Antagonist

About

Antagonist is a single player action game. It was developed by NIVLACART and was released on March 17, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"Antagonist" is a game that blends Visual Novel and RPG elements, where you play as D'Vil, a Dark Lord and rising star at Evil Productions. You can team up with Hero of Light Ralph or Cat Burglar Teeth, and unleash devastating combos on foes in intense encounters. The game features a compelling story where you uncover a conspiracy behind the video game cutscene industry, while deciding whether to work with the hero or clash like true adversaries.

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a charming and humorous story with engaging characters and clever video game parodies.
The combat system, while simple, allows for interesting combo attacks between the protagonist and AI partner, adding a layer of strategy.
It's a short and enjoyable experience that provides a good amount of fun for its low price, making it accessible for casual players.

The AI partner's unpredictable behavior and the reliance on luck in battles can lead to frustrating experiences, especially in multi-target fights.
The game lacks depth in its narrative and gameplay mechanics, making it feel more like a visual novel with minimal RPG elements.
Some players may find the writing and humor to be amateurish or reminiscent of low-quality fan fiction, detracting from the overall experience.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The game's story is characterized as charming and amusing, with a unique take on the classic hero vs. villain trope, though it is often described as simple and predictable. Players appreciate the humor and character design, finding the narrative enjoyable despite its brevity and lack of depth. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it provides a fun and engaging experience, especially for those more interested in narrative than challenging gameplay.
- “I thought the story and characters were charming.”
- “I loved the story and I wish it could've been longer and more in-depth, but for a short and cheap game, it was a lot of fun and worth my time and money!”
- “You can tell nothing but pure effort was put into not only the characters but the story itself!”
- “Okay, look, I am recommending the game but only because it is so cheap. Now, the story parts are fairly amusing, the idea is unique but the story is nothing special; still, like I said, it's fairly amusing.”
- “Hard to imagine a plot that this game gave.”
- “Overall, I would honestly call this less of a game, more of a neat short story.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky, light-hearted tone and clever video game parodies, puns, and silliness. Players appreciate the amusing spoof characters and the clever references that evoke laughter, particularly a memorable naming pun towards the end. Overall, the humor consistently enhances the gaming experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “The humor in this game is all about video game parody, puns, and silliness.”
- “It tried to be realistic in a fantastical sense and there was a pretty constant feeling of light-hearted humor as you got over most of the characters being spoof versions of other video game characters.”
- “A specific naming pun near the end of the game had me laughing to myself for a while.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
Gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the light challenges and humorous elements, while others find the combat mechanics frustrating due to poor AI, random enemy attacks, and unbalanced difficulty spikes. Casual players may appreciate the story focus, but the inconsistency in battle mechanics and reliance on RNG can hinder progression and enjoyment. Overall, the entertaining narrative is overshadowed by troublesome gameplay elements.
- “The game wasn't too hard for a casual player like me who's more interested in the story rather than battles and game mechanics.”
- “Humor, interesting comboing battle mechanics, and amusing characters... this was such a treat to play.”
- “However, the AI will not match their attacks with yours and the chain is interrupted by enemy attacks, making this mechanic extremely random.”
- “On the whole, the antagonist has a fairly entertaining story, marred by somewhat troublesome combat mechanics.”
- “It was kinda fun, with light challenges here and there until there came a fight where the enemy selection, bad fight mechanics, worst companion AI, and the hateful RNG made it impossible for me to advance.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics in this RPG Maker game are a mixed bag; while the character sprites and artwork are visually appealing and distinctive, the engine's limitations result in poor fullscreen display and lack of HD support, which may disappoint modern PC gamers seeking higher quality visuals.
- “Visuals, especially character sprites, are very pleasing to the eye.”
- “Quite nice and distinctive artwork as well.”
- “As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional depth of the game compelling, particularly through the development of character relationships, such as the touching friendship between Ralph and d'vil. The music enhances the emotional experience, especially during pivotal moments like the final boss battle, and the game's multiple paths allow for varied emotional outcomes, making players invested in the characters' journeys. Overall, the blend of heartfelt storytelling and engaging music creates a powerful emotional impact.
- “I believe the music made it so that I got really hyped at the final boss of one ending; it really sweeps you off your feet emotionally if you fall for the characters rather quickly.”
- “As far as I gathered, different paths can be taken, and I’m interested in seeing all possible endings; however, I am also quite content with playing as a nice, not-evil-whatsoever Ralph-supporting d'vil, and allowing him to become a real dark lord would be quite trying and heartbreaking.”
- “The way Ralph’s and d'vil’s friendship developed was adorable and touching, and I especially liked how not thick-headed Ralph was for a classic hero, raised and forged on the hate towards evil and dark lords (or one dark lord in particular).”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its emotional impact, particularly during climactic moments like the final boss battle, enhancing the player's connection to the characters and heightening the overall experience.
- “The music really hyped me up during the final boss of one ending; it sweeps you off your feet emotionally, especially if you quickly connect with the characters.”
- “The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making every moment feel more intense and engaging.”
- “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, creating an unforgettable emotional journey.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game eliminates the need for grinding levels, allowing for a more streamlined and enjoyable experience without repetitive tasks.