Antagonist
- March 17, 2017
- NIVLACART
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- 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.
- At a low price point, the game offers a fun and enjoyable experience that can leave players with a smile.
- 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 RPG mechanics, with no grinding for levels and a limited number of predetermined encounters.
- Some players may find the writing and overall execution to be amateurish, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as charming and amusing, featuring humorous characters and a unique take on the classic hero vs. villain narrative. While some players find the plot predictable and not particularly deep, the overall enjoyment and creativity in the storytelling are highlighted, making it a fun experience despite its brevity and simplicity. The combat serves primarily as a means to advance the story, with a balanced challenge level that caters to casual players.
“I thought the story and characters were charming.”
“You can tell nothing but pure effort was put into not only the characters but the story itself!”
“I loved the story and I wish it could've been longer/more in-depth, but for a short and cheap game, it was a lot of fun and worth my time and money!”
“The story parts are fairly amusing, the idea is unique but the story is nothing special.”
“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.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky, light-hearted tone and clever video game parodies, featuring amusing character spoofs and puns that resonate with players. Many reviewers found the humor consistently entertaining, with specific moments eliciting genuine laughter, particularly through clever naming puns and familiar references. Overall, the game's comedic approach adds a delightful layer to the experience, making it enjoyable for fans of gaming culture.
“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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally accessible for casual players, focusing more on story than combat, but suffers from inconsistent mechanics and AI issues that can disrupt the experience. While some find the humor and combo mechanics enjoyable, others criticize the randomness and difficulty spikes that hinder progression, particularly due to poor enemy selection and companion AI. Overall, the combat can be entertaining but is marred by frustrating elements that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“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 combo 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 kind of fun, with light challenges here and there until there came a fight where the enemy selection, bad fight mechanics, poor companion AI, and frustrating RNG made it impossible for me to advance.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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 performance and a lack of HD support, which may disappoint dedicated modern PC gamers.
“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.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from contemporary games.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking detail and depth.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional depth of the game compelling, particularly through its music and character relationships. The evolving friendship between Ralph and d'vil is highlighted as both adorable and touching, with players expressing a strong attachment to the characters and a desire to explore various endings, which adds to the emotional weight of their choices.
“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, especially if you fall for the characters 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).”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game eliminates the need for grinding levels, allowing for a more streamlined and enjoyable experience without repetitive tasks.
“The game is designed in a way that eliminates the need for grinding levels.”
“I appreciate that there is no grinding required to progress in this game.”
“The absence of grinding makes the gameplay feel more rewarding and enjoyable.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions, particularly during climactic moments like the final boss battle, enhancing the overall experience and connection to the characters.
“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 perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing every moment and making the experience unforgettable.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, adding depth to the story and immersing you in the game's world.”
