Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward Critic Reviews

Virtue's Last Reward follows up on 999 wonderfully and delivers everything you'd want in a sequel. It's got the same kind of creepy soundtrack and cerebral gameplay 999's fans will love, but done far better. Part of that is due to it being more user-friendly, making VLR an easy recommendation for anyone who missed out on 999. Everything about how VLR plays is improved, resulting in a better experience in every way imaginable.

An absolutely amazing experience from start to finish, I couldn't put my Vita down without going through withdrawal a short time later. Zero's Escape: Virtue's Last Reward has a fantastic balance between story and gameplay that is somewhat rare these days.

There should be no timeline ever created that doesn't contain you playing this game.

This mind-bending visual novel captivates with challenging puzzles and an intelligent story unrivaled in its ambition.

I recommend a lot of games to friends, but this is one of those "okay, if you only play one game on this list, make it this one" type of games. I'll go as far as to say if you don't own a Vita, Zero Escape is one of the best reasons to get one.

Explaining what makes this great is no easy matter. There simply hasn't been a game like this in our region before. Even though these games are immensely popular in Japan. The genre is called visual novel, or an interactive book if you will.

For the most part, I think you'll find Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward to be a step up from 999, and really, that's saying something considering how excellent 999 was. It's not flawless, no, but well worth your time, especially if you're the type of person that enjoys new gaming experiences that are far from the norm.

What's important isn't what genre Virtue's Last Reward sits in, what country it comes from, what platform it's on, or any of those other superficial things-it's the fact that this is a wonderfully crafted game that will grip you from beginning to end.

Its sharp wit, cleverness, and enigmatic plot provide not only a top-tier visual novel experience, but some of the best entertainment I've had gaming.

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is a mature, sophisticated, and delightfully dark whodunnit adventure.

This is an unique title, above all in the West. It's worth a try, and will manage to keep us playing for a long while. On the top of that, getting all the endings may take around 30 hours, so if you like this kind of games, this one is definitely a must have.

For a dark, cerebral and genuinely unique journey on Vita, this is peerless.

Thematic appropriateness aside, a fantastic, mind-blowing narrative that will wreck havoc with your brain.

Virtue's Last Reward kept me addicted, challenged, and constantly guessing. As the sequel to 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors, it lives up to its legacy and invigorates the graphic adventure genre. Don't let this one pass you by; VLR is one of my favorite games this year.

Virtue's Last Reward delivers a great amount of fun. With improved gameplay mechanics and +30h of lifespan, you won't find anything better than Chunsoft's last effort.

Among the many games released each year, there aren't many that leave you contemplating and debating their story and worldviews long after the final set of credits has rolled. Virtue's Last Reward takes its place proudly among this crop of games. As fun and challenging as the brainteasers in the room escapes are, they're merely dressing for the fantastic writing, memorable characters, and stunning plot twists that could only be presented successfully in a game format.

Zero Escape is the very definition of a niche title. If you have experience with visual novels you'll be in love with the game, and if you like puzzles and don't mind a LOT of narrative it's still great. If you want nonstop action, move along!

If you are after a thinking man's game than Virtue's Last Reward is easily one of the most thought provoking puzzlers of the year. With a strange story that is reminiscent of an adult themed anime movie, this game will make you curse and at times cry with frustration and joy when you've solved some of the challenging puzzles.

Zero Escape is a type of game that drives us to talk to other players, comparing the choices and externalizing our doubts, then unleashing a sociability that is rarely favored by a single player title with a structure like that.

Virtue's Last Reward takes everything that 999 did well and does it better.