Deepening Fire
- April 19, 2023
- VeryBigDog
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Deepening Fire" is a 2D Soulslike game with original parrying skills, developed by one person. It features 20+ bosses, 10+ large maps, free character customization, and multiple endings. The game promises a rich narrative experience with hidden secrets, and no random maps or repetitive scenarios. It boasts over 25,000 words of dialogue, 100+ weapons and equipment, and supports Chinese and English languages.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The graphics and sound design are very good, creating an engaging atmosphere.
- The game features a unique parry system that can be satisfying for players who enjoy timing-based mechanics.
- The artwork and character design are charming, contributing to an overall appealing aesthetic.
- Combat lacks variety, as it heavily relies on parrying with minimal weapon differentiation.
- The game is misleadingly labeled as a Metroidvania, lacking essential elements like ability gating and exploration mechanics.
- Players have reported frustrating bugs, such as being unable to heal despite having healing items available.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the game is described as challenging yet simplistic, with a heavy reliance on parrying and blocking mechanics that can feel janky and obligatory. Many players express frustration over unexplained mechanics, particularly the "pasts," and the lack of effective dodging options, which detracts from the overall experience. While the exploration aspect is enjoyable, the combat often devolves into repetitive strategies, leading to mixed feelings about the game's depth and mechanics.
“Gameplay is fun and interesting but definitely challenging.”
“Loving the art and gameplay.”
“Parry gameplay revolves around fluidity and legibility, and will usually at least give you some leeway in case you miss that parry window.”
“Multiple mechanics go entirely unexplained (such as 'pasts', I still have no idea where these show up or how to set them).”
“Combat devolves to simply one-shotting things, or parrying being mechanically required in all but the most rare of cases, which misses the essence of a souls-like.”
“This game has a dodge mechanic but it feels useless since it doesn't phase through enemies when they're attacking you head on.”
- story18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered cliché and follows familiar tropes typical of souls-like games, lacking originality and depth. While it effectively immerses players in the game world, many reviewers noted issues with unclear translations that hindered progression. Overall, the narrative is described as serviceable but not particularly remarkable, with some praise for unique elements in character upgrades and NPC interactions.
“The story is serviceable; it isn't bad nor particularly amazing.”
“Not all of them play a huge role in the story, but that doesn't make them any less interesting.”
“I will say that the game includes some unique upgrade systems that I've not seen before in the souls-like genre, and I definitely applaud the developer's creativity with the story, NPCs, and overall feel of the game.”
“Many things have unclear or otherwise iffy translations, especially when reading is required to progress the main quest (e.g., breaking the floor [text was horrible], being directed to the capital or the crematory [unclear which locations these meant]).”
“- The story is pretty cliché and follows the same formula as all souls-like games.”
“The game does great at pulling you into the world, but it falls really short with combat and story, and there isn't much else to this game than combat and story.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their quality, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive artwork, level design, and atmospheric sound. The game draws significant inspiration from the aesthetics of Dark Souls and Hollow Knight, creating a visually captivating experience that complements its storytelling. Overall, the visuals and audio contribute positively to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“I really, really love the artwork and writing too!”
“Artwork is nice, music and audio is spot on, and the level design looks fantastic!”
“I mostly like the visuals, and the atmosphere seems close to what was intended.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized as nice and somber, complementing the artwork and level design effectively. While it may not be intense or outstanding, it is generally regarded as above average and well-executed, enhancing the overall audio experience.
“The artwork is nice, and the music and audio are spot on, while the level design looks fantastic!”
“The music and sound effects are nice and somber, and while not outstanding, are more than above average.”
“The music lacks intensity.”
“The soundtrack is quite underwhelming.”
“There is a noticeable absence of engaging music.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *Deepening Fire* is effectively crafted, drawing inspiration from renowned titles like *Hollow Knight*, *Salt and Sanctuary*, and *Dark Souls*. Reviewers appreciate the visuals and note that the game successfully captures the intended mystique and ambiance of its influences.
“Deepening Fire is heavily inspired by the most popular games in the subgenre, including Hollow Knight, Salt and Sanctuary, and Dark Souls, and it does a decent job at replicating the atmosphere and mystique of those games.”
“I mostly like the visuals, and the atmosphere seems close to what was intended.”
“[i]deepening fire[/i] is heavily inspired by the most popular games in the subgenre, including [i]hollow knight[/i], [i]salt and sanctuary[/i], and [i]dark souls[/i], and it does a decent job at replicating the atmosphere and mystique of those games.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, allowing for smooth performance at 1440p max settings on high-end systems. However, some users have reported occasional freezing issues after dying to certain bosses.
“Regarding the performance, everything ran well for me at 1440p max settings on my i7 9600k / 2070 Super / 32 GB RAM system, other than a few frozen screens after dying from the first couple of bosses.”
