I have SO much to say about my all-time favourite game. And because it is my favourite game, I will lay it ALL out, good and bad from all 5 of its current chapters.
Firstly I would like to say that I cannot recommend this game enough. But I am a very factually oriented person, hence that is the reason I will tell you WHY I hold such high regards for this game. By laying out all of what is does well. But despite my bias I must also talk about what makes this game not for all (even if I disagree with some points)
Deltarune has no shortage of characteristics that make it so wonderful. From its large cast of in-depth, lovable, and well written characters, to a whimsical story with deeper, darker tones that always has you on the edge of your seat always asking yourself "What's gonna happen next??". Deltarune's narrative is one of the best stories told in a video game. Not to mention the fact that anyone, from the literary geniuses, to young children can understand the story at large. With small details and nuances sprinkled throughout the story that the large community surrounding this game is constantly discussing, any and all theories are received as the people who enjoy engaging in theory-talk appreciate creativity and ingenuity above all else.
Additionally, the soundtrack in this game is absolutely GORGEOUS! If you have no problem with a lack of lyrics in a song (with one exception we won't talk about) then this game has one of the most iconic soundtracks of any piece of media. A soundtrack that you will listen to on loop for hours. A soundtrack that will deepen your playing experience ten-fold.
The gameplay Deltarune offers is also one of the aspects that make it most fun. It's simple, easy to learn, but hard to master with a high skill ceiling. It is a unique turn-based bullet hell. But despite the "hell" aspect of the genre, there is no sharp difficulty spike and there is a fitting challenge for all levels of skill, from beginner to "I have over 150 hours in the game" no one is left out.
The game is also very widely available, as it is very light on your computer (I run the game very smoothly despite using a weak-ish laptop) and even if you are uncomfortable with the price tag (It is absolutely worth spending the money in my opinion), the chapters 1+2 demo is always available for free so you can play a little and understand the game's dynamic before commiting to spending money.
However, no matter how masterful a masterpiece, there is no perfect game out there. Therefore I will now talk about it's flaws that while not plentiful still must be addressed.
Beginning with the biggest problem (that while I disagree with I definitely see why it's an issue), that being the fact that chapter 1 is boring, especially compared to the later chapters, the art lacks a lot of detail and looks much rougher than its later chapters counterparts. The pacing is slower considering the fact that we are still getting used to the characters and settings. However, on replays (which are heavily encouraged by the game) it can get very boring because it is the only chapter not majorly affected by your choices.
Secondly, if you are incapable or struggle to connect to a story, this game is not for you. It is much more story based than it is gameplay based. Which ties in to the fact that if you are not willing to read - be it dialogue or flavour text, this is not for you. There is a lot of reading. This game should, in a way, be treated as an interactive story you take part in and interact rather than a video game in the conventional sense.
Lastly, the gameplay. Despite how great I think it is, it is still flawed. It is VERY inconsistent, most features have had at least one change done. Additionally, if you are looking for a hard challenge, this game has a total of 2 fights I would actually call HARD and not just challenging or a bit tough (those being the chapters 1 and 3 shadow crystal bosses). The game also has a lack of challenge-ability that other games have, meaning, for someone such as me who has done dozens of playthroughs, this game doesn't have many aspects that can be changed to create a fun, unique challenge (this relates to my former statement of treating this like a story rather than a normal video game).
In summary, Deltarune is easily my favorite game for many reasons; fun gameplay, a wonderful story with an expansive cast of amazing characters, one of the best soundtracks I've heard in any game, and an active fanbase full of great people who love to talk about the story of the game and make up cool theories about the game.
However, no game is without its flaws, the first chapter is in dire need of a remake/remaster, the game is very dependent on you being able to connect to the story to be enjoyable, and the gameplay is somewhat inconsistent between chapters.
Final verdict: 1225/10 My favorite game by far! Pink please step on me!
