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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and soothing music, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
- It offers a unique emotional experience through environmental storytelling, resonating with players on a personal level.
- The gameplay, while short, is engaging for those who enjoy walking simulators and appreciate nature-themed narratives.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 30-40 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Gameplay mechanics are minimal and can feel underdeveloped, with some features introduced only to be used once.
- Navigation can be confusing at times, leading to frustration as players may struggle to find their way.
- story26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story is largely considered minimal and generic, revolving around a fawn's journey of loss and survival, reminiscent of classic tales like Bambi. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and atmospheric music, many reviewers find the narrative lacking depth and originality, often describing it as a simple walking experience with little engagement. Overall, the storytelling is seen as bare bones, failing to deliver a compelling or unique plot.
“Each chapter has its own purpose, never overstaying its welcome, never being too long or too short, going straight to the point without the use of words and 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.”
“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. It actually makes references to the Disney film, a fawn losing his parent(s), the rainstorm, the forest fire, him growing up into a buck, but not in a way of paying tribute. You can't just slum off elements from a film like that into your game and expect it to automatically be good.”
“It checks all the boxes, nearly no story to it; you basically just walk, no collectibles here.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as simplistic and lacking depth, primarily functioning as a walking simulator with minimal mechanics that are often underutilized. While the focus on visuals and sound creates emotional moments, the mechanics feel amateurish and occasionally tutorialized, detracting from player agency. Overall, the game offers a brief experience that may resonate emotionally but falls short in dynamic gameplay and design.
“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.”
“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.”
“It's just very amateur and short-lived work that could use some more dynamic gameplay mechanics and terrain design.”
“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?”
“If the berries mechanic didn't feel completely artificial (there was no player feedback whatsoever for eating them), then the fact that there were only two small brushes of berries, followed by a giant field of them later, might have made me feel pretty good about choosing not to attack, even given the previous issues I mentioned.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as beautiful and relaxing, particularly featuring soothing piano melodies that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, the absence of music in many areas can lead to feelings of boredom, making the experience feel more like a walking simulator. Despite this, the game's use of sound to convey storytelling and the seamless transition of music throughout the day are praised, contributing to its endearing charm.
“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.”
“The landscapes are gorgeous, and the transition of the music throughout the day is great.”
“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.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some praising their beauty and animation, while others find 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.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have highlighted the game's ability to evoke deep emotions, particularly through poignant cutscenes that create a sense of beauty and refuge amidst adversity. Moments like the fawn falling asleep and impactful gameplay choices lead to significant emotional responses, with some players expressing tears during key interactions. However, certain mechanics, such as the berry system, were criticized for feeling artificial, which somewhat detracted from the overall emotional experience.
“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.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is described as an atmospheric walking simulator featuring a deer, but it ultimately fails to meet expectations, leaving players disappointed despite the intriguing premise. The atmosphere, while intended to be immersive, does not resonate with all players, particularly those who had high hopes for the experience.
“It's an atmospheric walking simulator as a deer.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players feeling that there is little incentive to play it a second time due to its perceived emptiness and lack of engaging content.
“The replay value is painfully low; after playing it once, there's not much reason to give it a second go. It just feels too empty and hollow to experience again.”
“The game lacks any significant replayability, making it hard to justify going through it a second time.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to replay it, as the experience feels repetitive and uninspired.”
