PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness Critic Reviews

It isn’t just a rare example of a fantastic anime game but feels like a re-imagining that is, in some respects, superior to the source material. Poignant and dense, Mandatory Happiness is a game that will require additional runs to absorb but only one to be endlessly captivated.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is a great introduction for the players that are not used to the visual novel genre. Its story has some Minority Report elements and it is without a doubt the strongest aspect of the game.

Visual novels rarely come as deep and thought provoking as this one.

A little more love could've made Mandatory Happiness an essential visual novel, but as it stands, it's still a pretty good cyberpunk adventure.

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.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness has to be considered in all respects as an alternative episode of the animated series, as it embodies its spirit, through a narrative imbued of the themes that made it famous.

Mandatory Happiness is a visual novel faithful to the original Psycho-Pass anime, a real spin-off episode that every gamer could enjoy. The game also represents an interesting anticipation of what the anime has to offer to those who haven't seen the first season yet.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is a nice visual novel game based on the anime series. Its story and new characters make an interesting title which probably will get further attention from the series fans and also visual novel fans.

Whether you’ve been a fan of Psycho-Pass for years, or you hadn’t even heard of the series until you saw this review, Mandatory Happiness is well worth checking out. Though you can play it as a newcomer, it’s a far more rewarding experience if you’ve watched the anime.

Psycho-Pass is a stunning visual novel. Faithful to the anime, entertains the user thanks to the excellent cast of characters and storyline full of twists.

Ultimately, I liked Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness and that is not something I expected from the outset.

It could be argued that Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is not, in a traditional sense, a game, but even so it’s unbelievably entertaining. Story gamers will be in heaven, and fans of the anime are sure to find it just as delightful. I’ve never even seen the anime and I definitely found my own happiness within the stories I experienced.

A deep plot and dramatic, and interesting characters, make Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness a must-have for any fans of the original series and of visual novels.

Established fans of Psycho-Pass can revel in spending another few hours with their favorite characters and might even be considered a mandatory assignment for those interested in the CID.

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. If you can get past the borderline non-existent gameplay then the narrative will probably keep you entertained for a dozen hours or so, although it may leave you wondering if this story would have been better told over a few episodes of the anime instead.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness somehow manages to be an easy and hard recommendation at the same time. The story, characters and theme that worked so well in the first season of the anime return and are in top form. The antagonist might very well be the best in the entire franchise. Any fan of the series will find a lot to love here. Unfortunately, as a video game, or as a visual novel, it fails to really impress. If you’re unfamiliar with the anime, I doubt there’s much here worth investing in.

An enjoyable cyberpunk adventure with an excellent setting and cast of characters that are worth caring about. It doesn’t quite stretch its storytelling muscles as far as it could, confined by the traditional visual novel formula in ways that feel detrimental to the overall narrative. Despite this, the world is compelling, original and thought-provoking at times. If you're a fan of Danganronpa or Persona, Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness could be next on your wishlist.

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is a stylish and well written visual novel which uses the interesting concept of the anime well. Little variety in the artwork, no animation at all and the two characters' stories being a little too similar stop it from attracting non-genre fans however.

A worthy companion to the original series and one of the better Visual Novels available on consoles. It doesn’t quite have the narrative force that can hook people in like Steins;Gate or Danganronpa, but it is definitely the best possible medium for adapting the cyberpunk setting of the original series while letting fans spend more time with Akane and her team.

While mostly appealing to fans of the original series, Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is able to present an immersive world and appealing narrative to newcomers - but come prepared to learn.