Zero Time Dilemma is the final game of the Zero Escape trilogy, and the black sheep of the series (both in general appearance and in reception).
One of the major differences in this game compared to the others is the fact that the characters aren't wrapped up in a Nonary Game at all. Instead, this is the Decision Game! Zero Escape gameplay staples - aka story segments interrupted by puzzle rooms for the player to solve - are still the same, but the rules of the game have become very different.
Rather than encouraging players to work their way to exiting the [9] door, there is instead an "X Door" that can only be opened with six passwords known as X-Passes which are publicly available to everyone. This game seems easy enough to win with everyone in one piece, until you find out that an X-Pass is only revealed when a player dies.
Players are divided into 3 teams, named C-Team, Q-Team, and D-Team after their respective leaders. On the topic of players, who are they? This time we have a mix of returning characters and new ones:
Carlos, the leader of C-Team. A noble firefighter (and basically living Ken doll) who loves his little sister Maria dearly.
Akane of C-Team, also known as June from 999. She joined the experiment that the game participants were all kidnapped from the site of for a specific reason, but you'll have to play the previous games to find that out.
Junpei of C-Team, the protagonist of 999. He joined in search of Akane after the events of 999, but he seems a little... fucked up here. Are... you okay, bro? Wanna talk about it?
Q, the leader of Q-Team. Man, that is a reeeally unoriginal team name. Did you come up with that one by yourself, Zero?
Mira of Q-Team, this game's successor to the title of "girl with boobs out". Perpetually uninterested in her maybe-boyfriend, and made me feel less bad about picking the evil choices because she's kinda just like "okayyy you do you girl" whenever I did them.
Eric of Q-Team... I won't lie okay he looks like a reject Beatle. Anyway, he's majorly in love with Mira, and very hotheaded and overemotional about it. Don't let this guy near any kind of weaponry.
Diana, the leader of D-Team. A gentle nurse who carries around a bluebird music box. She's kind to a fault, and would do anything for her teammates. You'll find out if you play.
Phi of D-Team, returning from VLR. Back with a super-cute outfit, too! She's here for the same reason that Sigma is.
...and finally, Sigma of D-Team, also returning from VLR. His model is perpetually pulling this stupid face that made me laugh a lot in serious moments. He's here for the same reason that Phi is.
This game had kind of a low budget and it shows, but it's still enjoyable nonetheless. And hey, at least I feel better about this ending than that major cliffhanger in VLR. If you want to know how all those plot threads got wrapped up, well... I guess you'll just have to play the game!