Jun 2025
Ever wondered what would happen if you took the emotional depth of a teenage coming-of-age story, the whimsy of a Saturday morning cartoon, and the absurdity of your uncle's old jokes and tossed them into a blender? Welcome to Deltarune, the brainchild of Toby Fox, who apparently took advice from a magic fairy: "Make it weird, kid!" This sequel to Undertale returns to deliver a unique RPG experience jam-packed with memorable characters, hilarious dialogue, and plot twists you absolutely won't see coming (unless you've been browsing the fan theories, of course).
Deltarune offers a delightful buffet of gameplay mechanics that will make RPG lovers break out a happy dance. You control Kris, a human whose primary function appears to be carrying the emotional baggage of their friends while navigating turn-based combat that's reminiscent of classic titles but with a twist. Battle is a mix of button-spamming and nimble dodging, almost like it's training you for a future in competitive games while simultaneously letting your brain feel fuzzy. What's even cooler? You can avoid random encounters outright if you're sneaky enough! During battles, you get to interact with your team members Susie and Ralsei, who share colorful personalities that either complement or hilariously clash with Kris's apathy. With options to 'Act,' 'Defend,' or just go full-on berserker mode with 'Fight,' there's plenty of room to strategize. Will you be a heroic pacifist or a ruthless killer? Your choice can radically alter the unfolding drama, making the stakes higher than forgetfulness during a pop quiz. As for puzzles, they'll tickle your brain more than a great dad joke. If you've ever wanted to figure out how to get past a wall of goofy monsters using only your charisma and your friends' various powers, then boy, are you in for a treat. Expect plenty of quirky side quests that do their best to sneak in deep messages while making you chuckle.
Visually, Deltarune continues the pixel art style of Undertale but doubles down on the vibrant color palette and quirky animations, giving it a decidedly modern spin. The backgrounds are as wild and enchanting as a dragon in a tutu, with the character designs being both adorable and absurdly charming. Each monster looks like it ran straight out of your imagination (the weird part) and landed on the screen, ready to provide an experience that's both whimsical and outright bizarre. Let's just say your computer will thank you for not having to convert these graphics into Real World™.
Deltarune takes the sandbox of RPGs and builds a fantastical theme park within it, one that seamlessly blends humor, heart, and existential dread (you know, standard teenage stuff). Toby Fox and his team squeeze every ounce of talent into crafting memorable characters and a storyline that is as captivating as it is loose-lipped. It's a game that not only entertains but resonates deeply, making you question your life choices as Kris does some suspiciously dark deeds... While we await the full release of Chapter 5 (or any shiny new chapters that may pop up), one thing is for sure: Deltarune is a euphoric journey worth every second spent inside its colorful universe. Just remember, it's not just a game; it's a whimsical exploration of your choices and their consequences, wrapped in a fantastic pixelated bow. Grab your Nintendo Switch 2, and dive deep into this playful world, just don't forget: No matter the choices you make, stay weird and wonderful!
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