Toby Fox’s follow up to Undertale, everything about that game that made it great returns here. The characters, writing, music and combat are once again top notch. Just like Undertale, you play as a silent protagonist, Kris, and are surrounded by a cast of distinct characters, most notably Susie, Ralsei and Lancer. Also like Undertale, you can choose a peaceful or violent route although, at least for now, it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference to the story. Ralsei is a pacifist through and through whereas Susie develops from the school bully to a friend. Lancer is meant to be the villain but he’s ultimately too innocent for such a role, overthrowing his evil father, the King.
Personally, I decided to go the peaceful route. The game’s difficulty curve is implemented fantastically too, never feeling too easy but never cheap either. This is also true for the secret boss, Jevil, who is without a doubt the hardest battle in the game. It took multiple tries and I had to use all of my healing items but he was eventually beatable. Even when I was dying, it felt like my fault as opposed to the game being unfair.
As the first chapter in a who-knows-how-many-chapters game, Deltarune sets up future installments beautifully. From introducing the world and gameplay to characters old and new, everything points towards another unforgettable experience from Toby Fox (and that cliff-hanger…ooh exciting). I am eagerly awaiting Chapter 2 of this game.
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