Very, very rare for a VN to have that.

Can the Japanese dub at least be disabled then? So that it's just music and sound effects but no voices.

 

[EVA UNIT 01]

too many games man....sigh

this or DQ man

 

[T-Rex.]

Edit: Nvm, I really want that art book. PS4 LE it is.

 

[Phototropic]

I got halfway through the first season over the weekend but will pick it up as soon as I'm done with that.

 

[catbrush]

I got this yesterday. After the first case, I'm disappointed by the sparseness of CG during what felt like key scenes. Doesn't seem as high budget as other Nitro+ titles. The plot seems like it could be interesting though.

Spoiler

I chose Nadeshiko as my character. I ended up killing Haruto and stunning Shiori. Is it possible for this encounter to play out differently?

 

[N° 2048]

Just started this, glad I watched the first season of the anime. Great so far.

 

[Pandora012]

So amazon is determined not to deliver this to me.

 

[Dee Dee]

Oh this can't be a coincidence...
I have two weeks off inbetween jobs and borrowed a Vita to play Steins;Gate, not realizing this was coming out.

I am so happy to see that season 1 cast.

16th for EU is the release date, am I reading this right?
It's not my Vita and my brother's PSN account, so I don't want to fiddle with the country settings.

My hue is going of the deep end just thinking about playing this!

 

[cj_iwakura]

I don't think any localized VNs have one, it'd be too cost-prohibitive.

Disgaea Infinite's the only one that I know of.

 

[Shizuka]

Disgaea Infinite's the only one that I know of.

Spoiler

Danganronpa, Zero Escape

if you consider them as visual novels.

 

[EVA UNIT 01]

So i want a good VN and this seems great but before i pull the trigger, does anyone know if steins gate zero was delayed?
The amazon date has changed and ive seen nothing posted on gaf.
If it was ill so buy this game now.

 

[Shizuka]

So i want a good VN and this seems great but before i pull the trigger, does anyone know if steins gate zero was delayed?
The amazon date has changed and ive seen nothing posted on gaf.
If it was ill so buy this game now.

This isn't really a good VN if you're not a fan of the anime.

Steins;Gate 0 was delayed to "Q4 2016".

 

[EVA UNIT 01]

This isn't really a good VN if you're not a fan of the anime.

Steins;Gate 0 was delayed to "Q4 2016".

The thing is im also interested in said anime and intended to watch season 1 ahead of the VN if I purchased it.

 

[jonjonaug]

I'm enjoying the game so far but it might have an even worse script quality than Danganronpa 2 somehow. There's frequent gramatical errors, odd phrasing, and for some reason the script keeps getting Kagari mixed up with Tsurugi (the new Enforcer).

It's sad that NISA seems to care so little about putting out quality work.

EDIT: OK yeah this is definitely for fans of the anime. There's a really great twist in there that wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it won't mean much if you haven't watched the anime already.

 

[wrowa]

I got this yesterday. After the first case, I'm disappointed by the sparseness of CG during what felt like key scenes. Doesn't seem as high budget as other Nitro+ titles. The plot seems like it could be interesting though.

Spoiler

I chose Nadeshiko as my character. I ended up killing Haruto and stunning Shiori. Is it possible for this encounter to play out differently?

Spoiler

It was possible for Shiori to get killed too. I don't think it's possible for her to remain under the 100 threshold, though.

 

[Dee Dee]

Okay, fuck it, I am playing, Ace Attorney, Steins;Gate, Amnesia:Memories and some freaky Korean Otome game on my phone all at the same time, but I got myself some PSN budget - let's do this!

When do new games become downloadable on the EU PSN store? Midnight GMT?

 

[Shizuka]

Okay, fuck it, I am playing, Ace Attorney, Steins;Gate, Amnesia:Memories and some freaky Korean Otome game on my phone all at the same time, but I got myself some PSN budget - let's do this!

When do new games become downloadable on the EU PSN store? Midnight GMT?

It's already available in Europe.

 

[Dee Dee]

It's already available in Europe.

Not on my Vita, send help pls.

 

[Shizuka]

Not on my Vita, send help pls.

My mistake, it should be available in a few hours.

 

[Lumination]

Already have the Vita LE in hand. Just need to finish AA6 first.

I like the Psycho-Pass world a lot, so it would be really hard to disappoint me here.

 

[jonjonaug]

Cleared the true ending for Kugatachi. That was...not at all what I was expecting going in, but it provided an interesting insight into the world of Psycho-Pass that can't have been considered from Akane's or Kogami's perspective.

EDIT: Oh, it looks like there are multiple "True Ends", hm.

Well, I'm going through other paths now to see what I can find. This clothes shopping scene with Shion is pretty entertaining.

 

[Dee Dee]

Gaah, I want to play it, but it seems the EU PSN digital store does still not list it. The PS4 version is on the homepage, but no Vita.

I'm going back to bed...