Deer Journey
- July 21, 2022
- Pablo Picazo
Get on Steam"Deer Journey" is a tranquil third-person walking simulator following a fawn, born partially albino, who's been outcast by its herd. Embark on a 45-minute journey of scenic beauty and immersive soundtrack, discovering moments of similarity with life. Experience a game inspired by Shelter and The First Tree, where storytelling is subtle and profound, with no dialogue or literal narration.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and soothing music, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
- It offers a touching story that evokes emotions, despite its simplicity and short length.
- The gameplay is straightforward and accessible, making it suitable for players of all ages.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 30-40 minutes, which may leave players wanting more.
- There are technical issues, such as awkward camera angles and wonky terrain barriers that can disrupt immersion.
- The gameplay lacks depth, with minimal mechanics and a story that feels underdeveloped and derivative.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story is generally perceived as minimal and generic, revolving around a young fawn's journey of loss and survival, reminiscent of classic tales like Bambi. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and atmospheric music, many reviewers criticize the lack of depth and originality, suggesting that the narrative feels more like a simple walk through nature than a compelling experience. Overall, the storytelling is seen as bare bones, with little to engage players beyond its aesthetic elements.
“Each chapter has its own purpose, never overstaying its welcome, and goes straight to the point with pure environmental storytelling.”
“The way the game utilizes mostly sounds and music to tell the story is fantastic; I loved how there were very few gameplay prompts, nothing to tell you where you should go next, and no dialogue.”
“It tells you a story with chill graphics and great piano music.”
“I did not really know what the story was about until the end, when it suddenly became extremely obvious.”
“It checks all the boxes, nearly no story to it, you basically really just walk, no collectibles here.”
“As for the story, there's almost none, and what little there is, just a poor man's version of Bambi, either of the original Felix Salten book or the classic 80-year-old Disney masterpiece.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as simplistic and lacking depth, often prioritizing visuals over dynamic mechanics, which leads to a short-lived experience. While it effectively evokes emotions through sound and minimal prompts, many gameplay elements feel underutilized or artificial, resulting in a walking simulator that may not satisfy players seeking more engaging mechanics. Overall, it offers a brief but poignant experience, though it could benefit from more varied and meaningful interactions.
“The sheer simplicity of its design must not be taken lightly; despite being 'just' a walking simulator, it provoked more emotions in me within 60 minutes of gameplay than most media has done for the past 5 years.”
“The way the game utilizes mostly sounds and music to tell the story is fantastic. I loved how there were very few gameplay prompts, nothing to tell you where you should go next, and no dialogue.”
“It's a walking simulator that has 30-40 minutes of length, so you can't expect extensive gameplay; it's not meant to be a big game.”
“It's just very amateur and short-lived work, that could use some more dynamic gameplay mechanics and terrain design.”
“When your game minimizes mechanics to focus on visuals, those visuals need to work.”
“The third is that there's almost nothing to the gameplay; any elements that are introduced, such as swimming to cross a river or calling with the right mouse button, are only used once and then never again, so why even put them in there?”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as beautiful and relaxing, primarily featuring soothing piano melodies that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, the lack of music in many areas can lead to feelings of boredom, making the experience feel more like a walking simulator. Overall, the game's use of sound and music to convey its story is praised, particularly in how it complements the stunning visuals and transitions throughout the day.
“The music is very relaxing.”
“The way the game utilizes mostly sounds and music to tell the story is fantastic; I loved how there were very few gameplay prompts, nothing to tell you where you should go next, and no dialogue.”
“It tells you a story with chill graphics and great piano music.”
“There is no music in many areas, and this creates boredom.”
“So what you get here is a walking simulator of the subcategory 'artsy piano music'-type.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising their beauty and animation, while others found them somewhat unsatisfactory, especially when the game prioritizes visuals over gameplay mechanics. Overall, the visuals are described as nice and complement the game's storytelling, but they may not fully meet expectations for all players.
“The graphics, animation, and music are absolutely beautiful, and the controls work and respond well.”
“It tells you a story with chill graphics and great piano music.”
“Somewhat unsatisfactory graphics.”
“When your game minimizes mechanics to focus on visuals, those visuals need to work.”
“I will get the positives out of the way; the graphics, animation, and music are absolutely beautiful, and the controls work and respond well, but that's all I can say.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, particularly in moments where gameplay mechanics give way to poignant cutscenes, creating a sense of beauty amidst adversity. The experience is further enhanced by unexpected emotional highs, leading to genuine reactions, such as tears during impactful moments. However, some mechanics, like the berry system, detract from the overall emotional engagement due to a lack of player feedback.
“When the fireflies no longer had to act on game mechanics and could instead simply be part of a cutscene where the fawn fell asleep, it was beautiful and touching and gave this sense of momentary but beautiful shelter in the midst of hostility.”
“I stumbled on this by pure accident, completely unaware of the emotional rollercoaster it would take me on.”
“Oh man, the moment the 'press right click [...]' came, I cried :').”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is intended to evoke a serene walking simulator experience as a deer, but it ultimately falls short of expectations, leaving some players disappointed despite their initial interest in the concept.
“It's an atmospheric walking simulator as a deer.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered low, with players feeling that there is little incentive to revisit it after the initial playthrough due to its perceived emptiness and lack of engaging content.
“I frankly don't care to replay the game to find out what it is; the replay value is painfully low. After playing it once, there's not much or any reason to give it a second go, and it just feels too empty and hollow to experience again.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to dive back in. The lack of meaningful choices or alternate paths makes replaying feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“The game offers very little in terms of replayability. After finishing it once, I found myself with no desire to revisit the same experience, as it felt repetitive and uninspired.”
