Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma is the conclusion to the Zero Escape series (the other games in the series include "Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors" and "Virtue's Last Reward". This game consists of cut-scenes/visual novel parts, and puzzle solving components, and is generally about nine people and a dog trying to find a way out of an underground shelter, with escape rooms, that they are trapped in. Playing the previous games of the Zero Escape series is highly recommended since there are many recurring characters from previous games, and many references to the previous games.

Story: The story is laid out so that you watch/play fragments of the story from the perspective of different characters/teams at different points in time, similar to puzzle pieces, and you piece the fragments together to get the whole story. I found this way of presenting the story to be effective since it makes it easier to connect with the characters since their memory is usually erased in every fragment. I liked how may loose ends in this story and the story of the previous games were connected and explained but I feel there are still a lot of loose ends and too many Deus Ex Machinas were used; it seemed really random how special super-advanced technology that no one in that universe has heard of/knows about would randomly be found, and how the antagonist would just happen to have a special ability. Compared to the plot of the rest of the games in the series, I would say this game has the weakest plot. Although there were some components of the plot that were based on facts and pseudo-science, I felt disappointed since there were a lot fewer components compared to the other games in the series. Overall, I would rate the story 7.5/10 since there's a plot twist I did not really notice until a bonus ending was revealed, otherwise 6.5/10 without that plot twist.

Characters: The characters were great. Each had their own detailed backstory and each character was unique in their own way. The personality of each character really reflected the past experiences mentioned in their backstory and matched the plots of the previous games in the series for returning characters. Overall, I would rate the characters 9/10.

Artwork/Graphics: The artwork was great. Most rooms in the game were pretty detailed. For a VN/puzzle game, the graphics are great. Nothing to complain about, except, maybe, use different models for the characters that are forced to live on minimal food for 10 months. Great artwork/graphics overall, 8.5/10.

Music/Sound: Music and sound effects were excellent. I liked how they reused the soundtrack from the previous games for emotional scenes relating to the returning characters. Really catchy music and nothing to complain about the sound effects. The voice actors were also great, nothing to complain about, except I would prefer having al lthe same voice actors from VLR for the returning characters. 9/10.

Puzzles: The puzzles were too easy compared to the other games in the series. I was rarely stumped for any of the puzzles and there were fewer puzzles in this game compared to the other games in the serious. I would rate the puzzles 7/10.

Overall: I would rate this game 8/10. Good story, excellent characters, graphics and music. I’m glad they made the last game of the trilogy but I feel there are too many Deus Ex Machinas used. There's an amazing plot twist though.

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma is the conclusion to the Zero Escape series (the other games in the series include "Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors" and "Virtue's Last Reward". This game consists of cut-scenes/visual novel parts, and puzzle solving components, and is generally about nine people and a dog trying to find a way out of an underground shelter, with escape rooms, that they are trapped in. Playing the previous games of the Zero Escape series is highly recommended since there are many recurring characters from previous games, and many references to the previous games. Story: The story is laid out so that you watch/play fragments of the story from the perspective of different characters/teams at different points in time, similar to puzzle pieces, and you piece the fragments together to get the whole story. I found this way of presenting the story to be effective since it makes it easier to connect with the characters since their memory is usually erased in every fragment. I liked how may loose ends in this story and the story of the previous games were connected and explained but I feel there are still a lot of loose ends and too many Deus Ex Machinas were used; it seemed really random how special super-advanced technology that no one in that universe has heard of/knows about would randomly be found, and how the antagonist would just happen to have a special ability. Compared to the plot of the rest of the games in the series, I would say this game has the weakest plot. Although there were some components of the plot that were based on facts and pseudo-science, I felt disappointed since there were a lot fewer components compared to the other games in the series. Overall, I would rate the story 7.5/10 since there's a plot twist I did not really notice until a bonus ending was revealed, otherwise 6.5/10 without that plot twist. Characters: The characters were great. Each had their own detailed backstory and each character was unique in their own way. The personality of each character really reflected the past experiences mentioned in their backstory and matched the plots of the previous games in the series for returning characters. Overall, I would rate the characters 9/10. Artwork/Graphics: The artwork was great. Most rooms in the game were pretty detailed. For a VN/puzzle game, the graphics are great. Nothing to complain about, except, maybe, use different models for the characters that are forced to live on minimal food for 10 months. Great artwork/graphics overall, 8.5/10. Music/Sound: Music and sound effects were excellent. I liked how they reused the soundtrack from the previous games for emotional scenes relating to the returning characters. Really catchy music and nothing to complain about the sound effects. The voice actors were also great, nothing to complain about, except I would prefer having al lthe same voice actors from VLR for the returning characters. 9/10. Puzzles: The puzzles were too easy compared to the other games in the series. I was rarely stumped for any of the puzzles and there were fewer puzzles in this game compared to the other games in the serious. I would rate the puzzles 7/10. Overall: I would rate this game 8/10. Good story, excellent characters, graphics and music. I’m glad they made the last game of the trilogy but I feel there are too many Deus Ex Machinas used. There's an amazing plot twist though.