Choice of the Deathless
- August 29, 2014
- Choice of Games
- 6h median play time
For what Choice of the Deathless does, it does it quite well, serving a somewhat memorable, yet painfully short adventure with some great writing. It's just a shame it isn't any longer!
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Choice of the Deathless" is a text-based interactive fantasy game where you play as a noble's skeleton servant seeking freedom and power. Your choices in legal disputes, magical studies, and relationships shape your character's abilities and the game's outcome. With its rich narrative and engaging mechanics, the game offers a unique and thought-provoking experience.
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Reviews
- The writing is engaging and witty, creating a captivating narrative that draws players into the unique world of demonic lawyering.
- The game offers meaningful choices that impact the story, allowing for varied outcomes and replayability.
- The setting is original and imaginative, blending elements of fantasy, law, and office politics in a way that feels fresh and entertaining.
- The game is relatively short, with many players feeling that it lacks depth and variety in branching paths compared to other titles in the genre.
- Some players found the writing style to be awkward or confusing at times, which can disrupt the flow of the narrative.
- There is no save function, which can be frustrating for players who want to explore different choices without having to restart the game from the beginning.
- story215 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in this game is praised for its originality and engaging writing, set in a unique world where magic and law intersect, featuring demons and gods. While some players found the narrative to be somewhat linear and occasionally confusing, many appreciated the meaningful choices that impact the storyline, leading to varied outcomes and replayability. Overall, the game is described as a captivating interactive story that immerses players in its imaginative setting, despite lacking visual or audio enhancements.
“The story plays with its own structure and takes unexpected turns, and its unusual premise hooked me straightaway.”
“The story is set in a world where gods are real and have a presence on earth, where powerful demons can enter our world but are bound by contracts, and where humans have magical abilities called 'the craft'.”
“The story is very well-written, the humor used is witty, and the world is original and intriguing.”
“The story feels very 'all over the place', and you are constantly bombarded with terms that aren't really explained.”
“Absolutely strange storyline which goes in no real direction and is a waste of time and money.”
“The replay value is low and the story is also very short.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game features a minimalist graphic design, primarily consisting of text on a white background, which some players find lacking in visual appeal. However, many reviewers appreciate the engaging writing and humor, suggesting that the absence of graphics does not detract from the overall experience. It is recommended for those who value narrative and choice over visual quality.
“Although characterized by a very basic and minimal graphic interface, this 'game' (more like a modern version of those gamebooks once so popular) has a fascinating plot and manages to fully capture the player's attention.”
“The lack of eye-catching graphics and wonderful music was without a doubt counteracted with overwhelmingly breathtaking writing and should not be thought of as a con for the game.”
“There is rapier wit to spare in the clever dialogue, narrative and general premise, the characters are written exceptionally well, and the descriptive writing makes the absence of visuals a moot point; your imagination, from the visual cues indicated, is the most effective tool.”
“There are no graphics or tidbits of game mechanics to make believe this is a game rather than a story.”
“I would have liked some more graphics other than just a white background and text.”
“This game is one of those, and although there are no real mechanics or graphics to speak of, it's an entertaining experience, just the same.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in these interactive games is characterized by a blend of dark and witty elements, often enhanced by relatable dialogue and fourth-wall breaks. Players appreciate the clever writing and immersive storytelling, which combine to create a unique and entertaining experience filled with funny scenarios and memorable characters. Overall, the humor adds a significant layer of enjoyment, making the games both engaging and amusing.
“The story is well written and interesting; I really adore their writing style in this (and ha, the humor).”
“I really enjoyed playing this game, its interesting storyline and variations, the clever and humorous voices, and the honestly awesome world that it has going on.”
“It's creepy, it's funny, it has a complex and enjoyable plot and loveable(/hateable) characters.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily narrative-driven, offering engaging choices that impact the story, though some players find the mechanics and integration of choices confusing at times. While the lack of traditional gameplay elements like graphics and mechanics may detract from the experience for some, many appreciate the fluidity and dynamic nature of the choices available. Overall, it provides a solid, story-oriented experience, particularly for fans of choice-based games, despite some criticisms regarding its simplicity and ease of achievement completion.
