After being kidnapped by a mysterious mastermind, nine people find themselves trapped in a diabolical Nonary Game. The games rely heavily on morphic resonance to create an extremely complex narrative structure.
The Zero Escape series debuted with the 2010 Nintendo DS title Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (999). It was followed by a 2012 PlayStation Vita title Virtue’s Last Reward. Now, the two titles are bundled together in Zero Escape: The Nonary Games for PS4 and PC.
The Story
When nine strangers are kidnapped and forced to participate in a Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind known only as Zero, tensions rise as they struggle to figure out how to survive.
Originally released in 2009 in Japan for the DS, the series has since gained international popularity. It has been critically acclaimed for its stories, plot twists, gameplay, atmosphere and music.
The first game, 999 (sometimes abbreviated as 999), follows a group of college students who find themselves trapped on a replica of the Titanic. They soon realize that it is sinking, and only a few hours will pass before it is destroyed. In order to escape, they must work together to solve the puzzles that will lead them out of the room and to safety.
Spike Chunsoft’s Zero Escape games are visual novels that contain plenty of mystery, intrigue and more plot twists than you could possibly keep track of. The YouTubers behind Suggesting Gaming make a valiant effort to break down the story of the series, but it can be a challenge.
While the premise is fairly grounded in reality, many of the characters appear to be based on science fiction ideas, which adds to the feeling of adventure and mystery. The games are also quite gruesome, with players being able to be stabbed, poisoned, shot or even commit suicide.
Aside from that, the game’s story is spread across multiple timelines, which can lead to some pretty confusing situations. Some of these timelines overlap, and the characters are able to jump around between them freely, which makes for a highly non-linear narrative.
Some of the endings are more downer than others, and many of them are “GAME OVER” endings, which means that players must try to figure out how to get out of the facility without dying. This is especially true of the Decision Game, which requires that players act on certain choices.
Although the series was a commercial failure in Japan, it has received praise for its storytelling and science-fiction elements. In addition, the Nonary Games are one of the most gripping narrative threads in video game history, and they are sure to keep you on your toes until the very end!
The Puzzles
The Zero Escape series has an extremely rich and detailed puzzle mechanic. It involves the player solving mind-bending escape-the-room puzzles and also exploring a location to find clues that will allow them to unlock exit doors or trigger a cutscene.
This is an exciting series that takes the concept of an escape game to a new level. Each entry progressively gets darker and more intense, as the main villains start to become more twisted and evil.
Luckily, there are a few key tips that will help players navigate through this difficult and complex puzzle-based series. These include examining every item and clue carefully, not just grabbing them. This will help you avoid missing a vital piece of information that could change your course in the game’s later stages.
In addition, taking notes when you solve a puzzle is essential. This way, you’ll be able to remember the code or pattern that you need in order to move forward. It’s a simple idea that can be overlooked by some players, but it can be life-changing when you get into the game and begin to encounter cryptic codes or hidden patterns.
Another tip is to be patient when it comes to the puzzles. Oftentimes, you’ll need to wait until the right time to complete them. This can be frustrating if you’re rushing through the game, but it’s essential if you want to avoid a bad ending.
For example, if you’re in the control room of the Nonary Game, it may be tempting to just turn the knobs and open the switchboard. However, if you do this, it can be possible that the answer lies in another timeline and not in your current one.
It’s crucial to take your time when playing the puzzles, as they’re an integral part of the story. In some cases, you’ll even be given a certain amount of time to finish them before the plot reveals something that will prevent you from progressing.
It’s also important to remember that you can always jump back and forth between timelines to try a different route or change your decisions. This will allow you to make a better choice and get a more satisfying and realistic outcome.
The Characters
Kidnapped to an unfamiliar location, nine people find themselves forced to participate in a diabolical Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind called Zero. Tensions rise as the situation becomes more and more dire, and the strangers must figure out how to escape before they wind up dead.
The characters in Zero Escape are all unique, with each of them having their own distinct personalities. Some are very cynical, while others are more noble and have strong morals. In addition, each of the protagonists has their own unique skills and abilities that can be used to aid them in their quest for survival.
Some of the characters in the series are recurring, while others have only made one appearance. For example, Akane Kurashiki from 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is also a character in the sequel Zero Time Dilemma, while K from VLR is a regular in AI: The Somnium Files.
Other than these core characters, there are also a number of other notable figures in the series, including Snake, who appears in both 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, and 999: Zero Time Dilemma. Snake is a very popular character in the series, especially among players of 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, but many have wondered why he is so beloved.
As with most puzzle visual novels, the main goal of these games is to solve puzzles and get out of the room. Some of them are very simple, while others can be difficult and require a good deal of brainpower.
There are a few different ways to complete these puzzles, and each of them is worth exploring as they can help you gain new insights into the story. These include examining your surroundings, collecting items, and solving puzzles using logic or mathematics.
In addition, each of the characters in these games has their own special talents that can be utilized to help you escape the room. For instance, Sigma is able to use his memory to solve puzzles in 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, while Phi is able to use her math prowess to complete the puzzles in Zero Time Dilemma.
The Endings
The game features multiple endings, which are based on decisions made throughout the game. Some of these decisions are mandatory, while others are optional, and can be influenced by hindsight or previous playthroughs. It is recommended to go through all the possible paths and reach the True Ending if you want to see what happens next in the story.
To get the True Ending, you must have completed all of the puzzles, including the laboratory escape and Dio END. You must also have saved the Safe Ending on your game file (either the main or backup) to view it in the future. If you do not save it, you will be rewarded with the Axe Ending instead of the True Ending.
However, there are some exceptions to these rules. One example is the Coffin Ending, which you can achieve by going through Door 3 after you find a note from Ace that states Snake may have been murdered.
This path doesn’t have the romantic scene with Junpei and June. In addition, the 0 bracelet from Ace is not given to Clover and she is not injected with Soporil by June. In this path, you can also see a note that says “Snake” and that he participated in the first Nonary Game.
After this, the game ends and the announcer informs you that all the doors have been unlocked, except for the number 9 door. You can only use the number 9 door if you have 11 points.
In this pathway, you can also choose a betray option after escaping GAULEM Bay on Luna’s path. If you choose ‘Betray’, you will be closer to the Number 9 door, making it easier for you to escape.
After you have chosen ‘Betray’, you will run through the various possibilities in your mind. You will be able to pick the best option for your team. You can even change your mind later if you want to, as long as you have the correct number of points. The betray option has one disadvantage, however, and that is that you will have to betray a friend in order to get the most points. This can be difficult, especially when you are trying to save a friend’s life. It is also important to be careful when you are choosing a betray option, as it can lead to you losing points and possibly your entire team’s lives.