“The narrative structure is nicely designed and feeds into engaging gameplay.”
“A really good story and interesting gameplay.”
“The gameplay is not too linear, and the choices you make do matter.”
“Gameplay often just consisted of avoiding instadeaths and finding the 'correct' path.”
“There are no graphics or tidbits of game mechanics to make believe this is a game rather than a story.”
“Primarily because there is no real gameplay.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the numerous choices that lead to different outcomes, others find the repetitive nature of certain chapters and the short playtime limits its appeal. Many agree that it offers decent replay value for its price, especially for fans of interactive novels, but some suggest there are better options available that provide more engaging replay experiences.
“It's easy to spend a couple of hours on an imaginative little story, and there's some replay value to see the different outcomes.”
“It's cheap and has huge replay value, so if you're a fan of interactive novels, I'd go ahead and buy it.”
“The 'game' has a relatively short playtime, but has a huge number of choices that have interesting impacts on the way the story unfolds, and has tons of replay value.”
“Re-reading the same chapters over and over hurts replay value.”
“The replay value is low and the story is also very short.”
“There are a lot better games out for less than $5.00 that provide a lot more replayability and entertainment.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the ability to set their own soundtrack while playing, while others lament the absence of in-game music, feeling it detracts from the experience. Many reviewers noted that the lack of music and graphics allows for a more immersive storytelling experience, though they expressed a desire for some musical accompaniment to enhance the atmosphere. Overall, the game's writing is praised, but the absence of music is a notable point of contention.
“A 10/10 for letting me set the soundtrack.”
“The lack of eye-catching graphics and wonderful music was without a doubt counteracted with overwhelmingly breathtaking writing and should not be thought of as a con for the game.”
“It's also nice to be able to listen to music while playing.”
“There's no music, no graphics.”
“No music, no images, no narration, only the story to indulge in.”
“I enjoyed playing it (even though you need to add some music while playing or else it feels a bit meh ...), the story was interesting and you can see your character progression throughout all the game.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find the storyline complex and engaging, fostering a strong attachment to the characters, others feel the world is semi-interesting with a lackluster story and forgettable characters. Overall, the game has the potential to evoke deep emotions that resonate more than typical movies or books for some players.
“The storyline was complex, emotional, witty, and fun; the characters' personalities shine through, and no one really feels the same, so it does not become tiresome.”
“I cannot remember the last game that made me feel emotionally attached to the characters that had been introduced to me and made me want to do right by them so well.”
“This game has made me feel emotions that a lot of movies and books just can't.”
“The world is semi-interesting, but the story and characters are so boring that I couldn't care less about them in the end.”
“The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or feel invested in their journeys.”
“Despite the potential for emotional engagement, the narrative falls flat, leaving me feeling indifferent to the characters' fates.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably inconsistent, with some players praising the excellent growth of every character, while others criticize the lack of depth and interaction among supporting characters. The fast-paced structure may hinder character exploration, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall quality of character development.
“Excellent character development of every character throughout.”
“The character development is fast-paced, with a well-defined structure that supports various character arcs, such as the introduction of John Smith for Vega and the panel talk for Wakefield.”
“There was little to no character development throughout.”
“The fast pace and overly defined structure hindered character development, with minimal interaction among supporting characters and a barely acceptable level of storytelling.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the optimization of the game is lacking, comparing the experience to driving a sports car that frequently stutters, indicating significant performance issues that disrupt the overall flow.
“In short, reading the author's sentences felt a bit like driving a sports car that keeps stuttering every 30 seconds.”
“The game suffers from severe frame drops, making it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
“I constantly experience long loading times that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, effective pacing, and replayability, making it a standout in the choose-your-own-adventure genre.
“Given the condensed nature of choose-your-own-adventure style games, this one is wonderfully atmospheric, well-paced, and worth replaying.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for feeling overly aggressive, with some players finding the promotion of the creator's other games at the end of the experience to be intrusive and off-putting.
“There is only so much entertainment one can glean from this, and personally, I consider the creator's notes at the end practically shoving their other games as advertising down my throat, which I find a little insulting.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
“It's frustrating that the game locks essential features behind a paywall, forcing players to spend money to fully experience what should be a complete game.”
